Dong Chen Overcomes Stacked Field to Win WSOP Limit Hold'em Title

Dong Chen captured the 2026 World Series of Poker Event #38 title in the $10,000 Limit Hold'em Championship, earning his second WSOP bracelet along with $285,200 in first-place prize money, and the tournament drew 121 entries that built a $1,125,300 prize pool at the Las Vegas venues hosting the series in June 2026.

The Chinese pro navigated a final table that featured several established names in the poker world, finishing ahead of Benny Glaser in second place, Jeremy Ausmus in third, Jesse Lonis in fourth place, and Gus Hansen who placed sixth overall, while Chen himself entered the event with limited prior experience in the Limit Hold'em format since this marked only his second tournament in the variant.

Final Table Dynamics and Key Eliminations

Play at the final table progressed through several critical hands that reshaped the leaderboard, and observers noted Chen's ability to adapt quickly despite his relative inexperience with limit betting structures compared to the more common no-limit formats, while opponents like Glaser and Ausmus brought extensive histories in mixed-game and limit events that added pressure throughout the day.

Hansen exited in sixth after a confrontation that reduced the field further, and subsequent eliminations of Lonis in fourth and Ausmus in third set up heads-up play between Chen and Glaser, where Chen maintained the lead through consistent aggression and position play until securing the victory.

Chen's Path and Tournament Background

Chen entered the $10,000 buy-in event after building experience primarily in no-limit hold'em circuits, and data from the series shows that the 121 entries reflected steady participation levels typical for this championship format during the June 2026 schedule at the two primary Las Vegas properties, with the resulting prize pool distributed across the top finishers according to standard WSOP payout structures.

His second bracelet win added to a growing resume that includes prior success in international events, and tournament records indicate Chen relied on fundamental limit hold'em concepts such as pot control and implied odds rather than extensive specialized study before this appearance.

Prize Pool and Entry Details

The $1,125,300 prize pool emerged from the 121 entries at the $10,000 buy-in level, and official series figures confirm that payouts rewarded deep runs by established players alongside Chen's breakthrough performance, with second through sixth places receiving substantial shares that reflected the competitive depth of the field.

Event #38 took place amid the broader 2026 WSOP calendar, which spans multiple weeks across Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas properties, and this specific championship stood out for attracting a mix of specialists and crossover players who typically focus on no-limit or pot-limit disciplines.

Player Profiles at the Final Table

Benny Glaser entered heads-up play with a strong record in limit and mixed games that includes multiple WSOP cashes, while Jeremy Ausmus brought experience from high-roller and bracelet events across various formats, and Jesse Lonis added recent momentum from earlier 2026 appearances that placed him among the top contenders until his fourth-place finish.

Gus Hansen's sixth-place result continued his long association with WSOP events dating back decades, and the presence of these players highlighted the event's reputation for drawing talent across generations and regions.

Significance for Chen's Career

Chen's victory marked a notable expansion of his WSOP achievements into the limit hold'em discipline, and records show this win followed an earlier bracelet in a different variant, demonstrating adaptability across game types despite the format-specific challenges that limit hold'em presents through its fixed betting rounds and emphasis on position.

The $285,200 payout represented the largest share of the prize pool, and series tracking data places this result among the top outcomes for players with Chen's level of prior limit exposure entering the tournament.

Conclusion

Chen's win in Event #38 stands as a clear example of success in a specialized WSOP championship during the June 2026 series, and the combination of a strong final table, solid entry numbers, and Chen's second bracelet overall provides concrete details on how the event unfolded from start to finish.