Shiina Okamoto Goes Back-to-back in Ladies Championship

When Okamoto bagged the Ladies title last year it was a remarkable feat in itself, having finished runner-up the previous year. Last night she managed to extend her remarkable run with yet another victory and gold bracelet.

The 1368 entries was a healthy increase on last year’s numbers, producing a prizepool of $1,203,840 and promising two 6-figure payouts up top.

Day 1 saw the likes of Maria Konnikova, Kristen Foxen and Loni (Harwood) Hui fall but Poker Hall of Famer Barbara Enright made it through, as did Women in Poker Hall of Famer, Kathy Liebert.

When the bubble burst on day 2, it was Geraldine Spears who missed out…

Geraldine Spears: A♦ K♥
Alisa Baumann: 8♥ 8♠

All-in and at risk pre, Spears needed help to survive…

Flop: 4♥ 5♣ J♣

Turn: 5♦

River: 5♥

No luck for Spears and the remaining 206 players had locked up a double-your-money $2101 cash.

By the time day 3 ended, we were down to seven contenders having lost:

• Kathy Liebert (131^st for $2,101)
• Kitty Kuo (84^th for $2,477)
• Barbara Enright (34^th for $5,356)
• Robbi Jade Lew (30^th for $5,356)

The final seven opened with some Japan-on-Japan bloodshed, Okamoto ousting her compatriot Sumire Uenomachi…

Uenomachi: A♥ 10♦

Okamoto: A♣ Q♣

Flop: K♠ Q♠ 3♥

Turn: A♠

River: 2♠

Okamoto started to pull away, winning a race with A♥ 6♥ against 4♦ 4♣ to KO Hegedus in 6^th place, and when Shashikhina fell to Huynh’s pocket aces we were down to just four contenders.

However, those aces would return to haunt Huyn, leaving her all but fumes when she ran jacks into Alcorn’s bullets and one hand later she was gone, 4^th place worth $63,517.

It looked as though short-stacked Alcorn would be out in 3^rd, but somehow she hung in and instead it was Stephani Hagberg who took ‘bronze’.

Hagberg: 10♦ 9♥

Okamoto: 6♣ 5♣

Okamoto defended against a raise pre…

Flop: 7♣ J♥ 10♣

…and then bet out on the flop.

Turn: 9♣

The turn gave Hagberg two pair but Okamoto had completed her flush and it was no surprise that all the chips went in. Hagberg needed help…

River: 7♠

…but it wasn’t to be, out in third place for $87,695.

Heads-up had Okamoto in a commanding 11:1 chip lead and although Alcorn doubled once it proved too much of a mountain to climb. A few hands in, Okamoto picked up nines and Alcorn a small ace, but with no help it was Okamoto’s title yet again! Her victory tweet was short and sweet…

I defended.#WSOP

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

Final table results

Andrew Burnett

Professional Poker Journalist

An avid poker player, he dreams of one day playing the WSOP Main Event and has promised himself he will fold aces and kings if he gets them on the first hand to avoid front-page headlines. [more]