The most anticipated day of the USOP Osaka Main Event — Day 2 — officially wrote a new chapter in history at the Dojima River Forum.
Leading the charge is Hong Kong’s Horace Wei, who topped the chip counts with a commanding 5,230,000 stack.
Out of the 315 returning players, Wei — a seasoned professional from Hong Kong — battled through twelve grueling 40-minute levels, showcasing remarkable stamina, precision, and composure. Despite facing several close calls, his relentless focus secured him the end-of-day lead.
At one critical point, Wei’s Q-high bluff was hero-called by Japan’s Ryusuke Kasaki, who held pocket Aces, temporarily dropping Wei to second place. Yet the setback didn’t shake his confidence.
In the final five hands of the night, Wei seized the perfect opportunity — shoving pocket Kings (KK) against Kasaki’s Ace-King (Big Slick) — and scored a dramatic double-up to reclaim the top spot in spectacular fashion.
Trailing closely behind is Japan’s Ryusuke Kasaki, with 4,610,000 chips, maintaining consistent pressure throughout the day.
Meanwhile, Mii, the only remaining female player, also crossed the 4-million mark, bagging 4,490,000 chips and advancing strongly into Day 3.
One of the most heartbreaking eliminations came during the bubble phase, when Stanley Karl was knocked out in 151st place.
Holding A-Q, he failed to improve against Rapuasu’s pocket Fives, falling just short of the money in a gut-wrenching finish.
High Stakes in the Spotlight: The Amazing High Roller
While the Main Event raged on, another highly anticipated showdown — the Amazing High Roller — took center stage, igniting the atmosphere at the venue.
As one of the highest buy-in tournaments of the USOP Osaka series, it drew a star-studded field of elite professionals all battling for glory and massive prizes.
Japanese celebrity GACKT made good on his promise from the previous night’s players’ party, arriving at the tables to the delight of fans and cameras alike.
Also joining the action was American poker star Joseph Cheong (known online as “subiime”), whose live earnings exceed US$20 million along with multiple world titles.
Despite firing two bullets in this event, Cheong displayed his trademark focus and aggression, delivering a thrilling performance that kept spectators on edge.
Another standout was Japan’s Kyosuke Nagami, a veteran with over US$1 million in live tournament earnings.
Determined to capture his first-ever USOP championship trophy, Nagami fought valiantly throughout the day. Although he didn’t reach the final stages, his strategic play and composure earned widespread respect and added prestige to the event.
In the end, Louie Yu of Korea stormed to victory in dominant fashion.
From the start of the final table, Yu’s momentum was unstoppable — in less than three hours, he surged through the field and claimed the coveted Amazing High Roller trophy, marking one of the fastest and most decisive wins of the series.
🏆 Final Table Results
Position | Player | Country / Region |
|---|---|---|
🥇 1 | Louie Yu | Korea |
🥈 2 | Kinako | Japan |
🥉 3 | Hajimechan | Japan |
4 | Hashimoto | Japan |
5 | Muu | Japan |
6 | Wong Tim Lam | Hong Kong |
7 | Yuan Xu | China |
8 | Shobu | Japan |
9 | Sam Lam Fung | United Kingdom |
The Amazing High Roller once again demonstrated the strength and depth of Asian poker talent — solidifying the USOP series as one of the region’s premier platforms for high-stakes competition and international prestige.
Louie Yu’s Road to Victory
The final table’s pace accelerated quickly after Sam Lam Fung became the first player to bust — setting the stage for Louie Yu’s unstoppable run to the championship.
The first Japanese player to fall was Shobu, as Yu rivered a Broadway straight to crack Shobu’s pocket sixes and eliminate him from contention.
Next, Wong Tim Lam of Hong Kong shoved with an 8-high hand, only to be called by Yu’s Ace-high. On a dry board, Yu’s ace held strong, sending Wong to the rail and reducing the field to five.
Soon after, Muu moved all-in against Yu.
A queen on the flop gave Muu the early lead, but an Ace on the river flipped the outcome — Yu paired up and scored yet another knockout, as Muu exited in fifth place.
Once play reached four-handed, Yu’s dominance became undeniable:
Hashimoto was the next casualty when Yu hit a straight on the river to crack pocket Aces.
Shortly after, Hajimechan followed his countryman out the door — Yu’s A-J outkicked A-8, further extending his commanding lead.
Entering heads-up play, Yu held an overwhelming 9-to-1 chip advantage over Kinako.
A few hands later, Kinako moved all-in again, but Yu sealed the match in spectacular fashion — his J-5 suited completed a flush on the river, locking in the title and the trophy.
With this lightning-fast and flawless performance, Louie Yu captured the USOP Osaka 2025 Amazing High Roller Championship, closing out Day 4 in style.
This final table will be remembered as one of the most decisive and thrilling victories in USOP history, a showcase of Yu’s precision, power, and impeccable decision-making.
Red Dragon Poker APP Officially Launched
The long-established tournament brand Red Dragon Cup has now released its own app — “Red Dragon Poker.”
The Red Dragon Cup is a well-known Asian poker brand with a strong reputation across the region. Originating in Macau, it quickly became one of the most influential poker events in Asia. Red Dragon Poker tournaments regularly attract players from all over the world, offering massive fields and impressive prize pools.
For those interested, we highly recommend downloading the “Red Dragon Poker” app to join more exciting tournaments.