Same Final Two, Same Champion: Thomas Taylor Pulls Off a Rare WSOP Circuit Double

The 2026 World Series of Poker may have crowned its bracelet winners, but the poker action in Las Vegas is far from over.

Almost immediately after the conclusion of the WSOP, the WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Las Vegas series got underway, giving players another opportunity to compete for prestigious Circuit rings before the return of the WSOP Main Event final table in August.

While several champions have already been crowned, one storyline has captured the attention of the poker world for its sheer improbability.

Thomas Taylor and David Simon reached the heads-up match in two consecutive Pot-Limit Omaha tournaments—and Taylor defeated Simon both times.

It's the type of occurrence that's almost unheard of in tournament poker.

A Rare Tournament Feat

Making the heads-up match of any poker tournament requires skill, patience, and a little good fortune.

Repeating that accomplishment just days later against another large field is impressive enough.

But having the exact same two players finish first and second in consecutive events is extraordinarily rare.

The fact that both tournaments were Pot-Limit Omaha—a game known for its action and high variance—makes the achievement even more remarkable.

Round One: Taylor Wins the $600 Pot-Limit Omaha

The first meeting came in WSOP Circuit Event #3, a $600 Pot-Limit Omaha tournament that attracted 451 entries.

After navigating one of the largest PLO fields of the series, Thomas Taylor met David Simon heads-up and secured the victory to earn his third WSOP Circuit ring along with $44,586.

Simon earned $29,699 for his runner-up finish, while Eugene Moss completed the podium in third place.

Event #3: $600 Pot-Limit Omaha Final Table

Place	Player	Prize
1	Thomas Taylor	$44,586
2	David Simon	$29,699
3	Eugene Moss	$20,983
4	Lian Siqi	$15,072
5	Steven Liu	$11,010
6	Jack Moore	$8,180
7	Brett Slezak	$6,185
8	Tony Hoang	$4,759

Among the final table participants was PokerNews live reporter Brett Slezak, who finished in seventh place.

History Repeats Itself

Only a few completed events later, another Pot-Limit Omaha tournament appeared on the schedule.

This time it was Event #6, an $800 Pot-Limit Omaha tournament that attracted 247 entries.

Against all odds, Taylor and Simon once again battled through the field and found themselves facing each other for the championship.

And once again, Taylor came out on top.

Taylor captured his second Circuit ring of the series and another $38,826, while Simon collected $25,549 for yet another runner-up finish.

Professional poker player and 888poker ambassador Vivian Saliba rounded out the top three.

Event #6: $800 Pot-Limit Omaha Final Table

Place	Player	Prize
1	Thomas Taylor	$38,826
2	David Simon	$25,549
3	Vivian Saliba	$17,266
4	Robert Klein	$11,986
5	Jonathan Turner	$8,554
6	Benjamin Hamnett	$6,280
7	Oliver Bosch	$4,748
8	Anirudh Seth	$3,699

Taylor Becomes the Series' First Multiple Champion

With the two victories, Thomas Taylor became the first player to win multiple events during the 2026 WSOP Circuit Horseshoe series.

His back-to-back titles have already earned him $83,412 in prize money and added two more Circuit rings to his poker résumé.

David Simon may not have collected a championship, but his performances were equally impressive.

By finishing second in both events, Simon earned $55,248 while proving himself to be one of the strongest Pot-Limit Omaha players in the field.

Although he'll undoubtedly wonder what might have happened if just a few key hands had played out differently, two runner-up finishes in consecutive events remain an outstanding accomplishment.

Other Notable Winners at Horseshoe Las Vegas

The WSOP Circuit series has already produced several other impressive performances.

Justin Arnwine Wins Monster Stack

Tournament veteran Justin Arnwine captured one of the largest scores of the festival by winning the $600 Monster Stack for $77,485 and his first WSOP Circuit ring.

The victory marked the 152nd recorded live tournament win of Arnwine's remarkable career and pushed his live tournament earnings for 2026 beyond $435,000.

Juan Maceiras Adds Circuit Hardware

Spain's Juan Maceiras, who poker fans may remember for his eighth-place finish in the 2023 World Series of Poker Main Event, added another major accomplishment by winning the $1,125 No-Limit Hold'em event.

His victory was worth $54,978.

Andrew Ostapchenko Scores the Biggest Payday

The largest winner of the series so far has been Andrew Ostapchenko.

Ostapchenko captured the $2,200 High Roller title, earning $115,890 after defeating five-time WSOP bracelet winner David Peters during heads-up play.

Peters entered the event riding momentum from his recent victory in the $10,000 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold'em Championship at the 2026 World Series of Poker, where he earned more than $1 million and his fifth career bracelet.

WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Winners So Far

Event	Winner	First Prize
$400 Mini Main Event	Kyle Grosshanten	$54,653
$600 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better	Smith Sirisakorn	$25,084
$600 Pot-Limit Omaha	Thomas Taylor	$44,586
$600 TORSE	Nam Le	$23,290
$600 Monster Stack	Justin Arnwine	$77,485
$800 Pot-Limit Omaha	Thomas Taylor	$38,826
$300 Ladies Event	Vivianne Gentry	$11,026
$1,125 No-Limit Hold'em	Juan Maceiras	$54,978
$400 Seniors	Michael Hauptman	$22,207
$2,200 High Roller	Andrew Ostapchenko	$115,890

Why This Story Matters

Tournament poker is unpredictable by nature.

Every event brings a new field, different table draws, changing chip stacks, and countless variables that make repeated success difficult.

That's why Thomas Taylor's accomplishment stands out.

Winning one tournament is impressive.

Winning two consecutive Pot-Limit Omaha events is exceptional.

Beating the same opponent heads-up both times is the kind of poker story fans rarely get to witness.

As the 2026 WSOP Circuit Horseshoe series continues, Taylor has already secured one of its most memorable storylines—and it may be a feat that isn't repeated for years to come.

Stay tuned to Angry Aces Poker for the latest tournament recaps, poker news, and major results from the WSOP Circuit, World Series of Poker, and poker events across the United States.