Manjunath Mulinti Wins WSOPC Thunder Valley Main Event

Jonathan Rodriguez

Written by: Jonathan Rodriguez

Published: Wed Oct 07, 2026, 7:00 am ET

Read Time: 3 minutes

Manjunath Mulinti Wins WSOPC Thunder Valley Main Event

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Manjunath Mulinti completed a remarkable turnaround by winning the WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley Main Event. The Northern California player defeated 599 entries to secure his first Circuit gold ring and $172,325.

The victory carried added significance because Mulinti had already reached the final table at Thunder Valley earlier this year. He finished seventh in January for $26,920 during his previous appearance.

This time, however, he returned with more experience and converted another deep run into a title.

Mulinti Makes the Most of a Second Opportunity

The $1,700 Main Event attracted 599 entries and created a $907,485 prize pool. The tournament paid the top 90 finishers, with several established players reaching the money.

Mulinti's development between his two Thunder Valley appearances became a major part of his victory. Earlier in the year, he lacked experience with final-table play and ICM decisions. He subsequently worked with coach Florian Pesce to address weaknesses in his game.

That preparation produced immediate results when Mulinti returned to Thunder Valley. He entered the final day with the chip lead and maintained his position against a competitive final table.

Among his opponents was J.C. Tran, a two-time WPT champion and two-time WSOP bracelet winner. Tran eventually finished eighth for $16,730.

Mulinti Takes Control Late

Mulinti continued building his stack as the final table narrowed. Andrew Nguyen finished sixth for $29,510, while Henry Acain took fifth for $40,310. Dawson Dvorak then finished fourth for $56,090.

The tournament shifted decisively in Mulinti's favor during three-handed play. His stack eventually reached 16 million chips, matching the combined holdings of Jesse Stephens and Jonathan Wang.

Wang finished third for $79,490 after Mulinti completed a straight on the river. That result left Mulinti and Stephens to battle for the title.

Five Hands Decide the Championship

The heads-up contest lasted only five hands before Mulinti secured the trophy. Stephens flopped a double gutshot and flush draw on 6♦ 4♦ 2♣ with 7♦ 3♦.

However, the chips did not go into the middle on the flop. They got all-in on the Q♣ turn, when Mulinti had taken the lead with top pair using Q♠ 8♣.

Stephens got the rest of his chips all-in on the turn, and Mulinti made the call. The K♠ river failed to improve Stephens, sending the pot to Mulinti.

The result gave Mulinti the $172,325 top prize and his first WSOP Circuit ring. Stephens earned $114,660 for finishing second, while Wang rounded out the top three with $79,490.

Final Table Results

Place Player Prize
1 Manjunath Mulinti $172,325
2 Jesse Stephens $114,660
3 Jonathan Wang $79,490
4 Dawson Dvorak $56,090
5 Henry Acain $40,310
6 Andrew Nguyen $29,510
7 Bin Duan $22,010
8 J.C. Tran $16,730
9 Matthew Kramer $12,970

A Breakthrough Year Continues

The Thunder Valley title capped a strong year for Mulinti. All of his recorded tournament earnings have come during 2026, according to CardPlayer. His career earnings now stand at $257,356.

He also recorded several deep tournament finishes between his two Thunder Valley final tables. Those results included a 16th-place finish in the $1,700 WSOP Circuit Championship bracelet event.

The Circuit victory also earned Mulinti a $5,000 WSOP Paradise prize package. The package includes a seat in December's $2,750 Circuit Championship Mystery Bounty.

Mulinti's story now offers a clear example of how experience can accelerate a tournament player's progress. After finishing seventh at Thunder Valley, he returned with more preparation and stronger final-table experience.

Players following major tournament results through US online poker sites will now have another rising name to watch. Mulinti's first Circuit title could mark the beginning of an even bigger run.

Jonathan Rodriguez
Jonathan Rodriguez

Jonathan is an avid basketball fan, and is often looking forward to the next upcoming NBA season when not checking players' stats during games. He also likes to keep his ears on the ground for the latest rumblings in the online casino industry.

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