Shiina Okamoto Aims for WSOP Ladies Championship Three-Peat, Event Kicks Off June 25th
Japan's Shiina Okamoto is two days away from her quest for a third consecutive title at the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Event #68, the $1,000 Ladies Championship, which begins on June 25th. After securing a runner-up finish in 2023 and back-to-back victories in 2024 and 2025, making her the first-ever consecutive winner in the event's history, Okamoto's potential third win this year would mark an unprecedented three-peat in the WSOP Ladies Championship annals.
From Three Consecutive Finals to a Three-Peat
Okamoto's journey in the Ladies Championship has seen a steady progression each year. After making her mark with a runner-up finish ($118,768) in the 1,295-player field in 2023, she conquered the 1,245-player field in 2024 to claim her first bracelet ($171,732). In 2025, she defended her title as the chip leader heading into the final day of the largest field to date, 1,368 players ($184,094). Notably, Phil Hellmuth personally congratulated her before and after the heads-up match during her 2025 victory.
An Even Stronger Okamoto Arrives This Year
Okamoto's growth has continued post-2025 WSOP win. In August of the same year, she won the EPT Barcelona Ladies Event, adding her first PokerStars Spade Trophy. She also joined the GTO Wizard team as a pro, systematizing her solver-based training. In January of this year, she achieved her highest career live tournament cash of $1,264,080 (approximately 1.7 billion KRW) with a 37th-place finish (€40,000) in the 2026 WSOP Europe Main Event. Her most recent cash, according to Hendon Mob, was recorded on June 19th ($6,310).
The Symbol of Japan's Poker Boom Returns to the Race
Okamoto's pursuit of a three-peat carries significance beyond personal achievement. Following Naoya Kihara's demonstration of Japanese poker prowess with back-to-back championships at this summer's WSOP, Okamoto's challenge for a historic record further solidifies Japan's growing presence on the world's biggest poker stage. The Ladies Championship is typically held in the latter half of the WSOP and consistently draws fields exceeding 1,000 players. With the potential for a record-breaking field again this year, all eyes will be on Las Vegas on June 25th to see if Okamoto can capture her third bracelet.
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