Historic Repeat: Okamoto Tops 1,368 Entries to Defend Ladies Championship

A Championship Run Built on Composure

If there was any pressure, Okamoto never let it show. She began Sunday with a towering stack and a reputation that preceded her. After two final tables and one title in this event, the other competitors came prepared to adjust their tactics. Yet Okamoto proved she was more than ready to adapt.

Throughout the final table, she stayed remarkably calm. She later explained that her main goal was simply to play her game without forcing action — especially when everyone expected her to bulldoze the table. She trusted that if she remained steady, the right spots would come.

And they did.

Final Table Fireworks

Seven players returned to contest the title, each hoping to carve out their own moment. Sumire Uenomachi was the first casualty, running ace-ten into Okamoto’s dominating ace-queen. The defending champ had struck and she wasn’t about to slow down.

Moments later, Juliet Hegedus made her stand with pocket fours against Okamoto, but the board turned in the Japanese pro’s favor. Another elimination. Another step closer.

While Okamoto pulled away, Heather Alcorn, herself no stranger to deep runs, battled for survival. She managed a crucial double-up against Julie Huynh, who soon after fell in fifth place. That left Alcorn, Hagberg, and Okamoto in a tense standoff.

Then came the pot that changed everything. Hagberg, who had played fearlessly to that point, tangled with Okamoto in a blind-versus-blind showdown. A flush for Okamoto. Two pair for Hagberg. A huge pot brewing. After a bet, a check-raise, and finally a shove, Okamoto revealed the winning hand to vault into an almost unassailable lead.

Hagberg was eliminated in third, and Okamoto had the chips and the momentum.

Heads-Up Showdown with History on the Line

Facing her across the table was Alcorn, a respected WSOP Circuit champion and one of the most experienced players in the field. But she started the duel with less than a tenth of Okamoto’s chips. Even after scoring a double-up right out of the gate, Alcorn could never quite close the gap.

The final hand arrived with Okamoto limping the button holding pocket nines. Alcorn shoved over the top with ace-deuce, and Okamoto called without hesitation. Five community cards later, it was all over. The board ran clean, and with it, Okamoto had completed a run that will be remembered as one of the most remarkable in WSOP history.

In the end, no one could have put it better than the winner herself:

I defended.#WSOP

— Shiina Okamoto / 岡本詩菜 (@shiina_pkr) June 30, 2025

Who Is Shiina Okamoto?

Shiina Okamoto has quickly become one of the most feared competitors in the WSOP Ladies Championship. Born and raised in Japan, Okamoto first made headlines when she finished runner-up in this same event in 2023. One year later, she came back to win her first bracelet.

An Unmatched Three-Year Run…

To call Okamoto’s performance in this event “dominant” barely does it justice. In 2023, she was runner-up out of nearly 1,300 players. In 2024, she claimed her first bracelet, topping a field of over 1,200. This year, she returned to defend her title against the largest Ladies Championship field yet — and succeeded. Three consecutive final tables. Two consecutive wins. One poker legacy cemented.

Her composure, her adjustments, and her ability to handle the expectations were as impressive as the hands she played. As she celebrated with her rail, she credited her success to staying calm and trusting her instincts, even when everyone in the room expected her to dominate.

She also acknowledged how much her reputation had changed the dynamic. Some opponents called lighter to catch her bluffs. Others played more cautiously, hoping to avoid a clash. In both cases, Okamoto used that to her advantage.

And An Inspiration Beyond the Felt

Okamoto’s victory resonates far beyond the prize money. In Japan, where poker is rapidly growing, she has become a beacon for women considering stepping into the game. She spoke about the importance of finding the right mentors and surrounding yourself with people who help you improve. And she encouraged women everywhere to have the confidence to test themselves at the tables.

Her back-to-back titles place her in elite company. In WSOP history, only a handful of players — like Adam Friedman and Johnny Chan — have managed to win the same event twice in a row. Now, Shiina Okamoto joins them.

Final Table Payouts – Event #70: $1,000 Ladies Championship

Place	Player	Country	Prize
1	Shiina Okamoto		$184,094
2	Heather Alcorn		$122,654
3	Stephani Hagberg		$87,695
4	Julie Huynh		$63,517
5	Sonia Shashikhina		$46,614
6	Juliet Hegedus		$34,667
7	Sumire Uenomachi		$26,131
8	Tanith Rothman		$19,969
9	Elisa Nakagawa		$15,472