Besides Shaun Deeb, here are five poker pros who could shine at the 2026 WSOP.

You might as well start writing Shaun Deeb's (and a few other players') names in your notebook and get ready for their performances at the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Summer Event. But there are other players who will also shine in this most prestigious poker series, some of whom may even win their first gold bracelet.

Deeb's WSOP Player of the Year (POY) competition kicked off earlier this month with the WSOP Europe events. Deeb began his title defense in Prague with six cashes and two runner-up finishes. However, many summer tournament grinders, including Daniel Negreanu, did not travel across the ocean to participate in the European events.

Despite this first-mover advantage, the current POY is not guaranteed another title. Others could also influence the competition, or at least deliver impressive results in Las Vegas. The following five pros are all recognized top players, but they collectively hold only one gold bracelet, a number likely to increase significantly in the coming weeks.

Chino Rheem

Chino Rheem has competed in the WSOP for many years, boasting 14 final table appearances and over $4 million in winnings. But he's still searching for his coveted first gold bracelet. If pre-tournament performance is any indicator, then this year might just be his year.

This three-time World Poker Tour (WPT) champion had already amassed $900,000 in live tournament winnings in 2026 as of early May. He won a PGT victory in February and has already reached 13 final tables in 2026. California-based longtime grinder Rheem cashed three times at the 2025 WSOP Paradise Series in the Bahamas, including a fourth-place finish. He looks poised to overcome any obstacles to win a gold bracelet and could even put pressure on Deeb in the POY competition.

Brock Wilson

Brock Wilson and his partner Cherish Andrews won a total of three titles at the recently concluded U.S. Poker Open. Wilson, the series champion, won two of them, and this is not their only victory in 2026.

Wilson has already won five tournaments and nearly $2 million in prize money in just four months this year. However, like Rheem, he's one of the greatest players of all time who has never won a gold bracelet. Don't expect him to stay on that list for long. This high-stakes pro with four WSOP Circuit rings has been on the verge of winning a bracelet for some time now. If pre-tournament momentum is key, this could be his year.

Cherish Andrews

Andrews is the only player on this list with a gold bracelet. She won an online event in Pennsylvania four years ago. Her second gold bracelet could make her the first woman to win an Open event gold bracelet in Las Vegas since Leo Margets won the $1,500 The Closer event in 2021.

Andrews is a three-time Tour ring winner and has eight final table appearances in WSOP bracelet events. She has maintained a consistently strong record in all tournaments since 2022 and seems poised to dominate this summer's major competitions. It wouldn't surprise many if she impacts the POY competition or wins a bracelet.

This Pennsylvania-based professional poker player won a $5,100 No-Limit Hold'em event at the U.S. Poker Open last month, marking her sixth final table appearance in 2026.

Viktor 'Isildur1' Blom

Viktor “Isildur1” Blom is no longer just an online poker legend. In recent years, he has also made a name for himself in the live tournament scene, including last summer when he competed for Player of the Year for several weeks in a row.

This Swedish high-stakes player recently turned $13,000 into over $1.7 million at online high-stakes cash games, possibly a warm-up for his Las Vegas appearance this summer. Blom has reached the final table four times at the 2025 WSOP and finished as runner-up at the WSOPP. He is clearly showing signs of becoming a dominant force in the WSOP.

Can Blom win his first gold bracelet? Will the 2026 WSOP be Isildur's summer? The possibility seems very high.

Brandon Wilson

Over the past two years, Brandon Wilson has become a top high-stakes player. He currently leads the GPI Player of the Year rankings for 2026, a position he is likely to remain familiar with for many years to come.

This Chicago-based professional finished second in two Triton Poker events in March, earning a total of $3 million. In less than three years, his live tournament winnings have exceeded $14 million, quickly establishing him as one of the world's best tournament players.

Wilson will win many gold bracelets in his poker career, and there is a very high chance that he will win at least one this year.

Common Mistakes Review: Why Do You Keep Losing? The Problem Lies Here

Most players lose money not because of luck, but because they repeat the same mistakes.

These debriefings will help you identify the most common mistakes and understand how to correct them:
Why does constantly calling cause you to lose money?
[Bluff Imbalance] What are the costs of excessive bluffing?
Why do you always lose on the last street? [Never fold]
[Slow Play Error] Why do I lose big pots when I play slowly?
What's the problem with betting too small?
Why do people lose money when they bet too much?
[Emotional Issues] How do emotions affect your decision-making?
[Range Misjudgment] Analysis of Errors Caused by a Lack of Understanding of Range
[Location Ignore] What are the consequences of ignoring location?
[Misinterpreting People] The Impact of Misinterpreting an Opponent's Behavior

Avoiding mistakes is more important than learning new skills. By reviewing these common mistakes, you can quickly identify your weaknesses, correct your decision-making habits, and reduce unnecessary losses.
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