888poker: The finale of the WSOP 2026 documentary — Aaron Barone’s journey

The sixth episode of the 888poker documentary series tells the story of Aaron Barone’s deepest run in the WSOP 2026 Main Event. Discover the details of his journey.

The sixth and final episode of the 888poker documentary series about the World Series of Poker (WSOP) aired under the title “The Deepest Run at the WSOP Main Event of My Life.” This episode gives a detailed look at Aaron Barone’s journey, who remained the only representative of the 888poker team out of five players to make a deep run in the WSOP 2026 Main Event. Aaron Barone’s Journey at the WSOP Main Event 2026 The fifth episode ended with Aaron Barone bagging a stack of 785,000 chips at the end of Day 4 of the $10,000 buy-in WSOP Main Event. Barone was hopeful to improve his result, aiming to “climb a few spots in the payouts” and possibly make it to Day 6 of the tournament. Day 5 of the tournament began with 533 players returning to the tables. With 785,000 chips, Barone was ranked 300th in chips. Despite the pressure, he noted that he felt calmer than in previous stages, and this feeling proved justified. On the last hand before dinner, Barone increased his stack to 1,300,000 chips. At that moment, he recalled last year’s WSOP, where he busted at a similar stage after getting trapped with a bluff-catcher. This time, he called an all-in with a seven-high flush on a four-flush board—and he was right. Key Hands and Stack Growth The good run continued: in a preflop all-in, Barone got it in with ace-queen against pocket jacks and hit two pair on the flop, boosting his stack to 2,600,000. Although he lost some chips by the end of the day, Barone finished Day 5 with 1,880,000 chips—equivalent to 24 big blinds. In a post-day interview, Barone said: “I got up to 2.9 million, but chips come and go quickly. 1.9 million is more than enough for tomorrow. It feels unreal—my best WSOP result ever, my deepest run, and tomorrow I’ll try to go even further.” Day 6: Fighting for an Even Better Result At the start of Day 6, fortune smiled on Barone again. He went all-in with ace-king against pocket jacks. On the flop, Barone made trip aces, but his opponent improved to a full house. However, the turn and river brought two fives, giving Barone a higher full house and allowing him to win a big pot. Thanks to this hand and a few smaller wins, Barone’s stack grew to 3,600,000 with 114 players remaining. After dinner, Aaron was moved to the feature table, where he was surrounded by stars like the legendary Shaun Deeb and 2019 WSOP Main Event champion Hossein Ensan. Both opponents had bigger stacks than Barone, making the game tougher for the Canadian. Elimination and Final Result Unfortunately, it was at this table that Barone’s run in the WSOP 2026 Main Event came to an end. In a crucial hand, he went all-in with king-queen against Maxime Chilaud’s ace-ten. At showdown, the opponent’s ace kicker held, and Barone finished the tournament in 65th place, earning $125,000 in prize money. Maxime Chilaud, who knocked out Barone, later finished in 27th place and received $265,000. After busting, Barone commented: “I tried to find the right spot, but the cards just weren’t coming. We hung in there for a while, and then I had to shove my last 11 big blinds with king-queen against ace-ten, and couldn’t win that 60/40 coinflip.” He added: “I’m a bit upset right now, I think the thought ‘what if I’d won that flip’ will be spinning in my head for a while, but probably in a couple of hours I’ll get over it!” That’s where the episode ended: Barone went to collect his summer winnings and thanked everyone who followed his run. In conclusion, he promised to return to the WSOP in 2027 and maybe go even further—to Day 7 of the tournament. Tournament Standings and Payouts 65th place — Aaron Barone — $125,000 27th place — Maxime Chilaud — $265,000 The episode also highlighted other well-known players, with Shaun Deeb and Hossein Ensan sharing a table with Barone. Context: What is the WSOP Main Event and 888poker The WSOP (World Series of Poker) Main Event is the largest and most prestigious no-limit hold’em tournament with a $10,000 buy-in. Winning or making a deep run in this tournament is every poker pro’s dream. The WSOP series brings together thousands of players from all over the world every year, with prize pools reaching tens of millions of dollars. 888poker is one of the largest poker rooms, actively supporting players at the WSOP, forming its own teams, and producing documentaries about its representatives’ performances at the biggest events in the poker world. Who is Aaron Barone and His Opponents Aaron Barone is a professional player representing Team 888poker. In 2026, he was the only one of five team members to reach the late stages of the WSOP Main Event. His performance was the most successful of his career so far. Among Barone’s opponents at the feature tables were stars like Shaun Deeb—a well-known pro with multiple titles—and Hossein Ensan, the 2019 WSOP Main Event champion. Maxime Chilaud, who knocked out Barone, also made a deep run, finishing 27th. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, Aaron Barone’s story is a clear example that even with a relatively short stack, you can fight for top spots in major tournaments. His strategy of gradually building his stack, making smart decisions in key hands, and staying calm in the late stages is valuable experience for players of any level. It’s also important to note that even with bad cards and tough opponents (as Barone faced at the feature table), choosing the right spots to go all-in and understanding opponents’ ranges allows you to maximize your chances. By analyzing such performances, PPPoker players can improve their tournament game, learn to adapt to different opponent styles, and not be afraid to play against poker stars. Finally, Barone’s deep run is a reminder of the importance of mental resilience: even after busting late in a tournament, it’s crucial to stay positive and learn for the future. This quality sets successful players apart, and developing it will help PPPoker club members reach new heights in both online and live tournaments.