There is less than a fortnight to go until the start of the 57^th annual World Series of Poker (WSOP). With 100 bracelet events, you can stake poker’s biggest champions on PokerStake, with a wide variety of ways to do it. Along with taking a piece of a player’s individual event, you can also buy a part of their WSOP Package, as we detailed in our recent look at how to approach this way of backing players.

How many buyers will approach the WSOP, however, is to go event-by-event, so we thought we’d tell you exactly who is selling to the opening day’s action at this year’s WSOP, where the Mystery Millions kicks off the show.

A Break with Tradition

In previous years, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) has begun the race to win gold bracelets with a $500-entry Casino Employees Event. However, while that event is still on the schedule as the third event out of 100 this summer, it is not the opener. That is the $550-entry Mystery Millions event, which kicks off on the opening day along with the $5,000 buy-in 8-Max NLHE event.

The Mystery Millions event that took place in 2025 was also the opening event 12 months ago but cost $700 to play, along with a $30 registration fee. With an astronomical 19,654 total entries, Michael Wilklow’s victory (below) was worth an astonishing $1,000,000 as he beat professional Michael Acevedo heads-up, with final table appearances from Daniel Strelitz and Linda Ngo.

A year later, the buy-in might be slightly more affordable but the value is only going to increase. With professionals in this event having a big edge, we can see some of the PokerStake roster going very deep in the event and even winning it, such is their quality. So who’s playing in the opening event of the 2026 WSOP for PokerStake and selling action already?

Some Runners and Riders

With a glorious record in WSOP events, Allen ‘Chainsaw’ Kessler might be yet to win a bracelet but his record in WSOP tournaments with a buy-in around $500-$600 is better than almost anyone’s. A multiple WSOP Circuit ring winner, Allen is going to be a real threat in this event and is selling to Event #1, the $550 Mystery Millions at a markup of 1.15.

When it comes to Event #2, the $5,000-entry 8-Max NLHE event, Chris Conrad is great value at 1.20, and he is selling 20% of his action in that tournament. With $1.9m in tournament earnings already in his career, Chris cashed in the corresponding event in 2025, earning over three times his buy-in when he came 38^th from a field of 693, also cashing deep in the Mystery Millions.

Another player who should definitely be backed in Event #2 is the EPT and WSOP champion Stephen Song (above), who is selling two bullets to the event at markup of either 1.32 or 1.30. Stephen’s record in tournaments is phenomenal, with the New York born star earning $11.4 million in his career, putting him just outside the top 150 players of all-time on The Hendon Mob.

Other Big Names to Back Early

Ian O’Hara has a super-strong record in $5,000 events and the Floridian will be taking part in Event #2 also. Selling at a markup of either 1.10 or 1.15 depending on what bullet you choose, O’Hara cashed twice very early in last year’s World Series, with his ninth place in the $2,500 NLHE Event #29 a good comparison event.

North Macedonia simply don’t have anyone as good as Ilija Savevski in their number but there’s no shame in that, as the tournament specialist has become one of the players to watch in recent years. Winning a bracelet in 2022 (below), Ilija is selling at a very reasonable 1.05 markup to the second event of the 2026 WSOP on opening day and looks a great bet for a return on your early investment to us.

Whoever you choose to back on the opening day, you couldn’t have a better choice of players to pick from. With some of the best in the world selling their WSOP action o PokerStake this year, it makes total sense to sweat along with them and enjoy the World Series of Poker from the comfort of your own home. Head to our 2026 World Series of Poker staking page right now!