Kihara Wins WSOP $10K as Hellmuth Exits Early

Naoya Kihara won the WSOP $10,000 2-7 Single Draw Championship as of June 2026, outlasting a field that included Phil Hellmuth — who exited early — and Shaun Deeb, who faded late in the final stages, according to Poker.org.

Why It Matters

The $10K 2-7 Championship is one of the most technically demanding events on the WSOP schedule, drawing a concentrated pool of elite mixed-game specialists. Hellmuth's early exit will generate attention given his historically outsized presence at WSOP final tables, while Deeb's late fade in a field he has long dominated adds to a complicated recent record. For poker bettors and rail observers, Kihara's victory signals the continued rise of international players at high-stakes WSOP events. The result reinforces that marquee names do not reliably translate to deep runs in specialty formats.

Context

The 2-7 Single Draw format rewards precise hand-reading and disciplined draw decisions — skills that diverge sharply from no-limit hold'em, where Hellmuth built most of his 17 WSOP bracelets. Shaun Deeb is widely regarded as one of the strongest mixed-game players in live tournament poker. Kihara's victory over both players in a $10K buy-in event represents a meaningful result on the international circuit.

What's Next

The 2026 WSOP series continues through the summer, with the Main Event and remaining open bracelet events still on the schedule. Watch for updated bracelet leader standings as the series progresses.

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