The 2026 World Series of Poker opened in Las Vegas with record-breaking demand for the prestigious $25K Fantasy Draft at the PokerGO Studio, drawing 24 teams and a $600,000 prizepool before the first gold bracelet was even awarded.
The high-stakes event featured a 25,000-dollar buy-in per team, yielding a massive 600,000-dollar prizepool divided among the top five finishing entries, with 250,000 dollars reserved for the eventual winner.
Bidding Wars and Star Valuations at the PokerGO Studio
Under the rules of the draft, each of the record 24 participating teams operated with a fictitious budget of 200 dollars to build an eight-player roster. Points accumulate throughout the summer based on in-the-money finishes during open World Series of Poker tournaments, with high-profile events such as the Main Event and the 50K Players Championship carrying a triple-weight multiplier.
Team Trump Power and captain Gary Benson secured Deeb for an astronomical 133 dollars, making him the most expensive acquisition of the 2026 draft.
Close behind was Michael Moncek, captured by Team Gators for 130 dollars. Poker icon Daniel Negreanu followed suit within his own roster, drafting himself to Team DNegs for 116 dollars.
Top Roster Acquisitions and Draft Bargains
Beyond the top tier of bidding, several notable names commanded heavy investments while other veterans slipped through as late-round value picks. Joao Vieira went to Team Noori for 101 dollars, Brian Rast joined Team Stake Kings for 97 dollars, and Benny Glaser was secured by Team Chocolate Factory for 94 dollars.
Online legend Viktor “Isildur” Blom drew a 69-dollar price tag from Team Wasserson. At the opposite end of the ledger, poker veterans Jason Koon and Erik Seidel proved to be budget-friendly acquisitions, moving to their respective teams for a symbolic single dollar.
The draft concluded with the designation of “Mr. Irrelevant” for the final player selected. Jun Weng claimed that spot, picked up for the last remaining dollar by Team Lady Gaga under captain Ren Lin.
Fantasy Basketball Strategy Shifts for the 2026-27 Season
RotoWire experts Alex Barutha, Kirien Sprecher, and Nick Whalen assembled a top-10 mock draft for the upcoming 2026-27 fantasy basketball season, highlighting a shifting hierarchy at the top of draft boards.
Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets occupies the top spot in the mock draft despite missing 17 games during the prior season and ending a decade-long durability streak. Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs follows closely at No. 2, boasting historic block rates and multi-category upside that challenges Jokić’s long-standing grip on the 1.01 position.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander holds the No. 3 spot following a back-to-back MVP campaign with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Meanwhile, offseason player movement has altered team dynamics across the league, leaving Luka Dončić with a heavier offensive burden on the Los Angeles Lakers following LeBron James’ departure to the Philadelphia 76ers.
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