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Event #8: $1,500 Badugi
Day 3 Completed
2026 World Series of Poker
Event #8: $1,500 Badugi
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
$735,435
Total Entries
554
Level
33
Limits
125,000 / 250,000
Ante
0
Entries
10
Players Left
1
Players Left 1 / 554
Filter
Level 33
: Limits 125,000/250,000, 0 ante
Blinds: 125,000-250,000
Limits: 250,000-500,000
Limits: 250,000-500,000
Michael Casella has spent much of his life playing chess at a high level, but he has become one of the many to transition to poker in recent years. However, dreams of World Series of Poker glory seemed out of reach, until today. With only four career WSOP cashes, Casella was determined to make his mark in poker history.
A total of 554 entries were tallied for the fourth edition of Event #8: $1,500 Badugi here at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. Many of the greatest minds in the mixed game world threw their name into the hat, but only one player would come away with the first-place prize of $141,963. As the field grew smaller and smaller, it appeared increasingly likely that a poker legend would hoist another bracelet, but the Los Angeles native Casella had other ideas.
He was able to overcome the field, going wire-to-wire after taking the chip lead with four tables remaining, and he never looked back on the way to winning his first WSOP gold bracelet.
When Casella bagged the chip lead Saturday night, he had a vision of what he could achieve the following day. More importantly, he had a vision of who he could conquer. It was no easy feat, as he had to tangle with Scott Seiver and Nick Schulman three-handed on his way to the title.
$1,500 Badugi Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Casella | United States | $141,963 |
| 2 | Nick Schulman | United States | $94,607 |
| 3 | Scott Seiver | United States | $62,920 |
| 4 | Gary Benson | Australia | $42,815 |
| 5 | Brant Hale | United States | $29,824 |
| 6 | Stephan Nussrallah | United States | $21,279 |
Winner's Reaction
Casella was keenly aware of the competition that awaited him on the final day, but his competitive side was looking forward to the challenge.
"I was planning on this last night," he explained, "Four way with me, [Scott] Seiver, Nick [Schulman], and Yuri [Dzivielevski], and that I would beat them all."
Dzivielevski fell short of the final table, but Casella's premonition came partially true after tussling with Seiver and Schulman three-handed.
Schulman is no stranger to extended heads-up matches, and today was no different as Casella battled with the Poker Hall of Famer for over three hours of action. Casella held the chip lead for all but one hand, and he had Schulman on the ropes several times.
"I'm relieved," the newly-minted bracelet winner elaborated, "He [Schulman] was all-in so many times, and he's such a good player so anything can happen. Each time he won I felt like I could lose at any time."
Nonetheless, Casella kept his composure through the ups and downs, relying upon his chess experience.
"I've been competing my whole life in chess," he continued, "It's very demanding physically and emotionally, so I can handle heads-up poker better.
Although the majority of Casella's tournament cashes have come in No-Limit Hold'em, he plies his trade in mixed games in the Los Angeles casinos.
"In the mixed games they always have Badugi, and everybody loves Badugi."
Casella also gave a shoutout to his poker friends back home, specifically "the guys and girls at the Bike and Commerce who have been rooting me on."
Both Casella, and his fans, have much to celebrate after an incredible performance.
Day 3 Action
From the starting field of 554 hopefuls, just ten players would return for Day 3 this afternoon. It was a star-studded cast of crushers, all of whom had their eyes on the bracelet.
The field was quickly reduced from ten to the unofficial final table of seven.
Five-time bracelet winner Yuri Dzivielevski and long-time mixed game crusher Jon Turner were eliminated on the first few hands of the day after bricking their final draws, and Kyle Arora followed shortly thereafter after he made a ten Badugi against Seiver's nine.
Casella held the lead to begin the final table, but Seiver and Gary Benson were close behind.
Walter Chambers was the first casualty in seventh place. He became short-stacked and was drawing to a wheel against Stephan Nussrallah's jack Badugi. Chambers could not make his hand, and he hit the rail after another strong performance.
Stephan Nussrallah was then the next to fall. He lost the majority of his stack in a cooler against Casella, and shortly thereafter got the rest of his stack in with a six draw against the made queen of Seiver. Nussrallah didn't find any of his outs, and he exited in sixth place.
After surviving a few ladders, Brant Hale's run came to end in fifth place. He eventually became short-stacked and got the rest of his chips into the middle, at risk against Seiver. Both players had strong draws, but two bricks followed and Seiver's three-card five was best to score the elimination.
After losing a large pot to Casella, Australia's Gary Benson was the next to be eliminated. The bracelet winner found himself at risk and drawing against the made queen of Schulman. Benson could not connect, and he hit the exit in fourth place.
This set up an epic three-handed battle between Casella, Schulman, and Seiver as a large rail formed inside the Paris Ballroom to witness history.
After a few failed bluffs and coolers at the hands of Casella, Scott Seiver was eliminated in third place. He became short-stacked and was all-in with a five draw against the made eight of Schulman. The poker legend was drawing slim, and he didn't draw any of his outs. His shot at an eighth bracelet would have to wait another day.
Casella would begin the heads-up match against Schulman with a three-to-one lead, but the two would trade blows for hours as the limits continued to increase.
Schulman was able to capture the chip lead for a single hand at one point, but his momentum was short-lived.
Casella regained a commanding chip lead, and he had Schulman all-in and at risk on six different occasions, with the Hall of Famer surviving each and every time.
Cats may have nine lives, but it appears that Schulman only has seven. On the final hand, Casella put Schulman at risk before the final draw. Both players were drawing, with Casella holding the stronger three-card. Schulman peeled a brick, and Casella was able to celebrate an incredible accomplishment as the room gave a round of applause for both him and Schulman.
Congratulations, Michael!
This concludes PokerNews's coverage of Event #8: $1,500 Badugi. Stay tuned as we continue to cover all events here at the 2026 World Series of Poker and deliver the hottest news from around the poker world!
Level 33
: Limits 125,000/250,000, 0 ante
Blinds: 125,000-250,000
Limits: 250,000-500,000
Limits: 250,000-500,000
Michael Casella has bested a 554-entry field and defeated Poker Hall of Famer Nick Schulman in a grueling heads-up to claim his first World Series of Poker bracelet and the second-highest live tournament score of his career.
It was an impressive feat from Casella, who had to navigate his way through a field of crushers on the final day, including Scott Seiver, Yuri Dzivielevski, and Jon Turner.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Casella | United States | $141,963 |
| 2 | Nick Schulman | United States | $94,607 |
| 3 | Scott Seiver | United States | $62,920 |
| 4 | Gary Benson | Australia | $42,815 |
| 5 | Brant Hale | United States | $29,824 |
| 6 | Stephan Nussrallah | United States | $21,279 |
Stay tuned for a recap of Day 3.
Level 33
: Limits 125,000/250,000, 0 ante
Blinds: 125,000-250,000
Limits: 250,000-500,000
Limits: 250,000-500,000
Michael Casella raised on the button, Nick Schulman three-bet from the big blind, and Casella called.
Schulman drew one and Casella two. Schulman led and Casella called.
On the second draw, both players took one. Schulman led all-in for 450,000 and Casella called.
Both drew one on the final draw.
Nick Schulman: 6♦5♣4♠ 
Michael Casella: 5♦2♠A♥
Schulman was behind with the worse three-card, and he peeled the Q♣ on the end to seal his fate. Casella turned over the Q♠ as a formality, and Schulman hit the exit after an incredible heads-up battle lasting over three hours.
Level 33
: Limits 125,000/250,000, 0 ante
Blinds: 125,000-250,000
Limits: 250,000-500,000
Limits: 250,000-500,000
Michael Casella raised on the button and Nick Schulman defended his big blind.
Schulman drew three on the first draw and Casella drew two. Schulman then check-called a bet from Casella.
On the second draw, Schulman drew two and Casella drew one. Schulman again check-called a bet from Casella.
Both players drew one on the final draw and Schulman check-folded facing a final bet from Casella to get knocked down to just 700,000.
On the very next hand, Schulman raised on the button and Casella called after a bit of thought.
Casella drew three on the first draw and Schulman took two off. Casella checked, Schulman moved all in, and Casella called.
Casella drew two on the second and third draw, while Schulman drew one and then stood pat.
Nick Schulman: 7♠4♣2♥A♦
Michael Casella: 6♠2♦
Casella turned over the A♥ first, which kept him drawing live, but his other card was the 8♣ — leaving him second best against Schulman's seven to award Schulman the double up.
Level 33
: Limits 125,000/250,000, 0 ante
Blinds: 125,000-250,000
Limits: 250,000-500,000
Limits: 250,000-500,000
Michael Casella raised on the button, Nick Schulman three-bet in the big blind, and Casella called.
Schulman took one and Casella stood pat. Schulman checked, Schulman raised all-in for 300,000 total, and Casella called.
Schulman now stood pat and Casella took some time before he drew two card.
On the final draw Casella needed one.
Nick Schulman: 10♣7♦5♥2♠
Michael Casella: 6♦5♣4♠
Schulman had a made ten Badugi against the six draw of Casella, who bricked as he peeled the 8♦, and Schulman secured yet another double.
Level 33
: Limits 125,000/250,000, 0 ante
Blinds: 125,000-250,000
Limits: 250,000-500,000
Limits: 250,000-500,000
Nick Schulman raised on the button and Michael Casella called.
Casella drew two on the first draw and Schulman stood pat. Casella then check-raised a bet from Schulman, who called.
On the second draw, both players stood pat and Schulman called a bet from Casella.
Both players remained pat on the final draw and Casella bet again. Schulman shook his head and went deep into the tank.
After a couple of minutes, Schulman tossed his cards into the muck, leaving himself with just 1,000,000 behind to work with.
Level 33
: Limits 125,000/250,000, 0 ante
Blinds: 125,000-250,000
Limits: 250,000-500,000
Limits: 250,000-500,000
Michael Casella raised on the button and Nick Schulman defended.
Both drew two and the action checked through. Schulman then took one and Casella two. Schulman led, Casella raised, and Schulman called.
Schulman drew one and check-folded to a bet after Casella stood pat.
Schulman won the following small pot with a superior three-card after it checked down.
Level 33
: Limits 125,000/250,000, 0 ante
Blinds: 125,000-250,000
Limits: 250,000-500,000
Limits: 250,000-500,000
Nick Schulman raised on the button and Michael Casella called in the big blind.
Casella drew two to Schulman's one as he check-called a bet.
Both took one on the second draw and Casella check-called again.
On the final draw, both players drew one. Casella led and Schulman called.
Michael Casella: 8♥4♠2♣ / 5♣
Nick Schulman: 6♠A♣3♥ / J♥
Schulman held the better three-card to drag the pot.
Level: 33
Blinds: 125,000-250,000
Limits: 250,000-500,000
