WSOP-C Calgary kicks off with record-breaking Main Event and Monster Stack drama
The 2026 World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOP-C) in Calgary started with high energy on Thursday. Two major tournaments attracted crowds, while satellite games filled the Chrome room. The Main Event’s opening flight alone drew 271 players, setting a new prize pool record of over half a million dollars.
The day began with the first flight of the Main Event, where players competed for a shot at Sunday’s Day 2. By the end of Day 1a, only 38 remained, bagging their chips just before the final level concluded. Oleksii Mezhenkov led the pack as the biggest stack, with Aleksei Ponomarev also finishing near the top.
Three players secured early payouts from the flight. Gaetano Buda, Edward Sorensen, and Trent Sapach each walked away with $4,470. Meanwhile, the Monster Stack tournament reached its climax. Allen Shen emerged as the winner, defeating Mehmet Siginc in a heads-up battle. Shen took home $78,000 and his second WSOP ring, having previously won one in an online event in Ontario. This was the only ring awarded on Thursday. The action didn’t stop there. Satellite games ran throughout the day, filling the Chrome room as players chased seats in bigger events.
Day 1a of the Main Event set a new benchmark with $531,000 in the prize pool. Shen’s victory in the Monster Stack added another highlight to the schedule. With 38 players advancing to Day 2, the competition now shifts to the next phase of the tournament.
Read also:
- Winter Fly-Fishing in Big Sky Tests Limits and Rewards Bravery
- New book equips teachers to confront misinformation in heated classroom debates
- Black Friday aviation deals take off with model kits, flights and rare collectibles
- Going West: Enforcement Edge Is Live From San Francisco For The ABA White Collar Crime Conference
