Top 10 players to see live if you are attending the WSOP
What this means, in a nutshell, is that many of the players you get to watch on TV all the time are roaming the corridors of Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas this summer, and if you are attending the WSOP, be it as a player, a fan, or both, you’ll get an opportunity to meet some of your heroes.
Unlike the pros, most of us don’t actually get to spend an entire summer in Sin City. You may have a week or two before you have to get back to your non-poker life, which means that you’ll want to make the most out of your vacation. With that in mind, here’s the list of the top 10 players you should probably try to meet while in Las Vegas.
10. Annette Obrestad
In case you’ve missed the news, Annette Obrestad is back in the poker ranks as well. The Norwegian who stunned the poker world by winning the 2007 WSOP Europe Main Event and becoming the youngest-ever person to win a WSOP bracelet took a long hiatus from poker.
This year, she returned, and she made a deep run in the 2026 WSOP Europe Main Event. With this, and given her decision to give the game another go, she’ll likely be in the mix for the summer series in Las Vegas as well.
So, if you’ve always wanted to meet Annette but never had the opportunity, given her long absence from the live circuit, 2026 might be the year that your wish finally comes true.
9. Antonio 'The Magician' Esfandiari
While we are on the topic of original legends, Antonio Esfandiari has returned to poker, big time. We saw him play on a number of high-stakes streams and shows like The Big Game, and it’s great seeing ‘The Magician’ in his natural environment.
Since he’s picked up the poker bug again, he’ll likely be at the 2026 WSOP. He may not play the full schedule, but he’ll likely be there for the Poker Players Championship and the Main Event, at the very least.
It’s hard to say if Esfandiari’s return to poker will last, so if you’d like to meet him, this year’s series is probably one of the best opportunities.
8. Jen Harman
Younger poker fans may be surprised to see this name on the list of top 10 players to meet if you’re attending the WSOP, but Jennifer Harman is one of the original legends. She used to mix it up with the best of the best on shows like High Stakes Poker and Poker After Dark, and, even today, she is a regular in high-stakes mixed games.
The reason why this particular year may present a great opportunity to meet Harman is that she announced that she might be playing a decent WSOP schedule this summer. This isn’t her usual MO, so you might not get another chance like this in a while.
7. Chris Moneymaker
The man who helped start the poker boom, Chris Moneymaker, remains one of the biggest poker legends to this day. There are certainly better and more accomplished players, but very few have helped the game grow as much as he did, whether intentionally or not.
It wouldn’t be the World Series without Chris around, and, at the very least, he’ll be there to play in the Main Event, the tournament that changed his life and the face of poker forever.
Because of the role he played, Moneymaker is used to fans approaching him, and if you want a selfie with the man who took poker to a whole new level, just ask. The odds of success are very high.
6. Martin Kabrhel
Martin Kabrhel has only recently caught the eye of the poker public, but he’s quickly become one of the most controversial players around. For the most part, poker fans are divided into two groups: those who can’t stand Martin’s antiques, and those who think he’s the best thing since sliced bread.
If you are in the latter group, you can be certain Kabrhel will be at the 2026 World Series of Poker. He was already in Prague for the European leg of the series, and he’ll be in Vegas to continue his hunt for bracelets and Player of the Year points.
When he is in the room, Martin is really hard to miss, so you’ll have no problem locating him. Whether he’ll be in the mood to chat or tell you to go away is a coin toss. If you follow Kabrhel, you know his mood can be fickle.
Martin Kabrhel Gets Into a Heated Argument Before Busting
— WSOP - World Series of Poker (@WSOP) June 20, 2026
In Event #56: $3,000 6-Max NLH, @martinkabrhell gets into a tense preflop argument with D. Kaladurdevic after being told to shut up. Kabrhel calls the floor asking for a penalty, and moments later both players are all in. pic.twitter.com/P9NOpx9Lia
5. Michael 'The Grinder' Mizrachi
Michael ‘The Grinder’ Mizrachi has been a poker legend for decades. However, after his last year’s triumph in the Main Event and ad hoc induction into the Poker Hall of Fame, he’s secured his place in poker history books.
So, if you have a burning desire to meet ‘The Grinder,’ that’s perfectly understandable. He’s not only a great player, but he has a very fun personality that really comes through at the tables.
Mizrachi will likely be around for most of the summer, so you should have no problems finding him at one of the tournaments or around the casino. Like all people, he can’t be in a great mood all the time, but, for the most part, he’ll be happy to set aside a couple of minutes to take a picture and have a quick chat.
4. Ethan 'Rampage' Yau
Unlike many of the old-school pros, Ethan Yau, better known by his moniker 'Rampage,' is very open to meeting fans. After all, as a poker vlogger, he understands that his success is closely tied to how people perceive him.
There is no denying that Ethan has established himself as one of modern-day poker celebrities, and many fans of the game would love to meet him.
The World Series of Poker might be a great opportunity. Of course, if you know anything about ‘Rampage,’ you know that planning isn’t his strongest suit, so it’s impossible to tell how much time he’ll be spending in Vegas, and if he suddenly decides to leave to play somewhere else.
3. Phil Ivey
In recent years, Phil Ivey hasn’t actually been a regular fixture at the WSOP. In line with his character, the Tiger Woods of Poker does things the way he sees fit, which means he might decide to play a full schedule this summer or not show up at all.
Ivey has always been a rather private person as well, so it might be a bit difficult to figure out what period he’ll be spending in Vegas. Your best bet is around the Main Event, as that’s one tournament that no high-level pros miss.
As far as your chances of meeting the man, even if you are in Vegas at the same time, there is some variance involved. While Phil is open to communicating with his fans and keeping them happy, he’s not as thrilled as some other players are about hanging around and taking photos.
The best tip we can give you is not to give up. If he turns you down or runs by without acknowledging you, it’s not personal. He probably had something he needed to attend to, so just try again when an opportunity presents itself.
What I would tell to my younger self pic.twitter.com/dmLqu862qa
— Phil Ivey (@philivey) June 17, 2026
2. Phil Hellmuth
The absolute record-holder in terms of WSOP bracelets won, Phil Hellmuth, never misses the World Series, either, so there is a good chance you’ll run into him during your Las Vegas stay.
It’s no secret that Hellmuth loves the attention, and he is usually all too happy to make time for the people who want to meet him. And, let’s be honest, a photo with the legend himself is one of the best souvenirs you can take home.
Phil usually has a bit lighter schedule than Negreanu, so it should be somewhat easier to catch him during his downtime. That said, planning is everything, so if you want to make sure you’re in the same room, use the WSOP Live app to do some light stalking or bookmark SoMuchPoker for broader Series coverage before your Las Vegas trip.
1. Daniel Negreanu
There is hardly a poker player with a bigger media presence than Daniel Negreanu. An extremely successful pro and GGPoker’s top ambassador, Negreanu, never misses the World Series of Poker, and he is usually there from start to finish.
This means, no matter when you go, you’ll have a chance to catch up with the legend for a quick photo, an autograph, and, if you catch him in a good mood and when he’s not super-busy (which is rare), even a short chat.
Daniel always tries to be nice to all fans and goes out of his way to take photos and spend a few minutes with them.
Feeling good, playing well, and cruising on Day 2 of the $50,000 PLO High Roller as we head towards the $100,000 money bubble.
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) June 21, 2026
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