Naoya Kihara Wins Second WSOP Bracelet in 2-7 Championship

Naoya Kihara won the 2026 WSOP $10,000 no-limit deuce-to-seven championship, earning a first-place payday of $428,923 for the win. This victory marks Kihara's second WSOP bracelet, joining the ranks of other notable Japanese players who have achieved this feat.

Kihara's journey to this victory was not without its challenges. He had seriously contemplated stepping away from major live tournament events. His biggest payday came in 2022, when he managed an impressive triumvirate of final table appearances, including a third-place finish in the 2022 WSOP Poker Players Championship for $639,257.

During the tournament, Kihara faced significant obstacles. He was down to a single small blind on day 1 of the tournament, and by the time the first break had hit, he was in last place among the final 10 players. Despite these setbacks, Kihara's skill and determination allowed him to climb back into the game. He drew well against Per Hildebrand, making a 10-8 low, and eliminated Hildebrand in seventh place. Kihara also picked up yet another elimination when he battled with Dan Shak, securing his victory with a jack against Shak's king. Kihara began heads-up play with the chip lead, but Lin briefly pulled ahead. In the final showdown, Kihara needed to complete one final draw to secure his second bracelet. After four-betting all in, Lin tabled a 10-8-5-4-2 low. Kihara showed a 6-5-3-2, and drew one card. He needed a seven, an eight, a nine, or a ten to win the pot, and Kihara found his best possible card as a seven made him a champion.