Naoya Kihara completes an epic comeback in the WSOP.
The 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) produced one of the most incredible championship stories of the year.
Japanese poker legend Naoya Kihara staged a remarkable comeback from the brink of elimination to claim the title in Event #17:$10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship, winning $497,356 and his second WSOP gold bracelet.
Even more shockingly, during the final table stage, Kihara had only one chip card left, just one step away from being eliminated.
However, he pulled off an almost impossible comeback, ultimately standing on the champion's throne and writing the most legendary comeback story of the 2026 WSOP.
Japanese poker legend makes history again.
Naoya Kihara has consistently been one of the most representative players in the Asian poker world.
In 2012, he won the WSOP $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha event, becoming the first Japanese WSOP Open gold bracelet winner.
This achievement not only changed the history of poker in Japan, but also made him an important symbol of the development of poker in Asia.
For more than a decade afterward, Kihara remained active in international competitions.
Despite reaching the deep rounds of the WSOP multiple times, he has yet to win a gold bracelet again.
In 2026, he finally fulfilled his dream of winning his second title after waiting for more than 13 years.
Top players gather for the championship
The $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship is considered one of the most technically demanding events at the 2026 WSOP.
The lineup for the final day was truly star-studded, including:
- Phil Hellmuth
- Shaun Deeb
- Chad Eveslage
- John Monnette
- Jason Daly
- Ryutaro Suzuki
- Naoya Kihara
World-class hybrid game masters are all included.
These players collectively possess dozens of WSOP gold bracelets, making each round of eliminations dramatic.
In such a prestigious competitive environment, Kihara's ultimate victory further highlights the prestige of this championship.
A desperate situation with only one scoreboard left
The most incredible twist of the match occurred midway through the final table.
At that time, Kihara lost a crucial hand and almost lost all his chips.
According to the live broadcast, he had only one scoreboard left to continue the game.
In most cases, this is almost equivalent to being eliminated early.
However, Kihara did not give up.
He won several key showdowns in a row, doubling his winnings repeatedly.
Each successful all-in move allows you to survive and gradually regain a competitive edge on your scoreboard.
As time went on, the original short code gradually returned to the middle position.
While the other players on the field began to eliminate each other, Kihara continued to accumulate advantages.
Hellmuth and Deeb were unfortunately eliminated.
Another major focus of this event is Phil Hellmuth's pursuit of his 18th WSOP gold bracelet.
This record holder for the all-time gold bracelet once made it to the final stage.
However, they failed to seize the opportunity at the crucial moment and ultimately stopped at the final table.
Shaun Deeb also performed exceptionally well.
As an eight-time gold bracelet winner, he spent a long time ranking high on the scoreboard.
However, after losing several large pots in the later stages, they were unable to compete for the final championship.
With the elimination of two top players, the competition gradually became Kihara's stage for a comeback.
One-on-one match completes the final reversal
By the time they entered the heads-up stage, Kihara had grown from an extremely short yardage rider to a leader with championship potential.
Facing their final opponent, Ryutaro Suzuki, the two Japanese masters engaged in a championship duel.
This is also a highly representative singles match in the history of Japanese poker.
After several rounds of back-and-forth, Kihara gradually gained the upper hand.
Ultimately, they gained a decisive advantage in the crucial hand and successfully delivered the final blow.
When the champion was officially crowned, the audience gave him a warm round of applause.
Everyone witnessed a miraculous reversal that seemed almost impossible.
The second gold bracelet is of great significance.
In a post-match interview, Kihara admitted that he never thought he would have a chance to turn the game around.
When he only had one score card left, all he could do was focus on each hand.
However, it was this persistence that ultimately changed the course of the entire match.
This gold bracelet was extremely precious to him.
Because it has been more than 13 years since the last gold bracelet.
Being able to prove himself again on the WSOP's biggest stage makes him one of the most successful players in Japanese poker history.
Asian team adds another glory
In recent years, Asian players have been performing better on the international poker stage.
From Triton Poker to the WSOP, and then to major circuits such as the EPT and APT, the Asian contingent has repeatedly achieved outstanding results.
Kihara's victory is not only a personal honor, but also a testament to the competitive strength of Asian players in the mixed game genre.
From his first title in 2012 to his second in 2026, his story has become an important chapter in the development of poker in Asia.
One of the most inspiring champion stories of the 2026 WSOP
From having only one scoreboard left to finally lifting the gold bracelet trophy, Naoya Kihara completed a championship journey that resembled a movie script.
This is not only a technical victory, but also a victory of willpower.
Among the many memorable stories of the 2026 WSOP, this incredible comeback will undoubtedly be remembered for a long time.
And Naoya Kihara proved it once again with her actions:
Never give up hope as long as the game is not over.
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