Inside Day 3: WSOP Super Circuit Canada $5K Main Event Heats Up as Survivors Chase the Final Table

Last Updated on September 8, 2026 by Bala Kumar

Poker history is being written at Playground Poker Club right now, and Day 3 of the WSOP Super Circuit Canada $5,000 CAD Main Event is where the real drama begins. After three grueling starting flights that shattered attendance records across the country, the survivors are back in their seats, chips stacked, nerves tested, and eyes locked on one prize: a spot at the final table and a life-changing payday.

A Tournament That Redefined Canadian Poker

Let’s talk numbers first, because they tell a story of their own. This inaugural WSOP Super Circuit Main Event didn’t just meet its lofty $10 million CAD guarantee,  it obliterated it. A total of 2,844 entries poured into the event, generating a jaw-dropping prize pool of $13,082,400 CAD. To put that in perspective, that’s the largest prize pool ever attached to a single tournament in Canadian poker history.

The numbers behind the numbers are just as impressive. Day 1A alone drew 851 entries, setting a new all-time record for single-flight attendance in any $5K buy-in event held on Canadian soil. Not to be outdone, Day 1C came within a hair of matching that mark, pulling in 830 entries of its own. Add in a third starting flight, and it’s clear this wasn’t just another stop on the tour,  it was a full-blown poker phenomenon.

When the dust settled on the staggered Day 2 flights, 177 players had done enough to punch their ticket to Day 3. Among them, dreams are still very much alive, and for a lucky few, so is a shot at Canadian poker immortality.

The Chip Leaders Setting the Pace

Heading into Day 3, one name sits atop the leaderboard that Canadian fans will be especially proud of: Mario Lemieux. Yes, that Mario Lemieux,  the hockey legend has translated his competitive fire from the ice to the felt, and as Day 3 gets underway, he’s the man everyone else at the table is chasing.

He’s not alone at the top, though. Chance Kornuth and Will Givens also bagged big stacks heading into today’s action, sitting in the fifth- and tenth-largest stack positions respectively. Both are seasoned tournament grinders who know exactly how to leverage a healthy chip stack deep into a field this large, and their presence near the top of the counts should make the rest of the field nervous.

The Star Power Is Undeniable

If you needed proof that this event has captured the attention of the global poker world, look no further than the marquee names still in contention. Eight-time WSOP bracelet winner Daniel Negreanu returns to Day 3 with roughly 89 big blinds in his stack, giving him plenty of ammunition to work with. Negreanu has reportedly been keeping himself sharp between sessions by playing WSOP Online events on GGPoker, a testament to just how much this Canadian native wants to make noise in his home country’s biggest-ever tournament.

Right on his heels is Michael Mizrachi, the reigning 2025 WSOP Main Event World Champion, who sits with 87 big blinds, nearly identical to Negreanu’s count. Mizrachi has built a reputation over the years as one of the most creative and dangerous players at any final table, and with a stack this healthy, he’s a threat to go deep once again.

They’re joined by a strong supporting cast bagging around the average stack, including respected pro Jonathan Little, rising star Abby Merk, and Han Feng, who turned heads with a fifth-place finish in the 2026 WSOP Main Event earlier this summer. Poker commentator-turned-competitor Jeff Platt is also back in the mix,  a familiar face to fans who normally see him holding a microphone rather than a stack of chips. Other notable names looking to spin up shorter stacks and make a move include Kevin Martin, Jamie Dwan, and Lexy Gavin-Mather, all of whom will need a big Day 3 to stay alive.

What’s at Stake

With late registration now closed, every player remaining knows exactly what they’re playing for. Official payout information for the event was expected to be announced as Day 3 got underway, and given the size of this prize pool, the money at the top of the payout ladder is expected to be substantial, potentially one of the largest first-place prizes ever awarded at a Canadian poker tournament.

The road ahead is still a long one. This marquee event, structured across staggered starting days, is scheduled to reach its conclusion later this week, when a final table will be set and a champion crowned. Every hand played today brings the surviving 177 players one step closer to that moment, and one step closer to elimination.

Why This Event Matters

Beyond the chip counts and the celebrity sightings, this event represents something bigger for the Canadian poker scene. The WSOP Super Circuit’s first-ever visit to Canada, hosted at Playground just outside Montreal, was billed from the outset as a historic milestone,  and the numbers have backed up the hype at every turn. This festival features 18 total ring events and more than $14 million CAD in guaranteed prize pools across its run, but the $5K Main Event has always been the crown jewel of the schedule.

For amateur players who took a shot at the biggest stage of their poker careers, simply making Day 3 already represents the accomplishment of a lifetime. For the professionals in the field, this is a chance to add another notable score to their résumé on a stage that Canadian poker has never seen before.

Main Event Schedule at a Glance

For fans trying to keep track of exactly where this Main Event stands, here’s how the schedule has broken down:

• September 3–6: Staggered Day 1 starting flights (Day 1A, 1B, 1C)
• Following days: Staggered Day 2 flights, narrowing the field down to 177 survivors
• Day 3 (Today): The remaining 177 players return to battle for the chip lead and a seat at the final table
• September 10: The Main Event is scheduled to reach its conclusion, with a champion expected to be crowned

This Main Event is the centerpiece of the broader WSOP Super Circuit Canada festival, which runs from August 26 through September 12 at Playground Poker Club, featuring 18 total ring events and more than $14 million CAD in guaranteed prize money across the series.

Following the Action

If you want to watch the drama unfold, you can catch the action streaming live, with continuing coverage available on the WSOP’s official channels. Whether it’s Negreanu trying to cement his legacy in his home country, Mizrachi looking to add to his championship pedigree, or a lesser-known grinder making a surprise run, Day 3 promises fireworks at every table.

One thing is certain: by the time the felt goes quiet on this historic Main Event, a new name will be etched into Canadian poker history,  and the story of how they got there will be worth every hand it took to tell it.

Stay tuned for continuing updates as the WSOP Super Circuit Canada $5K Main Event moves toward its final table and crowns its champion later this week.

FAQs

Bala Kumar

Founder of PokerClubGames.com and a Poker Researcher with 10+ years of experience in SEO, WordPress development, and gaming content strategy. Specializes in researching online poker sites, poker apps, tournaments, bonuses, and poker strategies. Experienced in poker platform reviews, affiliate marketing, and creating SEO-focused poker content for global audiences.

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