Japanese player Naoya Kihara becomes first double bracelet winner of 2026 WSOP

Japanese player Naoya Kihara made history at the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) by becoming the first player of the series to win two gold bracelets.

On June 5, Kihara won Event #20: $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship, earning his first WSOP bracelet. Just two days later, on June 7, he captured Event #23: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship, pocketing $301,970 and becoming a double champion.

In the Seven Card Stud Championship, Kihara faced James Cheung heads-up. On the river, Kihara's two pair beat Cheung's pair of nines to seal the victory. Interestingly, Cheung had already won the Seven Card Stud Championship in Event #6 and was aiming for a double bracelet himself, but Kihara dashed those hopes.

Kihara's back-to-back victories placed him in an elite club of players who have won consecutive championship events in WSOP history. Only five players had achieved this before: Doyle Brunson, Stu Ungar, Greg Merson, George Danzer, and Jason Mercier. Kihara became the sixth.

For a player who only recorded his first six-figure live cash at the Triton series in Jeju in March 2026, this consecutive championship run is stunning. The 2-7 Lowball and Seven Card Stud Championships are mixed games with high technical difficulty and a more refined player pool, showcasing Kihara's deep expertise beyond No-Limit Hold'em.

Notably, during the same period, Kristen Foxen won her sixth WSOP bracelet in the $25,000 High Roller event. However, it was Kihara's double in mixed games that produced the first repeat winner of this WSOP.

References

• PokerNews: Naoya Kihara wins back-to-back events for the $10K Championship WSOP Bracelet (June 2026)
• PGT: Kristen Foxen Wins Sixth WSOP Bracelet in $25k High Roller as Kihara Does the Double (June 2026)
• VIP-Grinders: WSOP 2026 Results: All Bracelet Winners (June 8, 2026)
• Poker.org: 2026 WSOP Complete List of Champions