Event #97: $25,000 High Roller H.O.R.S.E. | 2026 World Series of Poker

Jul 15, 2026

Kostritsyn and Eslami Trade Pots

Dan O'Hair

Level 26

Limit Flop: 125,000-250,000 Blinds, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring-In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits

Seven Card Stud

Alexander Kostritsyn: Q♥10♣8♠/7♠9♠6♠10♠
Ali Eslami: XxXx/7♣9♥K♥5♠/Xx

Alexander Kostritsyn completed and called a raise from Ali Eslami.

Both players checked on fourth street and then Eslami called bets from Kostritsyn on fifth through seventh.

"Straight flush," Kostritsyn said as he turned over the goods. Eslami mucked and Kostritsyn took the lead.

Stud Hi-Lo

Ali Eslami: XxXx/4♦6♦6♥
Alexander Kostritsyn: XxXx/6♣A♥8♠ - folded on fifth street

Kostritsyn called Eslami's bring-in and then bet on fourth street. Eslami raised and Kostritsyn called.

Eslami bet after pairing his six on fifth street and Kostritsyn let his hand go.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Ali Eslami

Jul 15, 2026

Naoya Kihara Eliminated in 3rd Place ($394,433)

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 26

Limit Flop: 125,000-250,000 Blinds, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring-In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits

Seven Card Stud

Naoya Kihara: 8♦6♣ / 5♣K♦6♦8♠ / 4♣ All in
Alexander Kostritsyn: XxXx / 2♦9♦K♠ folded on fifth street
Ali Eslami: 10♥6♥ / 9♥J♥7♥J♠ / A♠

In the first hand of Stud, Ali Eslami completed and Naoya Kihara called, as did bring-in Alexander Kostritsyn. They checked fourth street and Kostritsyn checked fifth street. Eslami bet his three to a flush and Kihara called whereas Kostritsyn folded.

On sixth street, Eslami made a pair of jacks and bet. Kihara checked his stack behind carefully and then moved all in for little more, Eslami snap-called and instantly said, "flush."

Kihara had eights and sixes but couldn't improve to bow out in third place for $394,433.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Ali Eslami Naoya Kihara

Jul 15, 2026

Kostritsyn Leaves Kihara Short (Again)

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Dan O'Hair

Level 26

Limit Flop: 125,000-250,000 Blinds, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring-In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits

Razz

Alexander Kostritsyn: XxXx/8xAx8x4x
Naoya Kihara: XxXx/Qx10xJx4x - folded on sixth street

Alexander Kostritsyn completed and Naoya Kihara defended his bring-in.

Kihara called bets from Kostritsyn on fourth and fifth street, but let his hand go facing another barrel from Kostritsyn on fifth.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Naoya Kihara

Jul 15, 2026

Exciting Split Pots Incoming

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 26

Limit Flop: 125,000-250,000 Blinds, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring-In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits

Omaha Hi-Lo

Naoya Kihara raised the small blind and Alexander Kostritsyn three-bet from the big blind for the initial raiser to call. On the 8♠3♦2♥ flop, Kihara check-called a bet and they checked the Q♥ turn. Kihara bet the 7♣ river and Kostritsyn went into the tank before he called.

Kihara tabled the A♣K♦6♦2♣ for a pair of deuces and low, Kostritsyn chopped with A♠J♣10♣3♠ for a pair of treys. "More than I expected," Kostritsyn murmured.

Kihara then raised the button and Kostritsyn three-bet from the small blind, Ali Eslami called from the big blind and Kihara made it three ways to the A♦8♣5♠ flop. All three players checked to the Q♥ turn on which only Kostritsyn check-called a bet by Eslami.

The 3♥ river was checked and Kostritsyn tabled the A♥K♠9♥2♥, Eslami chopped with the A♠Q♣J♣10♠.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Ali Eslami Naoya Kihara

Jul 15, 2026

Kihara Doubles Through Kostritsyn

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Dan O'Hair

Level 26

Limit Flop: 125,000-250,000 Blinds, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring-In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits

Limit Hold’em

Naoya Kihara raised from the small blind and Alexander Kostritsyn defended his big blind.

Kihara check-called a bet from Kostritsyn on the 4♠8♣6♠ flop and then check-raised a bet from Kostritsyn on the 7♠ turn. Kostritsyn raised again to put Kihara all-in for has last few chips behind and Kihara called.

Naoya Kihara: J♠10♠ All in
Alexander Kostritsyn: 5♥2♥

Kostritsyn was already drawing dead against Kihara's flush and an irrelevant 6♦ completed the board to make Kihara's double-up official.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Naoya Kihara

Jul 15, 2026

Kostritsyn Loses to Eslami; Rebounds Against Kihara

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 26

Limit Flop: 125,000-250,000 Blinds, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring-In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits

Stud Hi-Lo

Naoya Kihara: XxXx / A♦ folded on third street
Alexander Kostritsyn: XxXx / 9♣2♠J♣7♥ / Xx
Ali Eslami: XxXx / 8♣9♠5♣K♦ / Xx

Naoya Kihara completed with an ace and Alexander Kostritsyn raised. Ali Eslami gave it some thought as the bring in and then made it three bets. Kihara folded and Kostritsyn called. Eslami check-called a bet on fourth street before he faced a bet by Kostritsyn on fifth street. Eslami raised and Kostritsyn called. Both checked sixth street and Eslami's bet on seventh street was called.

Eslami tabled the 8♦8♠4♠ for three eights and scooped the massive pot.

Limit Hold'em

The game switched to Hold'em and Naoya Kihara raised out of the small blind before Kostritsyn defended the big blind. On a flop of 8♣5♠2♣, Kihara bet and Kostritsyn called. Kihara then check-raised the 9♠ turn and Kostritsyn made it three bets for Kihara to call.

After the J♠ river which completed a possible flush, Kihara check-called a bet and mucked when Kostritsyn tabled his 9♥5♥ for two pair.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Ali Eslami Naoya Kihara

Jul 15, 2026

Kostritsyn and Kihara do Battle

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Dan O'Hair

Level 26

Limit Flop: 125,000-250,000 Blinds, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring-In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits

Seven Card Stud

Naoya Kihara: A♣5♦4♦/2♥5♣Q♦A♥
Alexander Kostritsyn: XxXx/3♠9♣4♥7♣/Xx

Alexander Kostritsyn called Naoya Kihara's bring-in and then bet on fourth street. Kihara called.

Kostritsyn then called a bet from Kihara on fifth before raising a bet from Kihara on sixth. Kihara called.

Both players checked on seventh and Kihara revealed his cards for two pair. Kostritsyn mucked and Kihara dragged the pot.

Alexander Kostritsyn: XxXx/K♥J♠4♠
Naoya Kihara: XxXx/2♥7♣5♠ - folded on fifth street

On the next hand, Kostritsyn completed and Kihara called.

Kihara called a bet from Kostritsyn on fourth street, but folded facing a barrel from Kostritsyn on fifth.

Stud Hi-Lo

Alexander Kostritsyn: XxXx/K♣Q♦Q♥J♣/Xx
Naoya Kihara: XxXx/9♥10♣7♣3♥/Xx - folded on seventh street

The game changed to Stud Hi-Lo on the next hand and Kostritsyn completed. Kihara called.

Kihara proceeded to call bets from Kostritsyn on fourth through sixth, but folded facing a final bet from Kostritsyn on seventh.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Naoya Kihara Naoya Kihara's

Jul 15, 2026

Julien Sitbon Eliminated in 4th Place ($276,297)

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 26

Limit Flop: 125,000-250,000 Blinds, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring-In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits

Seven Card Stud

Alexander Kostritsyn: J♣10♣ / 2♣J♦A♥5♣ / K♣
Julien Sitbon: 10♦10♥ / 9♠8♣7♦Q♣ / Q♠ All in

Julien Sitbon completed in the first hand of Stud and bring-in Alexander Kostritsyn called. Kostritsyn check-called on fourth street and checked on fifth street, which prompted another bet by Sitbon. His opponent slid in a raise and the T-100,000 chips splashed into the middle, after which Sitbon sigh-called with fewer than half a big bet behind.

Kostritsyn bet sixth street and Sitbon called all in to find himself at risk with a pair of tens and straight draw, against a pair of jacks with flush draw. Kostritsyn spiked another club on seventh to leave Sitbon drawing dead.

After multiple previous double and even triple-ups, the comeback of Sitbon was cut short in fourth place for a payday of $276,297.

With this elimination, Naoya Kihara has taken over the lead in the 2026 WSOP Player of the Year race.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn Julien Sitbon

Jul 15, 2026

Sitbon Gets Some Much-Needed Chips

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Dan O'Hair

Level 26

Limit Flop: 125,000-250,000 Blinds, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring-In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits

Razz

Julien Sitbon: XxXx/3xAx10x
Naoya Kihara: XxXx/4x10xQx - folded on fifth street

Julien Sitbon completed and was called by Naoya Kihara.

Kihara called a bet from Sitbon on fourth street and Sitbon bet his remaining 475,000 on fifth, sending Kihara into the tank.

"Don't do me dirty!" Sitbon said to Kihara.

"I'm trying!" Kihara said as he contemplated his decision.

Kihara eventually scooped up his cards and mucekd — conceding the pot to Sitbon.

Tags: Julien Sitbon Naoya Kihara

Level: 26

Limit Flop: 125,000-250,000 Blinds, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring-In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits