Nick Schulman, after winning his ninth WSOP gold bracelet, said: "I never thought I would get to this point."

During the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP), Nick Schulman once again proved his legendary status in the poker world.

After winning his ninth WSOP gold bracelet, the American poker legend gave an exclusive interview to PokerNews, where he talked about his championship feelings, career changes, and his understanding of the future of poker.

To outsiders, the ninth gold bracelet brings Schulman one step closer to joining the ranks of the greatest poker players of all time. But for Schulman himself, this honor represents more of an incredible sense of gratitude and satisfaction.

The ninth gold bracelet is of great significance.

In this year's WSOP $10,000 Limit Hold'em Championship, Schulman successfully defeated strong opponents to win the championship and his ninth WSOP gold bracelet.

This achievement allows him to remain among the top players on the all-time poker bracelet list and further solidifies his status as a modern poker legend.

Schulman was very modest when talking about this achievement.

He said:

“"If someone had told me when I was young that I would one day own nine WSOP gold bracelets, I would never have believed it."”

For this professional player who has been competing in poker tournaments for over twenty years, every victory is still as exciting as the first.

From Child Prodigy to Poker Legend

Nick Schulman has long been considered one of the most talented players in the world of poker.

At the age of 21, he won the WPT World Poker Tour championship, which made him an instant star.

Over the decades that followed, he continued to achieve success in various high-stakes cash games and top tournaments.

However, compared to his youthful brilliance, Schulman is now much more mature.

He frankly admitted:

As I've gotten older, my views on winning and losing have changed.

When I was younger, I cared more about the result, but now I enjoy the process of the game itself more.

This shift in mindset has also helped him maintain a stable performance in high-level competition.

Representative of hybrid game masters

In recent years, Schulman's most outstanding achievements have mostly come from mixed game tournaments.

Whether it is:

• Limit Hold'em
• Seven Card Stud
• Omaha Hi-Lo
• Draw Games

He demonstrated world-class skill in everything he did.

Many professional poker players believe that it is this all-around ability that makes Schulman one of the most dangerous poker players of our time.

Compared to players who solely focus on No-Limit Texas Hold'em, he is able to remain competitive in a wider range of tournament formats.

This is also a key reason why he has been able to accumulate gold bracelets.

The ever-changing world of poker

In the interview, Schulman also discussed the changes in the poker environment.

Early in his career, poker relied more on experience and intuition.

Today, with the development of Solver, GTO theory, and data analysis tools, modern poker has entered a new era.

He stated in response:

“"Today's young athletes are more hardworking and more professional than those of our generation."”

But at the same time, he believes that poker is still more than just a mathematical game.

Reading comprehension, psychological game, and adaptability remain crucial factors in determining victory or defeat.

This is why poker remains so captivating to this day.

Topics related to the Poker Hall of Fame

With his ninth gold bracelet in hand, discussions about Schulman's induction into the Poker Hall of Fame have intensified once again.

In fact, many industry insiders already consider him a future Hall of Famer.

Schulman maintained his usual low profile regarding this matter.

He said：

It is certainly an honor to be recognized by my peers, but I have never regarded these honors as career goals.

What really matters is continuing to enjoy poker and maintaining your passion for the game.

Maintain a competitive spirit

Despite his impressive resume, Schulman admits that he still loves competition.

Whenever he sits down at the card table, he still tries his best to win.

He said:

“"I still enjoy challenges and solving complex problems."”

It is this persistent desire to win that has allowed him to maintain world-class competitiveness even after more than two decades in his professional career.

His performance at this year's WSOP once again proves that he is still at his peak.

Historical status continues to rise

Currently, Schulman already possesses:

• 9 WSOP gold bracelets
• Multiple high-stakes tournament champions
• Tens of millions of dollars in live event prize money
• Long-term active in the world's top cash games

Such a resume is enough to place him among the greatest players in poker history.

More importantly, he has maintained a consistent output.

Shortly after winning his ninth gold bracelet, he quickly advanced to the later stages of several WSOP events, continuing his quest for new championships.

The legend continues

For many poker players, a WSOP gold bracelet is a lifelong dream.

Nick Schulman has increased that number to nine.

However, it's clear from the interview that he doesn't seem to have any intention of stopping.

Regardless of whether he wins the tenth, eleventh, or even more titles in the future, Schulman has already left a significant mark on poker history.

For this legendary figure who is still active in top-level competitions,

The ninth gold bracelet may not be the end, but just the beginning of the next story.

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