How big was the 2026 WSOP $3,000 Midstakes Championship?

It had more than 3,100 entries across three starting days and a prize pool of about $9.5 million while registration was still open, with roughly $1.15 million for first place.

What is the WSOP Closer?

A $1,500 no-limit hold'em event near the end of the World Series of Poker with re-entry and 30-minute levels, a last chance to win a bracelet before the series ends.

Why check-raise with queen-ten on an ace-high flop?

From the big blind, queen-ten of spades had backdoor straight and flush draws, and it blocks ace-queen and ace-ten. A check-raise represents strong hands and lets Lexy keep betting on turns that improve her.

What does it mean to abuse the bubble?

Near the money, medium and short stacks tighten up to avoid busting just before a payout. A big stack can raise more often and pick up chips because those players will fold.

Chasing a $9,000,000 Prize Pool: The WSOP $3,000 Midstakes Championship and the $1,500 Closer

I bagged 126,000 chips for Day 2 of the 2026 WSOP $3,000 Midstakes Championship, which drew more than 3,100 entries and a prize pool of about $9.5 million. I lost my stack in one hour, re-entered and busted again, then jumped into the $1,500 Closer, where a check-raise with queen-ten of spades helped me reach the money for my seventh cash of the series.

Day 2 of the $3,000 Midstakes Championship

With four days left in a long seven-week World Series, I bagged 126,000 chips on Day 1 of the $3,000 Midstakes Championship, about 50 big blinds. The field was huge for a $3,000 event: more than 3,100 entries across three starting days, and a prize pool that kept climbing toward $9.5 million while registration stayed open.

My goal coming into the summer was a first bracelet. I had come close: seventh in Salute to Warriors, eighth in the Ladies Championship, and 23rd in the $1,700 Circuit Championship.

The plan for a deep structure

With hour-long levels and the second-biggest stack at my table, my plan was to accumulate chips before the bubble. Late registrants come in short, and a bigger stack lets you put pressure on medium and short stacks once the money gets close.

Two bullets in one hour

It went the other way. In 13 minutes I lost half my stack with king-queen against tens, then a big pot with ace-king. On the last hand before re-entry closed, I got it in with ace-king against pocket threes and lost the flip. One hour took me from 50 big blinds to nothing.

I re-entered with 13 big blinds. I shoved pocket queens and got no call, then shoved pocket sixes, got called, and busted.

Bob’s advice for tilt was not gentle, but it was useful: bad beats are part of the game, so put no emotion behind them. Never tell either of us a bad beat story.

The $1,500 Closer at Paris

I have done well in the Closer before. In 2024 I finished 17th, at the final two tables. So I cooled off and registered at Paris. A viewer named Greg brought my book for me to sign, which I always love.

Hand breakdown: check-raising queen-ten of spades

Blinds were 600 and 1,200. The lowjack opened to 2,500 and I called in the big blind with queen-ten of spades. The flop came ace of clubs, eight of hearts, six of spades, and he bet 1,500.

I check-raised. From the big blind I can have strong hands on this board, and queen-ten has backdoor straight and flush draws, so I can keep betting on turns that help me. He min-raised back to 12,000. I called, and the jack of spades turned, giving me a flush draw and straight draws. I shoved. He thought for a long time, said he thought I had eight-six, and folded.

Queen-ten also blocks ace-queen and ace-ten, two of the strongest aces he could hold.

A seventh cash of the summer

At dinner break I had about 175,000 chips with 30-minute levels, double the average. One hand I would play differently: ace-jack with the ace of clubs on a ten-eight-deuce all-club flop. A check back for pot control is probably better than a small bet there, because the big blind will check-raise a lot.

Near the bubble I was down to about seven big blinds, with two orbits to survive. We went hand-for-hand, and I made it: my seventh cash of the 2026 WSOP. A few hands later I got my last three big blinds in with an ace and ran into aces.

Questions viewers asked

How big was the 2026 WSOP $3,000 Midstakes Championship?: It had more than 3,100 entries across three starting days and a prize pool of about $9.5 million while registration was still open, with roughly $1.15 million for first place.
What is the WSOP Closer?: A $1,500 no-limit hold'em event near the end of the World Series of Poker with re-entry and 30-minute levels, a last chance to win a bracelet before the series ends.
Why check-raise with queen-ten on an ace-high flop?: From the big blind, queen-ten of spades had backdoor straight and flush draws, and it blocks ace-queen and ace-ten. A check-raise represents strong hands and lets Lexy keep betting on turns that improve her.
What does it mean to abuse the bubble?: Near the money, medium and short stacks tighten up to avoid busting just before a payout. A big stack can raise more often and pick up chips because those players will fold.

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