Michelle Chin Wins WSOP Deuce-to-Seven Triple Draw Bracelet

Michelle Chin adds another milestone to her poker story

Michelle Chin has already been part of poker history once, and now she has done it again. More than a decade after becoming the first woman to win a World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event, she captured her first WSOP bracelet by winning the $1,500 deuce-to-seven triple draw lowball event in 2026.

Chin outlasted a field of 657 entries, took home $161,313, and did it by navigating one of the most technically demanding formats in the game. That matters because deuce-to-seven triple draw is not the kind of event where players can simply rely on card strength or standard no-limit instincts. It rewards discipline, patience, and a deep understanding of drawing mechanics.

For players looking to broaden their game selection, this is also a reminder that live poker success is often built away from the most obvious headline events. Many of the best results come from studying formats, finding softer edges, and choosing the right opportunities in poker rooms and other live settings.

From WSOP Circuit pioneer to WSOP bracelet winner

Chin’s first big breakthrough came in 2015, when she won a WSOP Circuit Main Event and became the first woman ever to do so. At the time, she was still relatively new to the poker scene and had only recently begun branching out from cash games.

Her words back then still resonate today. She spoke about wanting more women to feel welcome in poker and noted that the game should be accessible regardless of gender. That message remains important because visibility still shapes participation, especially in live tournament poker and mixed games.

The leap from a Circuit title to a WSOP bracelet is significant. Circuit rings are respected, but a bracelet remains the sport’s most recognizable symbol of elite achievement. Chin’s new victory shows that her earlier success was not a one-time spike — she has remained a dangerous and adaptable player for years.

Those who want to understand how players evolve over time can benefit from structured study at a poker school, especially when moving beyond the basics of hold’em into more specialized disciplines.

The $1,500 deuce-to-seven triple draw event drew a strong field

The 2026 WSOP $1,500 deuce-to-seven triple draw lowball event attracted 657 entries, up 22 from the previous year, and generated a prize pool of $872,167. The top 99 finishers made the money, which is a healthy turnout for a niche mixed-game event.

A number of recognizable names ran deep, including:

• Jason Daly in 59th
• Terrence Chan in 56th
• Jon Turner in 54th
• Dominic Sarle in 51st
• Stephen Hubbard in 47th
• Nick Guagenti in 31st
• Dylan Smith in 29th
• Jerry Wong in 27th
• Patrick Moulder in 22nd
• Pedro Neves in 18th

That list matters because lowball events often reward players with strong technical foundations more than raw aggression. In these fields, experience with draw formats, hand-selection discipline, and table flow can create an edge that is not as obvious in no-limit hold’em.

For many players, the difference between a deep run and an early exit in a format like this comes down to preparation. That is also why many serious grinders pay attention to promotions & bonuses when choosing where and how they play, since the long-term value of their poker schedule affects overall ROI.

Final day at Paris Las Vegas: a battle of specialists

The final day began with 12 players remaining at Paris Las Vegas, and Italy’s Alessio Isaia held the chip lead. Chin was already inside the top five, which gave her a strong platform before the final table even began.

The early eliminations set the tone. Steve Billirakis, Michael Rodrigues, and David May were among the first to go. Then two-time bracelet winner Evan Sandberg finished ninth when his 9-7 ran into Horacio Chaves’ 7-6 smooth.

From there, the pace accelerated:

• Isaia exited in eighth when his J-9 low was outdrawn by Nick Pupillo’s 9-7.
• Pupillo carried the chip lead into the final table.
• Daniel Strelitz scored the next knockout and strengthened his own position.
• Sean Troha fell to Chin, with her 8-7-5-4-3 holding up against his 10-8-6-5-2.

That run is important because it showed Chin was not merely surviving — she was winning key pots against some of the strongest mixed-game players in the field. In a format with three draws, each street changes the shape of the hand, and the best players are the ones who can keep making the right decisions under pressure.

Expert analysis: what this WSOP win means for players

Chin’s victory has broader meaning than one trophy or one payday. First, it made her the first female player to win a non-big-bet bracelet since Carol Fuchs won the 2015 WSOP $1,500 dealers choice event. Women have captured open-field no-limit hold’em titles in the years since, and Thi Truong won a 2020 online pot-limit Omaha event, while Vivian Saliba took down the 2024 WSOP Europe €2,000 PLO event. Still, a win in a technical lowball event stands out because the field is usually full of specialists.

Second, the format itself teaches a valuable lesson. Deuce-to-seven triple draw is a game of reverse logic: you are trying to make the lowest possible hand, straights and flushes count against you, and the best players think in terms of draw quality, blockers, and pat hands rather than top pair or overpairs. That means edge often comes from mastery, not improvisation.

Key takeaways for players:

• Specialization matters. Studying one format deeply can be more profitable than playing everything at a shallow level.
• Patience is a weapon. Triple draw rewards players who can wait for the right spots and avoid overvaluing weak draws.
• Live reads still matter. Even in a technical event, table dynamics and betting patterns are crucial.
• Women’s visibility in mixed games is growing. Wins like this help normalize participation and inspire more players to enter niche formats.

If you want to build a more complete poker game, it helps to combine study with practical experience in poker clubs and to treat your schedule like a long-term project rather than a series of isolated shots.

The heads-up duel against Daniel Strelitz

Chin entered heads-up play against Daniel Strelitz, a two-time bracelet winner, with a chip deficit of roughly 3:2. Strelitz extended that advantage early, and for a moment it looked like Chin would need a long grind to recover.

Instead, she turned the match around with a key pot where her 8-6 beat Strelitz’ 8-7, sparking the comeback. Soon after, the stacks were even, and Chin kept applying pressure until she moved into the lead.

The decisive hand played out in classic triple-draw fashion. Strelitz went all-in from the button drawing three against Chin drawing two. Chin patted on the second draw and then patted again, while Strelitz kept drawing. Chin showed 8-7-5-4-2, and Strelitz ultimately paired up on the end, ending his run.

That hand captured why the game is so demanding. In deuce-to-seven, the last card can change everything, and the best players know when to stand pat, when to draw, and when to force pressure with stack leverage.

Why this victory matters for the WSOP landscape

WSOP continues to be more than a no-limit hold’em showcase. Events like this one prove that mixed games and lowball formats still have a vibrant place in the schedule, and they give skilled specialists a chance to shine on poker’s biggest stage.

For the average player, the lesson is clear:

• Niche events can offer real value if you study the format.
• Bracelet wins in mixed games can be career-defining.
• Adaptability remains one of the most important skills in live poker.

Chin’s result also reinforces the idea that the road to poker success is not one-size-fits-all. Some players build their edge through hold’em volume, others through mixed-game expertise, and others through careful game selection using poker agent style support and structured schedules.

Final thoughts on Michelle Chin’s bracelet run

Michelle Chin’s WSOP bracelet win is a reminder that poker history is still being written by players who are willing to specialize, adapt, and keep improving over time. Her victory in deuce-to-seven triple draw lowball was not just a deep run — it was a statement that technical excellence can still win at the highest level.

For fans, it was a satisfying mix of legacy and fresh success. For players, it was a practical lesson: know your format, understand the edges, and be ready when the right tournament comes along.

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