Bracelet Hunting - A WSOP 2026 Trip Report

OMG. How dare they not build a real guitar for people to sleep in!

Day 5
Saturday May 30th

With skipping the $10k O8 today I could have played another flight of the Mini Mystery Millions but decided against it, choosing instead to grind the cash game.

But first the Champions League final. I had originally intended to meet some fellow Brits and watch it with them in the sportsbook at Paris but I literally woke up as it was just starting so just watched it in the room.

Despite dominating the game PSG couldn’t get it done in regulation and after 90 minutes it was tied at 1-1. So I pushed the pk (which was my biggest bet) lost half a bet on the -0.25 and lost the 3-way.

I did bet them to lift the trophy when it went to OT and they got lucky in the penalty shootout thanks to a couple of poor Arsenal penalties so I broke even on the match.

The main $80 Mix game had gone overnight again so we started 3 must moves at midday. (There was also a $150-$300 mix today but I’m not quite ready for that yet)

I got drawn on must move 2 which apart from Kenny D didn’t look a bad table.

And sure enough we started steadily accumulating chips including scooping a 5-card PLO double board pot for the cap.

I think I forgot to mention but the mix is up to 19 games now. The afore-mentioned 5-card PLO double board was added and Stud high and Drawma-Dugi have become permanent fixtures. So the full mix and order now is:

So with 19 games it now takes about 5.5 hours to play the full rotation with a full table. Assuming a normal session of about 8 hours that means you’re going to play just over half the games twice and the rest only once so it’s really important to be comfortable with all the games.

I’ve been buying in for 3 racks this week (6k) no rhyme or reason. Sometimes I buy 4, sometimes 3 but seems 3 is working at the moment. So I have my 6k up to over 10k when a dealer sits down that I don’t like and can never win with.

Come on David, you’re an intelligent guy. The dealer makes no difference, don’t be silly.
Okay let’s play.
First hand I play with her I lose $400. A couple of hands later I lose again $400 more.
Seat open! I go off in search of empty racks. I’m out of here.
Next time she sits down I’m talking a walk for half an hour I swear.

It’s still a good session. +$3,400 in 5 hours. It’s Saturday evening in Vegas. Let’s take the night off and enjoy ourselves.

Not having had a decent meal since I got here it’s time to reward ourselves and I hit up Caramella at PH which has become one of my favorites.

They do have an outdoor patio which offers a good view of the Bellagio fountains but it’s getting the full force of the early evening sun at this hour.

So we eat inside at the bar. I love the fish and the pasta here:

It’s still early so I decide to go and see a show after dinner and opt for Mad Apple by Cirque de Soleil at NYNY.

After the wine at dinner I continued with a couple of Mad Apple Martinis while watching the show. Not sure exactly what was in them but they had a good helping of vodka and they hit the mark.

The show wasn’t a typical Cirque show. I can only describe it as sort of a variety show.

It had music, singing, dancing, acrobats, stand-up comedy and magic.

For me the best parts were the magician, who I thought was funnier than the stand-up, and the wheel of death acrobats at the end.

I had a good time and was glad I took the night off.

On Deck Tomorrow: $1,500 No Limit 2-7 Single Draw

I want to see the summer going well enough that you’re ABSOLUTELY ready to sit at 150-300 mix!!

Great day, realizing that pacing yourself and staying fresh is crucial towards your long term success over this trip.

Keep having great days.

great cash results - well done * I'm happy you treated yourself to a good meal

Nineteen games, wow, that's a pretty big barrier to entry. Do you have to take a final exam at the end?

how many Ad are in play at once?

Now you're just making up games.

She has a hex on you.

So we eat inside at the bar. I love the fish and the pasta here:

What kind of fish is a branzino?

What, you never heard of Best/best?

Johnny Moss discussed it extensively in his book.

There’s not much that isn’t funnier than standup these days.

Seabass.

EDIT: Mediterranean seabass... I should probably clarify.

So I am mixed game player, but I def can't play that mix anymore. I used to play it years ago when it was more like HORSE, with triple draw, and a few other games like Stud Hi/Lo with no qualifier, Badugi, etc Once it got over like 10-12 games I checked out lol.

Sick you are able to play all of those - I'm jealous not going to lie! I am sad there are no regular HORSE games though, or at least 8-game table, etc. It seems like outside of PLO, it's either NLHE, or 19 game mix and no in between

LHE, don’t forget about LHE!

Agree with this, but probably impossible to get a game going exept mayyyybe during WSOP.

I think at Parx they play a more standard mix. If I’m not mistaken they play THEBROS which is HORSE with Badugi and 2-7 triple draw.

I’m just sad that no fixed limit mixed cash games go anywhere else in the world apart from the USA. Or at least not that I know of.

ok srsly 4rlz wtf is best/best

A few years ago, off duty dealers used to get a 4/8 mixed going at the Orleans. I've been too busy with WSOP lately to check if they ever get that going these days. They played a lot of games, with a rock with all the games on it.

Day 6
Sunday May 31st

First order of business today was to change hotels. We’re leaving the luxurious Aria behind and moving to the decidedly more modest Magic Castle.

Or another way of looking at it would be that I’ve won exactly zero tournaments in my life while I’ve been staying at Aria whereas I’ve binked two of them while staying at Excalibur.

Standard Royal Tower twin.

Nice view of the progress on the baseball stadium from my window:

Today’s tournament was No Limit 2-7 Single Draw and the Japanese gentleman on my right is drawing like Picasso.

He opens. I 3-bet with a pat 9-7. He calls and draws one and leads out for 2x pot.
I call and he shows an 8-6.

This happened twice exactly the same and after the 2nd time I had exactly 2,000 chips left from the 25,000 starting stack.

I got a couple of doubles to be on 8,000 at the first break and when I got back to the table I saw that we’d be getting a new player in the 4 seat to my left.

He lived up to his nickname of the mouth as he never stopped talking. I’ve played with him before and he remembered me and started telling me of all the bad beats he’d just taken in the $10k O8 like I wanted to hear them!

I did play one pot against him.

Blinds and ante are 300/500/800
I raise the button to 1,400
He makes it 5,000 from the SB
I have a pat 9-7 (again!)
I think I’m good but don’t want to 3-bet in case he has a convertible with a good one card draw. I’d rather freeze him so just call.
He pats and we pat behind.
He checks, we bet 5,000 and he folds saying he doesn’t think T-9 is good.
Said he didn’t have a draw so don’t think I would have got any more if I’d 3-bet pre-draw.

The main stage area is absolutely awesome btw.

At that point I’d recovered to have an above starting 30k but then we went back down.

I doubled a short stack up for 7k. We both had a 1 card draw to an 8. I paired my 8 lol.

Then I snowed 22388 but my opponent who drew one made a 9 and obviously called. 7k more gone.

Then the Japanese gentleman opened and I raised all-in for my last 15k in position with a convertible Jack.
He called and stood pat so we broke the Jack to draw to a 9. Good break. He had a Ten, but we catch an Ace and it’s game over. I elect not to rebuy.

Over to Bellagio we go and after about an hour wait we get a seat in the 3rd $80 Mix game. (Only 3 games today)

I’m about even when we get to No Limit 2-7 Single Draw and wouldn’t you know it, I win 4 out of the 8 hands. Oh the irony. No caps or anything but still a nice accumulation of chips.

I get moved to the 2nd game and have a good round of O8 and a good round of Badugi and feeling a little tired decide I’ll book the win and rack up at 11pm +$2,800 to the good after a 4 hour session.

End of Week 1 Wellness Check:

I feel good. Still fresh. Very mindful not to play too much. No marathon cash game sessions, no late night sessions, no early morning sessions and certainly no overnight sessions. The latest I played was when I bagged the O8 tournament.

Health wise also good. I’m getting good sleep with the aid of sleeping tablets. I’m taking vitamins to try and avoid getting sick and also have a nasal spray.

Would have been nice to get on the board early in a tournament. That hasn’t happened but not too concerned at the moment. Feel like i’m playing good and it’s only a matter of time.

Very happy with the way we’ve started in the cash games.

On Deck Tomorrow: $1,500 Mixed PLO / Omaha 8 / Big O

Really enjoying this. Inspired me to do my own blog when I fly out in 2 weeks. I'm absolutely itching to get there now. The coverage and socials of the WSOP are excellent this year.

GL.

Sounds very much on brand 😀

That sounds like a fun game.

I am getting very nitpicky here, but just curious to why you are sticking with the Royal Tower rooms when you can get a refurbished Resort Tower for the same price? (at least for me they are always the same price).

I do realize you don't spend much time in your room, but still - I would want the nicer room for the hours I am actually there.

Solid first week Tony! Love the wellness routine - I do the same when I'm in town- now that I'm well into my 40's it becomes more important for us and those older if you want to grind long days/weeks out there during the summer. Great cash game results to supplement the tourney clip. Keep firing!