WSOP 2026: Julien Sitbon Makes a Strong Early Run

WSOP 2026 in Las Vegas is already delivering big storylines

The most anticipated poker series of the year is underway, and the opening days of WSOP 2026 are already reminding everyone why Las Vegas remains the center of the poker world every summer. The World Series is not just about bracelets and prize money: it is where reputations are built, momentum is created, and the best players in the game measure themselves against the toughest fields.

For French poker fans, the start of the series has been especially worth following. Julien Sitbon is already making noise with a strong run, while several other French players are still alive across the early events. That combination of a big-name deep run and solid national representation is exactly the kind of start players want from a long WSOP stretch.

Mini Mystery Millions draws a massive field

Event #1, the $1,500 Mini Mystery Millions, is off to a huge start with 5,647 entries already recorded. That number alone tells you how popular the mystery bounty format remains: it gives players multiple ways to win, and it keeps the tension high because one knockout can change a bankroll in an instant.

The tournament is currently on Day 1C, and Day 2 begins on May 31 with 204 players still in contention. The average stack sits at 692,000 chips, which means the field is deep enough for skill to matter, but still volatile enough for short stacks to be under immediate pressure.

• Maxime Chilaud — 148,000 chips
• Abdel Kerzazi — 95,000 chips

Both are below average for now, but that is far from the end of the road in a tournament like this. One double-up, one well-timed bluff catcher, or one big all-in pot can completely reset the picture.

Julien Sitbon delivers a strong deep run in the $5,000 8-Handed NLH

The biggest French storyline of the day came in event #2, the $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em. After three days of play, the event is down to its final 5 players from a field of 570 entries, which means every remaining decision now carries enormous value.

Julien Sitbon, a Team Winamax pro, put together an impressive deep run and was one of the standout performers in the event. The Frenchman eventually finished in 19th place for $19,253. Even without a final-table appearance, this is the kind of result that matters on the WSOP stage: it confirms that Sitbon is competing at a high level against elite international opposition.

• Thomas Cazayous — 56th for $9,947
• Sami Bechahed — 75th for $9,947
• Martin Kabrhel — 28th for $15,879

The remaining five players are all already locked up for $120,035, and the winner will take home $502,985 plus the bracelet. At this stage, ICM pressure becomes a huge factor, and the final stretch is often less about pure chip accumulation and more about survival, timing, and stack leverage.

Pot-Limit Omaha gets brutal fast

Another event worth noting is the $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha tournament. Day 1 drew 716 entries, but only 120 players survived the opening day. That is classic PLO: the format creates big pots, wild swings, and very little room for error.

• Virgile Turchi — 425,000 chips
• Franck Makaci — 345,000 chips
• Mikael Guenni — 141,600 chips

In Pot-Limit Omaha, stack management is everything. Hands run closer together than in Hold’em, equity shifts quickly on the flop, and players who navigate the middle stages well can build serious momentum.

What these early WSOP 2026 results mean

The first days of WSOP 2026 suggest another strong summer for French poker. Sitbon’s deep run, the surviving stacks in Mini Mystery Millions, and the presence of multiple French names in PLO all point to a delegation that is already showing up in key spots.

The bigger picture is simple: the series is just getting started. Over the coming weeks, one big score can change a player’s summer, reshape a leaderboard, and create the kind of run that becomes one of the defining stories of the WSOP.

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