Ilya Arkhipov won his first WSOP bracelet on GGPoker

Ilya Arkhipov claimed victory in the prestigious WSOP Online 2026 tournament, winning his first gold bracelet and a prize of $371,793.

On the evening of August 26, one of the most prestigious tournaments of the WSOP Online 2026 series concluded on GGPoker — Event #8: $5,000 6-Handed NLH Championship. The winner was Ilia Arkhipov, representing Belarus and Russia. This is Arkhipov’s first WSOP gold bracelet, and along with it he received $371,793 in prize money and a special $30,000 Super Pass to participate in the WSOP Paradise Super Main Event 2026. Event #8: $5,000 6-Handed NLH Championship — Details and Results The $5,000 buy-in tournament attracted 466 entries, creating a total prize pool of $2,213,500. The 6-Handed (six-max) format means there are six players at each table, making the game more dynamic and aggressive compared to the classic full ring (9-10 players). On the first day, the field was reduced to eight players, who returned on August 26 to determine the champion. Ilia Arkhipov started the final day as the chip leader and managed to maintain his advantage all the way to victory. Final Table Results (Event #8: $5,000 6-Handed NLH Championship) 1st place: Ilia Arkhipov (Belarus/Russia) — $371,793 + $30,000 Super Pass 2nd place: Yulian Bogdanov — $275,809 3rd place: Vlad Martynenko (Ukraine) — $204,605 4th place: Mikita Badziakouski — $151,783 5th place: Wai Kiat Lee (Malaysia) — $112,598 6th place: Daniel Da Silva (Brazil) — $84,121 7th place: Edilson Junior (Brazil) — $60,924 8th place: Joseph Cheong — $40,867 Joseph Cheong, who started the second day with the shortest stack, was the first to leave the tournament, finishing in eighth place and earning $40,867. After his elimination, the official final table was formed. Next to bust were two players from Brazil — Edilson Junior (7th place, $60,924) and Daniel Da Silva (6th place, $84,121). This left only players in the top 5, each already guaranteed over $100,000. Fifth place went to Wai Kiat Lee from Malaysia, known for his live tournament successes (his total cashes exceed $26.8 million). For this achievement, he received $112,598. Fourth place was taken by Mikita Badziakouski, one of the most recognizable professionals from Belarus, who earned $151,783. Third place and $204,605 went to Vlad Martynenko from Ukraine, who previously won a WSOP Online bracelet on GGPoker in 2021 (the $1,500 Fifty Stack event). Heads-up was between Ilia Arkhipov and Yulian Bogdanov. In the duel for the top prize, luck was on Arkhipov’s side, while Yulian Bogdanov took home $275,809 for second place. For Arkhipov, this is not only the biggest win of his career, but also his first WSOP gold bracelet. Tournament Format and Features The tournament was played in No-Limit Hold'em format with six-handed tables. This format requires players to play a wider range of hands and use a more aggressive strategy, as fewer opponents at the table means more frequent decisions and greater importance of position. The buy-in was $5,000, and the total prize pool was $2,213,500. The top finishers received payouts, and the winner, in addition to the cash prize, received an exclusive $30,000 Super Pass to participate in the key event of the WSOP Paradise Super Main Event 2026. This is an extra incentive for players aiming to reach the world’s most prestigious poker tournaments. Brief Profiles of the Finalists Ilia Arkhipov — a player from Belarus/Russia, won his first WSOP gold bracelet and showed confident play throughout the tournament. Yulian Bogdanov — the runner-up, earning the biggest win of his career. Vlad Martynenko — Ukrainian online tournament specialist, winner of a WSOP Online bracelet in 2021. Mikita Badziakouski — one of the strongest Belarusian pros, regularly achieving high results in major tournaments. Wai Kiat Lee — a representative of Malaysia, known for his live tournament successes (over $26.8 million in winnings). Daniel Da Silva and Edilson Junior — two Brazilian players who made the final table. Joseph Cheong — an experienced tournament player, finished in eighth place. What’s Next: WSOP Online 2026 Schedule and Upcoming Tournaments The WSOP Online 2026 series on GGPoker continues until September 29 and includes dozens of events with various buy-ins and formats. On August 27 at 19:00 BST, Event #9: $600 Super Six 6-Handed NLH — a progressive knockout tournament — will begin. Each player starts with 25,000 chips, blinds start at 50/100/12a, and each level lasts 15 minutes. For every opponent knocked out, a player receives at least $140, and part of the bounty is added to their own “head” and increases with each knockout. Day 1 of this tournament will end either after 30 levels or when only 7 players remain. The final day will start on August 28 at 19:00 BST and continue until a champion is determined. Also on August 27, Day 1 of several bracelet events will begin: $1,500 Millionaire Maker (at 13:30 and 19:30 BST) and $250 Mystery Millions (at 14:30, 17:30, 20:30, and 23:30 BST). In addition to bracelet events, dozens of side events with buy-ins from $15 to $10,000 will be held until the end of the series, allowing players with different bankrolls to find a suitable tournament. Context: What is WSOP Online and GGPoker WSOP Online is the world’s largest series of online tournaments, officially licensed by the World Series of Poker. GGPoker is its main partner, giving players from all over the world the chance to compete for WSOP bracelets without leaving home. The series includes both major championships with high buy-ins and accessible tournaments for a wide audience. Winning a WSOP bracelet event is considered the highest achievement in a poker career. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, this news is a great example of how online tournaments can be a springboard to big wins and global recognition. Ilia Arkhipov, who started his journey with online play, managed not only to win a prestigious bracelet but also to receive an invitation to the main event of WSOP Paradise. This proves that regular practice and participation in online competitions really open the door to major success. The formats used at WSOP Online — such as 6-Handed and progressive knockouts — are also actively developing on PPPoker. Taking part in such tournaments on the platform’s clubs allows players to develop the necessary skills and strategies to be competitive at the international level. Moreover, the wide range of buy-ins at WSOP Online shows that every player can find a tournament for their bankroll, so it’s worth trying your hand at qualifiers and satellites, which are often available on PPPoker as well. Inspired by Ilia Arkhipov’s story, PPPoker club players can set ambitious goals: improve their game, participate in major online series, and perhaps one day find themselves at the top of the global poker scene.