Marco Johnson Finally Wins WSOP No-Limit Hold'em Bracelet After Decades

Marco Johnson, a seasoned poker player, finally won his first no-limit hold'em bracelet at the 2026 WSOP. This victory marked a significant milestone in Johnson's career, which has spanned nearly two decades. Johnson defeated Chino Rheem heads-up to secure his third career bracelet. The now 40-year-old from Northern California won a $2,500 no-limit hold'em freezeout at the 2026 WSOP, claiming a career-best $513,885 tournament cash.

Johnson earned 1,620 Card Player Player of the Year points for this victory, moving him to 46th place in the yearlong standings presented by CoinPoker. Rheem, who finished in second place, added a healthy 1,350 POY points to his total for 2026, rising to 14th place overall. Rheem’s $341,970 second-place payout pushed him over $20 million in lifetime tournament earnings. This event was a freezeout, with only one chance to enter and run up a stack, hearkening back to a classic format that only the WSOP main event uses these days.

By the close of registration, 1,561 players got in, building a total prize pool of $3,473,225. The tournament featured a long and intense final day, with Johnson surging ahead following a massive double-up through a previously ascendant Sebastian Schulze. Johnson’s pocket kings held against Schulze’s A♥K♠ to put Johnson head and shoulders in front of the rest of the pack. Johnson picked off Schulze in ninth place ($44,840) and Pyeongkang Kim in eighth place ($57,780), extending his lead to more than three times as many chips as any of his six remaining opponents. Johnson got lucky against Vamerdino Magsakay, rivering an ace-high club flush to clear 30 million chips and eliminate Magsakay in sixth place ($99,590). Ishida picked up a few pots at Johnson’s expense and then took out a short-stacked Srivinay Irrinki in fifth place ($133,170) to once again close the gap. Ishida inched past Johnson into the chip lead when he knocked out Jaka in fourth place ($180,210). Rheem had a long, steep hill to climb to get back into contention three-handed, with only 20% as many chips as either of his two remaining opponents. He got right to work, doubling through Ishida with K♠Q♥ against Ishida’s pocket eights. Johnson re-established his lead, and Rheem eventually supplanted Ishida as he climbed into second place. Johnson did the dirty work again to take out Ishida, winning a race with A♠J♣ against Ishida’s pocket sevens, courtesy of a rivered J♦. While Johnson had a 3:1 lead to start heads-up play, Rheem bounced back with a key double-up as pocket aces held off Johnson’s pocket jacks. That resurgence was short-lived, though, and Johnson had re-established his 3:1 lead by the time the final hand rolled around. Johnson’s A♦5♦ had Rheem’s A♠4♣ in tough shape, but according to the Card Player Texas hold’em odds calculator, they would chop 41.45% of the time. The 4♠3♥2♥ flop changed that in a hurry, as Johnson hit the wheel right off the bat. Rheem still had a 13% chance to chop, with a five, or he could make an unlikely runner-runner full house. With face cards on the turn and river, though, Johnson’s straight held to bring the event to a close.