TULSA, Okla. — The 2026 World Series of Poker circuit stop at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa came to a dramatic close Sept. 7 as Springfield, Missouri’s Jesse Jones outlasted a field of 376 players to capture the $1,700 Main Event title and a $112,945 first-place prize.
The win earned Jones his sixth WSOP Circuit ring and his first WSOP Circuit Main Event title. Jones also won the RunGood Poker Series Main Event at Hard Rock in January, topping a field of 209 players for a $34,074 prize.
For Jones, the Main Event table was a 508-minute heads-up battle against runner-up Dave Alfa. Jones entered heads-up play with an approximately 5-to-1 chip advantage, but Alfa battled back for a match that stretched for roughly eight hours. Alfa came in second with $74,405, Debbie Lee came in third with $50,316, and Scott Hall placed fourth with $34,954.
Jones will represent Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa at the 2026 WSOP Paradise in Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas, along with Spring Circuit winner Robert Shuptrine from Coweta. Jones and Shuptrine will compete with more than 1,000 Circuit ring winners for the Circuit Championship, with $5 million guaranteed.
WSOP Circuit Events are a series of poker tournaments hosted throughout the United States and the world, beginning in early August each year and culminating the following summer with the WSOP Paradise event.
For more information on WSOP, visit www.WSOP.com.
With more than 2,300 electronic games, signature restaurants and nationally acclaimed live entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa is Oklahoma’s unrivaled leader for world-class gaming and hospitality. Located on I-44 east of the Tulsa metro, Hard Rock has been owned and operated by Cherokee Nation Entertainment since 1993. Its reputation is backed by national and regional recognition, earning 24 wins in CasinoPlayer Magazine’s 2025 “Best of Gaming Awards” and a record 18 wins in Tulsa World’s 2025 “Best in the World” awards. Information on upcoming shows at Hard Rock Live, Track 5., Riff’s and Amp Bar is available online at www.hardrockcasinotulsa.com or by calling (918) 384-ROCK 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. To explore upcoming events, resort amenities or special offers, connect with us on Facebook, X and Instagram. More information about Status+ Rewards is available at www.statusplusrewards.com.