World Champ Chris Moneymaker Busts on Bubble in the 2026 WSOP Main Event

The 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event delivered a moment of high drama on Thursday, July 9, 2026, as the money bubble burst in spectacular fashion. Among the three players simultaneously eliminated, thus securing a minimum payout for the rest of the field, was none other than the legendary 2003 World Champion, Chris Moneymaker. His 1,383rd-place finish sent a ripple of cheers through the Paris Las Vegas tournament area, not out of malice, but from the collective relief that the $10,000 buy-in tournament would now yield a profit for every remaining player.

Day 3 had concluded with 1,389 hopefuls still in contention, meaning a mere seven eliminations stood between them and the coveted money. As Day 4 commenced, the atmosphere was thick with tension, particularly among the short stacks who desperately clung to their dwindling chip counts, aiming to outlast just a few more opponents. A min-cash in this prestigious event was set at a respectable $15,000, making the bubble a pivotal moment for many.

The tournament floor transformed into a media circus as hand-for-hand play was initiated. Reporters, camera crews, and tournament staff raced between tables, each trying to capture the raw emotion of poker's most significant bubble. Play kicked off at 11 a.m. PT with blinds at 4,000/8,000. Sasha Liu held the chip lead with a massive 2,364,000, equating to nearly 300 big blinds, while Evan Lindeman started as the shortest stack with just 5,000 chips. Lindeman was, perhaps inevitably, forced all-in on the very first hand and did not survive.

Among the other short stacks was Nicholas Hellmuth, son of the 'Poker Brat' Phil Hellmuth, who began the day with a mere six big blinds. The pressure mounted quickly, leading to visible irritation among some players. _PokerNews'_ Brett Slezak reported that the clock was called at one table a mere 79 seconds into the day, highlighting the intense desire to avoid being the bubble player. The bubble itself was remarkably reached just 15 minutes into the session, setting the stage for the dramatic multi-elimination.

In an unusual turn of events, a significant pot developed on the stone bubble, a rarity when players are typically tightening up. Anthony Lombard bet 250,000 on a board reading **6♣4♣4♥K♦Q♠**, only to tank-fold after Mason Vieth moved all-in. While this confrontation between two big stacks didn't result in an elimination, it underscored the high stakes of the moment.

Chris Moneymaker, despite starting the day with a seemingly comfortable 221,000 chips, found himself in a precarious position. His all-in situation on the stone bubble was unexpected, given his chip count. Adding another layer of intrigue, two other players were also eliminated simultaneously: Stoyan Madanzhiev and Zhaken Seitbekov. Madanzhiev, notably, had won the WSOP Online Main Event on GGPoker in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, though Damian Salas is officially recognized as the 2020 World Champion after winning the subsequent online-live hybrid event.

The hand that sealed Moneymaker's fate began with him opening to 17,000 from the hijack with **J♥9♦**. Antonio Vargas, holding **A♥A♠**, three-bet to 42,000, which Moneymaker called. The flop came down **8♥7♠7♦**, and Vargas continued with a 20,000 bet, again called by Moneymaker. The **7♣** on the turn gave Vargas trips, and he fired 45,000, which Moneymaker called. The **8♠** river completed a full house on the board, and Vargas moved all-in, putting Moneymaker to the test for his remaining 100,000 chips. The man credited with igniting the 2000s poker boom made the call, only to see Vargas's aces hold up, sending him, Madanzhiev, and Seitbekov out of the tournament.

Following the triple bust, Madanzhiev and Seitbekov engaged in a flip for a free WSOP Paradise seat, which Seitbekov ultimately won. For Moneymaker, this marked a disappointing end to his Main Event run, his first bubble exit since his historic victory. His last cash in the Main Event was in 2023, where he secured a min-cash for 1,198th place. The 2026 WSOP has already seen its share of notable moments, with 100 bracelets awarded, Adrian Mateos becoming the youngest to win six bracelets, Kristen Foxen securing her sixth and her husband Alex his fourth, and Naoya Kihara claiming two mixed-game championship titles. Even Phil Hellmuth was denied his 18th bracelet with a runner-up finish on the final day of the series, underscoring a summer packed with high-stakes poker action and compelling narratives.