WSOP 2026: Benoit Fiasson Surges in Millionaire Maker

Benoit Fiasson stays alive in the Millionaire Maker

Day 3 of the $1,500 Millionaire Maker at WSOP 2026 is in the books, and the event has now reached the stage where every chip carries real weight. From a massive starting field of 11,769 entries, only 70 players remain, which means the road to the final table is getting shorter, but the pressure is getting much heavier.

To keep pace with the average stack on Day 3, players had to build a little over 4,000,000 chips. That number tells the story of the day better than anything else: this was a fast, aggressive stretch of poker where patience alone was not enough. You needed timing, courage and the ability to apply pressure when the spots were right.

For French fans, the headline is clear. Benoit Fiasson not only survived, he did so with a very playable stack of 6,700,000 chips, good enough for 12th place in the provisional standings. At this stage of a WSOP monster field, that is more than a survival story — it is a serious deep-run platform.

Millionaire Maker shrinks to 70 runners

The Millionaire Maker remains one of the most iconic events of the series because it combines huge numbers, accessible buy-in and the kind of life-changing prize pool that turns one run into a career highlight.

Everyone left in the field is already in the money. The next elimination will lock up at least $22,800, but nobody is sitting around thinking about min-cash value when the top prize and the title are still in play. This is the stage where players start balancing chip accumulation with survival, and where stack size becomes strategic leverage.

At the top of the leaderboard sits American Bo Chen, who bagged 13,300,000 chips. That is a commanding position heading into the next day, especially in a field where pressure points multiply as pay jumps become more meaningful.

French exits, but one strong run continues

The day was not kind to several French contenders. Freddy Caisson finished 81st, Jean-Louis Santoni placed 112th, and Gaetan Balleur ended up 124th. In a field this large, those are still strong runs, but they also show how unforgiving WSOP marathon events can be.

Against that backdrop, Fiasson’s run stands out even more. While others were falling by the wayside, he kept building and now enters the next day with a stack that gives him room to maneuver. In tournament poker, that matters enormously: a big stack lets you pressure medium stacks, avoid awkward marginal spots and control the pace of play.

Players Championship brings together the WSOP elite

Another major storyline is the $50,000 Players Championship, which is now down to 39 players after Day 2. This event is always one of the purest tests of all-around poker skill, because the field is made up of players who are comfortable in multiple formats and who understand how to adjust quickly.

The top 10 includes Benny Glaser, Maxx Coleman, Matt Glantz, Chris Brewer and Alex Livingston. Further down the list are names like Josh Arieh, Phil Hellmuth, Jesse Lonis, Phil Ivey and Jason Mercier. That lineup says everything: this is a field stacked with bracelet winners and proven world-class talent.

Kristopher Tong will return as chip leader with 2,428,000 chips, followed by Benny Glaser on 2,286,000 and Maxx Coleman on 1,917,000. In a mixed-game championship, chip leads matter, but discipline and format awareness matter just as much. One mistake in the wrong variant can erase hours of good work.

$2,500 No-Limit Hold'em: 19 French players move on

The $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em event also produced a major attrition wave. A total of 1,736 players entered the tournament, and only 312 survived the opening day. That kind of Day 1 bloodbath is exactly what you expect in a large WSOP NLHE event, where the field is deep and the pressure escalates quickly.

The current chip leader is Slovenian two-time bracelet winner Blaz Zerjav, who bagged 893,000 chips. That stack gives him plenty of ammunition for Day 2, and in a tournament like this, early momentum can be a massive edge: wider opens, more profitable continuation bets and constant pressure on medium stacks.

The French contingent is also very much alive. In total, 19 French players advanced, and several of them built healthy stacks. Romain Morvan leads the French group with 517,000 chips, followed by Mathieu His with 330,000 and Nicolas Tytgat with 262,000.

Other recognizable French names still in contention include Maxime Chilaud (158,000), Merceds Osti (179,000), Erwann Pecheux (104,000), Benjamin Gros (58,000), Clément Richez (40,000) and Cédric Schwaederle (35,000). The average stack sits at 194,744 chips, so there is still room for players to climb if they can find the right spots to double up.

For players building their own tournament schedules, it is always worth combining study with smart preparation through a poker school, the right poker rooms and well-timed promotions & bonuses.

Expert take: why this day matters for WSOP players

This day is a good reminder that the WSOP is really several tournaments running at once. In mass-field events like the Millionaire Maker, opportunity is enormous, but so is the endurance test. Deep runs are rarely accidental; they usually come from a mix of technical discipline, stack awareness and the ability to keep making good decisions when fatigue starts to matter.

For Benoit Fiasson, 12th place after Day 3 is not just a nice snapshot. A big stack this late in the event creates leverage against medium stacks, especially when ICM pressure starts to shape decisions. If he keeps converting that stack into controlled aggression, he has every reason to believe a final-table run is possible.

The Players Championship, meanwhile, is a different kind of lesson. It rewards versatility, not just one-game expertise. That is why the field is packed with bracelet winners: the event exposes weaknesses very quickly. For serious players, it is a blueprint for long-term growth — the more formats you understand, the more complete your game becomes.

As for the $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em event, the strategic takeaway is simple: early stack size should be treated like a weapon. Big stacks can apply pressure before the field settles, while shorter stacks must wait for the best all-in opportunities. At WSOP level, understanding that balance is often the difference between a short stay and a meaningful run.

What to watch next

The next day will be crucial for Benoit Fiasson, who now has a real chance to turn a strong bag into a headline finish in the Millionaire Maker. The same goes for the Players Championship leaders, where one bad spot can change everything in a field this tough.

WSOP 2026 continues to prove the same point: big series are won by players who combine technical skill, patience and the ability to attack at the right moment. That is why every deep run deserves attention — it can reshape reputations, bankrolls and career trajectories in a matter of days.

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