Naoya Kihara Comes Back From Single Chip to End 14-Year WSOP Drought

Late on Day 1 of Occasion #17: $10,000 No-Restrict 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship, Naoya Kihara performed a pivotal hand and left one chip behind as he bluffed with a pair of fives. The bluff was known as, leaving Kihara with only a single small blind in entrance of him. Simply over 50 hours later, he had all the chips to mark an unbelievable comeback on the 2026 World Sequence of Poker.

The ultimate day lasted nearly 14 hours at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, however it led to celebration for Kihara after defeating David Lin in heads-up play to earn his second profession WSOP bracelet and the most important share of the $1,841,400 prize pool.

The victory not solely accomplished his unlikely comeback, but additionally ended a drought of 14 years after taking down Occasion 34: $5,000 Pot-Restrict Omaha – Six-Handed on the 2012 WSOP in Las Vegas to grow to be Japan’s first-ever bracelet winner. This time, he outlasted a discipline fo 198 entries to safe a long-awaited repeat triumph that just about did not occur.

Kihara recalled his opening day bluff in an interview with PokerNews after his win, and the following run that noticed him chip up from 1,000 to 96,000 by day’s finish.

“I known as a three-bet from Benny [Glaser], and he patted. I paired my 5, and he checked, so I put one yellow chip out after which bluffed out, and he known as.”

“I tripled up, doubled up, tripled up, and got here again, and I received the match. You hear about chip and a chair within the poker world, proper? I actually have by no means seen that. It is occurred to me, however it’s actually wonderful.”

Occasion #17: $10,000 No-Restrict 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship Remaining Desk Outcomes

Robust Remaining Day Area

The ultimate day noticed 13 contenders return to battle for the $428,923 high prize, together with many notable names. The primary 5 eliminations have been all earlier WSOP bracelet winners, together with all-time chief Phil Hellmuth, narrowly lacking out on extending his file for official WSOP remaining desk appearances.

Hellmith watched Kihara draw two and make the perfect hand to finish his run in ninth place. From there, Kihara used his expertise on this celebrated poker variant to navigate his means by means of the robust discipline.

“I am, I actually studied on this sport, really. I feel nearly no participant performed palms as a lot as me on this sport. So I had actually large confidence about enjoying this sport, particularly heads-up.”

As soon as the official remaining desk of seven was reached, extra large names stood in Kihara’s path to victory. It took greater than three hours to lose the subsequent participant earlier than Kihara took out Dan Shak in sixth place. He then watched as 2018 WSOP Major Occasion champion John Cynn eradicated eight-time bracelet winner Shaun Deeb in fifth.

Cynn would later fall in third place, leaving Kihara with a slight chip result in start heads-up play. By that time, Kihara and Lin had performed nearly 13 hours on the ultimate day, however Kihara defined that fatigue was not an element for him.

“Even when I get drained, my play is similar; it would not change something. So simply play the identical means, after which I am proud I had confidence to do this.”

The ultimate hand noticed Kihara draw a seven to ship Lin out within the runner-up spot, denying the American a primary WSOP title.

Kihara additionally made Staff Banana very joyful in 25K Fantasy, as he was drafted for simply $1 and put a win on the board.

Change of Plans

Kihara’s win was not solely unlikely throughout Day 1 motion, however the Japanese poker veteran nearly walked away from tournaments fully after going so lengthy with no win in Las Vegas.

“I am now 44, nearly retired from poker, however I got here again and hopefully I strive for another bracelet from now. In any other case, I used to be interested by quitting the match poker, however with this win, I made a decision to at the very least give it two to a few extra years.”

The victory may even see his plans change within the coming weeks, as opponents can count on to see Kihara on the tables in different excessive curler combined sport occasions.

“I used to be undecided whether or not to play PPC or 25K H.O.R.S.E. or perhaps another 25K. However now, I am 100% positive I play PPC and likewise the 25K H.O.R.S.E.”

That concludes our protection of this thrilling occasion, however make sure you catch the remainder of dwell reporting from the 2026 World Sequence of Poker in Las Vegas.

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