Gluza Grabs the Glory as Week 1 of the 2026 Season Kicks Off in Style

The All-in Blind poker league is back, baby! Week 1 of the 2026 season got underway on Sunday, September 27th, and what a way to open the year — 35 players, 9 rebuys, and a whole lot of chips flying across the felt. When the smoke cleared, it was Steve Gluza standing tall atop the leaderboard with 56 points and a cool $220 in his pocket. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday evening, Steve.

But here's the thing — if we're handing out any unofficial awards for pure, unadulterated chaos, that trophy goes squarely to Bob Hoorman. The man racked up a jaw-dropping 6 knockouts on his way to a second-place finish worth $160. Six! He was basically running a one-man demolition crew out there. Hoorman edged Gluza in the KO department but came up just one point short of the top spot. Close, but no cigar, Bob — though six eliminations is one heck of a consolation prize. Brian Poland kept pace in the carnage department with 5 KOs of his own, and Terry Kuhl added 4 more on his way to a third-place finish and $120 in winnings.

The final table was stacked with action, with Tom Glanz ($80) and Brian Iott ($50) rounding out the money spots in fourth and fifth respectively. Shoutout also to Gary Wolfe, who quietly dispatched three opponents without cracking the payout bubble — the kind of performance that has "future threat" written all over it. With 35 players in the mix and the rebuys flowing, this was a marathon of a night that rewarded patience, aggression, and apparently, a willingness to send your friends home early.

Week 2 is set for two weeks from now, which gives everyone just enough time to review the tape, question their life choices, and prepare for revenge. Will Hoorman's knockout machine finally translate into a first-place finish? Can Gluza defend his early-season lead? One thing's for certain — the All-in Blind league is off to a roaring start, and you're not going to want to miss what comes next. See you at the tables!