In the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Event #2 $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold'em, China's Chenxiang Miao secured a runner-up finish, earning $335,290 (approximately 460 million KRW). While the victory went to American Daniyal Gheba, the presence of the Asian contingent was notable, with Chinese players taking 2nd and 3rd at the final table and a Japanese player leading the chip count on Day 1. This event saw 570 participants generate a prize pool of $2,622,000 (approximately 3.6 billion KRW) and marked the first bracelet event held on the new "Mothership" stage in the Paris Las Vegas Ballroom.
Japan's Peter Cross Leads Day 1 Chip Count
The event's initial spotlight shone on Japan's Peter Cross. A five-time WSOP bracelet winner, he concluded Day 1, which featured 415 entrants, with 525,000 chips (210 big blinds), emerging as the overall chip leader. Despite building an overwhelming stack among the 142 survivors on Day 1 and appearing as a strong contender for the season's first major bracelet, he couldn't maintain momentum and finished the tournament before reaching the final heads-up battle. Nevertheless, a Japanese veteran capturing attention early in the series underscored the growing depth of Asian talent at the WSOP.
Chinese Duo's Final Table Offensive
At the final table, two Chinese players battled until the end, securing 2nd and 3rd place on the podium. Runner-up Chenxiang Miao, who started the final day as the chip leader, came closest to the title. He directly eliminated 4th-place finisher Ren Lin to reach the heads-up match. Lin, with a short stack of 8 big blinds, shoved from the button with pocket tens, only to be called by Miao's pocket aces. Lin, who received the loudest cheers at the final table, had previously thrilled fans by calling Miao's river bluff with pocket eights and exclaiming, "Who's the best? Tony the Tiger!" but ultimately finished in 4th place. 3rd-place finisher Xiaohu Liu earned $234,432 (approximately 320 million KRW), and with Lin in 4th, Asian players filled the top payout spots.
Gheba's First Bracelet, A Short Heads-Up Battle
The heads-up match was brief. Although Miao began with the chip lead, Gheba seized control after a quick succession of hands, clinching his first bracelet and a career-best prize of $502,985 (approximately 690 million KRW). Gheba had previously reached a televised final table earlier in the year but fell short of victory; this time, he closed it out. Despite finishing as runner-up, Miao left a strong impression as a Chinese player in the season's second bracelet event final.
Why It Matters: Asian Presence Evident from the Season's Start
This outcome highlights the increasing prominence of Asian players early in the 2026 WSOP. It's no coincidence that Chinese players secured 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place at the final table of the season's second bracelet event, with a Japanese player leading the chip count on Day 1. This year's WSOP features Asian poker more prominently than ever, with the Asian Poker Tour (APT), Asia's largest regular tour, joining as an official livestream partner for the first time. With 100 bracelet events scheduled over 51 days leading up to the Main Event in July, the question of which Asian player will claim the first bracelet remains a key storyline throughout the summer.
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