Can Phil Hellmuth accumulate chips on the final day and salvage his 2026 WSOP?

Phil Hellmuth will compete in the $5,000 eight-handed event on the final day of the 2026 WSOP, aiming to win his 18th gold bracelet and salvage a lackluster summer.

Phil Hellmuth has one last chance this summer to extend his World Series of Poker bracelet record to 18.

However, this "poker devil" will need to make a hot run on the final day of the series to achieve this goal. Hellmuth will return to Day 2 of Event #99:$5,000 Eight-Max No-Limit Hold'em with 71 other players at 1 p.m. Pacific Time.

Hellmuth isn't the only big name still in contention for a gold bracelet and the $695,256 champion's prize. Adam Hendrix, Cliff Josephy, Joseph Cheong, and Brian Rast are among the notable players returning to the final.

Poker prodigy's last stand?

Hellmuth had some success at the 2026 WSOP, but it certainly wasn't one of his best summers. The BetRivers Casino ambassador had deep runs in two events, reaching the final table in both. He also won money in the $50,000 Poker Players Championship (one of the world's most prestigious mixed-game tournaments). But he only had five cashes throughout the summer, with his best result being a seventh-place finish in the $10,000 Omaha High Low 8 or Better Championship.

However, the summer could be completely salvaged on Wednesday. Hellmuth could win his 18th gold bracelet, further extending his record since winning his 11th in 2007. Phil Ivey had a less successful summer, sitting in second place with 11 gold bracelets, six short of the record.

Hellmuth's last chance to salvage the summer begins at 1 p.m. Pacific Time at Horseshoe Las Vegas. He will enter Day Two with 950,000 chips. For reference, Josh Norvock leads with 1,530,000 chips. It will be a tough battle for this poker prodigy to end the summer strong and win a gold bracelet. But even crazier things happen on the final day of the World Series of Poker.

There are three events still underway on Day 51 of the 2026 WSOP, all scheduled to determine a champion before the day ends. After that, the only remaining event is the WSOP Main Event final table, which will be held from August 3rd to 5th.

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