button in SafariCan Phil Hellmuth Spin Up a Stack and Save His 2026 WSOP on the Final Day?
Phil Hellmuth has one last shot this summer to extend his World Series of Poker bracelet record to 18.
The "Poker Brat," however, will need to run hot on the final day of the series to pull it off. Hellmuth will return to action at 1 p.m. PT for Day 2 of Event #99: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold'em, along with 71 others.
Hellmuth isn't the only big name still standing, hoping to win the bracelet and the $695,256 first-place prize. Adam Hendrix, Cliff Josephy, Joseph Cheong, and Brian Rast are among a number of notables coming back for the finale.
One Last Hurrah for the Poker Brat?
Hellmuth had some successes at the 2026 WSOP, but it certainly wasn't one of his better summers. The BetRivers Casino ambassador ran deep in two events, reaching final tables in both. He also cashed in the $50,000 Poker Players Championship, the most prestigious mixed games tournament in the world. But he's only recorded five cashes all summer, and his highest finish was seventh place in the $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8-or-Better Championship.
The summer could be saved completely, however, on Wednesday. Hellmuth could win his 18th bracelet, extending a record he's held since winning his 11th in 2007. Phil Ivey, who didn't produce much this summer, is alone in second place with 11 bracelets, six off the record.
Hellmuth's final shot at saving his summer will start at 1 p.m. PT from Horseshoe Las Vegas. He'll enter Day 2 with 950,000 chips. For reference, Josh Norvock is the chip leader with 1,530,000. It's going to be an tough battle for the Poker Brat to close out the summer with a bang and win the bracelet. But crazier things have happened on the final day of the World Series of Poker.
There are three other events in action on Day 51 at the 2026 WSOP, all scheduled to play down to a winner before the end of the day. After that, the only matter left to settle will be the WSOP Main Event final table, which runs from Aug. 3-5.
