As 2025 turns into 2026, we’re talking to some of the biggest names in the poker world and reflecting on the year’s most interesting stories and events.
At the 2025 World Series of Poker, Japan's Shiina Okamoto etched her name into the history books with an unprecedented victory.
In 2023, Japan's Shiina Okamoto finished runner-up in the WSOP Ladies Championship. In 2024, she came storming back to Las Vegas and went one place further to claim her first bracelet.
Okamoto's performance in consecutive Ladies Championships – events outside of the WSOP aside – was more than enough to draw the attention of the poker community. But she wasn't finished making waves.
In 2025, Okamoto returned to the summer series to defend her title. When seven players convened for the final table on Sunday, June 29, Okamoto was amongst them – with the chip lead to boot.
"In the previous tournaments I didn’t think I’d make the final table, but now I want to defend my title," Okamoto told PokerOrg before the restart. "Now so many of the ladies know me, and I know what they are thinking about me. I can use that to exploit them. That’s what’s helped me get so far."
Shiina Okamoto defied the odds with a runner-up finish followed by two consecutive titles in the WSOP Ladies Championship. With her past experience and an advantage in the chip counts, Okamoto looked primed to join hallowed WSOP company as one of only a handful of players to win the same event in consecutive years.
Okamoto does the double
In the early goings, Okamoto ceded the chip lead to Stephani Hagberg, but regained her footing by scoring the first two knockouts of the day. While other players fell by the wayside, Okamoto bobbed and weaved to find herself three-handed – and still holding the chip lead. In the most consequential hand of the final table, Okamoto and Hagberg collided thanks to an action-inducing turn card that provided the former with a flush and the latter two pair.
With short-stacked Heather Alcorn watching on with great interest, the two players sent all the chips in the middle and Okamoto faded Hagberg's full house outs to scoop the pot.
Okamoto took an almost-insurmountable chip lead into heads-up play against Alcorn. While she managed to double up quickly, Alcorn couldn't overcome Okamoto's overwhelming lead and, for the second year in a row, Okamoto stood under the bright lights with the WSOP Ladies Championship bracelet in hand.
