WSOP Circuit Winners on Paradise 2026

Circuit Ring Winners Earn a $5,000 Paradise Package

WSOP Paradise 2026 is drawing closer, and players around the world are still earning their way in by winning WSOP Circuit rings in live and online events. Each ring victory comes with a $5,000 WSOP Paradise Package. That package includes free entry into the $2,750 No-Limit Hold'em WSOP Circuit Championship Mystery Bounty, plus a complimentary hotel stay at Baha Mar in the Bahamas, the new home of WSOP Paradise.

Several already-crowned Circuit champions shared what they are most looking forward to about the trip. Their answers range from the chance to play the biggest buy-in of their lives to family time at the resort and, in one case, a serious plan to maximize value at the dinner buffet.

Shawn Hall: The Biggest Buy-In Yet

Shawn Hall won a $600 Omaha Eight or Better event at Horseshoe Las Vegas. He said he is most looking forward to playing the WSOP Circuit Championship Mystery Bounty, noting it will be the highest buy-in tournament he has ever played. He suspects that is common among other Circuit qualifiers.

Hall added that it is his second visit to the Bahamas and his first stay at a resort like Baha Mar. He expects the resort to offer plenty to do, and he plans to enjoy his time there even away from the tables.

Alcira Lagerwerf: A Dream Trip With Family

Alcira Lagerwerf won a €300 No-Limit Hold'em Ladies Event at Casino Malta. She called the trip a dream come true and said it will be her first visit to the Bahamas. She is especially happy to share the adventure with her daughter, mother, and sister, who have supported her poker journey.

Lagerwerf said poker has been her passion for decades. She followed the WSOP in Las Vegas every year and looked up to the professionals on that stage. At 43, after years as an amateur, she won her first WSOP Circuit ring in the Ladies Event in Malta.

Now she is excited to compete in the $2,750 Mystery Bounty at WSOP Paradise, face some of the world's best players, and chase a WSOP gold bracelet. Whatever happens at the tables, she said sharing the experience with loved ones makes it priceless.

Michael Iacullo: A Veteran's Second Chance

Michael Iacullo won a $400 Double Stack No-Limit Hold'em event at Horseshoe Hammond. He is a disabled Marine Corps veteran who did not learn to play poker until his mid-30s. He has been to the Bahamas twice but never to play poker.

Iacullo said he looks forward to playing with some of the big names and hopes to meet a few of them. He came close to a ring in 2016, finishing second in the Monster Stack in Southern Indiana, and he was not sure he would get another chance because winning a ring is so difficult. He feels he is good enough to compete and is excited to watch and meet other players and relax with his wife.

He added that he finds playing cards fun and exciting even when he loses, and he wishes he had more time to play.

Alison Wedding: Player and Dealer on the Big Stage

Alison Wedding won a $400 Big O event at Choctaw. She said she is beyond excited about the package and that competing on this stage in December feels special. It will be her first time in the Bahamas.

As both a poker player and a dealer, Wedding spends much of her life around the game. She cannot wait to challenge herself, connect with players from around the world, meet and possibly play with some of her favorite pros, and take in the Baha Mar experience. Her sights are set on bringing home a great poker story and hopefully some hardware.

Kimberlee Lepa: First Ring, First TOC

Kimberlee Lepa won a $300 No-Limit Hold'em Ladies Event at Caesars New Orleans. She said it is her first ring and first Tournament of Champions, and she is excited for the experience. She added a lighter note: while others chase bracelets and bounties, she will be looking to achieve elite ROI from the complimentary dinner buffet.

Rene Tinoco: From Fun Player to Circuit Champion

Rene Tinoco won an MX$8,000 No-Limit Hold'em Turbo Bounty Knockout at Big Bola. He said winning a WSOP Circuit ring felt like something only pros could achieve, and while it was a goal, it seemed out of reach for now. He came into poker playing for fun and started only four years ago, so he is thrilled to have come this far so soon.

Tinoco called that night unreal, made more special because his girlfriend won the Ladies Event on the same day. He is excited to take the next step at WSOP Paradise 2026, share the table with some of the best players in the world, and fight for a WSOP gold bracelet. He said it is already a great story to tell.

Package Deadline: November 1

Players who won a WSOP Circuit ring in 2026, live or online, and have not yet reserved their $5,000 WSOP Paradise Package have until November 1, 2026, to secure it. Those who have not heard from the team or have questions about the WSOP Paradise Circuit Package can email circuitpackages@wsop.com.

What the Package Represents

For many Circuit ring winners, the package is a step up in stakes and a first taste of a major series destination. The $2,750 Mystery Bounty gives qualifiers a chance to compete against a broad international field, and the Baha Mar setting adds a resort experience that extends beyond the poker room. For amateurs and part-time players in particular, the combination of a free shot at a bracelet event and a paid stay is a rare opportunity.

The stories above also highlight a common theme: Circuit rings are hard to win, and the players who earn them often come from outside the professional ranks. That makes the Paradise trip both a reward and a test, with a mix of high-level competition and personal milestones.