Artur Martirosian Eliminated in Brutal Double Ace Loss at 2026 WSOP

Russian poker pro Artur Martirosian was dramatically eliminated from the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Event #36: $100,000 High Roller NL Hold’em after his pocket aces were outdrawn in two consecutive hands, according to official tournament coverage. The four-time WSOP bracelet winner fell just short of a potential double victory after winning the $25,000 High Roller 6-Max event days earlier.

Christopher Nguyen Ends Martirosian’s Run in First Brutal Hand

Martirosian’s elimination began when Christopher Nguyen opened from the hijack position with a 160,000 bet. Martirosian 3-bet to 680,000 from the big blind before Nguyen went all-in for 3,480,000. Martirosian called instantly, only to see Nguyen’s K♠Q♠ complete a flush on the 5♠2♠7♥ flop and later hit the Q♦ on the river for a full house, according to the official WSOP broadcast.

Teun Mulder Repeats the Fate Moments Later

Just minutes after the first loss, Martirosian found himself in a similar predicament. Teun Mulder opened from hijack, and with his stack dwindling, Martirosian pushed all-in for 495,000 from the big blind. Mulder called, and while Martirosian again revealed A♥A♣, Mulder’s J♠10♠ completed a straight on the 8♦Q♥6♥6♣9♦ board, as reported by the WSOP’s live updates.

Impact on Martirosian’s 2026 WSOP Campaign

The back-to-back losses ended Martirosian’s bid to win two high roller titles in a single week. Despite the setback, his $1.286 million victory in the $25,000 High Roller 6-Max remains one of the standout achievements of the 2026 WSOP, as noted by poker analysts. The $100,000 High Roller final table now features 18 players competing for a $2.841 million top prize.

Why This Loss Matters in Poker History

Such consecutive ace losses are rare in high-stakes poker, highlighting the volatility of tournament play. Martirosian’s elimination mirrors other infamous bubble bursts, such as Daniel Negreanu’s 2018 World Series exit, where a similar all-in call led to a dramatic exit. Poker experts suggest that Martirosian’s resilience in securing a major title earlier in the series offsets the sting of his final-table disappointment.