Koji Fujimoto Wins WSOP 2-7 Triple Draw, Denies Schulman Ninth Bracelet

Koji Fujimoto made history at the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) by winning his first career bracelet and $392,478 first-place prize in the $10,000 2-7 Triple Draw event. Fujimoto's victory came after a thrilling final table where he defeated Nick Schulman, who held the chip lead for most of day 3. Schulman, already the winner of the $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. event and his eighth WSOP bracelet earlier this summer, was aiming for his ninth bracelet but fell short against Fujimoto's strategic play.

Fujimoto's path to victory was challenging, as he had to navigate through a field of poker legends. He defeated Todd Brunson, a Poker Hall of Famer, in a crucial heads-up battle. Brunson, predominantly a cash game player for most of his career, won his lone WSOP bracelet in 2005. Fujimoto's win is the third bracelet for Japan in 2026, following the victories of Naoya Kihara earlier this summer. Kihara, a close friend of Fujimoto’s, made a run in this tournament, too, going out in seventh place.

Billy Baxter, an 85-year-old seven-time WSOP champion with five career deuce-to-seven bracelets, finished in eighth place. Other notable players who fell before the final table included Brandon Shack-Harris, Robert Wells, Andrew Kelsall, and Tommy Hang. Fujimoto's victory marks a significant achievement for Japanese poker, as he becomes the 11th Japanese poker player to win a WSOP bracelet.