You’ll be able to just about go forward and pencil in Shaun Deeb (and some others) amongst those that will, to cite Jason Somerville, run it up this summer time on the 2026 World Collection of Poker (WSOP). However there are others who will shine throughout poker’s most prestigious collection, a few of whom simply would possibly win their first bracelet.
The WSOP Participant of the 12 months race, received by Deeb final 12 months, started with WSOP Europe earlier this month. Deeb kickstarted his title protection with six cashes and two runner-up finishes in Prague. Most of the summer time grinders did not journey throughout the pond, together with Daniel Negreanu.
Regardless of the headstart, the reigning POY isn’t any lock to win it once more. There are others who determine to issue into the race. Or, on the very least, publish spectacular ends in Las Vegas. These 5 professionals are confirmed crushers, however solely have one mixed bracelet, a quantity that simply would possibly rise considerably in a matter of weeks.
Chino Rheem
Chino Rheem has been competing on the WSOP for years and has 14 closing desk appearances with greater than $4 million in cashes. However he is nonetheless trying to find that elusive first bracelet. If pre-WSOP efficiency is any indication, this simply is likely to be the 12 months.
The three-time World Poker Tour (WPT) champion already had $900,000 in dwell event cashes in 2026 initially of Could. He booked a PGT win in February and already has 13 closing desk appearances in 2026.
Rheem, a longtime grinder from California, booked three cashes on the 2025 WSOP Paradise collection within the Bahamas, together with a fourth-place end. He seems to be poised to recover from the hump and win a bracelet, and perhaps even give Deeb a sweat within the POY race.
Brock Wilson
The couple of Brock Wilson and Cherish Andrews mixed to win three titles on the just lately accomplished U.S. Poker Open. Wilson, the general collection champion, received two of these, they usually aren’t his solely wins in 2026.
Wilson has 5 event victories simply 4 months into the 12 months, and almost $2 million in cashes. However, like Rheem, he is among the many better of the very best to have by no means received a bracelet. Do not count on him to stay on that record for much longer.
The high-stakes professional with 4 WSOP Circuit rings has been on the verge of profitable a bracelet for some time. If pre-WSOP momentum issues, this will likely be his 12 months.
Cherish Andrews
Andrews is the one bracelet winner on the record. She received an internet occasion 4 years in the past in Pennsylvania. Her second bracelet might make her the primary girl to win an open bracelet occasion in Las Vegas since Leo Margets took down the $1,500 The Nearer in 2021.
Andrews is a three-time Circuit ring winner and has eight closing desk appearances in WSOP bracelet occasions. She’s put up constant outcomes throughout all tournaments since 2022 and appears poised for a giant summer time that would not shock many if she factored into the POY race or received a bracelet.
The poker professional from PA took down a $5,100 No-Restrict Maintain’em occasion on the U.S. Poker Open final month, her sixth closing desk look in 2026.
Viktor ‘Isildur1’ Blom
Viktor “Isildur1” Blom is now not simply an internet poker legend. He is made a reputation for himself within the dwell event scene the previous few years, together with final summer time when he was in rivalry for Participant of the 12 months for weeks.
The Swedish excessive curler just lately spun $13,000 into over $1.7 million enjoying high-stakes money video games on-line, maybe a tune-up for this summer time in Las Vegas. Blom reached 4 closing tables on the 2025 WSOP, then a runner-up end at WSOPP. He is clearly displaying indicators of turning into a dominant drive on the World Collection of Poker.
Will Blom win his first bracelet and can the 2026 WSOP grow to be the Summer season of Isildur? The chances appear excessive.
Brandon Wilson
Brandon Wilson has grow to be an elite excessive curler the previous two years. He is at the moment main the 2026 GPI Participant of the 12 months standings, a spot he’ll probably grow to be aware of for years to come back.
The Chicago professional completed second in two Triton Poker occasions in March for a mixed $3 million. He has over $14 million in dwell event cashes in lower than three years, and has grow to be probably the greatest event gamers on the planet in brief time.
Wilson goes to win many bracelets in his poker profession, and there is a robust risk he’ll get at the least one this 12 months.
