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Event #13: $1,500 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em
Day 3 Completed
2026 World Series of Poker
Event #13: $1,500 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em
Day: 3
Event Info
2026 World Series of Poker
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 3
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$2,442,600
Total Entries
1,840
Level
34
Blinds
200,000 / 400,000
Ante
400,000
Entries
9
Players Left
1
Players Left 1 / 1,840
Filter
Level 34
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Despite nearly $400,000 in prior live tournament earnings, Honghao "Theo" Zhang had never recorded a World Series of Poker cash before this week. That changed in Event #13: $1,500 6-Handed No-Limit Hold'em, where the 26-year-old PhD student from Georgia Tech not only made the money, but turned his first WSOP payout into a bracelet-winning performance worth $346,108.
Zhang entered the final day among the larger stacks but appeared destined for an early final table exit after slipping to the bottom of the counts at one point on the final table. Instead, he mounted a remarkable comeback, eliminating David Rees in third place, and then dominated heads-up play against Harlan Karnofsky to capture the largest share of the $2,442,600 prize pool generated by the event's 1,840 entries.
Event #13: $1,500 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honghao Zhang | United States | $346,108 |
| 2 | Harlan Karnofsky | United States | $230,626 |
| 3 | David Rees | United States | $163,172 |
| 4 | Thai Dinh | United States | $116,951 |
| 5 | Daniel Hill | United States | $84,929 |
| 6 | Julien Duveau | France | $62,501 |
| 7 | Michel Molenaar | Netherlands | $46,619 |
While Zhang's first WSOP cash resulted in a bracelet, the victory was hardly the product of beginner's luck. Speaking to PokerNews after his win, Zhang thought his edge was still big enough even when he was the shortest stack three-handed.
"I was still very confident," Zhang said. "I'd already played with both opponents long enough to understand their styles and how they approached different situations. I just stayed patient and waited for my spots."
Zhang only began playing poker in 2023 and balances the game with his studies as a PhD candidate in Operations Research at Georgia Tech. While he regularly plays cash games and travels the tournament circuit, he does not see poker becoming his full-time profession anytime soon.
"I'm still a student," Zhang said. "Poker isn't full-time for me. It's a hobby, but I like it."
Chip Leaders Fall Early
With all nine players returning for the final day still chasing their first WSOP bracelet, a maiden champion was guaranteed before a card was dealt. Thai Dinh had come closest to breaking through, having finished runner-up in last summer's $600 Ultra Stack, while Michel Molenaar and daily tournament standout Justin Arnwine were among the most accomplished players left in the field.
Karnofsky and Rees were the early movers, turning middling stacks into the two biggest chip counts before the final table was formed.
Rees got the ball rolling by eliminating Rania Nasreddine, while Karnofsky surged up the leaderboard after taking a huge chunk from Arnwine with pocket kings. He then continued his ascent, winning several key pots against start-of-day chip leader Molenaar to build a commanding advantage. Molenaar stopped the bleeding somewhat by sending Arnwine to the rail on the final table bubble.
By the time the final table began, Karnofsky and Rees sat comfortably atop the counts, with Karnofsky holding more than twice as many chips as his nearest rival. Molenaar, Zhang, Daniel Hill, and Julien Duveau occupied the middle of the pack, while Dinh started as the short stack.
Dinh quickly worked his way back into contention, doubling through Zhang and later dragging another sizeable pot from Karnofsky before the first break.
Upon the restart, Karnofsky, sporting a hat and T-shirt featuring a raised middle finger directed at GTO, continued to make life difficult for Molenaar. The Dutchman shoved his stack on the river with two pair, only to run into Karnofsky's nut flush and exit in seventh place.
The hand allowed short stack Duveau to ladder one spot. Karnofsky dispatched him in sixth after spiking a three-outer, giving the chip leader more than half of the chips in play. He then made it three eliminations in a row by sending Hill to the rail with a straight, before Rees caught Dinh bluffing with a jack-high river shove to reduce the field to three players within the same level.
Zhang Rises to the Top
Zhang entered three-handed play as the shortest stack but quickly found his footing, winning the majority of the early pots. He then befitted from a huge clash with Rees, where he went runner-runner to make a flush against Rees' aces and tens after the chips went in on the river. The pot eliminated Rees in third place and brought Zhang virtually level with Karnofsky heading into heads-up play.
Zhang caught Karnofsky speeding early on in heads-up to build an almost 3:1 lead, and then quickly had Karnofsky down to nine big blinds. A double for the latter brought some breathing room but Zhang closed it out when his ace-five held against Karnofsky's ace-four.
That concludes PokerNews' coverage of this event, but be sure to check out all the live reporting from the 2026 WSOP.
Level 34
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
In the final hand of the night, Harlan Karnofsky moved all in for his remaining 6,800,000 stack from the small blind and Honghao Zhang took a brief pause, before calling off for a chance at the title.
Harlan Karnofsky: A♥4♣
Honghao Zhang: A♦5♣
There was a good sweat on the A♣2♥3♠ flop, as Karnofsky picked up a straight draw, but Zhang was holding one of his outs.
A 7♠ turn didn't change the standings and Karnofsky was sent home in second place after seeing the 10♥ complete the board.
Level 34
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Harlan Karnofsky raised to 800,000 from the small blind and Honghao Zhang called from the big blind. The 10♣4♣9♣ flop saw Zhang check-jam after Karnofsky bet 900,000. Karnofsky gave up his hand, and passed the pot across the table.
The next hand saw Zhang raise to 800,000 and Karnofsky shoved for his remaining chips, approximately 7,500,000. Zhang quickly got out of the way and pushed some back Karnofsky's way.
The pair continued as Karnofsky raised to 600,000 and Zhang called. The 5♦3♣3♠ flop was checked all the way through to the K♠ turn and 9♠ river. Zhang checked one last time and proceeded to fold to Karnofsky's 1,200,000 river bet.
Karnofsky was then forced to give some back after Zhang raised to 800,000 and Karnofsky called pre-flop. The 10♠J♦2♦ fell and Karnofsky check-called a 600,000 continuation-bet from Zhang. A 6♥ turn saw Karnofsky quickly check-fold after Zhang asked for 1,800,000.
Level: 34
Blinds: 200,000/400,000
Ante: 400,000
Level 33
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
The remaining two players take a short 15-minute break.
Action is due to resume at 7.25 p.m
Level 33
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Honghao Zhang opened to 600,000 and Harlan Karnofsky defended the big blind. The 4♠6♣J♣ flop was checked to the 6♠ turn. Karnofsky bet 1,500,000 and Zhang mucked.
Two hands later Karnofsky jammed for his remaining 7,700,000 after seeing Zhang limp from the small blind. Zhang spent some time contemplating the decision before giving up his hand.
Level 33
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Honghao Zhang jammed from the button and Harlan Karnofsky called off his stack of 2,250,000 from the big blind.
Harlan Karnofsky: A♣5♥
Honghao Zhang: Q♠J♥
Karnofsky took a big lead on the A♥6♥7♣ flop and sealed the checkmark on the 2♣ turn ahead of the 9♠ river.
On the next deal, Karnofsky made it 700,000 from the button and Zhang called. The J♦5♣3♠ flop checked through to the A♠ turn, where Karnofsky folded out Zhang with a bet of 1,100,000.
Zhang limped in form the button, but folded when Karnofsky made it 1,500,000. Karnofsky made it four pots in a row, jamming from the button, which stole Zhang's blinds.
Level 33
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Harlan Karnofsky opened to 700,000 from the button and called when Honghao Zhang made it 2,200,000 from the big blind.
Zhang continued for 1,400,000 on the A♣Q♥2♠ flop before Karnofsky made it 4,000,000, leaving around 5,000,000 behind. Zhang moved all in, and Karnofsky immediately kissed his teeth.
"Ace-ten, couldn't withstand the heat," he said as he folded his hand.
Zhang jammed the next hand and folded out Karnofsky.
On the next deal, Karnofsky raised to 600,000 and Zhang called from the big blind. Zhang check-called for 500,000 on the A♥Q♥J♥ flop before the 8♣ turn and 9♠ river checked through to showdown. Zhang tabled J♣5♣ for a pair of jacks and Karnofsky mucked.
Level 33
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
After a number of raise folds, Harlan Karnofsky limped from the small blind and Honghao Zhang checked from the big blind.
The pair saw a 2♦K♣4♠ flop and checked to see the 5♥ turn. Zhang bet 300,000 and Karnofsky called. A 3♣ came on the river which saw Zhang check-call, after Karnofsky bet 1,200,000. Karnofsky turned over 8♥6♠ for the straight which prompted Zhang to muck.
Zhang took some back in the next hand after raising to 800,000 and getting called by Karnofsky to see a 10♥6♦2♦ flop. A 650,000 bet by Zhang was enough to prompt a fold from Karnofsky.
In the next hand Karnofsky took the pot after limping from the small blind and checking action through the J♣Q♥10♠8♦2♥ board, and showing his J♠4♥ pair of jacks.
