Do more cards equate to more fun? For Christopher Alcindor, the answer is a resounding yes. The Canadian poker player has long been a fan of split-pot Omaha, but he is keenly aware of the frustrations and swings that come in this format.
Such was the case today, after a tumultuous final table took place in Event #22: $1,500 Big O. It took nearly six hours of play to find a winner from the final eight, including a three-hour stretch of six-handed play. However, once the dust settled at the end of the night, it was Alcindor alone with all of the chips as he claimed his first WSOP bracelet along with the first-place prize of $387,110.
This year, at the 2026 World Series of Poker at the Horseshoe and Paris, Las Vegas, there were two starting flights in the event, bringing out a total of 2,150 hopefuls to generate a prize pool of $2,802,785. After two long days of battle, 29 players returned this afternoon to play down to a winner.
It was eventually Alcindor who took down the title, defeating James Roullier in just a few hands of heads-up play. He had to contend with a difficult final table that included previous bracelet winners in Anthony Reategui (7th – $57,150), Thomas Koral (6th – $75,600), and Scott Abrams (3rd – $187,150).
Alcindor has been playing poker for years, but primarily online. Over the past two years, he has considerably increased his live volume, accumulating nearly $400,000 in live tournament earnings. However, today Alcindor has doubled that number in just one tournament.
Event #22 Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christopher Alcindor | Canada | $387,110 |
| 2 | James Roullier | United States | $258,690 |
| 3 | Scott Abrams | United States | $187,150 |
| 4 | Dimitri Melissourgos | United States | $136,820 |
| 5 | Song Wang | China | $101,128 |
| 6 | Thomas Koral | United States | $75,600 |
| 7 | Anthony Reategui | United States | $57,150 |
| 8 | Senovio Ramirez | United States | $43,700 |
Winner’s Reaction
After winning the final hand, the first order of business on Alcindor’s mind was to call his wife back in Canada who had been nervously following the updates.
“She couldn’t sleep,” Alcindor explained, “She’s so excited…she couldn’t believe it.”
His passion for the game was palpable, and he was unafraid to show his emotion throughout a chaotic final day of play.
Alcindor has already won two WSOP Circuit rings, both in Calgary in May 2024 and January 2025. He now owns the most prestigious piece of poker hardware, adding to his growing list of accolades.
“I finished 499th in the Main Event last year, but Hi-Lo is really my favorite,” the champion elaborated, “People were asking me if I was going to play the Monster Stack or something else. And I was like ‘No, I came here to play Hi-Lo.'”
“I cashed the PLO8 (72nd for $3,525), but Big O is my absolute favorite.”
The Canadian explained that the extended six-handed period was frustrating, but he maintained his composure.
“It was long! The short stacks would never die. There were like a dozen all-ins, and every time you had to rebuild afterward, and wait for that break on the river to scoop the pot.”
“I was trying to kind of abuse ICM a bit, but some players clearly didn’t mind,” Alcindor continued, “So I had to adjust a bit. But at some point, when the cards fall in your favor as well, it’s a bit easier.”
The newly minted bracelet winner reflected on how his online experience prepared him to bring his best play to today.
“I used to play online for 80 hours a week, and that can take a toll on you. But if you prioritize quality over quantity, then you have more energy, and you’re able to give your best.”
As it turns out, Alcindor’s best was clearly good enough.
Day 3 Action
The returning field of 29 was quickly reduced to 18 during the first frame of play, with Nicolas Milgrom (28th – $13,610) and John Holley (24th – $13,610) among the early eliminations.
The exits continued at a rapid pace over the next two hours as the tournament was reduced to its final ten players, with notable exits including Omaha specialist Bruno Furth (17th – $16,780), Mark Gregorich (14th – $20,940), and Michael Estes (12th – $20,940).
Following the eliminations of Casey Hayes and Sang Shin, the final eight players combined a single final table, with Song Wang leading the way, and Alcindor in third.
Final Table Action
Split-pot regular Senovio Ramirez was the first casualty of the final table. He got his short stack into the middle with ace-king-five-three-deuce and was at risk against the aces of Wang. The board ran out with high cards, and Ramirez exited in eighth.
Soon after, bracelet winner Anthony Reategui fell in seventh place. He jammed over a limper with jack-four-four-three-deuce, but Dimitrios Melissourgos woke up behind him with ace-king-eight-three-deuce, and his opponent made top two pair to take out Reategui.
Six-handed play turned out to be an extended affair. Nearly three hours would elapse as the stack sizes became quite short. Eventually, it was Thomas Koral who could not survive an all-in. He got his short stack into the middle over Alcindor’s open with ace-jack-six-five-four. Unfortunately for him, Alcindor would river a wheel with his three-deuce to take out the two-time bracelet winner.
The final five players were all guaranteed a six-figure score as Song Wang was the next casualty. His stack rode a rollercoaster all day, but it eventually came to an end when he got his final eight big blinds into the middle with ace-eight-eight-six-deuce. However, James Roullier would flop trips, and Wang could not find a two-outer on the river to survive, ending his run in fifth.
With the blinds becoming so expensive, each and every pot was crucial, with all-ins occurring every few hands. Eventually, it was Dimitrios Melissourgos who got scooped to the rail. After holding the chip lead for parts of the final table, he slowly became short and got the rest of his stack in with ace-king-jack-four-four, up against the ace-king-ten-four-deuce of Alcindor. Neither player finished with a qualifying low, and Alcindor made a full house on the turn to end Melissourgos’ run.
Long-time mixed game crusher Scott Abrams was eliminated shortly thereafter in third. In a three-way raised pot, he got his stack into the middle with top pair and a broadway wrap, up against the top two pair of Alcindor. The board bricked out, leaving Alcindor with the winner as Abrams rollercoaster of a day ended in third place.
Heads-up play would only last a few hands with Alcindor holding an overwhelming chip lead. On the final hand, James Roullier potted on the button and Alcindor called. With less than pot behind, Roullier got it in with the nut flush draw, only to be shown the trip jacks of Alcindor. The turn and river offered no help to Roullier, and Alcindor was able to celebrate his incredible victory.
This concludes PokerNews’ coverage of Event #22: $1,500 Big O. Stay tuned as we continue to cover the 2026 World Series of Poker and bring you the hottest news in the poker world.
