Nick Schulman took down the 2026 World Sequence of Poker $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. occasion for his eighth profession gold bracelet, turning into simply the tenth participant in WSOP historical past with as many wins.
“‘I’m going to maintain taking part in so long as I’m pleased out right here and feeling like I’m rising and like I’m not burnt out. There’s no goal quantity, but it surely’s actually not surpassing [all-time bracelet leader Phil] Hellmuth… That’s simply not on my thoughts,” mentioned Schulman when requested if he’s trying to hit a sure bracelet whole. “However you realize, if we get shut, I may need to get his ass. However, I don’t actually see that.”
This was the 41-year-old poker professional’s fourth straight 12 months with a minimum of one bracelet gained, and his first since being inducted into the Poker Corridor of Fame in 2025.
“They’re all the time all so particular, however I assume it’s cool to point out that, ya know, they made a great determination,” mentioned Schulman about this newest bracelet. “I really feel like I’m simply moving into my prime. As we age and stuff, like I don’t wish to be the delusional type of video games participant, hanging on. However I can really feel it that I’m lastly beginning to form of come into my very own slightly bit. Quite a lot of the form of emotional hangups and stuff that I had alongside the best way… I’m doing lots higher with. I really feel like I simply wish to maintain it going and make the individuals who believed in me proud.”
Schulman, who can be a World Poker Tour champion, first broke by way of on the WSOP in 2009. That 12 months he gained the primary of his three $10,000 deuce-to-seven lowball championship titles, with the second coming in 2012 and the third in 2025. He additionally took down the $10,000 pot-limit Omaha eight-or-better championship in 2019 and a $1,500 stud title in 2023. Schulman added two bracelets in 2024, taking down a $25,000 no-limit maintain’em occasion inside Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas in the summertime and the $5,000 turbo bounty occasion on the WSOP Paradise within the Bahamas.
Schulman In The Combine In POY Races
This newest victory got here with $183,366 in prize cash. The rating pushed the extremely regarded poker commentator’s lifetime earnings previous the $26.5 million mark. This was the second title of the 12 months for Schulman, who hails from New York however is now primarily based in Las Vegas. The 912 Card Participant Participant of the 12 months factors he earned because the winner on this H.O.R.S.E. occasion moved him into thirteenth place within the 2026 POY standings offered by CoinPoker.
Schulman’s earlier title in 2026 noticed him take down an eight-game occasion on the PGT Blended Video games sequence. He now sits in twenty fourth place within the PokerGO Tour season-long standings, with eight certified cashes up to now in 2026.
Whereas he’s a prime contender in these two races, one POY award Schulman is admittedly not chasing is the WSOP’s, which frequently requires a relentless, continuous grind all through the summer season.
“Participant of the 12 months has by no means motivated me as a result of I simply don’t have that endurance to simply go,” mentioned Schulman. “Prefer it’s by no means been one thing that I assumed I may actually win. Nevertheless, if it form of by chance occurs, don’t get me unsuitable… I’ll be right here taking part in. However, I’m probably not chasing that.”
From The Center Of The Pack To The Shorthanded Chip Chief
This occasion drew 780 entries to create a $1,035,450 prize pool, with the highest 117 finishers making the cash. Loads of large names ran deep, together with John Monnette (52nd), Ryutaro Suzuki (thirty eighth), Philip Hui (thirty seventh), Eric Baldwin (thirty third), Scott Clements (twenty seventh), Michael Gagliano (twenty fifth), Brian Hasting (twenty second), and Carol Fuchs (sixteenth).
Clayton Mozdzen
The ultimate day started with Clayton Mozdzen main a discipline of 14 remaining contenders. Schulman was seventh in chips when play resumed. Matthew Grapenthien (twelfth), Bart Hanson (eleventh), and Philip Stenheimer (tenth) all fell on the march to the ultimate desk. Schulman had moved to the highest of the leaderboard by the point the final 9 converged onto the unofficial closing desk.
Mozdzen, who completed fifth within the $1,500 sellers selection occasion per week earlier, scored the following two knockouts, busting Ryan Caskey (ninth – $13,418) and William Klevitz (eighth – $17,390) to skinny the sector to seven. Kent Gugelman (seventh – $22,978) was eradicated by Raymond Smego-Barranco throughout a spherical of razz, with a 10-8 overwhelmed by a clean 6-5.
Smego-Barranco (sixth – $30,944) was in the end the following to fall, along with his prime pair, prime kicker working into prime two for Mozdzen on the flop in restrict maintain’em.
Schulman then knocked out two-time bracelet winner Mike Wattel in fifth place ($42,455) with Ok♣7♣ overcoming A♠10♥ on a J♦6♣2♣2♦Ok♦ runout.
Closing Out No. 8
After loads of back-and-forth throughout four-handed play, Schulman lastly scored the following elimination in a spherical of razz. The UK’s Joe Brindle was despatched packing in fourth place, incomes $59,324 for his efforts. Neither participant made a really robust hand after the chips went in on fourth road, however Schulman’s king low was adequate to win the pot and slim the sector to a few.
France’s Jonathan Nebbout was left on fumes after a giant razz conflict with Mozdzen. He obtained the final of his stack in after seventh road in stud with aces up, however had been outdrawn by Schulman, who hit journey eights on fifth road. Nebbout earned a career-best rating of $84,397 for his podium end.
With that, Schulman took roughly a 2:1 chip lead into heads-up play with Mozdzen. That hole widened within the early going, however the Canadian quickly discovered a double-up in Omaha eight-or-better to increase the battle. Quickly after that he scooped one other pot with a turned wheel to provide himself much more respiration room.
Schulman returned the favor in stud eight-or-better, making the wheel on fifth road to win a hefty pot. Not lengthy after that, Mozdzen obtained the final of his stack in after the deal in the identical recreation.
Schulman: (9♣7♠)9♠A♠4♥Q♠(3♠)
Mozdzen: (2♥2♣)2♦6♠Ok♥8♦(A♣)
Mozdzen had rolled-up deuces in opposition to a pair of nines, however Schulman picked up 4 spades on sixth road to provide him outs to a successful flush. Seventh road introduced the 3♠ for Schulman, incomes him the pot and the title. Mozdzen earned $122,206 because the runner-up, the second-largest rating of his profession.
Ultimate Desk Outcomes
Place
Participant
Payout
POY Factors
1
Nick Schulman
$183,366
912
2
Clayton Mozdzen
$122,206
760
3
Jonathan Nebbout
$84,397
608
4
Joe Brindle
$59,324
456
5
Michael Wattel
$42,455
380
6
Raymond Smego-Barranco
$30,944
304
7
Kent Gugleman
$22,978
228
8
William Klevitz
$17,390
152
Photograph credit score: WSOP / Miguel Cortes, Lennart Hennig, Monique Marestein.
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