Last Updated on August 3, 2026 by Bala Kumar
Twenty-two-year-old Lucas Jumalon walks into tonight’s final table with a stack that shouldn’t exist this deep into a Main Event: 194,000,000 chips, good for 129 big blinds and roughly 35% of every chip in play among the nine players left. Cards go in the air at 9 PM ET on ESPN2, and for the first time in three weeks, the biggest question in poker actually gets an answer, can anyone catch him, or does the kid from Spokane run away with it?
The Numbers Going In
Here’s exactly where the final nine stand as play resumes tonight, unchanged since the final table was set on July 13:
| Seat | Player | Country | Chips | Big Blinds |
| 1 | Lucas Jumalon | USA | 194,000,000 | ~129 |
| 2 | Rami Hammoud | Canada | 79,000,000 | ~53 |
| 3 | Jamie Shaevel | USA | 56,000,000 | ~37 |
| 4 | Greg Mueller | Canada | 48,500,000 | ~32 |
| 5 | Michael Gagliano | USA | 46,500,000 | ~31 |
| 6 | Mario Boos | France | 44,000,000 | ~29 |
| 7 | Lauri Saaskilahti | Finland | 37,500,000 | ~25 |
| 8 | Han Feng | USA | 25,000,000 | ~17 |
| 9 | Evagoras Evagorou | Cyprus | 22,500,000 | ~15 |
Day 1 is scheduled to play the field from nine down to six. With blinds set to climb fast relative to the shorter stacks, expect the first real elimination pressure to hit Feng and Evagorou well before the night is over.
What the Betting Markets Say
Poker’s final table odds have historically lived in barroom arguments and pundit columns — this year, for the first time, there’s an actual market to check. Polymarket’s WSOP winner market has Jumalon trading at roughly 35%, with the rest of the field spread out well behind him:
| Player | Implied Win Probability |
| Lucas Jumalon | ~35% |
| Rami Hammoud | ~16% |
| Michael Gagliano | ~11% |
| Jamie Shaevel | ~9% |
| Greg Mueller | ~9% |
| Mario Boos, Han Feng, Lauri Saaskilahti, Evagoras Evagorou | Remainder of field |
Percentages reflect a relatively thin market and don’t sum cleanly to 100% — treat them as sentiment rather than precise probability. Source: Polymarket, via PokerNews.
The Seating Chart Might Matter More Than the Chip Counts
One detail simulation models have flagged as a real structural edge for Jumalon: seat draw. Rami Hammoud, the closest player in chips, sits two seats to Jumalon’s right — meaning whenever Hammoud reaches the cutoff or button, the two best positions to steal blinds, Jumalon is sitting in the blinds with the biggest stack at the table and maximum leverage to defend or re-raise. A million-simulation model run ahead of the final table flagged this as one of the more awkward seat draws in recent Main Event history, and it’s a detail worth watching from the opening hands tonight.
Who the Pros Are Picking
PokerNews polled a handful of pros and insiders for their picks ahead of tonight, and the consensus mostly — but not entirely — follows the chip counts:
“I think it’s clear Jumalon is the favorite, and as long as he can play a good final table, he should secure a nice payday.”
Not everyone is on board with the obvious pick, though. A couple of contrarian votes landed on Jamie Shaevel, the third-place chip leader, cited for his composure and deep tournament résumé, while at least one insider flagged Han Feng — despite sitting eighth in chips with just 17 big blinds — as a legitimate dark horse if he can find an early double-up.
The Storylines Worth Following Tonight
● Jumalon’s meteoric run:
a 22-year-old recent college graduate whose biggest cash before this summer was $22,945, Jumalon nearly busted on Day 1b with just 7,400 chips before rebuilding to 146,000 by Day 2 and never looking back.
● Greg Mueller, the veteran:
a three-time bracelet winner and former professional hockey player, Mueller is the most decorated player left and has become something of a fan favorite heading into tonight.
● Rami Hammoud’s analytical edge:
an analytics manager by trade with a background in actuarial mathematics, Hammoud is the closest thing to a live threat Jumalon has at the table — and he’ll need every edge he can find given the seating.
● Evagoras Evagorou’s history bid:
the short stack at 22.5 million chips, Evagorou is looking to become the first player from Cyprus to ever win a WSOP Main Event.
How to Watch Tonight
| Region | Channel | Time |
| United States | ESPN2 | 9:00 PM ET |
| UK / Europe / Asia | Eurosport, TNT Sports | Check regional listings; late-night with same-day rebroadcasts |
For a full breakdown of the three-night schedule, payout structure, and running chip-count updates as Day 1 unfolds, see our complete WSOP Main Event 2026 Final Table live coverage page — it’ll be updated through the night as players bust and stacks shift.
FAQs
What time does the WSOP Main Event Final Table start tonight?
Day 1 airs live on ESPN2 starting at 9 PM ET on Monday, August 3, 2026, and plays until the field is cut from nine players to six.
Who is favored to win the 2026 WSOP Main Event?
Lucas Jumalon, trading at roughly 35% on Polymarket’s prediction market, on the strength of his 194-million-chip lead heading into Day 1.
How many chips does Lucas Jumalon have going into the final table?
194,000,000 chips — about 129 big blinds and roughly 35% of every chip in play, more than double second-place Rami Hammoud’s stack.
Where can I watch the WSOP Main Event Final Table?
ESPN2 carries Day 1 and Day 2 live in the US, with ESPN carrying the Day 3 conclusion. Eurosport and TNT Sports carry the series across the UK, Europe, and Asia.
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