Adam Hendrix reflects on WSOP chaos and a life-changing run

Posted on: May 14, 2026 07:21 PDT

The countdown to the 2026 WSOP starts here. 100 bracelets. The world's best players. And PokerOrg will be on the floor from start to finish.

Adam Hendrix finished sixth in last year’s epic WSOP Main Event, banking $1.9M. He has won tournaments on the PokerGO Tour and the WPT. He is Alaska’s #1 ranked player of all time, with over $10M in career cashes.

What have you been doing to prepare for the upcoming summer grind in Vegas?

I haven't been as focused on poker as much this past year. But I usually treat the month before the series as a period of not playing as much, so I’m fresh and ready by the start of the series.

What has kept your game sharp during this period?

I’ve been doing some coaching, which I think helps. Often, my students give me insights I hadn't even considered.

Last summer ended with a sixth-place finish in the WSOP Main Event. Nearly a year later, how has that run changed your game and your life?

It definitely gives me a lot of room to be a little more comfortable. I have a house now, which I got before the WSOP, but now I don't have to focus on playing and being in the trenches as much. Which is good and bad.

I have a wife. So, it's nice to be able to support our family without worrying too much about the future.

What has been your experience in the Main been in previous years?

The Main Event final table was always a gold mine, which felt impossible to reach. Before last year, I had never cashed in the Main. Sometimes I just pinch myself; I actually made the final table. It still feels pretty crazy. I just never thought it would happen.

There was rarely a quiet moment on Will Kassouf's deep run in the 2025 WSOP Main Event.

Hayley Hochstetler

How did you stay grounded when there was a lot of craziness around you while dealing with the outbursts of Will Kassouf at your table?

I was happy with what I did. I never got tilted by him. A friend of mine picked up earplugs for everyone at my table as a joke. But I don’t think Will even noticed, as he was so scattered.

When you look back at all of that chaos, what’s your takeaway now?

It was just unfortunate. Everything gravitated to the one guy, right? There were so many other cool stories in the tournament. I understand that's part of it. The content drives everything, and it grows the game. But it wasn’t fun.

You had some controversy yourself at the final table. What was the story with the patch?

A moment before walking to the final table, I was pulled aside and told to remove my ClubWPT Gold patch. I had spent my off day doing media, photos, and interviews, all while wearing the patch. I wish the tournament directors had spoken to me then, especially since they had seen me wear the patch for nine days.

Thinking back, I figured it could also have cost me a sponsorship with other companies or perhaps some future deals. It was pretty annoying.

This year, the WSOP is doing its best to make those rules very clear for everyone.

You have to get approval, right? It can’t be any cryptocurrency type companies or competitors to the WSOP. Of course, that all makes some sense. You're putting on an event, and you don't want competitors' branding in your game. I understand.

What do you think the impact of the partnership with the WSOP and ESPN will have on the series this year?

I’m definitely excited about it. It will be produced by Omaha Productions, which is the Manning brothers. I think they do a good job of storytelling. Hopefully, this summer will be something special.