WSOP 2026 Day 15: Martirosian Wins $25K Bracelet

Artur Martirosian captures the $25K 6-Max NLH title

Day 15 of the 2026 World Series of Poker delivered exactly what the series is known for: elite fields, massive payouts, and deep runs from some of the best players in the game. The headline belongs to Artur Martirosian, who conquered the $25,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em event, outlasting a loaded field of 242 players to claim his fourth WSOP bracelet and $1,286,285. In a tournament packed with experienced regulars, that kind of win carries real weight. It is not just a score — it is a statement about long-term consistency at the highest level.

The final table was stacked with familiar high-stakes names. Pavel Plesuv finished runner-up for $857,510, while Sean Winter took third place and $597,635. Further down the standings were players such as Chance Kornuth and Erik Seidel, which says a lot about the strength of the field. When a bracelet event is this deep, every pot matters, and every mistake can cost a player a shot at one of the most prestigious trophies in poker.

Why Martirosian’s win matters in the modern WSOP landscape

Martirosian has built a reputation as one of the most dangerous tournament players in the world, and this result reinforces that image. The 6-max format rewards aggression, range awareness, and the ability to adjust quickly as table dynamics change. It is also the kind of event where technical precision matters more than ever, because the player pool is full of opponents who know how to exploit small leaks.

For serious players, results like this are useful beyond the headline. They show how important it is to combine study, discipline, and table selection. If you want to improve your own game, structured learning through poker school can be just as important as volume. And if you are planning live or online action, understanding the ecosystem of poker rooms and poker clubs helps you find the right environment for your bankroll and goals.

Monster Stack draws 11,933 entries and heads into Day 4

The $1,500 Monster Stack continues to be one of the biggest stories of the series in terms of volume. After attracting a huge field of 11,933 entries, only 80 players remain in the hunt for the $1,302,125 top prize. After Day 3, American Valentin Vornicu sits on top with 27,525,000 chips, giving him a commanding position entering the next stage.

There is also encouraging news for French fans. Several French players are still alive in the event, even if most of them will return to Day 4 with below-average stacks. In a structure as deep as Monster Stack, that is far from a death sentence. The event gives players room to maneuver, and one well-timed double-up can completely change a tournament run.

• Vincent Albert with 9,280,000 chips, the only French player above average
• Arthur Teisseire, son of Antonin, with 4,700,000
• Saïd Tahar with 4,000,000
• Thomas Cazayous with 3,560,000

For players following the broader poker scene, these fields are exactly the type of events that generate traffic and prestige for major poker rooms and live poker clubs, especially during the busiest stretch of the summer series.

Erwann Pecheux leads Event #26 $2,000 NLH into Day 3

France also has a strong story in Event #26, the $2,000 No-Limit Hold’em tournament. With Day 2 now complete, only 12 players remain, and it is French pro Erwann Pecheux who leads the way with 5,460,000 chips. That is a meaningful cushion heading into Day 3 and gives him a real chance to convert chip lead into a deep run.

Behind him are Ioannis Kapnopoulos with 4,685,000 and Braxton Dunaway with 4,290,000. France is still well represented in the final dozen, with Sami Bechahed sitting fifth on 2,080,000 chips and Flavien Guenan holding 1,050,000. Guenan will likely need to find a few well-chosen spots early, but both players are still very much in contention.

The remaining players are already locked up for at least $14,430, while the winner will take home $288,064. Day 3 resumes at blinds of 25,000/50,000 with a 50,000 BB ante, a stage where stack leverage and pressure points become critical.

Big O crowns Christopher Alcindor after Nicolas Milgrom exits

There was also action in the $1,500 Big O, where French hopes ended with Nicolas Milgrom’s elimination in 28th place for $13,610. Big O remains one of the more volatile mixed formats on the WSOP schedule, and that makes Milgrom’s result respectable even if it fell short of a final-table run.

The title went to Canadian Christopher Alcindor, who collected his first WSOP bracelet and $387,110. James Roullier finished second for $258,690, and Scott Abrams came close to a second bracelet before settling for third and $187,150. For players planning future trips, it is also worth keeping an eye on promotions & bonuses, especially if you are deciding how to stretch your bankroll across live and online events.

Expert take: what Day 15 tells us about high-level tournament poker

This WSOP day underlines a simple truth: in modern tournament poker, talent alone is not enough. Martirosian’s victory shows how a top player can combine aggression, patience, and technical discipline to win against a world-class field. In 6-max, the player who understands pressure, position, and range construction often gains the edge long before the money goes in.

• 6-max events demand wider opening ranges and more frequent postflop pressure
• in massive fields like Monster Stack, stack depth and timing often matter more than flashy bluffs
• chip leaders in late stages must convert stack advantage into table control, not just survival
• the best results usually come from a mix of study, volume, and smart game selection

That is why many players treat poker as both a skill game and a scheduling game. Whether you prefer online poker rooms or live poker clubs, the right environment can have a major impact on your long-term results. And if you are serious about improvement, a strong poker school can accelerate your learning curve far more than random play ever will.

Final thoughts from WSOP Day 15

Day 15 delivered a complete poker package: a marquee high roller title for Artur Martirosian, a massive ongoing battle in Monster Stack, a French chip lead in Event #26, and a new champion in Big O. That mix is exactly why WSOP remains the most compelling tournament series in the world — every day can produce a different kind of story, from elite dominance to breakout results.

With more bracelet races still ahead, the pressure will only increase. Each stack, each river decision, and each all-in will shape the next chapter of the summer. For poker fans, that is the real appeal: the drama never stops, and the next major swing is always one hand away.

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