Shaun Deeb's Main Event Tactics Work in His Favor, Leads WSOP POY Heading to Paradise

The 2026 World Series of Poker has wrapped up its summer schedule in Las Vegas, but the Player of the Year race remains wide open. After controversially downplaying the importance of the Main Event, Shaun Deeb parlayed a deep run and a quick rebound into the top spot, setting up a three-way battle with Naoya Kihara and Alex Foxen heading to WSOP Paradise in December.

Deeb Eschews Main Event Glory to Defend POY

Deep in the 2026 WSOP Main Event, Shaun Deeb made no secret of his priorities. In interviews with ESPN's Jeff Platt, he suggested that chasing the Main Event title was hurting his chances to defend his Player of the Year crown. When Deeb was eliminated in 15th place, he faced some criticism for his dismissive attitude toward poker's most prestigious tournament.

But Deeb's strategy quickly paid off. Immediately after his Main Event exit, he fired a bullet into the $25,000 H.O.R.S.E. High Roller, an event that also featured two of his closest POY rivals: Naoya Kihara and Alex Foxen. While the poker world focused on the Main Event final table, these three were locked in their own battle. Deeb finished eighth in that H.O.R.S.E. event, earning 234 points to go with the 365 he collected for his 15th-place Main Event cash. That gave him a total of 3,410 points, enough to leapfrog into first place.

Kihara and Foxen did not go quietly. Kihara took third in the $25K H.O.R.S.E. (383 points), and Foxen placed 10th (102 points) after having been the POY leader at the halfway mark. With the Las Vegas portion complete, the top three are separated by just 29 points:

1. Shaun Deeb – 3,410 points
2. Naoya Kihara – 3,388
3. Alex Foxen – 3,381
4. Justin Liberto – 2,828
5. Josh Arieh – 2,750
6. Daniel Negreanu – 2,698
7. Jesse Lonis – 2,674
8. Eelis Paerssinen – 2,638
9. Michael Moncek – 2,592
10. Josh Reichard – 2,574

Scene Shifts, But Does the Advantage?

The action now moves to the Baha Mar Resort in Nassau for the third edition of WSOP Paradise. While the festival schedule has not been announced, past events have featured a heavy diet of No Limit Hold'em tournaments. That could favor Alex Foxen, widely considered the best pure Hold'em player among the three contenders. Deeb and Kihara, by contrast, are more accomplished in mixed games and Omaha, so they will likely hope that organizers include non-Hold'em events.

There is also the potential for a dark horse to emerge. The Super Main Event in 2025 drew 2,891 entries, and the winner received 1,940 points. If similar numbers hold in 2026, virtually anyone in the top 75 could vault into contention with a win. Players like Jeff Madsen (1,438), Martin Kabrhel (1,486), David 'ODB' Baker (1,689), and Kristen Foxen (1,907) all have the mathematical potential to catch the leaders.

Travel decisions will also play a role. Some players may skip WSOP Paradise in favor of the World Poker Tour World Championship at the Wynn Las Vegas, which runs concurrently. The pressure of a POY chase could keep the top contenders locked in, but unexpected absences might reshuffle the standings. The race remains far from over as the poker world heads to the Bahamas for its final chapter.