888poker WSOP 2026: Episode Five of the Documentary — The Bubble

888poker releases the fifth episode of its documentary series about the WSOP 2026. Follow the successes of the 888poker team players on their journey to the world championship title.

Online poker giant 888poker has released the penultimate, fifth episode of its documentary series covering the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP). In this episode, viewers can follow the journeys of two 888poker team members — Aaron Barone and Lucia Navarro — who both advanced to Day 2 of the Main Event and continue their quest for the world poker championship title. Starting Stacks and 888poker Players’ Positions for Day 3 Day 3 began for Aaron Barone at table 167. At the start of play, he had a stack of 237,000 chips, equivalent to 95 big blinds (BB). Among his opponents, only two players had larger stacks: Mrityunjay Jha (283,000) and Abelardo Palomares (241,500). This gave Barone a solid opportunity to control the action at his table and apply pressure to opponents with shorter stacks. Lucia Navarro started Day 3 at table 533 with 130,000 chips (52 BB). Like Barone, only two players at her table had more chips: Shawn Daniels (282,000) and Daniel Brunnmayr (133,000). Her starting stack allowed Navarro to play with confidence, but required careful strategy to avoid busting before reaching the money. Key Hands and Advancing to Day 4 Both Barone and Navarro shared their thoughts on crucial hands where they faced tough decisions. The main takeaway, however, was that both managed to advance to Day 4, with just seven eliminations remaining before the money. This stage is known as the “bubble” — the point at which the next player eliminated leaves empty-handed, while everyone else secures at least a minimum cash. By the end of Day 3, Aaron Barone had built his stack up to 524,000 (66 BB). On Day 4, he would be up against experienced players such as John Monnette (436,000) and Gary Hasson (129,000) at his table. Lucia Navarro finished the day with 314,000 (39 BB). Her Day 4 starting table looked especially challenging: to her left were two of the biggest stacks, including Michael Banducci with a massive 933,000 (117 BB). Surviving the Bubble and Chasing the Final Table The video coverage continued at the “stone bubble” stage — when only one elimination remained before the money. The tension was at its peak: this was the moment when Barone and Navarro could lock up a payout. Soon, the bubble burst: ace-king lost a coin flip to pocket fives, and the tournament moved into the ITM (in the money) phase — where every remaining player is guaranteed a payout. Now, the 888poker ambassadors faced the challenge of not just making the money, but building their stacks and pushing towards the final table, where the top prize was $10,000,000 . Day 4 Results: Barone’s Success and Navarro’s Elimination Unfortunately, Lucia Navarro ’s run in the WSOP 2026 Main Event ended on Day 4. With a short stack of about 20 BB, she moved all-in with pocket nines against king-queen of clubs. A queen hit the flop, and a flush came on the river, knocking Navarro out in 1,007th place. For her performance, she earned $17,500 . For Aaron Barone , the day went much better. He finished with 785,000 chips, making him the chip leader at his table during the bubble stage. Barone actively leveraged his big stack to put pressure on his opponents. However, his strategy became more limited when a player with a stack four times larger took the seat to his right. Barone commented: “I’m not setting any special expectations for tomorrow. I hope to climb a bit higher on the payout ladder, maybe make it to Day 6? The main goal is just to survive another day.” Results Table and Payouts Lucia Navarro — 1,007th place, payout: $17,500 Aaron Barone — advanced to the next day with 785,000 chips Other participants mentioned in the episode: Mrityunjay Jha — 283,000 chips at the start of Day 3 Abelardo Palomares — 241,500 chips at the start of Day 3 Shawn Daniels — 282,000 chips at the start of Day 3 Daniel Brunnmayr — 133,000 chips at the start of Day 3 John Monnette — 436,000 chips at the start of Day 4 Gary Hasson — 129,000 chips at the start of Day 4 Michael Banducci — 933,000 chips at the start of Day 4 The final episode of the 888poker documentary series about the 2026 WSOP will be released on September 11. Context: The WSOP Series and 888poker Platform The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the largest annual event in the poker world, where prestigious bracelets and massive prize pools are at stake. The Main Event traditionally attracts thousands of players from around the globe, with the winner becoming the unofficial world poker champion. 888poker is one of the leading online poker operators, regularly assembling a team of ambassadors and qualifiers to compete at the WSOP. For many players, joining Team 888poker is a chance to prove themselves on the world stage and receive support from a major brand. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, this story is a vivid example of how important it is to manage your stack wisely at different stages of a tournament. As Aaron Barone’s experience shows, having a big stack on the bubble allows you to dictate the action and win pots without showdown, putting pressure on opponents who don’t want to bust before the money. However, even a large stack requires caution, especially when there are players at the table with even bigger stacks. Lucia Navarro’s run also demonstrates that even with a short stack, you can reach the money and earn a respectable payout if you pick the right spots to go all-in and aren’t afraid to play aggressively when needed. It’s important to remember that tournament poker isn’t just about fighting for first place, but also about surviving critical stages to make the money. For PPPoker club players, participating in online tournaments, practicing regularly, and analyzing hands are key steps to improving your game. Study bubble strategies, learn to use your stack as a tool for pressure, and maybe one day you’ll find yourself featured in the poker news.