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Event #22: $1,500 Big O
Day 3 Completed
2026 World Series of Poker
Event #22: $1,500 Big O
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
$2,802,785
Total Entries
2,150
Level
35
Blinds
250,000 / 500,000
Ante
500,000
Entries
18
Players Left
1
Players Left 1 / 2,150
Filter
Level 35
: Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
Do more cards equate to more fun? For Christopher Alcindor, the answer is a resounding yes. The Canadian poker player has long been a fan of split-pot Omaha, but he is keenly aware of the frustrations and swings that come in this format.
Such was the case today, after a tumultuous final table took place in Event #22: $1,500 Big O. It took nearly six hours of play to find a winner from the final eight, including a three hour stretch of six-handed play. However, once the dust settled at the end of the night, it was Alcindor alone with all of the chips as he claims his first WSOP bracelet along with the first-place prize of $387,110.
This year at 2026 World Series of Poker at the Horseshoe and Paris, Las Vegas, there were two starting flights in the event, bringing out a total of 2,150 hopefuls to generate a prize pool of $2,802,785. After two long days of battle, 29 players returned this afternoon to play down to winner.
It was eventually Alcindor who took down the title, defeating James Roullier in just a few hands of heads-up play. He had to contend with a difficult final table that included previous bracelet winners in Anthony Reategui (7th - $57,150), Thomas Koral (6th - $75,600), and Scott Abrams (3rd - $187,150).
Alcindor has been playing poker for years, but primarily in the online streets. Over the past two years, he has considerably increased his live volume, accumulating nearly $400,000 in live tournament earnings. However, today Alcindor has doubled that number in just one tournament.
Event #22 Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christopher Alcindor | Canada | $387,110 |
| 2 | James Roullier | United States | $258,690 |
| 3 | Scott Abrams | United States | $187,150 |
| 4 | Dimitri Melissourgos | United States | $136,820 |
| 5 | Song Wang | China | $101,128 |
| 6 | Thomas Koral | United States | $75,600 |
| 7 | Anthony Reategui | United States | $57,150 |
| 8 | Senovio Ramirez | United States | $43,700 |
Winner's Reaction
After winning the final hand, the first order of business on Alcindor's mind was to call his wife back in Canada who had been nervously following the updates.
"She couldn't sleep," Alcindor explained, "She's so excited...she couldn't believe it."
His passion for the game was palpable, and he was unafraid to show his emotion throughout a chaotic final day of play.
Alcindor has already laid claim to two WSOP Circuit rings, both coming in Calgary in May 2024 and January 2025. He now owns the most prestigious piece of poker hardware, adding to his growing list of accolades.
"I finished 499th in the Main Event last year, but Hi-Lo is really my favorite," the champion elaborated, "People were asking me if I was going to play the Monster Stack or something else. And I was like 'No, I came here to play Hi-Lo.'"
"I cashed the PLO8 (72nd for $3,525), but Big O is my absolute favorite."
The Canadian explained how the extended six-handed period was frustrating, but he was able to maintain his composure.
"It was long! The short stacks would never die. There were like a dozen all-ins, and every time you had to rebuild afterwards, and wait for that break on the river to scoop the pot."
"I was trying to kind of abuse ICM a bit, but some players clearly didn't mind," Alcindor continued, "So I had to adjust a bit. But at some point when the cards fall in your favor as well, it's a bit easier."
The newly-minted bracelet winner reflected on how his online experience prepared him to focus on bringing his best play into today.
"I used to play online for 80 hours a week, and that can take a toll on you. But if you prioritize quality over quantity, then you have more energy and you're able to give your best."
As it turns out, Alcindor's best was clearly good enough.
Day 3 Action
The returning field of 29 was quickly reduced to 18 during the first frame of play, with Nicolas Milgrom (28th - $13,610) and John Holley (24th - $13,610) among the early eliminations.
The exits continued at a rapid pace over the next two hours as the tournament was reduced to its final ten players, with notable exits including Omaha specialist Bruno Furth (17th - $16,780), Mark Gregorich (14th - $20,940), and Michael Estes (12th - $20,940).
Following the eliminations of Casey Hayes and Sang Shin, the final eight players combined a single final table, with Song Wang leading the way, and Alcindor in third.
Final Table Action
Split-pot regular Senovio Ramirez was the first casualty of the final table. He got his short stack into the middle with ace-king-five-three-deuce and was at risk against the aces of Wang. The board ran out with high cards, and Ramirez exited in eighth.
Soon after, bracelet winner Anthony Reategui fell in seventh place. He jammed over a limper with jack-four-four-three-deuce, but Dimitrios Melissourgos woke up behind him with ace-king-eight-three-deuce, and his opponent made top two pair to take out Reategui.
Six-handed play turned out to an extended affair. Nearly three hours would elapse as the stack sizes became quite short. Eventually, it was Thomas Koral who could not survive an all-in. He got his short stack into the middle over Alcindor's open with ace-jack-six-five-four. Unfortunately for him, Alcindor would river a wheel with his three-deuce to take out the two-time bracelet winner.
The final five players were all guaranteed a six-figure score as Song Wang was the next casualty. His stack rode a rollercoaster all day, but it eventually came to an end when he got his final eight big blinds into the middle with ace-eight-eight-six-deuce. However, James Roullier would flop trips, and Wang could not find a two-outer on the river to survive, ending his run in fifth.
With the blinds becoming so expensive, each and every pot was crucial, with all-ins occurring every few hands. Eventually, it was Dimitrios Melissourgos who got scooped to the rail. After holding the chip lead for parts of the final table, he slowly became short and got the rest of his stack in with ace-king-jack-four-four, up against the ace-king-ten-four-deuce of Alcindor. Neither player finished with a qualifying low, and Alcindor made a full house on the turn to end Melissourgos' run.
Long-time mixed game crusher Scott Abrams was eliminated shortly thereafter in third. In a three-way raised pot, he got his stack into the middle with top pair and a broadway wrap, up against the top two pair of Alcindor. The board bricked out, leaving Alcindor with the winner as Abrams rollercoaster of a day ended in third place.
Heads-up play would only last a few hands with Alcindor holding an overwhelming chip lead. On the final hand, James Roullier potted on the button and Alcindor called. With less than pot behind, Roullier got it in with the nut flush draw, only to be shown the trip jacks of Alcindor. The turn and river offered no help to Roullier, and Alcindor was able to celebrate his incredible victory.
This concludes PokerNews' coverage of Event #22: $1,500 Big O. Stay tuned as we continue to cover the 2026 World Series of Poker and bring you the hottest news in the poker world.
Level 35
: Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
Christopher Alcindor is the champion of Event #22: $1,500 Big O. The Canadian claims his first WSOP bracelet, along with the first-place prize of $387,110.
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christopher Alcindor | Canada | $387,110 |
| 2 | James Roullier | United States | $258,690 |
| 3 | Scott Abrams | United States | $187,150 |
| 4 | Dimitri Melissourgos | United States | $136,820 |
| 5 | Song Wang | China | $101,128 |
| 6 | Thomas Koral | United States | $75,600 |
| 7 | Anthony Reategui | United States | $57,150 |
| 8 | Senovio Ramirez | United States | $43,700 |
Stay tuned for a recap of the tournament, along with winner's photos and some words from our champion!
Level 35
: Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
James Roullier potted to 1,500,000 on the button and Christopher Alcindor called.
On the J♠J♥9♥ flop, Alcindor led and Roullier called all-in for his final 2,500,000.
James Roullier: A♥Q♣10♦7♣2♥ 
Christopher Alcindor: J♣8♦7♦5♠4♦
Alcindor had flopped trips against the nut flush draw of Roullier. The 3♠ turn changed nothing, and the 9♠ river sealed the deal for Roullier, who will have to settle for second after an amazing run.
Level 35
: Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
The three remaining players limped into a 9♥7♣4♥ pot. It checked to James Roullier, who bet 1,200,000.
Alcindor check-raised the pot to 5,600,000 and got two folds.
On the next hand, Roullier raised to 1,750,000 on the button and got two calls.
The flop came K♠Q♠5♥ and it checked to Scott Abrams, who bet the pot. Roullier folded.
"Gamble gamble?", asked Alcindor before raising, with Abrams getting his chips in the middle.
Scott Abrams: A♣K♣J♥10♣7♠
Christopher Alcindor: A♥K♥Q♦8♥10♦
The turn was the 7♦ and the river the 2♣ with Alcindor taking the high and the low to scoop, sending Abrams to the rail.
Level 35
: Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
Dimitri Melissourgos potted to 1,750,000 in the cutoff, Christopher Alcindor repotted in the big blind, and Melissourgos called all-in for 2,650,000 total.
Dimitri Melissourgos: A♣K♠J♥4♥4♦
Christopher Alcindor: A♥K♣10♦4♣2♥
The 10♠10♣2♠ flop gave Alcindor trips, and both players now had the same backdoor low draw. The board ran out A♦8♣ as neither player made a low, so Alcindor's boat was the winner.
Level 35
: Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
Christopher Alcindor opened to 1,200,000 and got calls from each of the remaining three players.
They all checked both the 10♠7♣6♣ flop and Q♣ turn, and the river was the 3♠.
It checked to Alcindor, who bet 3,600,000 and got three folds.
Level 35
: Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
Dimitri Melissourgos was all in for 5,000,000 up against chip leader Christopher Alcindor.
Dimitri Melissourgos: A♦7♠6♠4♠2♦
Christopher Alcindor: A♥K♠6♣3♦2♠
The K♥10♥4♥ flop kept Alcindor in the lead with a pair of kings. The turn was the 3♣, giving both players wheel draws. The 2♥ river gave both players a low, with Alcindor's two pair enough to give him three quarters.
Level 35
: Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
Scott Abrams opened to 1,200,000 in the cutoff, and was called by James Roullier in the small blind and Christopher Alcindor in the big blind.
The A♠8♠4♦ flop checked through to the 7♣ turn, which saw Alcindor lead for 1,850,000 and only Abrams called.
Alcindor then checked the A♥ river. Abrams bet 6,000,000 into a pot of 7,800,000, and Alcindor called after a short deliberation.
Scott Abrams: A♦9♣7♦4♣3♣
Christopher Alcindor: A♣K♣9♥5♣3♦
Abrams had a full house, while Alcindor had the low with his five-three, and the pot was chopped.
Level 35
: Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
Scott Abrams got his last chips in the middle on a Q♦J♦4♣2♥ board hoping to hold against Christopher Alcindor.
Scott Abrams: A♠K♠Q♥10♠3♦
Christopher Alcindor: A♦7♥6♠5♠3♠
Alcindor had a wheel draw and was calling for all manner of low cards, but the river was the 9♣ and Abrams doubled up.
