WSOP Circuit at Harrah's Cherokee Kicks Off with $2M Main Event Guarantee

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit at Harrah's Cherokee is officially underway, running from August 6-17, 2026, in Cherokee, North Carolina. This 12-day series offers players another chance to compete for coveted WSOP Circuit gold rings at one of the most popular stops on the schedule.

The August series is part of a busy stretch on the 2026 WSOP Circuit calendar, with Harrah's Cherokee sharing the month with stops at Harrah's Atlantic City and Horseshoe Tunica. The event comes on the heels of 22-year-old Lucas Jumalon winning the 2026 WSOP Main Event and $10 million in Las Vegas, inspiring poker players in Cherokee and around the country to chase their own poker dreams.

Exciting Schedule of Ring Events

The series features 18 WSOP Circuit ring events, including familiar favorites and some of the highest guarantees found on the Circuit. One of the marquee tournaments is the $2,200 High Roller No-Limit Hold'em event, scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Sunday, August 16. This high-stakes tournament is expected to attract a mix of accomplished WSOP Circuit regulars and players looking to make a larger score before the series concludes. With a higher buy-in than most events, it promises some of the toughest competition of the series.

The schedule also includes a $400 Ladies No-Limit Hold'em event on Thursday, August 13, giving female players another opportunity to compete for a Circuit ring in a dedicated tournament.

The $1,700 Main Event

The centerpiece of the series is the $1,700 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event, the most prestigious tournament on any WSOP Circuit schedule. It is expected to draw a large field of players battling for a major payday and a coveted WSOP Circuit ring. The Main Event at Cherokee has consistently produced some of the largest fields in the United States. For example, the February 2026 series drew 1,824 entries, and the May series attracted 1,489 entries. With a $2 million prize pool guarantee, this year's Main Event is set to add another chapter to the venue's storied WSOP Circuit legacy.

Main Event Day One Flights

• Flight A: Friday, August 14, starting at 11 a.m. EST
• Flight B: Saturday, August 15, starting at 11 a.m. EST

Live Updates on Poker.Org

Poker.Org is the official media partner of the WSOP Circuit for the 2026 season, providing live updates on WSOP Circuit Main Events. During the Harrah's Cherokee Main Event, players and fans can follow the action on the Poker.Org Instant Live Feed, as well as on Twitter/X (@pokerorg) and Instagram (@poker_org_).

Win a WSOP Paradise 2026 Package

Every WSOP Circuit ring winner at Harrah's Cherokee receives a $5,000 package to compete in the WSOP Circuit Championship at WSOP Paradise 2026. The package includes entry to the championship and free hotel accommodations. This gives winners the opportunity to attend one of poker's most impactful annual tournament series.

WSOP Paradise 2025, which hosted the $25,000 No-Limit Hold'em Super Main Event, set a record for the largest prize pool guarantee at $60 million. The tournament generated a total prize pool of $72,275,000, with champion Bernhard Binder taking home $10 million.

For more information about the WSOP Circuit at Harrah's Cherokee, including the full schedule and registration details, visit WSOP.com.