Shaun Deeb Confident of Making History at 2026 WSOP

Shaun Deeb has a chance to make history in two ways at the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) — a real good chance.

The reigning WSOP Player of the Year, in an interview with PokerNews during a break in Event #2: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em, appeared confident he will become the first to win POY in consecutive years and three times overall. But he predicts a close friend of his will give him a run for his money.

Deeb, who built a big stack early on Day 2 before busting short of the money, has a headstart on 2026 WSOP Player of the Year. He racked up two runner-up finishes and a ninth-place score during the WSOP Europe series in April. Contenders can only use their top 15 point scores towards the POY standings, so he’s ahead of the curve.

“I have basically the equivalent of a bracelet lead on the field,” Deeb said, acknowledging his headstart. “So, I definitely fill out my scores, make five or six final tables this summer, get a win, and then, you know, I’m a huge favorite going to the Bahamas.”

The WSOP changed up the POY format this year, now including results from WSOP Europe (April) and WSOP Paradise (December) to factor into the final standings. Making history would mean a great deal to Deeb, who puts in as much or more effort chasing POY every year as anyone in the world.

“I planned it for the last 10 years to go super hard (for Player of the Year),” Deeb said. “Going back-to-back, I know how hard it is. I know how little my yearly equity actually is at the start of the year. Everyone thinks I’m way higher than I actually am. So, to pull it off will be amazing. I should have done it in ’19. I’m still bitter about that one. So, yeah, going back-to-back will be cool, and it’s something that will probably never be done in the rest of poker.”

Deeb’s Toughest Competitor?

Deeb, who went for the highest bid ($133) in the 25k Fantasy Draft, is chasing his ninth bracelet, which would certainly help his chances of being voted into the Poker Hall of Fame this summer, his first year of eligibility after turning 40. He’d also become just the seventh player in history to reach that milestone.

Should the poker legend add to his jewelry case this summer, he’s going to be tough to beat in the Player of the Year race, especially given the headstart. But he thinks at least one player will give him some tough competition.

“I’d choose ‘Texas Mike,'” Deeb answered when asked who he anticipates will be his toughest challenger. “One of my good friends. He’s one of two people who will play more bullets than me and more actual events. So, yeah, Mike’s in there, everything, he’ll multi-table way more than me. I try to burn equity sometimes, but he will just play every event that is on the schedule at some point, and he’s a sicko.”

“He loves the grind for POY. I’m proud to see him be successful. I’m proud to see him get better and get the notoriety for how hard he works for what he does. And, yeah, it’s going to be a great 50 days battling with him. We’re both rooting for each other. If I don’t win, I want him to win.”

Michael “Texas Mike” Moncek has two bracelets and 23 WSOP final table appearances. Deeb anticipates his friend will fire as many bullets as possible this summer chasing Player of the Year. But Texas Mike will be taking at least one day off from tournament play when he competes in Hustler Casino Live’s Million Dollar Game, a $1 million buy-in cash game, on June 12 in Las Vegas.

One legend Deeb doesn’t seem to think will give him much competition in the Player of the Year race is Phil Hellmuth. And that is because Deeb doesn’t even think the “Poker Brat,” owner of a record 17 bracelets, will never win another WSOP event.

“So, listen, I love Phil. I think he was a great player. I think he is still capable of being a great player. But at (age 60), he doesn’t put in the volume. He comes in late. It’s hard for him to play great poker until 2 a.m., and a lot of the tournaments he plays are the bigger-field stuff. If he listened to me and I gave him advice, I’d have him play 20 tournaments. I’d pick which 20, have the smallest fields that he has a reasonable shot in. But he plays some tournaments that are very hard to win, it doesn’t matter if you’re the best player in the field,” Deeb said.

Hellmuth last won a bracelet in 2023 and has a goal of winning 24 bracelets before hanging it up. Deeb predicts he’ll surpass Hellmuth’s record in 10 years by averaging one bracelet per year over that span.