The 2026 World Series of Poker has delivered extraordinary storylines all summer, but perhaps none is more compelling than the Player of the Year race, which has become the tightest three-way battle in recent memory. As the Las Vegas portion of the WSOP schedule winds down, Shaun Deeb holds the narrowest of leads with 3,410 points, followed by Japan's Naoya Kihara at 3,388 and Alex Foxen at 3,381. Just 29 points separate first from third, setting the stage for a dramatic finish that could extend all the way through WSOP Europe and WSOP Paradise later in the year.
The race has captivated the poker community, with each day of remaining events carrying the potential to reshape the leaderboard entirely. A single deep run or bracelet win by any of the three contenders could prove decisive, making every tournament entry and every final table appearance critically important in the weeks and months ahead.
The Contenders
Shaun Deeb (3,410 points) has been one of the most consistent performers at the WSOP for over a decade. A three-time Player of the Year winner, Deeb knows better than anyone what it takes to accumulate points across a grueling summer schedule. His approach is simple but demanding: play as many events as possible, compete in every format, and grind out results day after day.
Deeb's 2026 campaign has been a masterclass in consistency. While he has not captured a bracelet this summer, his relentless volume of play and steady accumulation of deep runs have kept him atop the leaderboard. His willingness to enter events across all variants and buy-in levels gives him more opportunities to earn points than players who specialize in a single format.
What makes Deeb particularly dangerous in a POY race is his mixed-game expertise. While many players focus primarily on No Limit Hold'em, Deeb is equally comfortable in Stud, Razz, Omaha, and a host of other variants. This versatility allows him to compete effectively in events that many of his rivals skip entirely, providing a significant edge in the points race.
Naoya Kihara (3,388 points) has been the story of the summer for Japanese poker fans. The veteran tournament player has put together an extraordinary run of results that has him just 22 points behind Deeb with events still remaining. Kihara's combination of deep runs and high finishes across multiple events demonstrates the kind of sustained excellence required to compete for the POY title.
Kihara's emergence as a serious POY contender highlights the growing strength of the Asian poker scene. Japanese players have become increasingly prominent at the WSOP in recent years, and Kihara's run is inspiring a new generation of players from the region. His performance this summer has drawn significant attention from the Japanese media, bringing additional visibility to the World Series in one of the world's largest poker markets.
Alex Foxen (3,381 points) rounds out the top three, trailing Deeb by just 29 points. Foxen has been one of the most dominant tournament players in the world over the past several years, and his 2026 WSOP campaign has been another demonstration of his elite talent. Known for his aggressive style and deep understanding of tournament dynamics, Foxen is the kind of player who can close a gap of 29 points in a single event.
Foxen's presence in the POY race adds star power to the competition. As one of the most recognizable faces in poker, his pursuit of the title has generated significant interest among fans and media. His track record in high-pressure situations suggests he will not wilt under the scrutiny of a tight POY race, making him a serious threat to overtake Deeb in the remaining events.
Calvin Anderson's Historic Back-to-Back Bracelets
While the POY race has dominated headlines, one of the most remarkable individual achievements of the 2026 WSOP belongs to Calvin Anderson, who accomplished the extraordinary feat of winning back-to-back bracelets within a span of just 72 hours.
Anderson first captured the Razz Championship, taking home $357,000 and his latest piece of WSOP gold. Before the poker world had even fully processed that victory, Anderson was back at the final table of the HORSE Championship, where he proceeded to win another bracelet and $413,000. The two victories, coming in two of the most demanding mixed-game formats on the WSOP schedule, demonstrated a level of skill and mental endurance that left even seasoned poker observers shaking their heads in disbelief.
Winning any single WSOP bracelet is an achievement that most poker players never accomplish. Winning two in the same summer is rare. Winning two within 72 hours, in two different and highly challenging formats, is virtually unprecedented. Anderson's feat speaks to his exceptional talent across multiple poker disciplines and his ability to maintain peak performance under the most demanding conditions.
The Razz Championship and HORSE Championship are not glamour events in the way that the Main Event or the Super High Roller might be, but among serious poker players, they are regarded as true tests of skill. Both events require proficiency in multiple poker variants and reward the kind of deep, nuanced understanding of game theory that only the most dedicated students of poker possess. Anderson's dominance in both events marks him as one of the premier mixed-game players in the world.
A Major Rule Change: Online Events and POY
One of the most significant developments in the 2026 WSOP Player of the Year race has been the decision to exclude online bracelet events from the POY standings for the first time. In previous years, bracelets won in online events at GGPoker and WSOP.com counted toward the Player of the Year leaderboard, giving players who competed in both live and online events an advantage in the points race.
The change has been met with mixed reactions from the poker community. Proponents argue that the POY title should reflect performance in live events, which is what the WSOP has historically been about. They contend that online tournaments, with their different dynamics and player pools, should be evaluated separately from live play.
Critics, however, argue that the exclusion of online events diminishes the POY race by reducing the total number of point-earning opportunities and potentially favoring players who have the time and resources to grind an enormous number of live events. They note that online poker is an increasingly important part of the game and that excluding it from the POY calculation feels like a step backward.
Regardless of where one stands on the debate, the rule change has had a tangible impact on the 2026 race. Players who might have gained an edge through strong online results are now competing on a level playing field limited to live events, which may have contributed to the unusually tight leaderboard.
For players who rely on rakeback and online play as their primary grinding format, the separation of online and live POY standings represents a significant shift in how poker achievements are measured and recognized.
The Road Ahead: WSOP Europe and WSOP Paradise
What makes the 2026 POY race particularly intriguing is that it will not be decided in Las Vegas. With the leaderboard this tight, the outcome will almost certainly hinge on results at WSOP Europe and WSOP Paradise, two international extensions of the World Series that take place later in the year.
WSOP Europe, traditionally held in the fall, offers a slate of bracelet events that carry full POY points. For Deeb, Kihara, and Foxen, the decision of whether to travel to Europe and compete in those events could determine who ultimately wins the title. The logistical and financial commitment of flying overseas to play in additional tournaments is not trivial, but with a POY title on the line, all three contenders are expected to make the trip.
WSOP Paradise, held in the winter, provides yet another opportunity for the contenders to earn points. The tropical setting and end-of-year timing make it an attractive option for players looking to add to their totals, and the event has quickly established itself as a major stop on the poker calendar.
The extended nature of the POY race means that stamina, both physical and mental, will play a significant role in the outcome. Playing tournament poker at the highest level for months on end is exhausting, and the player who can maintain peak performance deepest into the calendar will have a significant advantage.
Historical Context of the POY Race
The WSOP Player of the Year award has been presented since 2004, and it has been won by some of the greatest names in poker history. Previous winners include Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, Jeff Lisandro, and of course Shaun Deeb, who is seeking to add yet another POY title to his already impressive collection.
The award is calculated using a points-based system that rewards consistency across multiple events. Players earn points based on the size of the field, the buy-in of the event, and their finishing position. This system is designed to reward players who perform well across a broad range of tournaments rather than those who simply win a single large event.
The 2026 race, with its razor-thin margins and three legitimate contenders, is shaping up to be one of the most memorable in the award's history. Whether Deeb can hold on to his slim lead, or whether Kihara or Foxen can mount a comeback, the outcome is genuinely uncertain, which is exactly what makes it so compelling to follow.
What to Watch For
As the remaining WSOP events play out and the calendar turns toward the international stops, there are several key factors to watch in the POY race:
Event selection will be critical. Each contender must decide which remaining events to enter, balancing the potential for points with the physical and mental demands of a long summer. Playing too many events risks burnout, while playing too few risks falling behind.
Bracelet wins carry significant point bonuses that could reshape the leaderboard in an instant. A single bracelet by any of the three contenders could create substantial separation in a race where every point matters.
The international stops will serve as the ultimate tiebreaker. The player who performs best at WSOP Europe and WSOP Paradise will likely be the one hoisting the POY trophy at year's end.
With 29 points separating first from third, the 2026 WSOP Player of the Year race is far from over. The poker world will be watching closely as three of the game's best compete for one of its most prestigious honors, and the finish promises to be as dramatic as the race itself.