Eric Chang Wins Record WSOPC Main Event
Eric 'Slick Ric' Chang won the largest $1,700 WSOPC Main Event ever, surviving from one big blind to claim his first gold ring and $433,670 in Austin.
A Record-Breaking Field in Austin
The WSOP Circuit stop at TCH Social Club in Austin, Texas, produced the largest $1,700 buy-in Main Event in the tour's history. The event drew 2,090 entries, pushing the prize pool past its $2 million guarantee to a final total of $3,166,350.
At the center of the story was Eric "Slick Ric" Chang, a popular content creator whose run combined extreme short-stack survival with a finish that more than doubled his live tournament earnings. The victory earned him his first WSOPC gold ring and a first-place prize of $433,670.
From One Big Blind to the Final Table
Chang's path to the title was anything but straightforward. At the start of Day 2 he sat 259th out of 267 remaining players, and he twice dropped to a single big blind during the tournament. Rather than busting, he rebuilt his stack repeatedly and fought his way to the final table.
With four players left, Chang appeared to be on the right side of a major pot. Holding Qd 6d on a board of Kd 8s 5d 2d Jh, he completed a flush — only to run into the nut flush of Anil Jivani, who held Ad Td. Jivani doubled up and took a commanding lead, but Chang recovered with patient play and eventually won the final heads-up battle.
Lucas Jumalon's Deep Run Falls Short
Much of the fan and media attention before the final day centered on Lucas Jumalon, the winner of the 2026 WSOP Main Event. Jumalon entered the final day as chip leader with a vocal group of supporters behind him, but his bid for another major title ended early. He lost his lead and was eliminated in 14th place for $19,030.
Final Table Results
- 1st: Eric Chang (USA) — $433,670
- 2nd: Anil Jivani (USA) — $289,110
- 3rd: Venkat Chivukula (USA) — $211,440
- 4th: Ryan Brown (USA) — $156,455
- 5th: Eric Tang (USA) — $116,580
- 6th: Taylor Fortini (USA) — $87,200
- 7th: Simon Britton (USA) — $66,960
- 8th: Kimberly Stone (USA) — $51,540
- 9th: Brant Jolly (USA) — $40,100
Why the Result Matters
For the WSOP Circuit, the Austin stop represents a milestone: a $1,700 buy-in Main Event reaching 2,090 entries and a prize pool above $3 million reflects the continued growth of mid-stakes tournament poker in the United States. For Chang, the win is a breakthrough — a first ring and a six-figure score that reshapes his tournament résumé.
His run also illustrates a familiar tournament principle: short stacks are not eliminated until they are eliminated. Surviving at one big blind, then finding spots to accumulate, is a common thread in deep runs. In Chang's case, the pattern repeated until he was the last player standing.
FAQ
- The $1,700 Main Event at TCH Social Club in Austin drew 2,090 entries, making it the largest WSOPC Main Event at that buy-in level. The prize pool reached $3,166,350.