Hellmuth finished as runner-up on the final day of the 2026 WSOP, missing out on her 18th gold bracelet.

Phil Hellmuth finished as runner-up in the $5,000 eight-handed event on the final day of the 2026 WSOP, failing to win his 18th gold bracelet and falling just one step away from extending his all-time record.

With the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) drawing to a close, the banquet hall at Horseshoe Las Vegas is nearly empty, but this day has become one of the most exciting days of the summer – bracelet record holder Phil Hellmuth is battling for his 18th gold bracelet.

The 17-time bracelet winner currently holds a six-handed chip lead in Event #99: $5,000 Eight-Max No-Limit Hold'em. The event attracted 884 entries, creating a total prize pool of $4,066,400. The champion will receive $695,256, but Hellmuth's sights are set on the championship belt, which would further extend his lead on the all-time bracelet list.

Can Hellmuth extend his lead in gold bracelets?

All eyes were on Hellmuth, one of 77 players to return to the $5,000 buy-in event. He successfully outpaced several well-known players, including Adam Hendrix, Cliff Josephy, Joseph Cheong, and Brian Rast.

According to PokerNews reporters Frank Visser, Stewart Morrison, and Tim Baker, Hellmuth entered the final table with 10,000,000 chips, putting him ahead of big-stacked Nick Pupillo and Max Kingstone.

With the elimination of Josh Norvock, Connor Belcher and Max Kingstone, Hellmuth's lead widened further as he unleashed some of his signature "white magic" along the way.

Only five players remain between Hellmuth and his record-breaking 18th gold bracelet. Two of his rivals—Victor Li and Joshua Stewart—are seeking their first bracelet, while Darren Rabinowitz, Nick Pupillo, and Nicholas Palma are all aiming for their second. Hellmuth and "Nicky P" had a disagreement earlier in the series, but so far the atmosphere at the final table has been relatively amicable.

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