Jumalon Leads Saaskilahti Heads-Up In World Series Of Poker Main Event

Just over a month ago, on July 2, the first cards went into the air in the 2026 World Series of Poker main event. Now, after battling through 10 days of poker and a field of 9,208 players, just two potential champions remain.

Lucas Jumalon, who has been the chip leader since the start of the final table, maintains pole position with 328 million. The 22-year-old from Spokane, Washington bagged up the top stack after threatening to run away with the title on the second day of WSOP main event final table action.

“I’ve told everybody this: job’s not finished,” said Jumalon. “I won’t be happy until it’s done. Try not to get too high, too low. I mean, you saw a little bit of emotion from me out here [at the end of the night], but I’m a man of the people, so I try to give them what they want.”

The only one to make an impactful stand against Jumalon on day 10 was Lauri Saaskilahti. The 39-year-old businessman from Finland made a massive call for his tournament life against Jumalon, won the biggest pot of the 2026 WSOP main event thus far, and put himself on a collision course with Jumalon with the championship bracelet and $10,000,000 on the line. He takes 225 million chips into Wednesday night’s heads-up battle on ESPN.

“He’s a phenomenal player and not scared of anything,” Jumalon said of Saaskilahti. “Since day 5, we’ve been battling back and forth, and I have so much respect for his game. I don’t think there’s a more worthy opponent to get heads up with, and that’s not a shot at anybody [else who was at this final table].”

Big Action, No Waiting

Four-time NBA champion and poker aficionado Draymond Green handled the ceremonial shuffle-up-and-deal announcement inside the Horseshoe Las Vegas around 4:00 PM local time, hyping the crowd and displaying the championship bracelet that will soon adorn this year’s main event winner. Green then hopped in the commentary booth for a stretch, joining the vaunted duo of Ali Nejad and Poker Hall of Famer Nick Schulman for the early action.

It didn’t take long for a big pot to arrive. Within the first half hour, there was an all-in and call that nearly sent Greg Mueller packing. He open-shoved with K♥J♦ from UTG+1 and ran into A♠K♠ for Saaskilahti, who called in the big blind. Mueller was well behind preflop, but the J♥10♦8♦ rolled off to give him top pair and a healthy lead in the hand. The 6♣ turn and 3♥ river kept Mueller’s hand best to see him double into third chip position.

Greg Mueller doubles up, and his rail is LOVING IT! 🔥

He stays alive after cracking Saskilahti’s A♠K♠ with K♥️J♦ in a massive all in. pic.twitter.com/Lq8xAzWlJl

— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) August 5, 2026

Saaskilahti slid to fifth chip position after starting the day amongst the top three. There would be brighter moments ahead, though.

Shaevel ‘Feels The Love’ After Seventh-Place Run

Jamie Shaevel had slipped to just shy of five big blinds by the time the next big hand arrived. He committed the majority of them preflop with K♥6♥, and Jumalon called with K♦10♥ from the big blind. The flop came down 7♠4♥3♣ and Jumalon check-called Shaevel’s remaining 1.5 big blinds. The J♣ left Shaevel needing a six or five on the end. The J♥ appeared on the river, ending Shaevel’s run in seventh place ($1,500,000).

“It’s been unforgettable, and it’s been something that I’ve never experienced anything remotely close to in my life and probably never will again,” said Shaevel. “I hope I’m wrong on that, but it’s just been incredible.”

The 39-year-old poker player now has over $1.9 million in career tournament cashes, despite focusing primarily on cash games when not helping with the family landscape lighting business. The Santa Monica, California resident sported a pair of Kobe Bryant jerseys on the two nights of final table action, a nod to the late Lakers legend who had inspired him in so many ways.

“Kobe was like my god, you know, was a big part of shaping just who I am, and mentally made me a stronger person and better person. This is by far the biggest stage and platform I’ve ever had,” Shaevel told Card Player. “I wanted to pay homage to him however I could, and this was what I came up with.”

This was the eighth cash in an estimated 18 WSOP main events played for the LA-area no-limit hold’em cash game grinder. While he’ll be heading home with his largest payday yet, the memories eclipse the cash.

“I’m really grateful to all of the people that showed the support in the ways that they did. I feel really loved, and honestly I care so much more about that than the money. I just feel loved. It’s a good feeling, you know… I hope everybody gets to feel the feeling that I’ve felt at some point in their lives.”

A Couple Of Doubles

A classic preflop coin flip set up the next all-in confrontation. Mueller open-shoved for 13 big blinds with 9♠9♦ from the button. His fellow Canadian, Rami Hammoud, called holding A♠K♥ in the big blind.

Mueller’s pocket pair had the slight edge to start, but became a healthy favorite after the first three cards of 10♣7♥3♠ failed to connect with either player. The 5♣ turn left Hammoud in dire straights. The river paired the board with the 10♥ and Mueller doubled to the delight of his raucous rail.

After plummeting down the leaderboard early, Saaskilahti bounced back in a major way thanks to pocket kings. He got all-in with K♠K♥ from the small blind, three-bet committing over the hijack open of Han Feng, who ultimately went with his A♣J♦. Saaskilahti’s pocket pair held through a Q♥Q♦2♦3♠9♥ runout to see him climb off the mat.

Hammoud Gets Goosebumps After Impromptu National Anthem Farewell From Mueller Rail

Hammoud’s stack was in shambles after losing the flip against his countryman. He soon raised to 12.5 million off of a 16.5 million stack with Q♥J♠ from under the gun. Jumalon called on his direct left with A♥5♥, and the flop came down 8♠6♠2♠ to give Hammoud a flush draw to go with his live overcards to the board. He moved all-in for his last 4 million and Jumalon made the call with ace high.

The 2♣ turn paired the board. Hammoud needed a spade, jack or queen on the river in order to double up and remain in the event. The 4♥ was no help, though, and Hammoud was sent home in sixth place ($1,750,000).

“Obviously now, it’s sad, right? So, but it’s important to go through that sadness. It’s important to live that sadness. At some point there will be a time to look back on this, and I’ll be proud of it. For now, let me be sad about it, you know; that’s why I have my rail. They’re going to lift me up. I’ll just remember that I made $1.75 million,” said Hammoud.

As he headed to his rail after being eliminated, Mueller’s rail burst into the Canadian national anthem in honor of Hammoud’s performance. The 36-year-old analytics manager for Voldex games was moved by the gesture.

“I’m getting goosebumps, right? It was just so awesome. I already started feeling their love before day 9… Walking in, they’re all dapping me up like, ’We’re rooting for you if it’s not Greg.’ For them to give me their love on my last hand, I’ll never forget that. This is ingrained in my memory, right? I’m just so happy, so appreciative, so grateful.”

With this score, Hammoud now boasts nearly $2.2 million in lifetime earnings.

Jumalon chipped up to 316,000,000 after taking down the pot, giving him over 105 big blinds to work with heading into five-handed action.

Feng’s Aces Cracked For Fifth-Place Finish

Feng enjoyed an almost perfect first night at the WSOP final table, going from one of the shortest stacks to second place overnight. But the second evening of WSOP final-table action wasn’t quite so kind.

He lost a big pot with pocket tens against the pocket sevens of Jumalon, which had flopped sevens full of aces. That left Feng among the shortest stacks heading into the next big preflop showdown.

He min-raised to 6 million with A♦A♣ from under the gun, and Saaskilahti three-bet to 50 million with 9♠9♥ from the button, leaving just 9.5 million behind. Mueller looked down at J♦J♣ in the big blind and went deep into the tank. He eventually folded the big pocket pair, correctly. Feng snap-called all in.

The 10♦8♦3♦ flop left Saaskilahti with one live out to take the lead. When the J♥ hit the turn, Mueller physically recoiled on the rail, as he would have hit his own one-outer on Feng had the hand played out a little bit differently. That card also gave Saaskilahti six more outs. The Q♠ river delivered Saaskilahti’s queen-high straight, cracking Feng’s aces and sending him to the rail in fifth place.

“It’s fine man, it happens. It’s all good,” Feng told the WSOP’s Jeff Platt in the aftermath.

Feng settled for $2,250,000 as the fifth-place finisher, making him the first multi-millionaire in this 2026 WSOP main event. The Houston, Texas resident’s career haul ballooned to over $4.1 million thanks to this huge result.

Saaskilahti Makes Game-Changing Call To Close The Gap On Jumalon

On the 142nd hand of the final table, Saaskilahti took a stand against the seeming runaway freight train of Jumalon. Despite Michael Gagliano‘s short stack, and Mueller’s shrinking pile of chips, Saaskilahti, then comfortably in second, stood up to the incredible aggression of the bullying chip leader.

The key confrontation began with the Finn min-raising to 6 million from under the gun with 10♠10♣. Jumalon defended his big blind with 4♥3♦, and the flop came down 9♠4♦2♥. Jumalon opted to lead out for 10 million with second pair. Saaskilahti raised to 25 million with his overpair of tens, and Jumalon called.

The 5♦ turn gave Jumalon an open-ended straight draw to go with his outs to trips and two pair. He announced a bet of 65 million, which covered Saaskilahti’s stack of 61 million. After mulling over the crucial spot, Saaskilahti mused, “This is the hand where I catch your bluff? One pair and a draw, or something?”

Saaskilahti nailed his read, and eventually called with his pocket tens, asking, “You have it?”

Jumalon was behind, but still had plenty of equity with outs to an ace, six, four, or three. The K♦ rolled off instead, though, giving Saaskilahti a huge double to 188,500,000 after winning the biggest pot of the 2026 WSOP main event thus far. Jumalon fell to 281,500,000 after the hand.

Gagliano Ground Down, Ultimately Eliminated In Fourth Place

Gagliano was the most decorated player at the final table, with four WSOP bracelets to his name. He came within a few spots of adding a fifth, but was unable to build much momentum in the late stages of this tournament.

‘Gags’ entered seven-handed play on Tuesday as the third-shortest stack with just 17 big blinds. He was whittled down to just a few big blind when his final hand arrived. He shoved for 9.5 million from the button with K♠Q♠, and Mueller called from the small blind with pocket fours. Jumalon then three-bet jammed with K♦J♥ and forced Mueller out of the pot, albeit with a sideways look towards Jumalon.

Both players paired their top card on the K♥8♥5♣ flop. The J♦ turn gave Jumalon kings up, and a massive lead in the hand. The 7♠ river spelled the end of Gagliano’s run in fourth place ($2,750,000).

Only Gratitude For Gags

As he reflected on an incredible run, Gagliano wanted to return some of the love that had been sent in his direction over the last few weeks.

“A lot of support,” Gagliano told Card Player. “Friends, family, people online, everywhere. It’s just been overwhelming. Really, just unbelievable. Every time I look at my phone, I have so many messages. I haven’t had my phone all day, but I’m sure I’ll see a bunch waiting for me. Support from people at the final table, and even other people’s rails. Fans, everybody just telling me ‘Great job,’ and, ‘We’re rooting for you.’

This was the largest score yet for the 41-year-old poker pro from Rockaway, New Jersey. The score increased his lifetime earnings to more than $5.3 million. Seventeen years after recording his first ever WSOP cash, Gagliano felt that this special moment in his career couldn’t have come at a much better time.

“I think having the years of experience and stuff… obviously, there’s a lot of emotion in a final table like this,” said Gagliano. “Being able to be a bit more level-headed and stay in the game. You guys saw me. I was grinding, like, not a lot of chips for a very long time, and that’s a situation where I certainly would have been much more stressed and frustrated when I was younger. I was able to just fold and see what happens, and that’s been my approach this whole time.”

Mueller Falls In Third

Saaskilahti soon kicked off the last hand of the night with a sneaky small blind limp holding K♠K♦. Mueller checked his option with 10♣4♥ in the big blind, and the flop brought a A♦A♣4♣ board. Saaskilahti checked and Mueller checked behind. The J♥ turn prompted a 3,000,000 min-bet from Saaskilahti.

Mueller called, and the 3♦ completed the board. Saaskilahti announced an overbet of 50 million, which had Mueller’s remaining 34 million well covered. The three-time bracelet winner stared down his opponent, re-checked his cards, took a deep breath, and paused. After a minute more of observation, he announced call, and was shown the winner.

Mueller settled for $3,750,000 as the third-place finisher. The 55-year-old poker professional and former hockey pro more than doubled his career earnings thanks to this marquee performance. His loud contingent of supporters who had brought a jubilant energy to the final table gave Mueller his own rendition of the Canadian national anthem, and Mueller couldn’t help but smile as he waved his arms in the air.

“It was the single most amazing poker experience I’ve ever experienced,” Mueller said to Platt. “And like I said, I’ve had a lot of good moments. This is amazing, and with all these guys, I mean, look at this rail. You said it, maybe the best rail in WSOP history… It means that the poker [itself] really means nothing. It’s about life, like you just having friends and family and support that love you. That’s what life’s all about.”

One More Night

Jumalon and Saaskilahti return on Wed. Aug 5 to play the biggest heads-up match of their lives. Each of them has $6 million locked up, and a win’s worth an extra $4 million, along with the bracelet and the title of WSOP main event champion.

At the end of day 10 action, Jumalon’s friends and family lifted him up and tossed him into the air. He’s not looking beyond Saaskilahti, but he now knows that if he wins, he’ll be celebrating a little differently.

“That was scary,” Jumalon said of flying through the air. “I’m not doing that again. I don’t care if I win. They can dogpile on me in the middle of the stage. But we’ve still got some work to do.”

Action kicks off at approximately 5:30 p.m. local time in Las Vegas. Broadcast coverage begins at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, and continues until a champion is crowned. Blinds will be 1,500,000-3,000,000 with a 3,000,000 big blind ante.

Chip Counts – End Of Day 10

Remaining Payouts and Final Table Results Thus Far:

Photo credits: WSOP / Alicia Skillman