Nick Schulman took down the 2026 World Collection of Poker $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. occasion for his eighth profession gold bracelet, changing into simply the tenth participant in WSOP historical past with as many wins.
“‘I’m going to maintain enjoying so long as I’m glad out right here and feeling like I’m rising and like I’m not burnt out. There’s no goal quantity, however it’s definitely not surpassing [all-time bracelet leader Phil] Hellmuth… That’s simply not on my thoughts,” stated Schulman when requested if he’s trying to hit a sure bracelet whole. “However you already know, if we get shut, I may need to get his ass. However, I don’t actually see that.”
This was the 41-year-old poker professional’s fourth straight 12 months with no less than one bracelet gained, and his first since being inducted into the Poker Corridor of Fame in 2025.
“They’re at all times all so particular, however I suppose it’s cool to point out that, ya know, they made choice,” stated Schulman about this newest bracelet. “I really feel like I’m simply stepping into my prime. As we age and stuff, like I don’t need to be the delusional form of video games participant, hanging on. However I can really feel it that I’m lastly beginning to type of come into my very own a bit of bit. Lots of the type of emotional hangups and stuff that I had alongside the way in which… I’m doing so much higher with. I really feel like I simply need to maintain it going and make the individuals who believed in me proud.”
Schulman, who can also be a World Poker Tour champion, first broke by on the WSOP in 2009. That 12 months he gained the primary of his three $10,000 deuce-to-seven lowball championship titles, with the second coming in 2012 and the third in 2025. He additionally took down the $10,000 pot-limit Omaha eight-or-better championship in 2019 and a $1,500 stud title in 2023. Schulman added two bracelets in 2024, taking down a $25,000 no-limit maintain’em occasion inside Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas in the summertime and the $5,000 turbo bounty occasion on the WSOP Paradise within the Bahamas.
Schulman In The Combine In POY Races
This newest victory got here with $183,366 in prize cash. The rating pushed the extremely regarded poker commentator’s lifetime earnings previous the $26.5 million mark. This was the second title of the 12 months for Schulman, who hails from New York however is now primarily based in Las Vegas. The 912 Card Participant Participant of the Yr factors he earned because the winner on this H.O.R.S.E. occasion moved him into thirteenth place within the 2026 POY standings offered by CoinPoker.
Schulman’s earlier title in 2026 noticed him take down an eight-game occasion on the PGT Combined Video games sequence. He now sits in twenty fourth place within the PokerGO Tour season-long standings, with eight certified cashes thus far in 2026.
Whereas he’s a prime contender in these two races, one POY award Schulman is admittedly not chasing is the WSOP’s, which regularly requires a relentless, continuous grind all through the summer season.
“Participant of the Yr has by no means motivated me as a result of I simply don’t have that endurance to only go,” stated Schulman. “Prefer it’s by no means been one thing that I assumed I might actually win. Nevertheless, if it type of unintentionally occurs, don’t get me mistaken… I’ll be right here enjoying. However, I’m probably not chasing that.”
From The Center Of The Pack To The Shorthanded Chip Chief
This occasion drew 780 entries to create a $1,035,450 prize pool, with the highest 117 finishers making the cash. Loads of large names ran deep, together with John Monnette (52nd), Ryutaro Suzuki (thirty eighth), Philip Hui (thirty seventh), Eric Baldwin (thirty third), Scott Clements (twenty seventh), Michael Gagliano (twenty fifth), Brian Hasting (twenty second), and Carol Fuchs (sixteenth).
Clayton Mozdzen
The ultimate day started with Clayton Mozdzen main a area of 14 remaining contenders. Schulman was seventh in chips when play resumed. Matthew Grapenthien (twelfth), Bart Hanson (eleventh), and Philip Stenheimer (tenth) all fell on the march to the ultimate desk. Schulman had moved to the highest of the leaderboard by the point the final 9 converged onto the unofficial last desk.
Mozdzen, who completed fifth within the $1,500 sellers selection occasion per week earlier, scored the subsequent two knockouts, busting Ryan Caskey (ninth – $13,418) and William Klevitz (eighth – $17,390) to skinny the sector to seven. Kent Gugelman (seventh – $22,978) was eradicated by Raymond Smego-Barranco throughout a spherical of razz, with a 10-8 crushed by a clean 6-5.
Smego-Barranco (sixth – $30,944) was finally the subsequent to fall, together with his prime pair, prime kicker operating into prime two for Mozdzen on the flop in restrict maintain’em.
Schulman then knocked out two-time bracelet winner Mike Wattel in fifth place ($42,455) with Okay♣7♣ overcoming A♠10♥ on a J♦6♣2♣2♦Okay♦ runout.
Closing Out No. 8
After loads of back-and-forth throughout four-handed play, Schulman lastly scored the subsequent elimination in a spherical of razz. The UK’s Joe Brindle was despatched packing in fourth place, incomes $59,324 for his efforts. Neither participant made a really sturdy hand after the chips went in on fourth road, however Schulman’s king low was adequate to win the pot and slender the sector to a few.
France’s Jonathan Nebbout was left on fumes after an enormous razz conflict with Mozdzen. He obtained the final of his stack in after seventh road in stud with aces up, however had been outdrawn by Schulman, who hit journey eights on fifth road. Nebbout earned a career-best rating of $84,397 for his podium end.
With that, Schulman took roughly a 2:1 chip lead into heads-up play with Mozdzen. That hole widened within the early going, however the Canadian quickly discovered a double-up in Omaha eight-or-better to increase the battle. Quickly after that he scooped one other pot with a turned wheel to offer himself much more respiratory room.
Schulman returned the favor in stud eight-or-better, making the wheel on fifth road to win a hefty pot. Not lengthy after that, Mozdzen obtained the final of his stack in after the deal in the identical sport.
Schulman: (9♣7♠)9♠A♠4♥Q♠(3♠)
Mozdzen: (2♥2♣)2♦6♠Okay♥8♦(A♣)
Mozdzen had rolled-up deuces towards a pair of nines, however Schulman picked up 4 spades on sixth road to offer him outs to a profitable flush. Seventh road introduced the 3♠ for Schulman, incomes him the pot and the title. Mozdzen earned $122,206 because the runner-up, the second-largest rating of his profession.
Closing Desk Outcomes
Place
Participant
Payout
POY Factors
1
Nick Schulman
$183,366
912
2
Clayton Mozdzen
$122,206
760
3
Jonathan Nebbout
$84,397
608
4
Joe Brindle
$59,324
456
5
Michael Wattel
$42,455
380
6
Raymond Smego-Barranco
$30,944
304
7
Kent Gugleman
$22,978
228
8
William Klevitz
$17,390
152
Picture credit score: WSOP / Miguel Cortes, Lennart Hennig, Monique Marestein.
