In a stunning display of grit and timing, Minnesota’s Richard Alsup outlasted nearly 12,000 players to win the 2026 WSOP Monster Stack, banking $1.3 million and elevating his poker legacy.
The World Series of Poker’s marquee $1,500 Monster Stack event delivered its most dramatic moment yet when Richard Alsup emerged victorious from the largest field in event history. On June 11, 2026, the Savage, Minnesota grinder topped a staggering 11,933 entries to claim the coveted bracelet and a life-changing $1,302,125 payday.
A Wave of Entries and Record Prize Pool
The 2026 Monster Stack drew an unprecedented 11,933 entrants, surpassing the previous year’s 9,920 by more than 2,000, and creating a prize pool north of $15.8 million. The format change—adding a single in-flight re-entry across four starting flights—was credited with fueling the explosive turnout. PokerNews first chronicled the feat, calling it “a seven-figure score” coming from the largest Monster Stack field ever assembled. PokerNews reports that the top prize was indeed $1,302,125. Simultaneously, VIP-Grinders confirmed the entry count and prize pool details, noting the event’s final figure of $15,841,057. VIP‑Grinders reports
At the Final Table: Chaos, Comebacks, and Clutch Cards
At the televised final table, Alsup began from Seat 6 with a modest chip stack, while Kevin Eyster held the early lead. The drama unfolded quickly. Players were eliminated one by one—Angelou, McKellar, Massey—until heads-up confrontation against Salvatore Dicarlo. As PokerNews details, heads-up play stretched nearly three hours, highlighted by a key hand where Alsup turned trip sixes to crack Dicarlo’s aces and wrest momentum from his control. The decisive moment came when Alsup called an all-in with ace‑seven versus ace‑king and spiked a river seven to seal the victory. PokerNews reports
Personal Triumph for a Family Man
Alsup’s win wasn’t just a professional milestone but a personal triumph. He described the victory as particularly poignant: “I got a new baby run good, so that probably helped out a little bit,” he told PokerNews, underscoring the emotional resonance of the achievement. This victory more than quadruples his previous largest live cash of $273,430 and propels his career earnings well past previous thresholds. PokerNews reports and VIP‑Grinders reports both highlight the emotional weight this score carries for Alsup.
Where It Leaves Him—Legacy and Minnesota Poker
This victory earns Alsup his second WSOP bracelet, joining the 2022 gold he captured in the $800 Deepstack event. That earlier score of $272,065 marked his first taste of WSOP glory. With this massive payday, Alsup not only takes a huge leap forward in his career earnings—now estimated by VIP‑Grinders at over $3.9 million across 238 results—but also vaults into second place on Minnesota’s all-time money list. VIP‑Grinders reports. PokerNews had previously noted his 2022 bracelet win and his standing in the Minnesota rankings. PokerNews reports.
For a player long celebrated in Mid‑States Poker Tour circles as a consistent grinder—and even MSPT Hall of Famer—this moment is a defining one. Alsup’s triumph over nearly 12,000 opponents is a vivid reminder that perseverance, timing, and that crucial river card can rewrite a poker player’s story.
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