Eric Chang wins record-breaking WSOP Main Event title

Eric “Slick Ric” Chang won the record-breaking WSOP Circuit Main Event at TCH Social in Austin, Texas, taking home $433,670. 2,090 players entered the tournament, creating a total prize pool of $3,136,350.

TCH Social in Austin, Texas hosted the largest WSOP Circuit Main Event in history, which was won by Eric “Slick Ric” Chang, who took home $433,670 in prize money.

2026 WSOP Main Event champion Lucas Jumalon entered final day with a significant chip lead, leaving 18 players remaining. However, he ultimately finished in 14th place, earning $19,030 chips. Nevertheless, the reigning world champion proved that his $10 million title win last month was no fluke.

"Slick Ric" shines on TCH Social

At the start of the final table of this $1,700 buy-in tournament, Brant Jolly had less than a big blind. However, he survived by getting pocket queens on his first hand. Unfortunately, his playoff didn't last long, and he was eliminated in ninth place, winning $40,100.

Texas Hold'em veteran Kim Stone attempted to double up with a short stack but failed in the race, finishing in eighth place and earning $51,540. This tournament, with a guaranteed prize of $2 million and a total prize pool of $3,136,350, dwindled to just seven players from the initial 2,090 entrants. Simon Britton (seventh place, $66,960), Taylor Fortini (sixth place, $87,200), and Eric Tang (fifth place, $116,580) were all eliminated.

WSOP Circuit Main Event Final Table Results

Ryan Brown initially progressed well with a large chip stack until he flopped top pair, only to lose to Chang's runner-runner straight, losing about half his chips. He couldn't recover and was eliminated with a weaker Ace against a stronger Ace when he lost most of his remaining chips to Venkat Chivukula.

Chang's path to victory was not without its challenges. In a four-way battle, he made a Q-high flush on the turn with Q♦6♦, only to lose a 100-big-blind pot to Anil Jivani, who held A♦10♦. However, he quickly readjusted and fought back. Brown, on the other hand, couldn't maintain his momentum and was surprisingly defeated by Jivani in the final few big blinds, finishing in fourth place with a payout of $156,455.

Jivani started the heads-up match with nearly 70%. But Chang quickly won a big race against Chivukula, sending Chivukula to third place ($211,440), and was nearly tied with Jivani at the start of the heads-up match.

After a back-and-forth battle between the two finalists for about an hour, Chang began to pull away. He held his advantage with A9 against A5, ending his heads-up match and forcing Jivani to finish second with $289,110. Chang won his second WSOP Circuit ring and more than doubled his previous live tournament winnings.

TCH Social, one of six Texas Card House poker clubs, has successfully concluded a landmark WSOP Circuit series, surpassing all guaranteed prizes in all 18 ring events. This is the second time this popular Lone Star State Poker Room has hosted a WSOPC series, and it likely won't be the last.

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