WSOP Final Table Delay Returning 10 Years After The Last ‘November Nine’

Nobody is calling it the “November Nine” this time around because nobody knows what month it’s going to take place in, but the World Series of Poker (WSOP) is bringing back the November Nine concept of a delayed Main Event final table.

The WSOP released its 2026 schedule announcement Monday morning — featuring 100 live bracelet events in all between May 26 and July 25 — with the throwback to formats of Main Events past standing out as the biggest piece of news.

From 2008-2016, the World Series halted play in the Main Event once a final table of nine players was reached in July, then resumed in November, after edited WSOP broadcasts had aired on ESPN and the audience had become familiar with the remaining nine players. That practice was abandoned in 2017, but now returns, although the official release says “specifics on the Main Event final table play dates and broadcast coverage to be announced at a later date.”

Aside from the unknown (and possibly not yet determined) final table dates, we do know the Main Event starts on July 2, with players spread out between the two host properties on the Las Vegas Strip, Paris, and the Horseshoe. And the WSOP announced that the final table is projected to be determined on July 13.

Whatever the length of the break, it figures to give the surviving players a better opportunity to secure sponsorship deals and can impact the actual final table play by allowing the final nine more time to study their opponents and receive coaching.

New tournaments, expanded ways to watch

The other major news coming out of Monday’s announcement is the announcement of free daily livestreams on the WSOP’s YouTube channel, beginning on May 26 when the series kicks off and running through the start of the Main Event. The aim, according to organizers, is to “bring WSOP action to a wider international audience for free.”

Beyond the Main Event, other highlights of the 2026 schedule include a $250,000 buy-in “Super High Roller” event beginning June 13, the $50,000 mixed game known as the Poker Players Championship starting June 21, and more affordable popular tournaments such as the $1,500 Monster Stack, the $500 Colossus, the $1,500 Millionaire Maker, and the $1,000 Mystery Millions.

There are also five first-time events among the 100 on the calendar:

• Mini Mystery Millions to open the series May 26, with a $550 buy-in and a guarantee of a $1 million mystery bounty prize
• The $10,000 GGMillion$ High Roller No-Limit Hold’em
• The U.S. Circuit Championship event, with a $1,700 buy-in event
• Five Card Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO), with a $1,500 buy-in
• A $1,500 event called “Pick Your PLO,” with a dealer’s choice format including PLO, PLO8, Five-Card PLO (High), and Big O

All tournament details are available on the WSOP+ app, which was introduced prior to the 2025 World Series to streamline registration and provide easy access to tournament info.