Venetian DeepStack Championship 2026 Results: $23 Million in Prizes
Venetian DeepStack Championship 2026 attracted 28,595 entries and awarded nearly $23 million in prizes across 121 tournaments in Las Vegas. Check out all the results!
The 2026 Venetian DeepStack Championship, held this summer at the Venetian Resort Las Vegas, was one of the largest poker events of the year. From May 21 to August 2, players from around the globe competed in 121 tournaments with a guaranteed prize pool exceeding $16 million. In total, there were 28,595 entries (excluding satellites), and the overall prize pool reached an impressive $22,947,285. Additionally, organizers paid out $233,375 in overlays—extra money added to the prize pools when guarantees were not met by entry fees. Main Storylines: The Triumph of Adel Kabbani and Other Multiple Champions One of the standout performers of the Venetian Summer DeepStacks Championship was French player Adel Kabbani , who captured three titles during the series. His winning streak began on June 6, when he outlasted 91 opponents in Event #38: $600 NLH Bounty to take home $8,286. Just ten days later, on June 16, Kabbani claimed another victory in Event #53: $600 NLH Bounty , topping a field of 134 for $7,880. He secured his third title on July 15, winning Event #93: $250 NLH Bounty with 179 entries for $6,478. Kabbani wasn’t the only player to win multiple trophies. Richard Kent from San Diego also became a two-time series champion: on June 12, he won Event #46: $600 NLH Bounty (119 entries, $10,049 prize), and on July 17, he took down Event #97: $250 NLH Bounty (89 entries, $3,883 prize). Series Highlights: The MSPT Main Events The Venetian DeepStack Championship schedule featured two flagship tournaments—the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) Main Events —with buy-ins of $1,100 and $1,600, each boasting a $1,000,000 guarantee. MSPT $1,100 Main Event (July 11–14): 1,495 entries. Peter Walsworth from Florida emerged victorious. After a heads-up deal with Dimitrios Anastasakis , Walsworth took home $168,494. MSPT $1,600 Heart Poker Championship (July 15–19): 878 entries. Adam Walton , who finished third in the 2023 WSOP Main Event, claimed the title and the top prize of $185,966. After his win, Adam Walton noted that this triumph was one of the most significant of his career and brought him special satisfaction. Justin Arnwine’s Victory in One of the Final Events One of the last tournaments of the series— Event #108: $600 No-Limit Hold’em —surpassed its $150,000 guarantee, attracting 307 entries and generating a $155,035 prize pool. The top 40 players made the money. Notable players who cashed included: Judy Bielan — 36th place ($1,201) Stan Lee — 22nd place ($1,469) Jeremy Becker — 20th place ($1,644) Benjamin Palmer — 14th place ($1,880) Ryan Tosoc — 5th place ($8,563) In heads-up play, the finalists agreed to a deal: Bobby Poe finished second for $24,043, while the title and top prize of $25,048 went to popular pro Justin Arnwine , known for his love of Hello Kitty. Final Table Results for Event #108 1st — Justin Arnwine — $25,048 2nd — Bobby Poe — $24,043 3rd — [name not provided in the original] 4th — [name not provided in the original] 5th — Ryan Tosoc — $8,563 6th — [name not provided in the original] 7th — [name not provided in the original] 8th — [name not provided in the original] 9th — [name not provided in the original] Full names and prize amounts for 3rd–9th places were not specified in the original source. Overall Results of the 2026 Venetian DeepStack Championship Overall, the 2026 Venetian DeepStack Championship set records for both the number of events and total prize money: Total tournaments: 121 Total entries: 28,595 Total prize pool: $22,947,285 Overlays paid: $233,375 Following the summer series, the Venetian has already launched a new festival—the August DeepStack Showdown —which began on August 3 and will run through the end of the month. This series features 37 tournaments with a combined guarantee of over $1,100,000. Context: What Is the Venetian DeepStack Championship and Why Does It Matter? The Venetian DeepStack Championship is an annual poker tournament series held at one of Las Vegas’s most iconic casinos, the Venetian Resort. The series consistently attracts both professionals and amateurs thanks to its wide variety of formats and generous guarantees. The schedule includes numerous No-Limit Hold’em (NLH) events, including bounty tournaments (with extra payouts for eliminating opponents), as well as major events with high buy-ins and large guarantees. Victories by players like Adel Kabbani, Richard Kent, Peter Walsworth, and Adam Walton show that this series offers not only the chance to win significant prize money, but also to demonstrate consistency over a long stretch—something especially valued in the world of tournament poker. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, the Venetian DeepStack Championship serves as a great example of how to build a tournament strategy and choose optimal formats. The series demonstrated that even tournaments with relatively modest buy-ins ($250–$600) can yield substantial prizes and offer a path to multiple titles in a single series. This means that regularly playing in PPPoker club tournaments with various structures and buy-in levels can provide valuable experience and a real shot at big wins. Moreover, the success of players who achieve consistent results across multiple events—not just single victories—highlights the importance of discipline and self-analysis. In PPPoker clubs, you can experiment with different formats (such as bounty tournaments or deep stack events) to find the style that suits you best and prepare for larger live series. Finally, the Venetian DeepStack Championship is a prime example of how crucial proper series organization is: clear guarantees, a diverse event lineup, timely payouts, and strong player support. By following the lead of top global venues, PPPoker clubs can continue to improve their own tournaments and create the best possible environment for player growth and development.