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DARREN RABINOWITZ WINS PLANET HOLLYWOOD WSOPC MAIN EVENT FOR $175K
Las Vegas, Nevada (January 13, 2026) - Yesterday, at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada, the very first WSOP Circuit Main Event champion of 2026 was crowned.
Utilizing a wealth of experience he’s honed over years of grinding poker tournaments, WSOP bracelet winner Darren Rabinowitz further added to his WSOP jewelry collection by winning his 5th career WSOP Circuit ring in the Planet Hollywood WSOP Circuit Main Event.
Along with ring #5, Rabinowitz also secured the $175,430 top prize, bringing his lifetime career tournament earnings to over $4 million (statistic courtesy of Hendon Mob).
Speaking with Poker.Org’s Mike Patrick at the conclusion of the Planet Hollywood WSOP Circuit Main Event, Rabinowitz shared what it felt like to get the win.
“It feels great. I’ve played a lot of Circuits; I’ve never final tabled a Circuit Main, so it’s nice to finally final table one and win. It’s definitely the toughest Circuit in the country by a long shot. All of the big Circuits are kind of like that, you just have to know that going in.”
Planet Hollywood WSOP Circuit Main Event Final Table
To achieve the fifth win of his WSOP Circuit career, Rabinowitz would have to play through an especially talented final table.
One of the most decorated poker tournament players to reach the final table, WSOP bracelet winner and six-time WSOP Circuit champion Stephen Song served as the first elimination of the final table, finishing in 10th place for a $10,556 score.
While all of his WSOP Circuit victories have come in the online realm, four-time WSOP Circuit ring winner Alan Merdita would not be overlooked in the Planet Hollywood WSOP Circuit Main Event, reaching the final table for a $13,363 score (9th place).
Still seeking her first WSOP Circuit ring, Ukrainian tech entrepreneur turned poker pro Victoria Livschitz reached 8th place in the WSOP Circuit Main Event, cashing for $17,245.
The final opponent to fall to the eventual champion, two-time WSOP Circuit ring winner David DiBernardi would lose heads-up to Rabinowitz after three grueling hours of heads-up play, receiving $116,917 for his second-place finish.
Planet Hollywood WSOP Circuit Main Event Final Table Results
1st: Darren Rabinowitz - $175,430
2nd: David DiBernardi - $116,917
3rd: Kayla Clackum - $81,321
4th: Katsumoto Sakaguchi - $57,545
5th: Drake Kemper - $41,439
6th: Jacob Mendelsohn - $30,378
7th: Yuanzhi Cao - $22,678
8th: Victoria Livschitz - $17,245
9th: Alan Merdita - $13,363
10th: Stephen Song - $10,556
Congratulations to every Planet Hollywood WSOP Circuit event winner
Congratulations to our latest WSOP Circuit Main Event champion Darren Rabinowitz and every poker player that secured a shiny, new WSOP Circuit ring at Planet Hollywood.
Every WSOP Circuit ring winner in 2026 receives a special $5,000 WSOP Paradise 2026 package, which includes entry to the 2026 WSOP Circuit Championship, plus a free hotel stay at Atlantis Paradise in the Bahamas.
Check out the full list of Planet Hollywood WSOP Circuit ring winners who punched their ticket to WSOP Paradise 2026:
Event #1: $400 Mini Main Event NLH - Michal Nahum - $60,000
Event #2: $400 Pot-Limit Omaha - David Tarbet - $8,607
Event #3: $600 T.O.R.S.E. - Joseph Hallock - $13,148
Event #4: $1,125 Pot-Limit Omaha - Jon Turner - $15,769
Event #5: $600 Monster Stack NLH - Qing Liu - $50,000
Event #6: $600 Omaha 8 or better - Jason Sagle - $13,004
Event #7: $600 Omaha 8 or better & Stud 8 or better - Casey Hayes - $10,316
Event #8: $600 Seniors NLH - Christian Hernandez - $19,911
Event #9: $2,200 NLH High Roller - Zhuo Chen - $42,316
Event #10: $300 Ladies NLH - Kathleen Liebert - $6,787
Event #11: $400 PHat Stack NLH - Joann Kite - $17,357
Event #12: $600 HORSE - Paul Zappulla - $11,355
Event #13: $1,700 NLH Main Event - Darren Rabinowitz - $175,430
Event #14: $600 NLH Bounty - Megan Collins - $9,198
Event #15: $250 No-Limit Hold’em - Corey Paggeot - $12,025
Event #16: $400 Seniors No-Limit Hold’em - David Kang - $15,233
Event #17: $3,300 NLH High Roller - Jonathan Wang - $53,079
Event #18: $400 No-Limit Hold’em - Jinha Park - $12,174
