Karapet Galstyan won his first career gold bracelet and $259,829 in prize money at the WSOP #10:$600 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack event. He displayed patience and strategy at the final table, defeating Joshua Lusby-Angvick heads-up.
The #10:$600 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack event has concluded successfully, with Karapet Galstyan emerging victorious to win his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) gold bracelet and a hefty prize of $259,829 at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas hotels.
Galstyan most wanted to share his joy of victory with his wife, who had supported him throughout his poker journey. Galstyan's poker journey began years ago with a television commercial he saw. He would text his wife to update her on the game after each opponent was eliminated, but after his fourth opponent was eliminated, he stopped receiving replies.
"I guess she's asleep," he said with a laugh.
After securing the championship, he sent his final message: "I won."
During an interview with the PokerNews champion, his phone rang with his wife's reply: "What??"
Final Table Results of the #10:$600 No-Limit Texas Hold'em Deepstack Tournament
| Ranking | player | country | bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karapet Galstyan | United States | $259,829 |
| 2 | Joshua Lusby-Angvick | United States | $173,067 |
| 3 | Russell Giordano | United States | $128,446 |
| 4 | Joseph Sia | the Philippines | $96,106 |
| 5 | Kenneth Baime | United States | $72,500 |
| 6 | Luis Yepez Carmona | Venezuela | $55,145 |
| 7 | Michael Wagner | United States | $42,295 |
| 8 | Nelson Chew | United States | $32,713 |
| 9 | Omri Zaidman | United States | $25,517 |
Final Day Results
Only 230 players returned to Day Two, including Adam Cohen, who started the day as chip leader but finished in 91st place with $2,575. Several bracelet winners were also in contention, including Alex Keating, who finished in 47th place ($5,717), and Ryan Hughes, who finished in 56th place ($4,784).
Two of the contestants were also favorites for the 25K Dream Draft. Marco Johnson of Team Banana was eliminated in 79th place ($3,445), while Renji Mao of Team Spitework was eliminated shortly afterward in 75th place (also $3,445).
With the tournament down to the final three tables, the audience was almost certain a new bracelet winner would emerge. Players began falling like mushrooms after rain; chip leaders appeared, then fell again.
Entering the final table, Galstyan boasted the strongest tournament record among the remaining players, with live winnings of $500,471, according to The Hendon Mob. With over two decades of poker experience, Galstyan relied on his ability to observe his opponents and identify their playing tendencies.
When asked who his most threatening opponent was, Galstyan didn't hesitate to point to Luis Yepez Carmona. "Luis Yepez Carmona is my biggest threat," he said. His strategy was straightforward: "Observe my opponents carefully and understand their tendencies."
This strategy paid off, especially in the heads-up match against runner-up Joshua Lusby-Angvick, who played aggressively throughout the game. "He was tired, so I knew I needed to apply pressure," Galstyan explained. He pointed to a key turning point where he called on the button and went all-in after Lusby-Angvick raised.
Galstyan, originally from Armenia, now resides in Las Vegas. His poker career has been remarkably successful, including an online WSOP bracelet and two online WSOP Circuit gold rings. Despite these achievements, one goal continues to motivate him: to win money in the WSOP Main Event. He has participated in the Main Event for the past decade but has never cashed, and he hopes to change that this summer.
Galstyan plans to participate in a busy WSOP schedule, except for a cruise vacation to Alaska with his wife from June 12 to 22, after which he will return to compete in the Main Event. "The cruise trip gave me a chance to escape the pressure of the series."
Galstyan beamed as he reflected on the significance of the victory. "It's amazing. Winning a live event and getting both prize money and a gold bracelet feels completely different."
Galstyan also considers his willingness to adjust his playing style based on different opponents a key factor in his success. "Players who play GTO strategies can be too predictable, so I will change my strategy based on my opponent."
After winning the gold bracelet, Galstyan looked forward to going home and celebrating his victory with his wife after a long and fulfilling day at the poker table.
Please stay tuned to PokerNews throughout the remainder of the 2026 WSOP to get the latest news on all future events.
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