Ryan Teixeira claims his first WSOP title in a thrilling heads-up showdown

A rollercoaster final table ended with Teixeira’s pocket kings sealing the deal. His journey from chip leader to champion was anything but smooth.

, and Administrator

2026 January 14 . 4:03 AM

1 min read

The image shows a group of men sitting around a table playing poker, with coins and cards spread... — The image shows a group of men sitting around a table playing poker, with coins and cards spread out in front of them. In the background, there is a pillar and other objects, suggesting that the men are participating in a poker tournament.

Ryan Teixeira claims his first WSOP title in a thrilling heads-up showdown

Ryan Teixeira has claimed his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) title by winning Event #7. The victory came after a tense heads-up battle against Tyson Malo that lasted over an hour. Teixeira’s strong start and key hands secured his place as the champion.

The final table began with four players, but Skyler York was the first to exit, finishing in fourth. Teixeira entered heads-up play with a dominant chip lead over Malo.

Early in the duel, Teixeira won a major pot with a set of queens against Malo’s ace-eight. However, Malo fought back, briefly taking the lead after a series of double-ups. The momentum shifted again when Teixeira called Andrew Sabbagh’s shove with a jack-four suited, hitting a flush on the turn to stay in control. In the final hand, Teixeira’s pocket kings held against Malo’s ace, sealing his victory. The win marks Teixeira’s first WSOP ring, adding to his recent success in high-stakes poker. Earlier this year, Teixeira also reached the Australian Open 2026 quarter-finals before losing to Hubert Hurkacz.

Teixeira’s performance in Event #7 showcased his skill in high-pressure situations. The win adds a WSOP ring to his growing list of achievements. His next challenge will be to build on this momentum in future tournaments.