Richard Bai Wins Horseshoe Hammond WSOP Circuit Main Event
Summary:
- Richard Bai outlasted 741 entrants to win the $1,700 WSOP Circuit Main Event, taking home $197,299.
- This marks Bai’s third WSOP Circuit Main Event victory, including two at Horseshoe Hammond.
- All 2026 WSOP Circuit ring winners at Horseshoe Hammond earned a $5,000 WSOP Paradise package.
The 2026 WSOP Circuit at Horseshoe Hammond wrapped up in style, crowning USA‘s Richard Bai as the Main Event champion and celebrating a new set of ring winners.
Bai Won Close to $20,000
Located in northwest Indiana near Chicago, Horseshoe Hammond hosted 18 ring events culminating in the $1,700 No-Limit Hold’em Main Event.
Bai, a seasoned tournament player, navigated a field of 741 entrants to defeat Cody Brinn who took home $131,503, and claim $197,299 from a $1,122,615 prize pool.
This win marks Richard Bai’s third WSOP Circuit Main Event victory and his second at Horseshoe Hammond. He previously won a WSOPC Main Event at the Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee in 2019 and his first career WSOPC Main Event at Horseshoe Hammond.
The final table results included Charles Cunha with $90,551 in third place, Daniel Lei with $63,554 in fourth, Andrew Fahey with $45,483 in fifth, Jeffery Hollar with $33,023 in seventh,
Varkey James with $24,734 in eight, Kenny Nguyen with $18,811 in ninth, and Jordan Helstern with $14,611 in tenth.
Ring Winners
Beyond the Main Event, Horseshoe Hammond also crowned an impressive number of ring winners in different buy-ins and formats.
Each 2026 ring winner was rewarded with a $5,000 WSOP Paradise package, which includes entry to the 2026 WSOP Circuit Championship in the Bahamas and a hotel stay.
Some of the event winners included Michael Iacullo ($400 Double Stack No-Limit Hold’em), Oliwer Sankiewicz ($500 Mini Main No-Limit Hold’em), Zal Irani ($400 Seniors No-Limit Hold’em), and Dustin Bowling, who won two events (#7 Limit Omaha 8 and #18 Big 30K Closer No-Limit Hold’em).
Bai’s victory caps a highly successful series at Horseshoe Hammond, once again proving the depth of talent that the WSOP Circuit continues to attract new poker players whilst offering ring winners the opportunity to compete on an international stage at WSOP Paradise 2026.
