Shuffle up and deal: A lapsed fan's guide to the 2026 WSOP
Key takeaways
- Don't worry, it's still the same event that you watched on ESPN for 19 years, with all the bells and whistles and hype and energy that you remember.
- The popularity of poker exploded in 2003 when Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker main event.
- What about 'Poker Brat' Phil Hellmuth?
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
ESPN Illustration Lance Bradley Multiple Authors Jul 1, 2026, 08:00 AM ETEmail Print Open Extended Reactions You are forgiven if it feels like you haven't watched the World Series of Poker in, say, five years.
The WSOP main event -- the $10,000 buy-in tournament that crowns poker's world champion and made superstars out of Phil Hellmuth, Johnny Chan, Doyle Brunson and Chris Moneymaker -- is back on ESPN after a five-year hiatus from the network.
Don't worry, it's still the same event that you watched on ESPN for 19 years, with all the bells and whistles and hype and energy that you remember. The good news is that the WSOP main event is kind of like "The White Lotus." The cast of characters has some fresh faces to add more flavor, but it also includes the heroes and villains you fell in love with in the first place.