2026 WSOP Double Champion Naoya Kihara Leads Player of the Year Race, Shaun Deeb Close Behind
Halfway through the 2026 WSOP schedule, Japanese player Naoya Kihara leads the Player of the Year standings with two gold bracelets (1665 points), with Shaun Deeb close behind at 1596 points. This article analyzes the current top 10 rankings and POY prize structure, including a $100,000 Paradise tournament package and other generous prizes.
2026 WSOP Player of the Year Race: Naoya Kihara Leads, Shaun Deeb Close Behind
The 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) schedule is past the halfway mark, and the race for Player of the Year (POY) is heating up. Currently, the first and only two-bracelet winner of the 2026 WSOP – Japan’s Naoya Kihara – tops the leaderboard. However, he faces a strong challenge from old rival Shaun Deeb, with several other contenders lurking close behind.
Kihara Holds Slim Lead Over Deeb
Before the start of the 2026 WSOP Las Vegas series, Kihara was virtually unknown on the POY leaderboard. But two gold bracelets changed everything. He won two World Championship events: the $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw and the $10,000 Seven Card Stud, accumulating more than 1,400 points. As of Event #42, the Japanese superstar sits at 1,665 total points.
Shaun Deeb has made no secret that his goal is the WSOP POY. He was one of the few American players to attend the 2026 WSOP Europe, finishing second in that leg behind Main Event champion Marius Kudzmanas. However, Kudzmanas did not appear to travel to Las Vegas for subsequent events, meaning Deeb and others are gradually overtaking him. Deeb currently has 1,596 points, good for second place.
Chris Hunichen has benefited from consistent performances in both Europe and Las Vegas. He earned 661 points in Europe, with a best finish of third in the WSOP Europe Main Event. In Las Vegas, he has accumulated 829 points, highlighted by a final table in Event #25 ($500 Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em). Combined, Hunichen sits at 1,490 points, just 106 behind Deeb and in third place.
As of June 13, the top ten in the 2026 WSOP Player of the Year race are:
- Naoya Kihara – 1,665 points
- Shaun Deeb – 1,596 points
- Chris Hunichen – 1,490 points
- Richard Alsup – 1,409 points
- Marius Kudzmanas – 1,402 points
- Chenxiang Miao – 1,358 points
- Mike Leah – 1,316 points
- Dennis Weiss – 1,311 points
- Chris Brewer – 1,258 points
- Stephen Hubbard – 1,245 points
Lucrative Prizes Await
In the past, the WSOP POY award carried relatively modest rewards – usually a banner and a trophy. But in 2026, players are battling for a substantial prize package.
The player who finishes first will receive a $100,000 package for the 2027 WSOP Paradise, which includes a $30,000 buy-in to the Paradise Super Main Event, accommodations at the Atlantis Royal in the Bahamas, and other perks, along with the 2026 WSOP POY title.
Second and third place also receive $100,000 packages, but without the POY honor. Places 5 through 15 earn a Super Main Event seat. Positions 16 through 50 get a $5,000 Circuit Championship package (with one randomly selected player receiving a $30,000 WSOP Paradise package). Those finishing 51st to 100th receive a free entry to the $2,500 Circuit Championship (again with one random player earning the full $5,000 package).
With a single victory worth about 800 points (more for high buy-in events), players currently ranked around 60th (e.g., Dario Sammartino at 869 points in 61st place) still have a shot at POY. The 2026 WSOP Las Vegas leg still has over six weeks of events, plus the upcoming WSOP Paradise, so the leaderboard will see many changes before the Bahamas trip in December.
(Image courtesy of WSOP.com)
FAQ
- Kihara won two gold bracelets at the 2026 WSOP, in the $10,000 buy-in No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw and the $10,000 buy-in Seven Card Stud events, both world championship events, accumulating over 1,400 points to top the POY leaderboard.