WSOP 2026 Day 36: Mizrachi Wins PLO, Lombardozzi 3rd

WSOP 2026 Day 36 delivers marquee names and huge scores

Day 36 of the WSOP 2026 had everything poker fans want from a late-summer marathon: elite champions, massive fields, and final-table pressure that can turn one stack into a life-changing payday. The headline belonged to Michael Mizrachi, who won the $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship and added a ninth WSOP bracelet to one of the most respected résumés in modern poker.

The day also produced a major French storyline, with Leo Lombardozzi finishing third in the $1,000 Mystery Millions, while Matthew Higgins captured the top prize after outlasting a field of more than 22,000 players.

Michael Mizrachi dominates the $10K PLO Championship

Mizrachi’s win was not a surprise to anyone following the final stages closely. Heading into the finish with three players left, the American had built an enormous stack and controlled roughly 80% of the chips in play. In a Pot-Limit Omaha championship, that kind of leverage is brutal.

PLO is a game where equities run close, variance is high, and postflop decisions matter even more than in No-Limit Hold’em. When one player has that much of the chips, the pressure becomes constant: short stacks are forced into uncomfortable spots, pot-building ranges widen, and every decision gets filtered through survival pressure.

Mizrachi handled it exactly like a proven champion. He kept the lead, applied maximum pressure, and closed the event without giving his opponents much room to breathe. In the heads-up match, he defeated Zarvan Tumboli, who finished second for $900,088. Michael Hahn completed the podium in third place for $627,832.

Top-8 payouts in the $10K PLO Championship

• Michael Mizrachi — $1,350,203
• Zarvan Tumboli — $900,088
• Michael Hahn — $627,832
• Martin Zamani — $445,080
• Ian Matakis — $320,763
• Raj Vohra — $235,073
• Jesse Lonis — $175,233
• Toby Joyce — $132,908

The event drew 836 entries and generated a $7,774,800 prize pool, which underlines just how strong the PLO Championship continues to be as a prestige event on the schedule. For Mizrachi, the win is another reminder that his game travels across formats. He is not just a Hold’em legend; he is a genuine all-around force.

Ninth bracelet and a serious push toward $30M in live earnings

A ninth WSOP bracelet is a major milestone in any era. In today’s field, where players study relentlessly and tournament edges are thinner than ever, it is even more impressive. Mizrachi’s career has already been defined by elite tournament results, and this victory pushes him even closer to the $30 million mark in live earnings.

What makes this run notable is not only the trophy count, but the way he continues to win in technically demanding formats. PLO rewards deep understanding of stack leverage, hand construction, and pot-control discipline. That is a useful lesson for anyone studying tournament poker: raw aggression is not enough; timing, selection, and pressure points matter just as much.

If you’re building your own tournament path, it helps to understand where the ecosystem lives. Our guides to [poker rooms](\/en/pokerrooms), [poker clubs](\/en/pokerclubs), and [poker school](\/en/pokerschool) can give players a clearer view of where to practice, study, and find the right environment for improvement.

Mystery Millions: Matthew Higgins wins $1,000,000, Lombardozzi takes third

The other huge storyline of the day came from the $1,000 Mystery Millions, a tournament that once again proved why affordable buy-ins and giant fields create some of the most dramatic moments of the series. After a multi-day grind against more than 22,000 players, Matthew Higgins emerged as the champion and banked $1,000,000.

For a $1,000 buy-in, the upside is enormous. That is the core appeal of Mystery Millions: a relatively accessible entry point, a volatile structure, and the chance to turn a modest investment into a transformative score.

From a French perspective, the standout performance came from Leo Lombardozzi. The former Winamax Team Pro made a deep run all the way to third place, earning $490,000. He entered the day with 1,700,000 chips against an average stack of 31,000,000, so the climb back to a podium finish was far from trivial.

Notable Mystery Millions payouts

• Matthew Higgins — $1,000,000
• Dominik Panka — $640,000
• Leo Lombardozzi — $490,000
• Thomas Hall — $375,000
• Brian Smith — $290,000
• Vinay Boob — $225,000
• David “ODB” Baker — $176,000
• Imre Makranyi — $140,000
• Edward Pak — $110,000

There were also strong French results deeper in the standings, with Vincent Lavolle finishing 12th for $70,000 and Slimane Mameche taking 26th for $45,200. That kind of depth matters: it shows that French players remain highly competitive in the biggest live fields on the calendar.

5K 6-Handed NLH heads toward its finish with 60 players left

The $5,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em event is also nearing its conclusion. By the end of Day 2, just 60 players remained from an original field of 1,402 entries. The top prize is $979,655, and the current chip leader is Roeland Peeks with 3,350,000 chips.

Everyone still in the field is already in the money, and the next elimination will be worth $13,795. That payout jump matters because it changes how stacks interact: short stacks can’t afford to wait forever, while big stacks can use pressure to force folds and protect their equity.

Among the final 60, there are 11 French players still alive, which is a strong showing by any standard. The best stack belongs to Bruno “Kool Shen” Lopes, who bagged 1,400,000. He is joined by:

• Erwann Pecheux — 1,230,000
• Mathieu His — 1,120,000
• Axel Bayout — 1,020,000
• Benjamin Pollak — 750,000
• Antoine Saout — 715,000
• Antoine Labat — 650,000
• Benjamin Chalot — 397,000

That depth is a reminder that French poker still has serious live-tournament muscle. When multiple names from the same country keep appearing late in major events, it usually reflects a healthy mix of experience, study, and adaptation to modern tournament dynamics.

Expert analysis: why this WSOP day matters for tournament players

Day 36 is a useful snapshot of modern live poker. First, it shows how decisive a big stack late in an event can be. Mizrachi’s PLO run is a textbook example of converting chip advantage into relentless pressure and reduced decision quality for opponents.

Second, Mystery Millions highlights the importance of survival skills and mental stamina in giant-field tournaments. In fields above 22,000 runners, no one can win without navigating swings, long hours, and changing stack dynamics. The skill set is broader than card play alone.

Third, the French results reinforce a simple truth: in huge WSOP events, results come from preparation, not luck alone. Players who study, travel, and put themselves in the right environments are more likely to convert deep runs into major scores. For many grinders, that also means choosing the right [promotions & bonuses](\/en/blog/promotions) and building a smart support structure, sometimes with the help of a [poker agent](\/en/pokeragent).

Final takeaways from WSOP 2026 Day 36

The final picture from the day is clear. Michael Mizrachi added another massive title to a Hall-of-Fame-level career. Matthew Higgins turned a $1,000 buy-in into a $1,000,000 score. Leo Lombardozzi showed he can compete deep in the biggest live fields in the world.

At the same time, the 6-Handed NLH event is setting up for a tense finish with a very strong French contingent still in the hunt. That combination of legends, breakout scores, and national depth is exactly why the WSOP remains the most watched series in poker.

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