Hamid Izadi and Anthony Marques Secure Main Event Victories at Harrah’s Cherokee and Commerce Casino
Two major poker tournaments wrapped up their main events during the same window in May 2026, and each crowned a champion who earned a direct path forward. Hamid Izadi took down the $1,700 No-Limit Hold’em Main Event at Harrah’s Cherokee in North Carolina, while Anthony Marques captured the matching title at Commerce Casino in Los Angeles. Both events carried a $1 million guarantee and formed part of a broader schedule that ran from May 7 through May 18, 2026, across the two venues.
The parallel timing allowed players to choose between the Cherokee mountains or the Los Angeles card room without overlapping conflicts, and the shared prize structure added a layer of symmetry to the outcomes. Each winner received a $5,000 package that covers entry and related expenses for WSOP Paradise 2026, giving them a clear next step in the tournament calendar.
Harrah’s Cherokee Main Event Details
Harrah’s Cherokee hosted its $1,700 NLH Main Event inside the casino’s dedicated poker room, which features more than 60 tables and draws players from across the Southeast. Izadi navigated a field that contributed to the $1 million guarantee, and his victory secured both the title and the WSOP Paradise package. Observers note that the event followed a standard multi-day structure with late registration available through the early levels, allowing fresh stacks to enter while the prize pool remained protected.
The North Carolina venue benefits from its location near the Great Smoky Mountains, which often attracts regional players who combine tournament play with extended stays. Data from the Cherokee Gaming Commission shows steady growth in poker participation at the property over recent years, and the May 2026 schedule aligned with peak travel periods for many East Coast participants.
Commerce Casino Main Event Details
At the same time, Commerce Casino ran its identical $1,700 NLH Main Event in Los Angeles, where the room operates one of the largest poker operations in California. Marques emerged as champion after a series of elimination rounds that reduced the field to a final table, and he collected the same $5,000 WSOP Paradise package awarded to Izadi. The Commerce event also met its $1 million guarantee, reflecting consistent turnout at the Southern California property.
Commerce Casino’s layout includes multiple tournament areas that can accommodate simultaneous side events, and the May schedule incorporated daily starting flights to accommodate working players who joined on weekends. Figures from the California Bureau of Gambling Control indicate that Commerce remains one of the state’s busiest card rooms, and the 2026 main event fit into an ongoing calendar of guaranteed tournaments that run throughout the year.
Shared Prize Structure and WSOP Paradise Connection
Both champions received identical $5,000 packages that cover entry into WSOP Paradise 2026, an event series scheduled for later in the year at a Bahamas resort. The package typically includes the buy-in amount plus a travel allowance, giving winners a direct route to an international stage without additional out-of-pocket costs for the main tournament component. Organizers structured the prizes this way to create a tangible bridge between domestic stops and the larger WSOP circuit.
Players who earned these packages gain access to a field that features professionals and recreational participants from multiple continents, and the timing allows May winners several months to prepare. The dual-award approach kept the incentives consistent across the two venues even though the locations and player pools differed.
May 2026 Schedule Context
The May 7–18 window placed both main events in the middle of spring tournament season, when many players travel between regional stops before summer festival peaks. Venues coordinated their calendars to avoid direct date clashes, so participants could focus on one event or attempt satellite routes into the other. This approach reflects standard industry practice for properties that share common player bases yet operate in separate markets.
North Carolina’s tribal gaming framework and California’s card-room regulations each govern their respective events, yet both allow the $1,700 buy-in level and the $1 million guarantee format. The shared dates therefore highlighted how different regulatory environments can produce similar tournament offerings within the same two-week span.
Conclusion
Hamid Izadi’s win at Harrah’s Cherokee and Anthony Marques’s victory at Commerce Casino stand as parallel achievements from the May 2026 schedule. Each player secured a $1,700 NLH Main Event title along with a $5,000 package for WSOP Paradise 2026, completing a clear path from domestic play to an international destination. The events ran concurrently at venues separated by thousands of miles yet delivered matching prize structures that connect regional poker scenes to the larger circuit.