ATLANTIC CITY — Philadelphia native Brian Luo captured the World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City, topping a field of 698 entrants and earning $189,145 along with the second WSOP Circuit ring of his career.
The tournament concluded Aug. 24 with a total prize pool of $964,164.
Luo, who now lives in Madison, Wisconsin, previously won his first WSOP Circuit ring in an online Super Circuit event in 2022. That victory was worth $4,667, making the Atlantic City Main Event win the biggest WSOP achievement of his career to date.
Salvatore Evola finished second for $126,067, while Yuriy Kudrynskyy took third for $87,187.
Brian Lombardi placed fourth and earned $61,409, followed by Michael Bohmerwald in fifth for $44,065.
The final four spots at the table went to Patrick Martorella, Raymund Uy, Michael Lavin and Jake Dynes.
Joe McKeehen Wins Two Events
Luo’s Main Event victory capped a series that also included a standout performance from 2015 WSOP Main Event champion Joe McKeehen.
McKeehen won both the $1,100 No-Limit Hold’em event and the $2,200 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller at Harrah’s.
The two victories were worth a combined $77,368 in first-place prize money.
McKeehen earned $37,439 for winning the $1,100 event and $39,929 in the High Roller.
The Atlantic City victories brought McKeehen to six career WSOP Circuit rings, in addition to his three WSOP bracelets.
New Jersey’s Stephano Kim Wins Mini Main
New Jersey player Stephano Kim also had a major result, winning the $500 No-Limit Hold’em Mini Main Event.
Kim earned $71,546 and the first WSOP Circuit ring of his career.
The Mini Main produced the second-largest first-place payout of the Harrah’s series behind Luo’s $189,145 Main Event prize.
Atlantic City Winners Earn Bahamas Package
Every WSOP Circuit ring winner in 2026 also receives a $5,000 WSOP Paradise package.
The package includes entry into the WSOP Circuit Championship Mystery Bounty event and complimentary accommodations in the Bahamas.
That means all 18 winners from the Atlantic City series earned spots in the international event in addition to their prize money and WSOP Circuit rings.
The promotion follows the success of Mark Darner, who qualified through the Circuit and later won the 2025 WSOP Circuit Championship No-Limit Hold’em Mystery Bounty at WSOP Paradise.
Darner earned $350,000 and his second WSOP gold bracelet.
Harrah’s Atlantic City WSOP Circuit Main Event Final Table
Brian Luo — $189,145
Salvatore Evola — $126,067
Yuriy Kudrynskyy — $87,187
Brian Lombardi — $61,409
Michael Bohmerwald — $44,065
Patrick Martorella — $32,224
Raymund Uy — $24,025
Michael Lavin — $18,268
Jake Dynes — $14,172
The Atlantic City series featured 18 WSOP Circuit events, including No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, Limit Big O, a seniors event and a ladies event.
Luo’s victory in the $1,700 Main Event provided the largest first-place prize of the series and secured his second career WSOP Circuit ring.
