2026 WSOP Main Event: Sasha Liu Leads After Day 3 as Bubble Approaches

The most prestigious and lucrative tournament in the poker world, the World Series of Poker Main Event, has reached a pivotal juncture. After three intense days of play, the gargantuan $85,634,400 prize pool, stemming from 9,208 entries, is on the precipice of being distributed. Only 1,389 hopefuls remain in contention for a piece of poker's ultimate glory, and the tension is palpable as the money bubble approaches, with just seven eliminations separating the remaining field from a guaranteed minimum payout of $15,000.

Leading the charge into Day 4 is none other than Sasha Liu, a name synonymous with high-stakes Pot-Limit Omaha cash game dominance. Liu entered Event #82: $10,000 WSOP Main Event NLH World Championship like a wrecking ball, registering at the start of Day 2 and quickly accumulating more than six starting stacks within her first level of play. This aggressive momentum carried through Day 3, where she not only built a seven-figure stack by dinner break but then proceeded to more than double it, finishing the night with an astonishing 2,364,000 chips. This commanding performance puts her well ahead of second-place Martin Zamani, who bagged 1,963,000.

Close on their heels is Levon Khachatryan, who turned in a stellar performance to secure the third-largest stack at 1,745,000. Khachatryan is fresh off a career-best score of $1,440,680 this summer, having finished runner-up to Eelis Pärssinen in Event #47: $25,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha. Other notable players rounding out the top ten include Zdenek Zizka (1,576,000) and Will Givens (1,540,000), both positioning themselves strongly for a deep run.

Here's a look at the top 10 chip counts heading into Day 4:

| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds | |---|---|---|---|---| | 1 | Sasha Liu | United States | 2,364,000 | 295 | | 2 | Martin Zamani | United States | 1,963,000 | 245 | | 3 | Levon Khachatryan | United States | 1,745,000 | 218 | | 4 | Robert Gill | United States | 1,604,000 | 200 | | 5 | Zdenek Zizka | Czechia | 1,576,000 | 197 | | 6 | Robin Kleinbeck | Germany | 1,558,000 | 194 | | 7 | Will Givens | United States | 1,540,000 | 192 | | 8 | Brian Carraher | United States | 1,463,000 | 182 | | 9 | Felix Kuemayr | Austria | 1,398,000 | 174 | | 10 | Jared Passanante | United States | 1,361,000 | 170 |

Day 3 commenced with 3,294 players returning to the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, a stark reminder of the sheer scale of this event. Throughout the five levels of play, hundreds of dreams were dashed, some quietly, others with the dramatic flair often associated with high-stakes poker. Early on, Gaspar Fernandez, who started Day 3 second in chips, suffered a massive blow, losing a significant pot when his move was met by a full house from Felix Kuemayr. Former WSOP Main Event champion Joe McKeehen was also among the early casualties.

GGPoker's Kevin Martin's journey ended swiftly in the first level, caught bluffing with just ace-jack high on a paired queen-high board against Loren Weiss. Matthew Radcliffe faced a brutal cooler, getting all-in preflop with pocket kings only to run into the pocket aces of Arnaud Mattern, while Delmiro Toledo reportedly folded pocket kings to avoid the carnage. Mattern finished with a robust 1,280,000, and Toledo with a respectable 872,000. Even more agonizing was the exit of former Main Event finalist Benjamin Pollak, who flopped a full house with pocket aces only to be shown quads sixes, ending his tournament prematurely.

The pre-dinner session also saw the departure of two of poker's most polarizing figures. Will Kassouf bowed out in a flip with pocket sixes against Kevin Killeen's king-queen, with the Irishman rivering an ace-high flush to silence Kassouf. Phil Hellmuth followed soon after, his flopped flush draw failing to materialize. This leaves only his son Nicholas Hellmuth (53,000) still in the running, as his other son Phil Hellmuth III also exited.

In contrast, former WSOP Main Event champion Hossein Ensan navigated the day with remarkable skill. After a measured start, he methodically built his stack past half a million, then quickly eliminated three players in rapid succession to cross the seven-figure mark. Ensan ultimately bagged 1,280,000 chips, providing him with ample ammunition for the money bubble. He is one of seven former Main Event champions still in contention.

Despite over $15 million in recorded live poker cashes, Ensan maintains a humble perspective on his poker career. “I am not a professional player, but always try to play my A-game and give my best at the tables. But I am certainly not a professional,” the 2019 WSOP and EPT Main Event champion explained after bagging his chips. He notes that his appearances at the tables are selective, primarily focusing on the summer WSOP in Las Vegas and the EPT Monte-Carlo festival.

When asked about the enduring appeal of the WSOP Main Event, Ensan immediately highlighted its distinctive structure. “It is a massive field and the best tournament all over the world with two-hour levels. You are always deep, even if you lose a part of your starting stack. There is never really any pressure on you with this structure.” This deep-stacked play allows for strategic depth and resilience, qualities that will be crucial as the remaining players converge on the money bubble and the ultimate quest for the world championship title.