Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California, remains one of the most popular stops on the WSOP Circuit, and 2026 is a big year for the venue, it’s hosting two separate Circuit series as the tour shifts to a full calendar-year format. One stop has already wrapped up with a big Main Event champion crowned, and a second stop is confirmed for late September into October.
Here’s the complete rundown, including real results from the most recent series.
WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley, 2026 Dates
| Series | Dates | Status |
| WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley (Winter) | January 15–26, 2026 | Completed |
| WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley (Fall) | September 24 – October 5, 2026 | Upcoming |
The January stop ran for 12 days and featured 16 gold ring events, headlined by the $1,700 buy-in WSOP Circuit Main Event. The fall stop is confirmed on the official WSOP schedule for September 24 through October 5, 2026, though the full event-by-event lineup has not yet been published, it typically drops a few weeks ahead of the series.
January 2026 Thunder Valley, Full Results (Real Data)
For a clear picture of what to expect this fall, here’s the complete results table from the January 2026 Thunder Valley stop, straight from the official WSOP schedule:
| Event | Buy-in | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner |
| #1 $400 Senior Event | $400 | 152 | $50,160 | Anthony Swift |
| #2 $400 Thirty Thirty | $400 | 115 | $37,950 | George Kim |
| #3 $400 The Opener | $400 | 1,228 | $353,357 | Anthony Banuelos |
| #4 $400 8-Handed | $400 | 268 | $88,440 | Feiyue Wu |
| #5 $600 PLO 8 | $600 | 87 | $44,805 | Jonathan Malcolm |
| #6 $400 Freezeout | $400 | 147 | $48,510 | Han Yan |
| #7 $600 T.O.R.S.E | $600 | 76 | $39,140 | Volodymyr Kondratenko |
| #8 $400 Bounty | $400 | 132 | $30,360 | Matthew Kramer |
| #9 $600 Omaha 8 | $600 | 70 | $36,050 | Ramin Malekian |
| #10 $400 Monster Stack | $400 | 619 | $204,270 | Patrick Putman |
| #11 $600 6-Handed | $600 | 160 | $82,400 | Roger Bailey |
| #12 $3,250 High Roller | $3,250 | 82 | $246,000 | David Stamm |
| #13 $1,700 Main Event | $1,700 | 764 | $1,157,460 | Jaime Haletky |
| #14 $600 Forty Forty | $600 | 129 | $66,435 | Mitchell Collins |
| #15 $1,125 Last Call | $1,125 | 131 | $131,000 | Benjamin Primus |
| #16 $400 Series Finale | $400 | 108 | $35,640 | Michael Durzan |
Main Event Spotlight: Jaime Haletky’s Big Win
The centerpiece of the January series was, as always, the $1,700 buy-in WSOP Circuit Main Event. It drew 764 entries and built a prize pool of $1,157,460, comfortably clearing the standard $1 million guarantee. Jaime Haletky topped the field to win the gold ring and the largest payday of the series.
That result continues a strong run of form at this venue. the previous fall series at Thunder Valley (September–October 2025) saw San Jose’s Akbar Zamani take down the Main Event for $187,882 and his first career WSOP Circuit ring.
What to Expect From the September 2026 Series
While the full ring-event schedule for the fall 2026 stop hasn’t been released yet, recent Thunder Valley series follow a consistent pattern that gives a strong preview of what’s coming:
- 13–16 gold ring events across No-Limit Hold’em and mixed games (PLO, HORSE, Big O, 2-7 Triple Draw, Omaha 8)
- A $400 “Opener” event kicking off the series with a big guarantee, historically drawing 1,000+ entries
- A $400 two-day Monster Stack, a Circuit staple
- The $1,700 WSOP Circuit Main Event, typically running multiple Day 1 starting flights with a $1 million guarantee
- Every ring winner earns a $5,000 package to the WSOP Circuit Championship event at WSOP Paradise
Based on the confirmed September 24 – October 5 window, expect the Main Event to run its starting flights in the final days of the series, with the final table wrapping up right around the close on October 5.
Why Thunder Valley Remains a Circuit Favorite
Thunder Valley’s consistent guarantees, mix of hold’em and mixed-game events, and Northern California location, about 27 miles from Sacramento International Airport — keep it one of the most-attended stops on the Circuit year after year. With the January 2026 series clearing its Main Event guarantee by more than $150,000, the fall stop is shaping up to be another well-attended series.
Check back closer to September 24 for the full confirmed schedule, structure sheets, and live updates once the series is underway.
FAQs
1. When is the WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley Fall 2026 series?
The WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley Fall series is scheduled for September 24 through October 5, 2026, at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California.
2. Who won the January 2026 WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley Main Event?
Jaime Haletky won the $1,700 Main Event after a field of 764 entries, taking the gold ring from a $1,157,460 prize pool.
3. How much is the WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley Main Event buy-in?
The Main Event has a $1,700 buy-in and typically features multiple starting flights along with a $1 million guarantee.
4. How many ring events were held at Thunder Valley in January 2026?
The January 2026 series featured 16 gold ring events, covering No-Limit Hold’em, PLO and several mixed-game formats.
5. Where is Thunder Valley Casino Resort located?
Thunder Valley Casino Resort is located in Lincoln, California, approximately 27 miles from Sacramento International Airport.
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