Richard Alsup Captures Second WSOP Bracelet Amid Record Monster Stack Field

At the 2026 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas during June, Minnesota poker player Richard Alsup secured victory in Event #18 which featured the $1,500 Monster Stack No-Limit Hold'em format, and he outlasted a record field of 11,933 entrants to earn his second career WSOP bracelet along with a top prize of $1,302,125 after defeating runner-up Salvatore Dicarlo in heads-up play.

Event Scale and Field Size

The tournament drew the largest field ever recorded for this particular event according to official WSOP tracking data, and participants came from across the United States as well as international locations while the action unfolded over multiple days at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas venues. Observers note that such turnout reflects sustained interest in mid-stakes WSOP offerings even as the broader series continues through the summer months, and the prize pool exceeded expectations set by prior years because each entrant contributed to a structure that rewarded deep runs with substantial payouts.

Alsup navigated through this expansive group by advancing from early stages where survival demanded careful chip management, and he reached the final table with a competitive stack before methodically building his position through later rounds. Data from the series indicates that fields of this magnitude create unique pressures on timing and decision-making since players must contend with varying skill levels and stack depths simultaneously, while the monster stack starting amount of 60,000 chips allowed for extended play without immediate all-in confrontations in most cases.

Final Table and Heads-Up Outcome

By the time the field narrowed to the last nine competitors, Alsup held a middling position yet capitalized on key hands that shifted momentum in his favor, and he eliminated several opponents before entering heads-up action against Dicarlo with a slight chip advantage. The heads-up match extended through multiple hours of strategic exchanges, and Alsup ultimately secured the win when his holdings held up against Dicarlo's final all-in attempt.

This result delivered Alsup his second WSOP bracelet following an earlier success in a different event, and the $1,302,125 payout represents the largest single score of his documented career to date according to public tournament records. Figures from the WSOP show that such paydays often alter long-term trajectories for players who combine consistent deep runs with occasional major wins, and Alsup's path through the record field underscores how endurance across thousands of hands can determine outcomes in these formats.

Broader Context Within 2026 Series

The ongoing 2026 WSOP features dozens of bracelet events across various buy-in levels and game types, and this particular Monster Stack drew attention because it combined an accessible entry point with a structure that encouraged participation from recreational and professional players alike. Those who've followed the series note that record fields like this one often coincide with peak summer attendance in Las Vegas when tourism and poker interest overlap, and the event's success contributes to overall series metrics tracked by organizers.

Alsup's achievement adds to a growing list of players who have converted strong performances in large-field no-limit hold'em tournaments into career milestones, and similar patterns appear in past WSOP data where repeat bracelet winners emerge from fields exceeding ten thousand entrants. The runner-up finish for Dicarlo also marked a significant result since he collected a substantial payout that ranks among his best documented finishes, while the payout structure distributed money across hundreds of places to reward the many players who survived into the money.

Conclusion

Richard Alsup's win in the 2026 WSOP Event #18 stands as a notable result within the current series because it combined a record field size with a career-defining payout for the Minnesota player, and the outcome highlights how individual persistence can prevail across thousands of entrants. Additional details remain available through coverage on PokerNews, which compiled reports from the final stages, and industry reports from the American Gaming Association provide context on participation trends in major poker festivals. This single event contributes to the ongoing narrative of the 2026 WSOP as it progresses through additional bracelet competitions in Las Vegas.