2026 WSOP first week produces five gold bracelets, heads-up tournament to be decided on Monday

The 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) first week has concluded, with five lucky players each claiming one of the most coveted trophies in poker — a gold bracelet. This phase of the event focused primarily on non-Texas Hold'em games, with Seven Card Stud and Pot Limit Omaha taking center stage.

A variety of poker variants drew a large number of participants during the opening week. Seven Card Stud, a classic discipline, tests players' memory of hand patterns and betting strategies. Pot Limit Omaha, with its high volatility and complex flop structures, became a battleground for skilled players. Although Texas Hold'em remains the flagship game of the WSOP, the first week's schedule highlights the organizers' commitment to poker diversity.

Five gold bracelets have already found new homes, but the action is far from over. A highly anticipated Heads-Up match will determine the final winner on Monday (US time), awarding the sixth gold bracelet. The heads-up format features one-on-one showdowns, demanding exceptional reading skills and real-time decision-making from players — making it one of the most entertaining formats in WSOP history.

As the world's most prestigious poker series, the WSOP takes place every summer in Las Vegas. The 2026 edition continues the rich schedule of previous years, with a dense arrangement of non-Texas Hold'em events in the first week providing traditional players a stage to shine while sparking newcomers' interest in exploring different variants. As the series progresses, more Texas Hold'em events will be introduced.