Kudzmanas leads 2026 WSOP Player of the Year as Deeb questions scoring

A €2M victory catapults Kudzmanas to first—but Deeb's protest over fairness could reshape poker's biggest race. Who will claim the title?

, and Administrator

2026 May 6 . 11:02 AM

1 min read

The image shows a group of men sitting around a table playing poker, with coins and cards spread... — The image shows a group of men sitting around a table playing poker, with coins and cards spread out in front of them. In the background, there is a pillar and other objects, suggesting that the men are participating in a poker tournament.

Kudzmanas leads 2026 WSOP Player of the Year as Deeb questions scoring

The 2026 World Series of Poker Player of the Year race has reached its final stages after WSOP Europe. Marius Kudzmanas now leads the standings with a commanding score of 1,386.84 points. Meanwhile, veteran pro Shaun Deeb has raised concerns about the new scoring system, arguing it may not fairly reward consistent performances. Kudzmanas took the top spot after winning the WSOP Europe Main Event for €2 million. His victory propelled him to the front of the leaderboard, which now includes results from WSOP Las Vegas, WSOP Europe, and the upcoming WSOP Paradise.

Deeb, despite securing six cashes and two runner-up finishes at WSOP Europe, remains in second place with 1,340.25 points. He has criticised the revamped system, claiming it favours players who win large-field tournaments rather than those who perform steadily across multiple events. The new format was designed to better reflect skill and consistency. However, Deeb’s comments highlight ongoing debates about how best to measure success in poker’s most prestigious annual competition.

Kudzmanas holds a narrow lead as the 2026 Player of the Year race nears its conclusion. Deeb’s strong results at WSOP Europe were not enough to overtake him, leaving the final standings still in question. The outcome will depend on performances at the remaining WSOP Paradise events.