WSOP 2026: Naoya Kihara wins the second $10k Championship of the series

The World Series of Poker 2026 at Horseshoe & Paris Las Vegas has a two-time winner. Japan’s Naoya Kihara secured the second bracelet of the summer in the $1k Stud.With eleven players remaining, the $1,000 Seven Card Stud Championship (Event #23) of the WSOP 2026 entered Day 3. A redraw occurred during the second blind level. In the same hand, Brad Ruben ($1,179) was sent packing as the Final Table Bubble Boy.8th place went to Jason Kluska ($1,974), who went all-in on the 3rd Street with | against James Cheung and Naoya Kihara. The two played for a side pot that Kihara folded on the 7th Street . Cheung revealed along with his upcards while Kluska was beaten with a pair of fours.Ryan Miller ($1,333) went all-in with | against Jeremy Ausmus and his buried aces, receiving no help. Michael Mizrachi ($1,458) was eliminated by Chris Brewer. The World Poker Champion was all-in on the 6th Street with |, Brewer turned into and the on the 7th Street did nothing for Mizrachi.Two hours later, Chris Brewer’s run came to an end. The two-time Bracelet winner was all-in on the 5th Street with | against Jeremy Ausmus |. Brewer hit a flush on the 7th, but Ausmus drew the remaining queens on the last two streets for a full house.In the fifth blind level of the day, Jeremy Ausmus ($1,782) was out of the tournament. The six-time Bracelet winner was all-in with | against James Cheung |. Cheung hit the Broadway straight by the 5th Street, sealing the deal.Just before the seventh blind level (100,000/200,000), it was time for heads-up. Allen Kessler ($1,036) went all-in with buried eights on the 5th Street | against Naoya Kihara . The Japanese player turned and then hit and for a boat.

• Naoya Kihara, 4,700,000
• James Cheung, 3,100,000

Both Naoya Kihara, who won the $1,000 NL Lowball Championship just days ago, and James Cheung, who secured the $1,500 Stud at the series opener, were playing for his second bracelet this summer.The direct duel for the WSOP Bracelet ended after about an hour. Naoya Kihara initially kept his opponent at bay and then pulled ahead. In the final hand, James Cheung ($1,308) was short-stacked on the 3rd Street with | all-in. Naoya Kihara held | and hit along with for two pair. Cheung couldn’t get past a pair of nines and was eliminated.

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World Series of Poker 2026

Date: May 26 to July 15 / ME FT August 3 – 5 Location: Horseshoe Las Vegas Events: 100 live & 30 online Buy-Ins: $1 to $1,000, online from $1 –> WSOP Bracelet Schedule –> WSOP.com Online Bracelet Schedule –>> Las Vegas Poker  –> Daily Deepstacks Schedule –> WSOP Live Satellites –> 2026 World Series of Poker Official Tournament Rules

WSOP Event #23: Seven Card Stud Championship

Buy-In: $1,000 Entries: 130 Prize Pool: $1,209,000 Paid Places: 20Reports: Day 1 – Day 2

Payouts

Rank	Player	Country	Payout
1	Naoya Kihara	Japan	$1,970
2	James Cheung	United Kingdom	$1,308
3	Allen Kessler	United States	$1,036
4	Jeremy Ausmus	United States	$1,782
5	Chris Brewer	United States	$1,254
6	Michael Mizrachi	United States	$1,458
7	Ryan Miller	United States	$1,333
8	Jason Kluska	United States	$1,974
9	Brad Ruben	United States	$1,179
10	Maksim Pisarenko	Russian Federation	$1,181
11	Dan Sepiol	United States	$1,181
12	Patrick Leonard	United Kingdom	$1,496
13	Eli Elezra	Israel	$1,496
14	Paul Volpe	United States	$1,496
15	Matthew Schreiber	United States	$1,496
16	Joe Cassidy	United States	$1,472
17	Ryutaro Suzuki	Japan	$1,472
18	Michael Dwyer	Ireland	$1,472
19	David Benyamine	France	$1,472
20	Robert Mizrachi	United States	$1,472