
The 2026 Winter Poker Open was our first big series of the year and players were ready for some poker over the two-week schedule.
Events: 11
Entries: 2,572
Guarantees: $600,000
Prize Pools: $1,309,770
We put on 11 trophy events over those two weeks with $600,000 in guaranteed prize pools and awarded more than $1.3 million. Another great turnout, thanks to our players.
The headliner was the WPO Championship with a $1,700 buy-in, and it drew 419 entries, more than doubling the guarantee and creating a prize pool of $628,500. It created a talented field on the last day and a tough final table, one that Yan Jiang dominated late and walked away with the outright win for $133,430.
Rafael Reis was only two spots short of a first in our history; as the reigning Pinktober Poker Open Champ, he ran deep in the WPO Championship and finished third.
You can find links to all trophy events and their results below. Thanks to everyone for coming out, and we look forward to seeing everyone for the 2026 Tampa Poker Classic from March 4th through the 16th!
WPO Championship: Yan Jiang – $133,430
Event 1 ($400 NLH): Mike Valore – $65,940
Event 2 ($250 NLH): Carlo Amenta – $8,880
Event 3 ($400 O8): AJ Kelsall – $5,600
Event 4 ($700 NLH): Ricardo Eyzaguirre – $23,600
Event 5 ($400 Big O): Jordan Joeckel – $4,695
Event 6 ($200 Bounty): Ben Paul Chelladurai – $3,580
Event 7 ($400 PLO): Jeremy Parker – $6,800
Event 9 ($400 NLH): William Davis – $9,110
Event 10 (Seniors): Mike Beckel – $3,367
Event 11 ($300 Bounty): David Kutz – $5,560










, and Jiang continued for another 1,200,000. Sturgis called, the turn was
, Jiang announced all in, and Sturgis folded.





flop. Neither the
turn nor the
river were any help for Sturgis and he was eliminated in second place.