The 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) has delivered another historic moment for the Japanese poker community. As tournament fields continue to grow year after year, winning even a single WSOP gold bracelet has become increasingly difficult. However, Tokyo’s Naoya Kihara stunned the poker world by capturing two championship titles in just three days.
With this extraordinary run, Kihara has further cemented his place in Japanese poker history. By securing his third WSOP gold bracelet, he surpassed fellow two-time bracelet winners Ryutaro Suzuki and Shiina Okamoto, becoming the first—and currently the only—Japanese player to win three WSOP bracelets. His achievement marks another major milestone for Japanese poker on the global stage.
From One Chip to Champion: Naoya Kihara’s Incredible Comeback in the $10K 2-7 Lowball Championship
Naoya Kihara’s dream summer run began in Event #17: $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship, and his path to the title can only be described as miraculous.
Late on Day 1, Kihara attempted a bluff against Benny Glaser while holding a pair of fives, only to be called. The costly hand nearly wiped out his stack, leaving him with just a single 1,000-denomination chip in front of him.
Facing what seemed like an impossible situation, Kihara mounted a remarkable comeback. Slowly rebuilding from that lone chip, he managed to bag 96,000 chips by the end of Day 1.
The momentum carried through the rest of the tournament. Battling through a highly competitive field of 198 entries, Kihara continued to navigate his way forward before defeating David Lin heads-up after a grueling 14-hour final day. The victory earned him $428,923 and the championship title.
The win carried special significance for Kihara. Since capturing the $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Six-Handed event in 2012 to become Japan’s first-ever WSOP bracelet winner, he had endured a 14-year bracelet drought.
His stunning recovery from a single chip not only ended that long wait but also set the stage for an even more remarkable achievement—winning two WSOP bracelets in just three days.
Naoya Kihara Becomes the First Double Bracelet Winner of WSOP 2026
Fresh off winning the second bracelet of his career, Naoya Kihara had little time to celebrate. Just one day later, he was back in action in Event #23: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship.
The event attracted 130 entries, generating a total prize pool of $1,209,000 and featuring a highly competitive field.
In the heads-up battle, Kihara faced Qibang Cheung of the United Kingdom. Cheung had already captured Event #6: $1,500 Seven Card Stud earlier in the series and was looking to secure his second bracelet of the summer.
Kihara, however, had other plans. He controlled the heads-up match from start to finish, ultimately defeating Cheung to claim his second title of the week and add $301,970 to his growing summer earnings.
Reflecting on his incredible run, the Tokyo-based pro credited a combination of skill and fortune.
“Poker is a mix of luck and skill. I’m pretty sure I have enough skill, but I need luck also to win a tournament. For the past few days, I’ve been really lucky.”
When asked about becoming the first Japanese player to win three WSOP bracelets and setting a new national record, Kihara responded with his trademark sense of humor.
“For me, it’s too late. I should have done it before. At least one more bracelet I need.”
With two victories in just three days, Kihara not only became the first double bracelet winner of the 2026 WSOP, but also established himself as the most accomplished Japanese player in WSOP history with three career gold bracelets.
A Star-Studded Final Table Comes to a Swift Conclusion
The final day of the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship featured an impressive lineup of accomplished poker professionals and delivered a high-level battle for the title.
Jason Kluska, who began the day with the shortest stack and only one big bet remaining, became the first player eliminated at the official final table, finishing in eighth place. He was followed by two-time WSOP bracelet winner and Seven Card Stud specialist Ryan Miller, who exited in seventh.
Former WSOP Main Event champion Michael Mizrachi held the chip lead early in the day, but his momentum gradually faded as the field narrowed. He was eventually eliminated in sixth place when Chris Brewer made trip threes to crack Mizrachi’s pocket aces.
Brewer’s run ended shortly afterward in dramatic fashion. Holding a flush, he appeared poised to advance, but Jeremy Ausmus improved to a full house on seventh street, eliminating Brewer in fifth place with a painful river-card reversal.
Following the dinner break, Qibang Cheung took control of the tournament. He won several major pots, steadily increased his stack, and eliminated Ausmus in fourth place to reduce the field to three players.
Meanwhile, mixed-game veteran Allen Kessler mounted an impressive comeback. After starting with a short stack, he worked his way back into contention and briefly held the chip lead, drawing loud cheers from the rail. However, consecutive losses in key pots against Cheung and Kihara ultimately ended his run in third place, leaving him still in search of his first WSOP bracelet.
Kihara Dominates Heads-Up Play to Complete the Double
By the start of heads-up play, Kihara held a comfortable chip advantage.
Unlike his grueling battle in the $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship, this heads-up match proved far more straightforward. Kihara consistently picked up premium holdings at crucial moments and rarely faced difficult decisions.
Applying relentless pressure throughout the match, he prevented Cheung from mounting any meaningful comeback and steadily widened the gap.
In the end, the Tokyo pro quickly closed out the tournament, securing his second title of the week and becoming the first two-time bracelet winner of WSOP 2026. With three career WSOP gold bracelets, Kihara now stands alone at the top of Japanese poker history.
Red Dragon Poker APP Officially Launched
The long-established tournament brand Red Dragon Cup has now released its own app — “Red Dragon Poker.”
The Red Dragon Cup is a well-known Asian poker brand with a strong reputation across the region. Originating in Macau, it quickly became one of the most influential poker events in Asia. Red Dragon Poker tournaments regularly attract players from all over the world, offering massive fields and impressive prize pools.
For those interested, we highly recommend downloading the “Red Dragon Poker” app to join more exciting tournaments.