Japan's Ryuta Nakai Reaches WSOP $25K Heads-Up Semifinals

Japan's Ryuta Nakai Reaches WSOP $25K Heads-Up Semifinals

Japan's Ryuta Nakai secured a spot in the semifinals of the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Event #7, the $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship, earning $300,000 (approximately 410 million KRW). In this single-elimination tournament with 128 participants and a prize pool of $3,008,000 (approximately 4.1 billion KRW), Nakai defeated the defending Main Event champion and the CEO of PokerGO consecutively to reach the final four. The title ultimately went to Dimitar Danchev of Bulgaria, who claimed his second career gold bracelet and the top prize of $800,000 (approximately 1.1 billion KRW).

A Grueling Path Through Mizrachi and Katz

Nakai's journey to the semifinals was arduous, navigating a tough bracket. On Day 1b, he eliminated Josh Reichard, Yaman Nakdali, and Brock Wilson to advance to the Round of 16. In his first match on Day 2, he faced Michael Mizrachi, the defending WSOP Main Event champion and a Poker Hall of Famer. Although Mizrachi hit top pair on the flop, Nakai's pocket nines held the better overpair, sending Mizrachi to the rail in the first round of Day 2. In the quarterfinals that followed, he faced Cary Katz, the founder of PokerGO. Nakai completed a straight on the river with a 5, hitting his wheel draw from the flop, to secure his victory and advance to the semifinals.

Semifinal Stumbling Block: Danchev's Trip Fours

Nakai's run ended in the semifinals against Dimitar Danchev, Bulgaria's third-highest all-time tournament earner (approximately $10.5 million on Hendon Mob). While Nakai initially held a lead, the momentum shifted when Danchev hit trip fours on the flop. Nakai, holding top two pair with queen-jack, committed chips to a large pot but was ultimately outkicked by Danchev's trip fours, ending his tournament in the semifinals with a $300,000 payday. While Nakai, with approximately $2.5 million in live earnings, fell short of his second WSOP bracelet, his performance reaching the final four in a field stacked with top pros left a strong impression.

Biao Ding Mounts Three Consecutive Double-Ups Against Negreanu

In the same tournament, China's Biao Ding also made headlines. A high-stakes regular with over $21 million in live earnings, Ding faced seven-time bracelet winner Daniel Negreanu in the Round of 16. Negreanu built a commanding chip lead, at one point holding a 10-to-1 advantage, seemingly on his way to victory. However, Biao Ding staged a remarkable comeback, achieving three consecutive double-ups to turn the tables. This marked one of the most painful reversals for Negreanu in the series. Ding's own run, however, ended in the quarterfinals when he lost to Danchev, securing $150,000.