2026 World Series of Poker

Day: 3
123
Event Info
2026 World Series of Poker
Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
10876543
Prize
$247,842
Event Info
Buy-in
$3,000
Prize Pool
$1,220,190
Total Entries
457
Level Info
Level
32
Limits
0 / 0
Ante
0
Players Info - Day 3
Entries
20
Players Left
1
Players Left 1 / 457
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Event #92: $3,000 T.O.R.S.E.

Day 3 Completed

Sterling Lopez Denies Jesse Lonis a Win; Returns To TORSE Final Table for First Bracelet

Level 32
Sterling Lopez
Sterling Lopez

Just 20 players returned to the Paris Hotel and Casino today for Event #92: $3,000 T.O.R.S.E. out of the 457 initial entrants that generated $1,220,190 for the prize pool. Many of the game's most decorated players came back hunting for one of the last mixed game bracelets of the summer and the $247,842 that would be awarded to the winner. After around 12 hours of play, that field of 20 was reduced to just one.

It was a year ago to the day that Sterling Lopez came into the final table of the 2025 edition of the $3,000 T.O.R.S.E., where he finished in sixth place for $40,753 in his highest WSOP bracelet event finish. This year, he returned with a vengeance and beat Jesse Lonis heads-up to claim his first WSOP bracelet.

Final Table Results

PlacePlayerCountryPrize
1Sterling LopezUnited States$247,842
2Jesse LonisUnited States$160,862
3Gary BoldenUnited States$106,912
4Alex LivingstonCanada$72,791
5David BachUnited States$50,801
6Qinghai PanUnited States$36,363

“I felt a lot more comfortable,” Lopez said minutes after his win, discussing his start of day position. “It is the second time. Last year, I came in 16/17 into Day 3 in this event. I felt like there was no pressure; I’ve been in that spot before and it felt good.”

“Definitely got the revenge,” he joked about making this tournament’s final table again. “I flew back for this tournament, just for the weekend. I was on the fence about coming back because I can’t really take that much time off, but it was definitely worth it.”

Lopez had two pieces of WSOP jewelry in the form of two rings, coming in PLO in Lake Tahoe and Hammond, but a bracelet was not something in his possession prior to the day, making him the only player at the final table hunting for his first.

Sterling Lopez
Sterling Lopez

“You gotta compete, that’s what this game is all about. Entering this field specifically, you’re going to be playing against great players, there’s no doubt about it. It’s no surprise that this final table was probably one of the better final tables that you will see in mixed games. That’s why I came back; I love competing against these guys.”

The three-handed match saw the chip lead go back and forth between Lonis and Gary Bolden, who won this particular event when it was a HORSE tournament, while Lopez hung either at the middle of the pack or bottom. After a while of jockeying, Lopez overtook the overall lead, and the tournament was over less than an hour later.

Sterling Lopez
Sterling Lopez and winner's rail

“You just have to be patient, understand when the spots are going to come, trust that they will (or they won’t). You just can’t give up. You have to give yourself a chance to spin. I never felt like I was down and out, I still had enough to battle with.”

With numbers up in mixed game tournaments throughout the series, Lopez had some parting words of wisdom for the newer crowd getting involved in mixed games.

“Have a good time! Hold’em gets boring after a while, and you can only last so much tanking. I couldn’t take it anymore, so it’s always fun to challenge yourself and try something new. I don’t think I am the best player in the world by any means, it’s just always fun to try a new challenge.”

Day 3 Action

The eliminations came quickly at the beginning of the day as players like Joseph Bowers (20th-$10,241) and Thomas Taylor (19th-$10,241) quickly departed. 25k Fantasy players began falling quickly after as Nick Guagenti (17th-$12,471), Naoya Kihara (16th-$12,471), Marco Johnson (14th-$12,471), Viktor Blom (12th-$12,471), and Brandon Shack-Harris (11th-$15,633) all hit the rail.

Qinghai Pan
Sixth place finisher Qinghai Pan

A double elimination saw no need for an unofficial final table as Larry Tull found himself all in with kings in Stud Hi-Lo up against David Bach’s low cards and pair of sevens. The kings did improve, while Bach made two pair to scoop the pot, eliminating Tull in eighth place for $20,158. At the other table, Menikos Panagiotou saw his three eights go up in flames against two full houses belonging to Qinghai Pan and Lonis. Lonis’ full house was superior, and he raked in a sizable pot to come into the final table with 40% of the chips in play, while Panagiotou was eliminated in seventh place for $26,715.

After the players returned from dinner break, Pan was unable to spin up his short stack, and he got in his chips against Bolden in Triple Draw. His eight-seven was unable to hold up against Bolden, who made number three, and the WSOP bracelet winner took his leave from the tournament in sixth place for $36,363.

David Bach
Fifth place finisher David Bach

Bach collected $50,801 for his fifth-place finish after that, when he found himself anted down to just four chips. His final hand came in Seven-Card Stud, where he made kings up on sixth street as a sizable side pot was played between Alex Livingston and Lopez. Lopez ended with aces up to win, Livingston got short, and the three-time WSOP bracelet winner Bach took his leave.

Alex Livingston
Fourth place finisher Alex Livingston

Livingston was unable to spin up his stack and he found himself short in the 2-7 Triple Draw round. In a three-bet pot, Livingston was drawing against Lonis and Bolden, who built a large side pot. Livingston ended up with number four, but it was no good against Lonis’ wheel, and the two-time WSOP bracelet winner collected $72,791 for his fourth-place finish.

Gary Bolden
Third place finisher Gary Bolden

The three-handed match saw the lead switch back and forth between Lonis and Bolden, while Lopez hung around as the shortest stack of the three. A Razz rush shifted the tide into the Alaskan’s favor as he became the first player of the three to cross the eight-figure mark.

It was a relatively quick affair to get from three-handed to a winner as Bolden fell in third place to Lopez in the 2-7 Triple Draw round. Bolden ended with nine-perfect only to see Lopez draw to an eight, and the WSOP bracelet winner collected $106,912 for his efforts.

Jesse Lonis
Runner up Jesse Lonis

Only forty minutes of heads-up play was needed before a winner was crowned, as Lopez’s lead over Lonis never vanished. The two players found themselves in a Stud pot, and Lopez made an eight-high straight on seventh to win the pot and eliminate the two-time WSOP bracelet winner in second place, as Lonis collected $160,862.

That will conclude today’s coverage of Event #92: $3,000 T.O.R.S.E. Be sure to stay tuned to PokerNews for continued coverage on the ground at the 2026 WSOP in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Tags: Alex LivingstonBrandon Shack-HarrisDavid BachGary BoldenJesse LonisJoseph BowersLarry TullMarco JohnsonMenikos PanagiotouNaoya KiharaNick GuagentiQinghai PanSterling LopezThomas TaylorViktor Blom

Sterling Lopez Wins the $3,000 T.O.R.S.E. for $247,842!

Level 32
Sterling Lopez
Sterling Lopez

Sterling Lopez is the champion of Event #92: $3,000 T.O.R.S.E., defeating a field of 457 players to win his first WSOP bracelet along with the first-place prize of $247,842!

After finishing sixth in the inaugural edition of the event last year, Sterling finished what he started, putting in a dominating final table performance to take down the title.

Event #92 Final Table Results

PlacePlayerCountryPrize
1Sterling LopezUnited States$247,842
2Jesse LonisUnited States$160,862
3Gary BoldenUnited States$106,912
4Alex LivingstonCanada$72,791
5David BachUnited States$50,801
6Qinghai PanUnited States$36,363

Stay tuned for a full recap of the event, along with winner's photos and some words from our champion!

Tags: Alex LivingstonDavid BachGary BoldenJesse LonisQinghai PanSterling Lopez

Jesse Lonis Eliminated in 2nd Place ($160,862)

Level 32
Jesse Lonis
Jesse Lonis

Seven Card Stud

Jesse Lonis completed and Sterling Lopez called.

Jesse Lonis: 54 / A27Q / Xx All in
Sterling Lopez: 108 / 7463 / Xx

Lonis led on fourth and Lopez called. On fifth, Lonis put his last 600,000 into the middle, and Lopez called.

Lonis was still ahead with ace-high, but Lopez had a double gutter. Nothing changed for either player on sixth street.

On seventh, Lopez went first and flipped over the 5, making an eight-high straight and leaving Lonis drawing. Lonis caught in inconsequential 9, and his run ended in second place.

Tags: Jesse LonisSterling Lopez

Lopez Hits Back With a River

Level 32

Omaha Hi-Lo

Jesse Lonis raised on the button to see Sterling Lopez call in the big blind.

The flop rolled out 764 and Lopez checked over to Lonis, who bet. Lopez raised to see Lonis call.

On the 9 turn, Lopez bet to see Lonis call, with action repeating identically on the 8 river.

Lopez showed 10542 for a seven-six low and a flush, while Lonis could only muster KK53 for a worse seven-six and a straight.

Tags: Jesse LonisSterling Lopez

Lonis Jams On Lopez

Level 32

Omaha Hi-Lo

Sterling Lopez raised on the button to see Jesse Lonis call in the big blind.

The flop rolled out J108 and Lonis bet to see Lopez call, with action repeating identically on the 3 turn.

On the Q river, Lonis moved all in and Lopez thought for some time before tossing his hand away.

Tags: Jesse LonisSterling Lopez

Lonis Finds a Double

Level 32

2-7 Triple Draw

Sterling Lopez raised on the button, Jesse Lonis three-bet from the big blind, Lopez made it four bets, and Lonis called all in for 1,100,000 total.

Lonis drew two and Lopez one on the first draw.

Both players remained pat on the second and third draws.

Jesse Lonis: 8x7x5x3x2x All in
Sterling Lopez: 9x6x5x3x2x

Lonis's eight-seven was best and he secured the full double to find a bit of breathing room.

Tags: Jesse LonisSterling Lopez

Lonis Left on Fumes

Level 32

2-7 Triple Draw

Sterling Lopez raised on the button and Jesse Lonis called in the big blind.

Both drew two and Lonis check-called a bet from Lopez.

On the second draw, Lonis took two and Lopez one as Lonis check-called another bet.

Both patted on the end, Lonis checked, Lopez bet, and Lonis opted to let it go after a small tank, leaving himself very short.

Tags: Jesse LonisSterling Lopez

Lonis Doubles With a Ten

Level 32

2-7 Triple Draw

Jesse Lonis raised on the button and Sterling Lopez called in the big blind.

Both players drew two and Lopez check-called a bet from Lonis.

Lopez drew two while Lonis drew one, and Lopez check-called an all-in bet from Lonis.

The final draw saw Lopez draw one and Lonis stand pat.

Jesse Lonis: 10x9x7x6x2x All in
Sterling Lopez: 8x6x5x4x Xx

Ten-nine held up for Lonis as Lopez showed a 6x to pair up, and the match continued.

Tags: Jesse LonisSterling Lopez

Lonis Drops To Five Big Bets

Level 32

Stud Hi-Lo

Jesse Lonis called after Sterling Lopez brought it in.

Jesse Lonis: XxXx/9A2K/Xx
Sterling Lopez: XxXx/9527/Xx

Lonis bet on fourth, fifth, and sixth street to see Lopez call each time.

On seventh street, Lonis check-called a bet from Lopez and mucked after seeing Lopez table Q92 for nines and twos.

Tags: Jesse LonisSterling Lopez

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