Our opening roundup follows the week’s confirmed results and looks ahead to tournament action in Australia and the United States. Here are five stories to catch up on, with the original reporting and official announcements linked throughout.
La Francesca earns his second WSOP bracelet in a fortnight
Final played 27 September 2026
Alessio La Francesca won the WSOP Online US$10,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold’em Championship, beating Pavel Plesuv in the final. PokerNews reports that the 123-entry tournament paid La Francesca US$352,561, adding a second bracelet to the one he won earlier in September.
The format put the spotlight on a different tournament skill: adapting to one opponent over repeated decisions. Plesuv finished runner-up for US$211,536.
Why it matters
Heads-up results offer a useful reminder that tournament formats demand different preparations. Short-handed play, ranges and adjustment matter alongside full-table fundamentals.
Sources
- PokerNews — results and final-round reportSource dated 28 September 2026 · Checked 30 September 2026
Connor Hayward takes his first Circuit ring at Council Bluffs
Result announced by WSOP on 28 September 2026
The WSOP confirmed Connor Hayward as the Horseshoe Council Bluffs Main Event winner, earning US$76,797 and his first Circuit ring. The tournament drew 232 entries and produced a US$351,480 prize pool.
Hayward defeated John Ypma heads-up; Ypma collected US$50,593. The result was part of an 18-ring festival in Iowa, bringing emerging players and established Circuit competitors to the same tables.
Why it matters
The Circuit provides a view of tournament poker beyond the summer Las Vegas series. Its regional stops are worth following for a broader picture of live results.
Sources
- WSOP — official Council Bluffs resultsSource dated 28 September 2026 · Checked 30 September 2026
Theologis and Joentausta headline the latest WCOOP results
Results reported by PokerStars on 29 September 2026
PokerStars’ 29 September update named Alex “Pwndidi” Theologis the winner of the US$25,000 Super High Roller. He overcame a 17-entry field, defeating Linus Loeliger heads-up for US$216,504.
The same update confirmed Aku “Aku1206” Joentausta as champion of the US$10,000 World Championship of Pot-Limit Omaha, with 47 entries and a US$179,610 first prize. The series was scheduled to run through 30 September, so these results are a dated snapshot rather than a final series summary.
Why it matters
The two results highlight the range of games inside a major online series. Hold’em and Omaha require different hand evaluation and equity calculations; preparation should match the format.
Sources
- PokerStars — official WCOOP daily updateSource dated 29 September 2026 · Checked 30 September 2026
Melbourne Champs II moves into Crown’s Sky Bar 28
Festival scheduled for 30 September–11 October 2026
Melbourne is next on the Australian Poker Tour calendar. The organiser lists Melbourne Champs II at Crown Melbourne’s Metropol — Sky Bar 28 from 30 September to 11 October.
PokerMedia Australia’s 25 September preview describes the new venue and a programme that includes the Crown Opener, Hachem Deepstack and Main Event. The confirmed location and dates give local readers a useful starting point for checking the organiser’s full schedule.
Why it matters
For Australian players, travel and the full cost of an event belong in tournament planning. Check the current schedule, entry conditions and structure directly with the organiser before committing.
Sources
- Australian Poker Tour — official festival calendarUndated official page · Checked 30 September 2026
- PokerMedia Australia — venue and festival previewSource dated 25 September 2026 · Checked 30 September 2026
The WPT Prime Lodge festival leads into October’s championship
Festival scheduled from 24 September; championship for 8–12 October 2026
The WPT’s published schedule places the Prime Lodge festival in Texas from 24 September to 12 October. Its headline US$1,100 championship is scheduled for 8–12 October, with a US$1 million guaranteed prize pool.
These dates come from the tour’s 7 July announcement, revisited because the festival’s scheduled opening falls inside this roundup’s week. The guarantee is a promised prize pool, not a final attendance figure or a winner’s payout.
Why it matters
Separating the full festival dates from the championship dates makes tournament calendars easier to follow. Final results will need a separate, confirmed report.
Sources
- World Poker Tour — official dates and guaranteeSource dated 7 July 2026 · Checked 30 September 2026
About this roundup
AI-assisted research and original summaries, attributed to the sources above. We prioritise official results and clearly distinguish announcements from outcomes. This is a snapshot at publication; live schedules and rolling reports may change.