The 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) $1,000 Ladies No-Limit Hold’em Championship is officially heating up. After a massive Day 1 turnout that saw 1,475 entrants create a total prize pool of $1,298,000, the field has been whittled down to 338 survivors.

As players return to the tables today at 12:00 p.m. local time, the atmosphere is electric. With 222 spots set to reach the money, the bubble will be a primary focus for many of the remaining competitors, though the hunt for the $194,630 top prize and the prestigious WSOP gold bracelet remains the ultimate goal.

Notably, the tournament will crown a new champion this year, as the historic bid for a third consecutive title by two-time defending champion Shiina Okamoto has come to an end following her elimination on Day 1.

The Frontrunners

Setting the pace is Erika Weinstein, who dominated the field on Day 1 to bag a massive chip lead of 595,000. She leads a strong pack of top-ten contenders, including WSOP bracelet winner Maria Konnikova, who is well-positioned for another deep run.

Top Ten Chip Counts Entering Day 2:

Rank Player Chip Count
1 Erika Weinstein 595,000
2 Katherine Porrello 382,500
3 Christy Cranford 327,000
4 Linna Chu 322,500
5 Sumire Uenomachi 305,000
6 Heidi Hina 256,500
7 Yingjie Qian 238,500
8 Elisa Nakagawa 234,000
9 Maria Konnikova 225,500
10 Amy Hoechstetter 224,000

Tournament Context

With an average stack currently sitting at 87,278, the remaining players have plenty of room to maneuver as blinds resume at 1,000 / 1,500.

As the premier event for women in the WSOP schedule, the camaraderie and high level of play are on full display this year. Whether the veterans hold their lead or a short-stack makes a miraculous climb, all eyes are on the tournament floor today as we move one step closer to crowning our 2026 champion.