Karapet Galstyan Winds His Way Strategically To Victory for First WSOP Bracelet

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Jun 02, 2026 3 min read

Action has concluded in Event #10: $600 No-Limit Hold'em DeepStack, and Karapet Galstyan has emerged victorious, earning his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) gold bracelet, along with a hefty payout of $259,829 at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.

The first person Galstyan wanted to share the victory with was his wife, who has supported him throughout his poker journey, which began after he saw a television commercial many years ago. Galstyan had been texting her updates after each elimination, but after his fourth opponent was knocked out, the replies stopped.

"I figured she had fallen asleep," he said with a laugh.

After clinching the title, he sent one final message: "I won."

During the winner's interview with PokerNews, his phone buzzed with her response: "What??"

Event #10: $600 No-Limit Hold'em DeepStack Final Table Results

Final Day Action

Just 230 players returned for Day 2, including start-of-day chip leader Adam Cohen, whose run came to an end in 91st place for $2,575. Several bracelet winners were also among the contenders, including Alex Keating, who finished 47th for $5,717, and Ryan Hughes, who bowed out in 56th place for $4,784.

The field also featured a pair of 25K Fantasy picks. Marco Johnson of Team Banana was eliminated in 79th place for $3,445, while Renji Mao of Team Spitework followed shortly thereafter in 75th place for the same payout.

Once the field reached the final three tables, the audience was almost certain to see a new bracelet winner. Players began dropping like flies; chip leaders emerged, then fell.

Entering the final table, Galstyan boasted the strongest tournament résumé among the remaining players, with $500,471 in live earnings according to The Hendon Mob. Drawing on more than two decades of poker experience, Galstyan relied on his ability to observe opponents and identify their tendencies throughout the final table.

When asked who posed the biggest threat, Galstyan quickly pointed to Luis Yepez Carmona. "Luis Yepez Carmona was my biggest threat," he said. His approach was straightforward: "To watch my opponents carefully and pick up on their tendencies."

That strategy paid dividends, particularly during heads-up play against Joshua Lusby-Angvick, the runner-up, who played aggressively throughout the match. "He was getting tired, so I knew I needed to put the pressure on," Galstyan explained. He identified a key turning point when he limped the button, faced a raise from Lusby-Angvick, and then moved all in.

Originally from Armenia and now residing in Las Vegas, Galstyan has enjoyed a successful poker career, including an online WSOP bracelet and two online WSOP Circuit rings. Despite his accomplishments, one goal continues to motivate him: cashing in the WSOP Main Event. Having played the tournament for the past ten years without making the money, he hopes to change that this summer.

Galstyan plans to play a busy WSOP schedule, except for a cruise to Alaska with his wife from June 12–22, before returning for the Main Event. “The cruise gives me an opportunity to unwind from the grind of the series.”

With a wide smile, Galstyan reflected on what the victory meant to him. "It's awesome. What a difference it is to win a live event and get both the prize money and the bracelet."

Galstyan also credited his willingness to adapt to different opponents as a key factor in his success. "Players who play GTO strategy can be too predictable, so I change my strategy depending on my opponents," he said.

With the bracelet secured, Galstyan was looking forward to heading home and celebrating the victory with his wife after a long and rewarding day at the tables.

Be sure to follow PokerNews throughout the remainder of the 2026 WSOP to stay up to date with all future event coverage.

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• Tags WSOP26 Adam Cohen Alex Keating Joshua Lusby-Angvick Karapet Galstyan Kenneth Baime Luis Yepez Carmona Marco Johnson Michael Wagner Nelson Chew Omri Zaidman Ryan Hughes Russell Giordano Renji Mao

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