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Day 5 of the 2026 WSOP Main Event has concluded, with only 174 players remaining out of a field of 9,208. Defending champion Michael Mizrachi finished in 241st place, Zhao Liu became the chip leader with 10,150,000 chips, and Shaun Deeb advanced to Day 6.
2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Event #82: $10,000. As Day 5 of the WSOP Main Event NLH World Championship progressed, the competition entered its deepest phase. After five levels of intense play, the original field of 9,208 players dwindled to 174, and the battle for the championship, with a total prize pool of $85,634,400, intensified.
The biggest focus of the day was the official end of defending champion Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi’s title defense. Mizrachi finished in 241st place, taking home $50,000 and failing to make a second consecutive run for the WSOP Main Event title and the $10 million first-place prize.
Mizrachi finished in 241st place, his title defense shattered. Day 5
Mizrachi suffered a devastating blow midway through Day 5 when his flush met a higher flush. Although he struggled to hold his chips, he ultimately couldn't mount a comeback. His final hand came in the penultimate level of Day 5, where Mizrachi went all-in with KQ for approximately nine big blinds, facing off against 2019 WSOP Main Event champion Hossein Ensan's pocket aces. The board ran out 7♣9♠7♥7♠10♥, giving Ensan a full house and ending Mizrachi's title defense.
This also means that Mizrachi will not become the next player after Johnny Chan to achieve consecutive WSOP Main Event titles. According to PokerNews, since Chris Moneymaker's victory in 2003, the best performance by a defending champion the following year was Greg Raymer's 25th place finish in 2005.
Zhao Liu breaks the 10 million chip mark, becoming the only eight-figure chip leader on Day 5.
After Day 5, Zhao Liu led the leaderboard with 10,150,000 chips, making him the only player to surpass 10 million chips. It's worth noting that Zhao Liu has reached Day 6 of the WSOP Main Event for two consecutive years; he finished 161st in the 2025 Main Event.
Chinese player Xingyu Liu also performed impressively, ranking third with 9,040,000 chips, becoming one of the most watched Asian players before the start of Day 6. In the top ten chipset leaderboard, Dhiraj Sharma ranked second with 9,840,000 chips, while Allan Sannier, Sachin Joshi, and Mario Boos all accumulated over 7.8 million chips.
Top 10 Chips of Day 5 in the WSOP Main Event
| Ranking | player | Country/Region | Scoreboard | big blind number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zhao Liu | United States | 10,150,000 | 169 |
| 2 | Dhiraj Sharma | Canada | 9,840,000 | 164 |
| 3 | Xingyu Liu | China | 9,040,000 | 151 |
| 4 | Allan Sannier | France | 8,680,000 | 145 |
| 5 | Sachin Joshi | United Kingdom | 8,385,000 | 140 |
| 6 | Mario Boos | France | 7,850,000 | 131 |
| 7 | Justin Manjares | United States | 7,760,000 | 129 |
| 8 | Tyler Gaston | United States | 7,055,000 | 118 |
| 9 | Malcolm Trayner | Australia | 6,740,000 | 112 |
| 10 | Daewoong Song | South Korea | 6,565,000 | 109 |
Shaun Deeb stabilized the situation and advanced to Day 6 with 4.305 million.
Nine-time WSOP bracelet winner Shaun Deeb also successfully navigated Day 5. He experienced some fluctuations at the start but doubled up in the second level of the day and gradually accumulated chips. Despite losing a significant pot in the final hands of Day 5, Deeb advanced to Day 6 with 4,305,000 chips, starting with over 70 big blinds and above average chips.
Deeb is currently still in contention for the WSOP Player of the Year award. PokerNews reports that he remains focused on the POY rankings; making it to the final table of the Main Event would significantly improve his chances of winning the Player of the Year award.
Some of the top athletes advanced, while others were eliminated.
Besides Deeb, several other prominent players still have a strong chance to advance. Daniel Hachem advanced with 3,895,000, while Todd Brunson pocketed 3,690,000; both carry the weight of their family and Main Event history. High-stakes cash game regular Wesley Fei advanced with 4,580,000, while Francisco Fragoso and Andy Tsai also made it to Day 6 with 3,910,000 and 3,685,000 respectively.
On the other hand, Mizrachi wasn't the only former Main Event champion to be eliminated. Greg Raymer finished in 279th place, and Ryan Riess finished in 282nd, both taking home $50,000. Hossein Ensan became the last former WSOP Main Event champion still competing, holding 3,450,000 chips at the end of Day 5.
Other notable players who were eliminated included Brian Hastings (471st place, $35,000), Chris Hunichen (424th place, $35,000), Stephen Chidwick (394th place, $40,000), and Alex Foxen (263rd place, $50,000). Tony Dunst, Artur Martirosian, Sergio Aido, and Josh Arieh all finished their runs at the end of Day 5, winning $57,500 each.
Match data compilation
| project | data |
|---|---|
| Tournament | WSOP Event #82: $10,000 Main Event NLH World Championship |
| Buy | $10,000 |
| Total number of participants | 9,208 |
| Total prize pool | $85,634,400 |
| Day 5 starters | 533 |
| Day 5 ends with remaining number of people | 174 |
| Average Scoreboard | 3,175,172 |
| King of Chips | Zhao Liu |
| Chip King Score | 10,150,000 |
| Defending champion's performance | Michael Mizrachi ranked 241st, with $50,000 |
Remaining Bonus Focus
| Ranking | bonus |
|---|---|
| 1 | $10,000,000 |
| 2 | $6,000,000 |
| 3 | $3,750,000 |
| 4 | $2,750,000 |
| 5 | $2,250,000 |
| 6 | $1,750,000 |
| 7 | $1,500,000 |
| 8 | $1,250,000 |
| 9 | $1,000,000 |
| 10-11 | $750,000 |
| 12-13 | $510,000 |
| 14-17 | $410,475 |
| 18-26 | $325,000 |
| 27-35 | $265,000 |
| 36-44 | $215,000 |
| 45-53 | $180,000 |
| 54-62 | $150,000 |
| 63-71 | $125,000 |
| 72-80 | $105,000 |
| 81-89 | $90,000 |
| 90-98 | $75,000 |
| 99-161 | $65,000 |
| 162-174 | $57,500 |
The WSOP Main Event Day 6 will resume at 11:00 AM Las Vegas time on July 12th, with blinds starting at 30,000/60,000 and an ante of 60,000 big blind. The tournament is expected to consist of five two-hour levels, with a break after each level and a 70-minute break after the second level.
With Mizrachi's title defense shattered, the main event's focus shifts to high-stakes players like Zhao Liu, Dhiraj Sharma, and Xingyu Liu, as well as established and high-profile players with championship experience such as Shaun Deeb and Hossein Ensan. Day 6 will further reduce the number of players, and the competition for higher prize money and final table spots will intensify.
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