Naoya Kihara Wins Second WSOP Bracelet at $10K 2-7 Event

Naoya Kihara claimed his second World Series of Poker bracelet this week, winning the $10,000 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball Championship to become a two-time WSOP champion, according to Card Player.

Why It Matters

Kihara's second title places him in elite company within Japanese poker history, joining Ryutaro Suzuki and Shiina Okamoto as the only Japanese players to hold multiple WSOP bracelets. The $10,000 buy-in 2-7 Triple Draw event is one of the most technically demanding disciplines on the WSOP schedule, requiring deep knowledge of lowball hand rankings and multi-street drawing strategy — making this win a meaningful credential, not a soft spot on the calendar. For the broader Asian poker community, which has expanded dramatically since Kihara's historic first bracelet in 2012, the result reinforces Japan's growing presence at the highest levels of live tournament poker. Recreational and semi-professional players following the WSOP closely should note that high-stakes mixed-game events continue to attract and reward technically skilled international competitors.

Context

As of June 2026, Card Player reports that ten Japanese players in total have won WSOP bracelets since Kihara became the first in 2012 — a period spanning 14 years. Kihara, now 44, took 14 years between his first and second titles, a gap that underlines how difficult repeat success at the WSOP is even for elite players.

What's Next

Kihara will likely continue competing across the 2026 WSOP series, where additional mixed-game and draw events remain on the schedule. Whether he can contend for a third bracelet this series — which would be unprecedented for a Japanese player — is the storyline to watch.

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