New Mexico poker dealer Jerome Neppl won the WSOP Event #3: 500 Industrial Employees No-Limit Hold'em, taking home $64,083 and his first gold bracelet.
2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Event #3:On the final day of the 500 Industry Employees No-Limit Texas Hold'em tournament, 136 hopeful players returned from a starting field of 906, all chasing the dream of winning a coveted WSOP gold bracelet. Since all returning players have secured at least...With a minimum prize of 1,011, the competition is fast-paced from the start, with eliminations happening continuously throughout the day.
While many entrants are no strangers to the long hours of casino work, tournament poker presents a different kind of challenge. Beyond the prestigious gold bracelet, the $64,083 first-place prize, and the associated glory, there's a great deal of motivation for the remaining entrants.
The day began with Jerome Neppl, a poker dealer from New Mexico, leading in chips, but he still faced a tough challenge from a group of determined competitors.
Neppl maintained a focused and serious expression throughout the tournament, but his excitement was palpable after defeating Sean Hamrick heads-up to secure the victory. This win marked only the second time in his career that he had earned money in a live tournament; previously, Neppl had only earned $613 in poker.
Event #3: $500 - Industry Employees No-Limit Texas Hold'em Final Table Results
| Ranking | player | country | bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jerome Neppl | United States | $64,083 |
| 2 | Sean Hamrick | United States | $42,680 |
| 3 | Skyler Halama | United States | $29,678 |
| 4 | Michael Schlittler | United States | $20,988 |
| 5 | Nicholas Baldev | United States | $15,098 |
| 6 | Andre Welt | Brazil | $11,052 |
| 7 | Antony Diep | China | $8,235 |
| 8 | Armando Viramontes Serna | United States | $6,247 |
| 9 | Jessica Odom | United States | $4,828 |
Post-championship interview
Despite winning this career-defining victory and the accompanying prize money, he still plans to continue working as a dealer at the WSOP this summer. His friends joked that he should wear his newly won gold bracelet to the poker tables, adding that it would be funny to see the players' reactions.
The first person Neppl called after his victory was his girlfriend, Skye Waring. Although she was asleep when he contacted her, she was thrilled to hear the news. The couple is preparing to move to Florida, starting a new chapter away from New Mexico.
"This money will change my life and help me get out of debt," Neppl said.
Neppl's victory was particularly impressive, as day-one chip leaders rarely end up winning tournaments, let alone reaching the final table. His ability to maintain his position over two intense days highlights his stamina and composure under pressure. When asked if his job as a dealer had helped cultivate this endurance, Neppl attributed it to his nature, saying he's always been able to work long hours despite sleep deprivation. Nevertheless, he admitted to feeling some tension at the start of day two, unsure if he could maintain this depth of the run.
These concerns quickly dissipated as Neppl remained at the top of the chip leaderboard for most of the day, only briefly relinquishing the lead in the evening. In one crucial moment, his triplets of Queens held off Skyler Halama's offensive on a dangerous board, allowing him to establish a significant chip advantage. Throughout the tournament, Neppl struck a balance between aggression and patience, frequently applying pressure and taking pots without showdown, steadily increasing his chip stack.
When asked if his job as a dealer had improved his poker skills, Neppl pointed out that he was able to recognize body language and betting patterns.
"You can spot some signs, like whether they're going to fold or play," he said. He also attributes the job to the increased stamina it has given him and taught him the value of perseverance. Beyond the technical aspects of the game, Neppl says he particularly enjoys dealing to friendly players who bring positive energy to the table.
Second day battle situation
Two PokerNews reporters, Tyler Boyer (ranked 18th),2,083) and Brett Slezak (16th,Both 2,496 made it to the last two tables, demonstrating their deep progress.
One memorable moment of the match was when Bobby Sanchez hit a royal flush against Isaac Ebrom. Unfortunately, this good fortune didn't carry him to the finals, but he still performed admirably, finishing in 48th place ($1,370).
The final table unfolded cautiously, with players carefully protecting their chips as they tried to climb the money list. However, as the number of participants dwindled, eliminations occurred rapidly. Ultimately, the competition devolved into a heads-up duel between Las Vegas resident Hamrick and Neppl.
Neppl entered the final table with great momentum, maintaining a chip lead from day one and controlling most of the action throughout the tournament. Meanwhile, Hamrick adopted a more patient approach, skillfully utilizing his short stack to secure his place among the final two contenders.
During the one-on-one duel, Hamrick steadily chipped away at Neppl's lead and launched a formidable challenge. However, Neppl's relentless aggression ultimately proved to be the decisive factor, allowing him to emerge victorious and claim the championship title.
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