The 2026 WSOP Monster Stack drew a record field: 11,933 entries and a $15.8 million prize pool. Eight players remain — here's the final table seating and the key players to watch, led by Kevin Eyster.
The 2026 World Series of Poker $1,500 Monster Stack drew a record field: a total of 11,933 entries came in, and the prize pool topped $15.8 million. After the long grind, eight players remain — each guaranteed at least $190,000, but with $1,302,125 and a WSOP bracelet waiting for the winner.
Final Table Seating
| Seat | Player | Chips | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pierce McKellar | 72.6 million | 30 BB |
| 2 | Nikolaos Angelou | 31.6 million | 13 BB |
| 3 | Salvatore DiCarlo | 103.2 million | 43 BB |
| 4 | Aaron Massey | 38.3 million | 15 BB |
| 5 | Matthew Miller | 98.5 million | 41 BB |
| 6 | Richard Alsup | 52.3 million | 21 BB |
| 7 | John Ripnick | 54.6 million | 22 BB |
| 8 | Kevin Eyster | 126.7 million | 52 BB |
The Key Players to Watch
Leading the chip counts is Kevin Eyster, by far the most experienced name in the field: his live earnings top $5.5 million, and back in 2015 he banked a $1.58 million World Poker Tour title. With a commanding lead, he is the clear favorite at the final table.
Right behind him, Salvatore DiCarlo and Matthew Miller also sit with serious stacks, leaving three players in control of the chips in the closing stage. DiCarlo is no stranger to the WSOP either: he has already won a bracelet online.
The real wild card of the field is Aaron Massey, a veteran of the underground poker scene who arrives at the final with more than $6 million in experience. Alongside him, Nikolaos Angelou, a seasoned online grinder, is chasing his first truly big live result, while the rest of the finalists — online phenoms and regional players — are fighting for the best payday of their careers.
The stakes are enormous: the gap between the guaranteed $190,000 and the $1.3 million first prize is huge, so every decision at the final table could weigh heavily.
