Kyle Grupp wins WSOPC Turning Stone Main Event for $246,362
Victory on 26 October; first circuit ring and WSOP Paradise package included
Key Takeaways
- Kyle Grupp won the WSOPC Turning Stone Main Event on 26 October and received $246,362 plus his first WSOP Circuit ring.
- The tournament drew 996 entries, produced a $1,508,940 prize pool and paid 151 places.
- Joel Cattelane finished second for $164,220 and Steven Tabb completed the podium in third for $114,576.
- Grupp’s first prize is $152,088 more than his fourth-place finish at the same event in 2023.
Kyle Grupp won the WSOP Circuit Turning Stone Main Event held 22–26 October and collected the first prize of $246,362, as well as his first circuit ring. The event drew 996 entries that created a $1,508,940 prize pool; second place went to Joel Cattelane for $164,220.
Payout results and structure
The tournament recorded 996 entries at the $1,700 buy-in, with 151 paid positions and a total prize pool of $1,508,940. The nine final-place payouts were:
Kyle Grupp — $246,362 (career earnings: $851,830)
Joel Cattelane — $164,220 (career earnings: $229,780)
Steven Tabb — $114,576
Daniel Wagner — $81,282
Greg Ostrander — $58,647
Tina Panichi — $43,050
Cathy Schenone — $32,160
Hamid Izadi — $24,457
Bryan Swanson — $18,940
Grupp’s first prize exceeds by $152,088 his fourth-place finish in the same event in 2023.
How the final table unfolded and the finish
Grupp had already reached the Turning Stone Main Event final table in 2023, finishing fourth. This year he returned to Verona, New York — Turning Stone — and finished as the last player standing. The final day took roughly five hours, with the table shrinking from seven to one winner.
Joel Cattelane arrived at the final hand with the chip lead, but Grupp prevailed in the heads-up.
“To get my first ring here and take it down outright like that is really special. I kind of called my shot with this one too, I told my friends. I don’t normally say that about tournaments, but I was on a great run and I was playing well, held when I needed to, got it in good when I needed to,” Grupp said after the event.
Grupp noted the final table was demanding, naming Daniel Wagner as a tough opponent to his left and calling Cattelane “a real tough match heads-up.” Still, he said he felt most confident during the heads-up phase.
Personal context and career
Grupp described 2026 as a difficult tournament year before this win; he spent a month in Las Vegas with poor results and several bubble finishes, though he did reach some earlier final tables. The Turning Stone title raises his career tournament earnings to $851,830.
On the value of the ring versus the cash prize, Grupp said: “The money is sweet, and that’s what I’m here for, but the first ring in this specific event in my home casino, it’s really special. I don’t know if I can put a price on that.”
Additional benefits and next steps
In addition to the ring and the cash prize, Grupp receives a package for WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas. He has not yet confirmed attendance but said he may attempt to qualify for the $25,000 event via satellites; he recalled having played a satellite previously and finishing on the bubble.
The winner plans to continue his online and live schedule: he mentioned a Sunday online grind and another month of tournaments before a possible trip to the Bahamas. Grupp added he had been somewhat burned out by the prior pace and that this result gives him motivation to keep competing.
Tournament notes and key facts
Event: WSOP Circuit Turning Stone Main Event
Dates: 22–26 October
Buy-in: $1,700
Entries: 996
ITM: 151
Prize pool: $1,508,940
First prize: $246,362 to Kyle Grupp
Second: $164,220 to Joel Cattelane
The tournament once again demonstrated Turning Stone’s ability to generate large fields on the circuit; Kyle Grupp came from his local background — he is from Buffalo and considers Turning Stone his home casino — to achieve redemption after his 2023 fourth place.
“I was pretty burnt out after going pretty hard for a few years, and that’s why this year I have been picking my spots a little bit more. I’m eager, and this is very motivating. I’m ready to push myself and keep going forward,” Grupp concluded.
For official results and the full payout list consult the event payout table and updates in the series coverage at [events](/events) and in the [news](/news) section.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the entries and prize pool for the Turning Stone Main Event?
The Main Event had 996 entries and a prize pool of $1,508,940; 151 players finished in the money.
Who finished second and how much did they earn?
Joel Cattelane finished second and earned $164,220; he entered heads-up with a chip advantage over Kyle Grupp.
What additional reward did Kyle Grupp receive besides the cash?
Grupp won his first WSOP Circuit ring and a package for WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas; he has not yet confirmed whether he will use the package.
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About the author
Sofía Carrasco
Poker Correspondent
Sofía Carrasco covers live and online poker — tournament series from the WSOP and EPT to the daily room grind, promotions, and the industry moves behind them. The reports keep every score, pot, and player name exactly as the record shows, and follow the story past the final hand: who qualified, what the structure rewarded, and how the field is shifting. For player moves, software, and regulation across the poker economy, Sofía Carrasco is the first read.
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