Justin Liberto Leads WSOP $10K PLO8 Championship Final Table

The 57th World Series of Poker (WSOP) is well underway at the Horseshoe & Paris Las Vegas, with 100 gold bracelets up for grabs. One of the most anticipated final tables is set for Event #33, the $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship, and American Justin Liberto is in a dominant position.

Liberto enters the final day of play with a commanding chip lead, holding nearly 60% of the chips in play. He amassed a stack of 113 big blinds during play, positioning him strongly to capture his second WSOP bracelet of the summer.

Final Day Showdown

After eight levels of play on Day 3, the field has been narrowed down to just five players. Liberto’s chip advantage gives him a significant edge as the remaining competitors battle for the top prize of $767,395. The final table features a strong international presence, though the majority of the finalists hail from the United States. One notable exception is Dutch player Nino Pansier.

The tournament attracted 390 entries, a slight increase from the previous year, generating a total prize pool of $3,627,000. This figure is distributed among 59 players, with the remaining 25 players returning for Day 3 having already secured $24,495. The final payouts will be distributed to the last five players at the final table.

Mixed Games Surge

The WSOP 2026 has seen a notable trend in mixed game events, with Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship showing a participation increase. This contrasts with a reported decrease in No-Limit Hold’em entries. The success of mixed game variations suggests a growing interest in more complex poker formats among players.

Notable Players in the Field

While the focus is on the final table, several other well-known poker professionals were in contention during earlier stages. Players like Jason Mercier and Martin Zamani were among the international talents who participated in the event. Unfortunately, no representatives from the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) managed to reach the money stages.

Early Stages of the Championship

The $10,000 Championship began with a strong field, including many notable professionals. Initially, 268 entries were recorded, with 104 players advancing to the second day of play. Late registration was still open, so the final numbers were expected to be higher. Among the early participants were Benny Glaser and Erik Seidel. Max Neugebauer, Max Kruse, and Andreas Fröhli represented the German-speaking contingent, with Neugebauer holding the highest chip count among them at the start of Day 2.

Key facts

The outcome of this high-stakes Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo tournament is of significant interest to video poker enthusiasts who appreciate the strategic depth and variability of poker variants. Watching seasoned professionals navigate complex games like PLO8 provides valuable insights into advanced poker strategy.

Source: Hochgepokert – WSOP #33 – Justin Liberto mit 60 Prozent der Chips im $10k PLO8 Finale! – https://www.hochgepokert.com/2026/06/12/event-33-10000-pot-limit-omaha-hi-lo-8-or-better-championship/