Someone was guaranteed to reach a major milestone at the World Series of Poker. It turned out to be Benny Glaser.
The British poker pro topped a star-studded field to win the $50,000 buy-in Poker Players Championship late Thursday at Paris Las Vegas. Glaser defeated fellow pro Josh Arieh in heads-up play to capture the $1.34 million first prize and the Chip Reese Memorial Trophy.
With the win, Glaser earned his ninth career WSOP bracelet, which are awarded for tournament victories, and moved into a tie with the legendary Johnny Moss for sixth place on the all-time list. Only Phil Hellmuth, Phil Ivey, Doyle Brunson, Erik Seidel and Johnny Chan have more bracelets than Glaser, 37.
“It’s a literal dream. It’s the greatest moment in my career, by far,” Glaser said on the WSOP stream following his victory. “It’s unreal.”
Glaser, who won three bracelets at the 2025 WSOP, secured his place as one of the world’s best mixed-game players. It is his first title in the PPC, which features a who’s who of poker royalty competing in nine variants of poker and is considered the most prestigious event on the schedule after the Main Event.
Glaser started the final day as the chip leader with six players remaining and the field was quickly cut in half with Glaser, Arieh and Ivey still standing.
Ivey was chasing his 12th career bracelet but went out in third place for his best finish of the summer so far.
Arieh, who was snubbed by voters from the 2026 Poker Hall of Fame ballot, was seeking his eight career bracelet. He went into heads-up action with a slight chip lead over Glaser but quickly fell behind and never caught up.
On the final hand with the players competing in Omaha High-Low 8 or Better, Glaser made a better two-pair to knock out his opponent. Arieh also finished second in the 2019 PPC.
Glaser squatted near the table and covered his mouth in disbelief after clinching the victory. He was unable to hold back tears as he hugged his supporters on the rail.
“I’ve wanted this for so many years. I’ve come close twice,” Glaser said. “I cannot put it into words. I’m so happy. It’s amazing.”
It is the second runner-up finish in less than a week for Arieh, who was second to Calvin Anderson in the $10,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. Championship. Arieh also finished third in the $1,500 buy-in Pot-limit Omaha High-Low 8 or Better event this month.
Negreanu falls short
Daniel Negreanu made his second final table of the WSOP on Thursday but was unable to close out his eighth career bracelet.
Negreanu finished seventh in the $25,000 buy-in High Roller Pot-limit Omaha/No-limit Hold’em Mixed event after starting the final day as one of the shortest stacks. He doubled-up early with a straight flush in PLO against Finland’s Eelis Parssinen but lost a big pot to Sean Winter and was eliminated not long after.
Parssinen went on to win the tournament and joined Anderson and Japan’s Naoya Kihara as the only two-time bracelet winners this summer.
Contact David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ on X.
