Julien Sitbon Runner-Up in WSOP Mystery Bounty for $452K

Julien Sitbon comes agonizingly close to a WSOP bracelet

France’s Julien Sitbon delivered another statement performance at WSOP 2026, reaching the heads-up stage of the $10,000 Mystery Bounty NLH after navigating a massive and tough field of 558 entries. The event generated a $5,189,400 prize pool, and by the time the final duel began, Sitbon was one step away from the bracelet.

For the Winamax Team Pro, this kind of result matters on several levels. Deep runs in high-buy-in WSOP events are never routine; they require patience, strong pressure handling, and the ability to adapt to unusual bounty dynamics. In Mystery Bounty tournaments, the value of each decision can swing dramatically because chips, ICM, and bounty EV all collide in a single spot.

If you want to study this format more seriously, it helps to review concepts in a poker school and compare how elite players approach late-stage decisions on the biggest stages.

The final hand against Alex Anton

Sitbon’s final opponent was American Alex Anton, and the last hand began with Anton calling 150,000 from the button holding 7♥ 6♥. Sitbon responded with a 3-bet to 1,100,000 with pocket tens.

The flop came 5-A-3 with no flush draw. Sitbon continued for 750,000 and got called. The turn brought the 3♦, and although Sitbon was already drawing dead in that specific hand, he moved all in for his remaining 4,200,000 chips. Anton snap-called, and the river changed nothing.

Anton captured the bracelet and the $678,300 top prize. Sitbon had to settle for $452,200, including bounties, but the result still stands as a career-best live score and one of the strongest French performances of the series so far.

Final table payouts and what they tell us

The final table featured a very solid lineup, and the payout structure highlights how steep the ladder can be in a high-end Mystery Bounty.

• Alex Anton — $678,300
• Julien Sitbon — $452,200
• Josh Reichard — $313,400
• Champie Douglas — $220,950
• Jovan Kenjic — $158,500
• Jakob Miegel — $115,750
• Gregor Sverko — $86,070
• Vadzim Lipauka — $65,190
• Kent Stephens — $50,310

This was Sitbon’s biggest live cash to date, pushing his live tournament earnings to $5,500,000. That milestone is more than a number: it reflects consistency, resilience, and the ability to convert major opportunities into meaningful results against elite competition.

POKER CRAZE analysis: why this runner-up finish matters

Sitbon’s run is a great case study in how modern WSOP formats reward complete tournament skill sets. Mystery Bounty events are not only about chip accumulation; they also force players to constantly reassess risk, payout pressure, and stack depth. A strong player can be correct in chip EV terms and still make the wrong decision if the bounty and ICM layers are ignored.

The key takeaway is that a runner-up finish in a field like this is not a consolation prize in strategic terms. Sitbon beat 557 entries, reached the final heads-up battle, and converted that run into a huge live score. For regulars grinding at poker rooms or testing lineups in poker clubs, the lesson is clear: consistency and late-stage discipline often outperform short-term variance chasing.

There is also a broader metagame point here. In Mystery Bounty events, players who understand when to apply pressure and when to preserve fold equity tend to gain an edge over opponents who overfocus on bounty hunting. That balance is a major part of why WSOP fields remain so punishing and so profitable for the best-prepared players.

Millionaire Maker keeps producing huge numbers

The $1,500 Millionaire Maker continues to be one of the signature mass-field events of the series. After Day 2d, the tournament has 424 survivors from a staggering 11,769 entries, and the field will return for Day 3 tomorrow. The prize pool has already climbed to $15,623,347, with the average stack sitting at 693,000 chips.

France still has several players in contention. Florian Guimond is the top French stack at 1,510,000, which places him 11th in the chip counts and in an excellent position for a deep push. Freddy Caisson (480,000), Sandrine Zeitoun (445,000), and Jean-Louis Santoni (205,000) are also still alive.

Jamhour Qasem leads the way with 2,830,000 chips. In a tournament this large, early chip accumulation can be decisive, because once the field shrinks, ICM pressure and pay jumps begin to shape every close decision.

For players looking at the bigger picture of bankroll planning and event selection, it is worth checking how promotions & bonuses can support longer series schedules and reduce the pressure of variance.

João Simão wins his third WSOP bracelet in PLO

Another major headline came from Pot-Limit Omaha, where Brazil’s João Simão captured his third WSOP bracelet by winning the $50,000 PLO event. The tournament drew 110 entries and featured a final table packed with elite names, including Santosh Suvarna, Robert Cowen, and Yuri Dzivielevski, all of them multiple-bracelet winners.

Simão earned $1,368,700 for the victory. Santosh Suvarna finished second for $912,420, while Robert Cowen took third for $628,510. French veteran David Benyamine also made the money, finishing 17th for $102,800.

For Brazilian poker, this is another reminder of the country’s growing strength at the highest level. For PLO specialists, it also shows how technical and high-variance the top end of Omaha has become on the WSOP stage.

Final thoughts: the WSOP grind is only getting tougher

Day 28 of WSOP 2026 delivered exactly what makes the series special: a French pro came within touching distance of a bracelet, a Brazilian star added another title, and a massive field event continued to thin down toward a huge payday. That mix of drama, depth, and prestige is what keeps the WSOP at the center of the poker world.

For Sitbon, the finish is bittersweet, but it also marks a personal milestone and a new high in live earnings. For the remaining French contenders in the Millionaire Maker, the dream is still alive. And for João Simão, a third bracelet strengthens an already elite resume. The next days will only increase the pressure, and that is exactly where the best tournament players tend to separate themselves.

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