Yang Wang Wins WSOP $5,000 PLO, First Bracelet for Chinese Player
China's Yang Wang captured his first WSOP gold bracelet and $595,388 (approx. 820 million KRW) by winning Event #5, the $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) at the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP). In an event that concluded on May 30th at Horseshoe & Paris Las Vegas, Wang completed a dramatic comeback, starting the final day as one of two short stacks and defeating the overwhelming chip leader, American Jesse Lonis, in heads-up play.
Comeback from Half the Chips
The highlight of this victory was the comeback from a significant chip deficit. When the final day began with seven players remaining, American Jesse Lonis held a stack nearly triple that of the second-place player, possessing almost half of the total chips. With two bracelets and having been named Card Player of the Year the previous season, Lonis seemed poised to claim his third bracelet. However, Yang Wang, starting the final day with a short stack, steadily chipped up hand by hand, seized the momentum, and ultimately defeated Lonis heads-up. Lonis secured $396,892 (approx. 550 million KRW) for his runner-up finish, but his third bracelet will have to wait for another opportunity.
Redemption After a Year and a Half
For Yang Wang, this victory holds more significance than just his first bracelet. Approximately a year and a half ago, at the 2024 WSOP Paradise $50,000 PLO event, he suffered a runner-up finish after losing heads-up to Stephen Chidwick of the UK. He was denied the bracelet at the final hurdle then. Now, in the same PLO discipline, he has persevered to reach the top. A player who repeatedly fell short of the top spot on the big stage has finally claimed his first gold bracelet.
Another Win on the Same Day, James Cheung's Stud Title
Another notable victory also occurred on May 30th. James Cheung, a cash game specialist from Scotland, UK, won his first bracelet ($103,185) in Event #6, the $1,500 Seven Card Stud, which attracted 359 participants. He defeated five-time bracelet champion Brian Yoon heads-up. Yoon was also the first pro Cheung faced in his first WSOP three years ago. Cheung commented, "It feels absolutely perfect to face him heads-up and take down the title.""
Why It Matters: Asian Contingent Shines Early at WSOP
Yang Wang's victory symbolically represents the strong performance of Asian players early in the 2026 WSOP. Previously, in Event #2, the $5K 8-Handed, China's Chenxiang Miao finished runner-up and Xiaohu Liu took third, filling the final table. Now, a Chinese player has directly captured a bracelet. With 100 bracelet events continuing over 51 days until the July Main Event, whether Yang Wang's first win will lead to further bracelets for Asian players remains a key storyline throughout the summer. This year's WSOP is a stage where the presence of Asian poker is more significant than ever, with the Asian Poker Tour (APT), Asia's largest regular tour, joining as an official live stream partner for the first time.
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