The 2026 World Series of Poker has delivered its first standout story of the series — and it comes with a strong Asian flavour. Japan’s Naoya Kihara has become the first player to win two WSOP bracelets in the same series this year, cementing his status as one of the most exciting players coming out of Asia right now.
Kihara Claims Double Glory in Las Vegas
Kihara’s second bracelet of the series came in Event #23, the prestigious $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship, held at Paris Las Vegas. He outlasted a stacked final table that included reigning world champion and GGPoker Global Ambassador Michael Mizrachi, who bowed out in sixth place for $54,458.
With three players remaining, Kihara found himself locked in a fierce battle with British player James Cheung and American legend Allen “Chainsaw” Kessler, who had been chasing his elusive first WSOP bracelet. Kessler’s fans packed the rail in support, but it wasn’t to be — the American was sent to the rail in third for $139,036 after an agonising run of bad luck on the later streets. Kihara then defeated Cheung heads-up to claim the title and $301,970.
Earlier in the series, Kihara had already captured his first 2026 bracelet, making him the first player to reach that double milestone in this year’s WSOP — a remarkable achievement in any series, let alone one only a few weeks old.
Foxen Writes Her Own Chapter of WSOP History
The same night saw another piece of history made on the other side of Paris Las Vegas. Canadian star Kristen Foxen won the $25,000 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller (Event #19) for a career-best $1,773,083, claiming her sixth WSOP bracelet in the process.
That makes Foxen the first woman ever to win six WSOP bracelets — a landmark moment for the game. She topped a field of 345 entries with a prize pool of $5,804,500, defeating Galen Hall in an intense heads-up battle. Notably, Chinese player Biao Ding finished third in the same event for $819,504, further highlighting the growing international depth at high-roller tables.
“It feels like where I’m supposed to be and what I’m supposed to be doing,” Foxen said after her win. She also used the moment to encourage more women to pursue poker seriously, saying there’s nothing stopping any player from competing at the highest level.
What This Means for Asian Players
Kihara’s double-bracelet run is a powerful reminder that Asian players are no longer making up the numbers at the WSOP — they’re winning it. For players across the region grinding on platforms like GGPoker and Natural8, this kind of success story matters. Kihara’s results prove that the talent gap between East and West has effectively closed.
If you’re inspired to take your own game to the next level, both GGPoker and Natural8 are currently running major June promotions with over $14 million in prizes up for grabs across cash game leaderboards and tournaments. There’s never been a better time to play.
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