The Runner-Up Who Broke the Fantasy Leaderboard

Matthew Schreiber finished second in Event #8: $1,500 Badugi for $100,137 — and that runner-up cash is now the most valuable fantasy scoring event of the entire 2026 WSOP.

Not the most valuable win. The most valuable event, period. Through eight bracelets awarded, no winner on any roster has generated more fantasy value than Schreiber's second-place finish has generated for Blez/NGNF (Hanks).

Through eight bracelets awarded, no winner on any roster has generated more fantasy value than Schreiber's second-place finish has generated for Blez/NGNF (Hanks).

Winning Is Overrated (in Fantasy)

The instinct in fantasy poker is to chase bracelets. Gold equals glory, glory equals points — simple math, right?

Wrong. A $100,137 cash in a $1,500 Badugi isn't just a nice payday for Schreiber. It's a six-figure scoring event that landed on a single roster. The size of the cash relative to the buy-in — a 66x return — is what makes this so potent. Bracelet winners in small-field events can win the gold and still cash for less than Schreiber's runner-up number.

The counter-argument writes itself: bracelets carry bonus scoring, so a win is always better than a loss. Sure. But bonus multipliers don't override raw cash magnitude when the gap is this wide. A bracelet winner cashing for $58K with a scoring bonus still trails a $100K runner-up on the fantasy ledger. And Schreiber's Badugi finish isn't close — it's the clear leader.

What This Actually Means

If you're building a 25kFantasy roster, the lesson is straightforward: niche mixed-game events with top-heavy payouts are fantasy gold mines. Badugi, 2-7 Triple Draw, Razz — these fields are smaller, the pay jumps at the final table are steeper, and a deep run generates outsized scoring.

Schreiber didn't need the bracelet. The $100,137 did all the work. Eight events into this summer, the fantasy leader isn't a champion. He's the guy who finished one spot short.

Sometimes second place pays better than first — you just have to know which currency you're counting.