Deeb Seizes 9th WSOP Bracelet With 8-Game Win

Shaun Deeb, a name synonymous with high-stakes poker prowess, has finally broken through the barrier that saw him finish as runner-up in three previous 2026 World Series of Poker bracelet events. The 40-year-old poker titan emerged victorious from a grueling field of 766 entries in the $1,500 eight-game mix, securing his ninth career gold bracelet and a substantial first-place prize of $181,625. This latest triumph pushes his formidable career earnings to an impressive $19.6 million, solidifying his status among the game's elite.

Deeb's ambition remains undimmed, as he declared to *PokerNews* his long-standing goal: "I’m going to pass Phil. I’ve been saying that for years." This statement, a direct challenge to Phil Hellmuth's record of 17 bracelets, underscores Deeb's relentless pursuit of poker history. He reflected on his journey, noting, "I could have been a lot closer. I could have been a lot further ahead of some other guys with nine or eight or seven, but, you know, I show up every day, play every event, play every buy-in, and sometimes you win."

This victory is particularly notable as it comes hot on the heels of other poker legends reaching the same milestone. Just a day prior, Michael Mizrachi secured his ninth bracelet in the $10,000 pot-limit Omaha championship. Days before that, Benny Glaser earned his ninth with a marquee win in the $50,000 Poker Players Championship. This trio of nine-time winners, all achieving the feat within a week, now stands alongside the late Johnny Moss. Only Hellmuth (17), Phil Ivey (11), Doyle Brunson (10), Johnny Chan (10), and Erik Seidel (10) possess more WSOP titles.

Beyond the gleaming bracelet and the significant cash prize, Deeb's win also garnered him a hefty 912 *Card Player* Player of the Year (POY) points. This marks his second overall title and ninth final-table appearance of 2026, propelling him to 20th place in the prestigious POY standings. Furthermore, Deeb, a two-time *WSOP* POY winner from 2018 and 2025, has now seized the top spot in those standings with 2,816 points, establishing a 95-point lead over second-ranked Alex Foxen.

His dominant performance this year has been a testament to his consistent grind. The 761 *WSOP* POY points from this latest win, combined with significant hauls from his runner-up finishes in the *WSOP Europe* Colossus (482 points), the €3,000 mixed PLO (322 points), and the $3,000 nine-game in Las Vegas (425 points), illustrate the depth of his commitment to the annual series. True to his nature, Deeb was back in action almost immediately after his victory, epitomizing the relentless spirit of a top POY contender.

The final day of the $1,500 eight-game mix commenced with 13 hopefuls, Deeb holding the chip lead. The field thinned steadily, with notable eliminations including Viktor Blom, known as 'Isildur1,' in 10th place ($11,960). As players converged on the unofficial final table, Fu Wong briefly took the lead, but Deeb's momentum was undeniable. He systematically dismantled his opponents, including Patrick Mahoney in sixth place ($28,420) with a crucial scoop in stud eight-or-better, and Itsuko Yoroi in fifth place ($39,570) after a decisive deuce-to-seven triple draw hand.

Into the final four, Deeb continued his rampage, picking off a bluff from two-time bracelet winner Blaz Zerjav to leave the Slovenian short-stacked before his eventual fourth-place exit ($56,230). Three-handed play saw Dean Joe take a momentary lead, eliminating Fu Wong in third place ($81,530) with a dominating ace-eight against king-eight. This set up a heads-up battle with Joe holding a 2:1 chip advantage over Deeb.

The heads-up contest was a seesaw affair. Deeb methodically chipped away at Joe's lead, seizing control after a pivotal razz pot. He then extended his advantage with a timely rivered flush in limit hold'em. The lead traded hands a few more times, with Joe mounting a comeback, but Deeb's resilience shone through. A crucial call in stud with a pair of kings shifted the momentum, and a rivered straight in no-limit hold'em against Joe's flopped top pair of eights gave Deeb a commanding lead. While Joe managed a double-up in pot-limit Omaha, it was not enough to deter Deeb. The final hand unfolded in pot-limit Omaha, with Deeb's A♥K♥K♣3♠ holding strong against Joe's A♣10♥6♠5♠ on a 10♦7♦4♣J♣2♦ board, securing the bracelet. Dean Joe earned $120,570 as the runner-up, his largest career score to date.

Here are the final table results:

| Place | Player | Payout | POY Points | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Shaun Deeb | $181,625 | 912 | | 2 | Dean Joe | $120,570 | 760 | | 3 | Fu Wong | $81,530 | 608 | | 4 | Blaz Zerjav | $56,230 | 456 | | 5 | Itsuko Yoroi | $39,570 | 380 | | 6 | Patrick Mahoney | $28,420 | 304 |