The first of two Day 2s in the 2026 WSOP Main Event is in its later stages, with registration now closed for the penultimate opportunity to play for poker's most prestigious title.
With two levels of late registration still available on Tuesday's Day 2D, any panic over a drastic drop in entry totals is waning.
While the numbers will likely be down from 2025, it appears on course to become the fourth-largest Main Event of all time.
Through four Day 1s and the two levels of registration in Day 2ABC, the entry total now sits at 8,513 (including 125 players registered so far for Day 2D).
Largest WSOP Main Event fields:
- 2024 – 10,112
- 2023 – 10,043
- 2025 – 9,735
- 2006 – 8,773
- 2022 – 8,663
The 2026 Main Event is on pace to be the fourth-largest ever.
Highs and lows in 2026
If Day 2D entries match last year’s total of 776, the final total for 2026 will be 9,165, and while that number is down from last year’s 9,735, it's a less startling drop than some had predicted.
Day 1A saw the most significant drop-off in 2026, with 115 fewer players than 2025, marking a downturn of over 16%. Day 1B and Day 1C were also down, but by much smaller margins.
Another point that had alarm bells ringing was at the start of Day 1D with just 2,450 entries for the ‘shuffle up and deal’ as opposed to 3,335 in 2025. But an encouraging trend then began to appear in the starting flight, traditionally known for being the largest of them all.
Late registrants flooded in throughout the day, pushing the total to 4,694 entries.
That trend continued on Day 2ABC, with late registration pushing entries above the 2025 pace for the first time – by almost 18%. This could well be the case again on Day 2D.
2025 to 2026 Main Event registration totals:
- 1A: 923 to 772 – Down 16.4%
- 1B: 1,096 to 1,038 – Down 5.3%
- 1C: 1,678 to 1,573 - Down 6.3%
- 1D: 4,997 to 4,694 – Down 6.1%
- 2ABC: 265 to 312 – Up 17.7%
- 2D: 776 / TBD
The bracelet and 2026's biggest monetary prize in poker will be awarded in just a few weeksWhat will the final number be?
If Day 2D attracts anything close to last year's 776 entries, the 2026 field will finish comfortably above 9,000. The chance of reaching 10,000 is virtually nil but a 10% drop, which had been predicted, is not going to happen.
What could still be happening, though unofficial until Tuesday, is another $10M first prize to the champion.
Against a backdrop of economic uncertainty and political turmoil, a decline in entries was expected, but hosting what appears set to be one of the four largest Main Events ever – and potentially awarding another $10 million first prize – should certainly be seen as a win.
We'll know the final number once late registration closes on Tuesday.
