Bernhard Binder Wins WSOP Paradise Super Main Event

Super Prize in a Super Tournament

Poker tournaments with eight-figure payouts have been held almost every year since 2014, and most of them are associated with the WSOP brand. On December 18, 2025, the WSOP Paradise Main Event was one of these events. The $25,000 tournament attracted a record number of entries (2,891) for an event with that buy-in.

Austrian Bernhard Binder won the WSOP Paradise Super Main Event, earning $10,000,000.

Among the well-known professionals, eight-time WSOP bracelet winner Benny Glaser achieved the highest finish. The Brit finished 10th and earned $665,875.

Bernhard Binder is primarily known as an online MTT grinder. In February 2025, he won the $10,000 GGMillion, earning approximately $1.83 million. His live poker successes have been limited until recently: 26 cashes with a maximum payout of $64,500.

Binder had a very active support group at the final table; many friends rescheduled their flights to support him. The champion especially singled out his best friend, Samuel Mullur, also a poker player and WSOP bracelet winner.

The WSOP Paradise Super Main Event had a $60 million guarantee this year. The first tournament with a $25,000 buy-in was held in 2024, when the $50 million guarantee was not exceeded, resulting in an overlay of $1,500,000.

Final Table

The Austrian began the fifth day of play second in chips, almost three times behind chip leader Jean-Noel Thorel. The French poker player, entrepreneur, and scientist was the oldest player at the final table (78 years old), while Binder was the youngest (27).

Early in the second hour of the final table, Bernhard knocked out Peter Chien with AQ vs. AK, making a backdoor flush. In the top five, the Austrian took down Eric Wasserson with KQo vs. AJo, making a king-high flush on the turn. Almost immediately after, Binder won the stack against Terrance Reed, who, short-stacked, check-shoved with the second pair on a single-colored board when Binder already had a made flush.

Binder faced Thorel heads-up, who eliminated Belarmino (quads to a full house), and in fifth place, the only woman at the final table, Natasha Mercier. Mercier earned $1.8 million in prize money, surpassing her husband in best-cash.

Heads-up

The heads-up play was exciting and entertaining. The opponents traded big bluffs. For example, in the second hour of heads-up play, Thorel bluffed Binder with 5-high, but 15 minutes later, Binder bluffed with queen-high, knocking out the second pair on an ace-high board.

After nearly three hours of even-stack play, the advantage gradually shifted to the young player. In the final hand, with 20 big blinds, Thorel entered the hand with KQo and instantly called an all-in.

Binder showed his cards — A8s — which proved decisive for the victory.

"Thorel is a special opponent; it's very difficult to play against him heads-up because he shows more unexpected play than many other opponents. It was a great challenge," Bernhard said after the game, expressing his respect for his opponent.

WSOP Paradise 2026 Super Main Event Final Table Payouts:

1. Bernhard Binder (Austria) — $10,000,000
2. Jean-Noel Thorel (France) — $6,000,000
3. Belarmino De Souza (Brazil) — $4,000,000
4. Terrance Reid (USA) — $3,000,000 + bonus
5. Eric Wasserson (USA) — $2,350,000 + bonus
6. Natasha Mercier (Lebanon/USA) — $1,800,000
7. Peter Chien (Canada) — $1,400,000
8. Franco Spitale (Argentina) — $1,100,000