See the WSOP Main Event Repeaters article for more.
Under these parameters, only Jesse Alto (1984-86) and Johnny Chan (1987-89) have reached three consecutive final tables. Eight players have reached back-to-back final tables: Johnny Moss (1970-71 and 1979-80), Doyle Brunson (1976-77 and 1982-83), Stu Ungar (1980-81), Jay Heimowitz (1980-81), Berry Johnston (1985-86), Bill Smith (1985-86), Dan Harrington (2003-04), and Mark Newhouse (2013-14). Newhouse accomplished the feat in by far the biggest fields: 6,352 and 6,683 players.
Ignoring the hybrid online/live 2020 Main Event, Andrew Ostapchenko has cashed in seven consecutive Main Events (2016-19 and 2021-23). Also, it's possible Richard Lee cashed in five straight from 2015 to 2019 but WSOP.com and Hendon disagree on which Richard Lee cashed in which of those years (both say a Californian named Richard Lee cashed in 4 of the 5 years, while a different Californian named Richard Lee cashed in the fifth).
Robert Turner set the old record of four with a sixth place finish in 1994. This record was tied by Bo Sehlstedt (2004-07), Theodore Park (2005-08), Chris Overgard (2007-10), Chris Bjorin (2008-11), Diogo Borges (2008-11), and Christian Harder (2010-13) before Bardah raised the bar.3
Twelve other players have had runs of four since 2014: Aditya Agarwal (2013-16), Andrew Ostapchenko (2016-19), Artur Koren (2016-19), Evan Jarvis (2012-15), Giuseppe Zarbo (2011-14), Goran Mandic (2013-16), Joseph Palma (2016-19), Justin Liberto (2019-22), Luke Donato (2015-18), Mark Zullo (2016-19), Mitch Garshofsky (2016-19), and Mitchell Halverson (2020-23). Agarwal also cashed in 2007-08 and 2018-19 to join Johnny Moss (counting his first championship as a "cash": 1970-71, 1979-80, & 1985-87), Bobby Baldwin (1978-79, 1986-87, & 1991-92), Berry Johnston (1985-87, 1989-90, & 1995-96) and Cliff Josephy (2007-08, 2015-16, & 2018-19) as the only players to have three consecutive cashing streaks in the Main Event.
The first player to cash in three consecutive Main Events was Jesse Alto, who placed third in 1984 ($132,000), sixth in 1985 ($42,000), and fourth in 1986 ($62,700). Johnny Moss and Berry Johnston matched him from 1985 to 1987, Mike Harthcock from 1986 to 1988, Johnny Chan from 1987 to 1989, and Mike Sexton from 1991 to 1993. 4
Depending on how you want to count, the first player to cash twice in a row was either Johnny Moss with his 1970 vote win and 1971 tournament victory or Doyle Brunson with his back-to-back titles in 1976 and 1977.
Liv Boeree and Melanie Weisner share the women's record with three consecutive cashes from 2016 to 2018.
Argentina's Veronica Dabul was the first female to cash in consecutive Main Events, banking $39,445 for 314th in 2007 and $35,383 for 235th in 2008.
Brunson played every year from 1971 to 2013 except for 1999 to 2001; he also played in the 1970 WSOP when there was no Main Event.