Fernando Galvan Ships WSOP Circuit Main Event for $247K
The first major poker tournament of 2026 is in the books. Galvan topped 845 entries at Planet Hollywood to claim the $1.27M prize pool's top prize.
By Card Shark McGee
The 2026 poker calendar is officially underway, and Fernando Galvan kicked it off by shipping the WSOP Circuit Main Event at Planet Hollywood for a cool $247,160.
That's one hell of a way to start the new year.
The Quick Hit
- What happened: Galvan won the $1,700 Main Event at WSOP Circuit Planet Hollywood
- The damage: 845 entries created a $1,267,500 prize pool, crushing the $1M guarantee
- Why you should care: First major WSOP win of 2026 sets the tone for the circuit season
- The move: Circuit season is underway—Choctaw is next, January 8-19
The Final Table
The final table was stacked with talent, but Galvan navigated it like a surgeon. Here's how the money went down:
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Fernando Galvan | $247,160 |
| 2nd | Corey Hochman | $152,734 |
| 3rd | Chris Tham | $112,503 |
| 4th | Ali Imsirovic | $83,959 |
| 5th | Bruce Kramer | $63,476 |
| 6th | Melanie Banfield | $48,609 |
| 7th | Mark Ioli | $37,695 |
| 8th | Danny Elmore | $29,596 |
| 9th | Neil Scott | $23,525 |
| 10th | Sunny Gandham | $18,924 |
Ali Imsirovic made another deep run, finishing fourth for nearly $84K. The controversial grinder continues to put up results regardless of what people think about him. Money talks, and his speaks loudly.
Casino Champion: Arkadiy Tsinis Goes Absolutely Crazy
While Galvan took the Main Event glory, Arkadiy Tsinis was the real degen hero of the series. The man won three rings in a single stop.
Tsinis captured the Tag Team event with partner Daniel Mogavero, then shipped Event 6, then came back and won Event 10 (6-Handed). Four total cashes, 110 Casino Champion points, and a runaway victory in the leaderboard race.
That's the kind of week degenerates dream about. Show up, absolutely destroy the field across multiple events, and leave with a stack of rings and a pile of cash.
The 2026 Circuit Format Change
This year marks a significant shift for the WSOP Circuit. For the first time ever, they're running on a calendar-year format rather than a split-season schedule.
"Shifting to a calendar-year season for 2026 marks a new era of predictability for our players," said WSOP CEO Ty Stewart.
Translation: they want you planning your degen poker trips further in advance. And honestly? It works. Knowing the schedule months ahead makes booking travel cheaper and lets grinders actually budget their bankrolls.
The WSOP Circuit kicked off New Year's Day at Planet Hollywood, and it delivered exactly what the poker community needed: action, drama, and a worthy Main Event champion.
What's Next on the Circuit
The WSOP Circuit heads to Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant, Oklahoma from January 8-19. It's one of the most popular stops on the circuit, drawing huge fields from Texas and the surrounding region.
If you're looking to grind rings early in 2026, Choctaw is your spot. The buy-ins range from $250 to the $1,700 Main Event, so there's something for every bankroll.
Every ring winner at Planet Hollywood received a $5,000 package to attend the WSOP Circuit Championship at either WSOP Europe 2026 or WSOP Paradise 2026. That's serious value on top of the cash prizes.
The Bottom Line
Fernando Galvan is $247K richer and holding the first WSOP ring of 2026. Arkadiy Tsinis proved that running hot at the right time can turn a single stop into a career-defining week.
The circuit season is officially on.
If you're a grinder looking for action, the WPT also wrapped its World Championship recently with Schuyler Thornton shipping $2.1M. Between the WSOP Circuit and WPT, there's never been a better time to be a tournament poker player.
Get out there and shuffle up. The 2026 season is going to be a banger.