Derick Elomina | Lead Content Writer at SoMuchPoker
Derick Elomina is SoMuchPoker's Lead Content Writer and Interview Specialist, reporting live from WSOP bracelet events and Asia Pacific poker festivals such as TMT, APT, RDPT and APL Jeju, alongside player features and interviews for the site's Stories section. He discovered poker at 14 playing home games with friends, and by 21 he had entered the industry as a field reporter, starting as a hand reporter before building his current role on the tournament floor.
Live From WSOP and Asia’s Biggest Festivals
I cover WSOP bracelet events day by day and report live from major Asia Pacific festivals, including TMT in Taipei, the APT Championship, RDPT and APL Jeju, the Quads Poker Championship in Vietnam, HSOP in Hanoi, and PokerStars LIVE Manila. That means chip counts, results and updates delivered as the action happens.
Telling Players’ Stories
Beyond live updates, I write player features and interviews for SoMuchPoker’s Stories section, profiling players like Calvin Anderson and telling the stories behind the game’s next generation, including how Phil Hellmuth’s son is carving his own path at the WSOP.
From Home Games to the Tournament Floor
I discovered poker at 14, playing home games with high school friends. By 21 I had entered the poker industry as a field reporter, starting out as a hand reporter and building my skills from there. I still spend most of my time on the floor, capturing the action, conducting interviews and delivering live updates.
Content Philosophy
Live reporting has to be fast and accurate at the same time. Whether I am tracking a WSOP bracelet race or writing a player’s story, I aim to get the facts right while still capturing what makes the moment worth reading about.
Areas of Expertise
- WSOP Bracelet Event Coverage
- Asia Pacific Poker Festival Reporting
- Player Interviews & Profiles
- Live Tournament Updates
- Poker Player Stories
Khanh Duy Ta Lifts Red Dragon Plus Championship as Dragon Egg Mystery Bounty and Prestige Super High Roller Take Center Stage
Khanh Duy Ta wins the Red Dragon Plus Championship, while the Mystery Bounty and Prestige SHR resumed at RDPT Plus Jeju Summer 2026.
Vietnam’s Khanh Duy Ta Wins Red Dragon Plus Championship at RDPT Plus Jeju Summer 2026
Khanh Duy Ta topped a 597-entry field to claim the Red Dragon Plus Championship 2026 title, earning KRW 349.7 million and gold dragon bracelet.
Petr Rudnev Leads Red Dragon Plus Championship Final Table; Guoliang Wei Wins Mini Main Event
Petr Rudnev bag the chip lead for the Championship final table. Guoliang Wei wins the Mini Main Event title at RDPT Plus Jeju Summer 2026.
Red Dragon Championship Clears Guarantee, Down to 53 Players; Zhuo Claims Third Trophy
Final 53 players remain in the Championship after the money bubble burst. Dajie Zhuo secured his third trophy at RDPT Plus Jeju Summer 2026
Guarantee in Sight: Yawei Deng Commands 179 Day 2 Survivors; Mini Main and 6K High Roller Start Today
Yawei Deng commands the RDPT Plus Jeju Summer 2026 Championship Day 2 field while Guoan Yuan and Arita Naohiro wins side event trophies.
Haohui Ma Wins $8K Super U Challenge as Jieming Xu Hunts Back-to-Back Titles in Championship Event
Haohui Ma wins the Super U Challenge at RDPT Plus Jeju Summer 2026. Zicong Jiang leads Day 1B and defending champ Jieming Xu bags big.
Sootla Captures First RDPT Gold Dragon Bracelet; Deng Dominates Red Dragon Plus Championship Day 1A
Ranno Sootla wins the Red Dragon Prestige High Roller, Yawei Deng tops Red Dragon Championship Day 1A at RDPT Plus Jeju Summer 2026.
Prestige High Roller Final Table Set; Enomoto Wins Baby Dragon Plus as Championship Main Event Begins
Liu leads the Prestige High Roller Final Table, Enomoto wins Baby Dragon Plus, and the Championship kicks off at RDPT Plus Jeju Summer 2026.
Liu Bags Prestige High Roller Chip Lead, Ye Headlines Baby Dragon Plus as Zhuo Sweeps Two Titles
Liu leads the Prestige High Roller, Ye tops the final 66 in the Baby Dragon, and Zhuo wins two titles in one day at RDPT Plus Jeju Summer 2026.
Dicky Tsang Wins The Dragon Awakening; Liu Claims Dragon’s Gate High Roller Title on Day 3 of RDPT Plus Jeju Summer 2026
Dicky Tsang wins The Dragon Awakening and Wenchao Liu takes down the Dragon's Gate High Roller on Day 3 of RDPT Plus Jeju Summer 2026.
Space-X Claims RDPT Plus Jeju Team Title; Tsang Leads Dragon Awakening and Heung Captures Back-to-Back Trophies
Space-X wins the Team Event, Tsang leads Dragon Awakening, and Heung claims a second straight trophy at RDPT Plus Jeju Summer 2026.
The BLUFF Commands Field at Teams Event & Early Trophies Awarded at RDPT Plus Jeju Summer Day 1
Complete Day 1 recap from the RDPT Plus Jeju Summer 2026. Discover how The BLUFF took control, the tiebreaker, and the latest trophy winners.
TMT 20 Shatters Early Guarantees as Star Ambassador Shiina Okamoto Invites Players to the Felt
TMT 20 kicks off at CTP Asia Poker Arena in Taipei, shattering early guarantees. Shiina Okamoto invites players to join the 27-day poker marathon.
Alan Pham Captures Quads Poker Championship 2026 Main Event Title; Kiseok Kang Wins Quads Championship
Alan Pham win the Quads Poker Championship 2026 Main Event for VND 3.43B, while Kiseok Kang scored a breakthrough victory in Hanoi.
Players Series Unveils Full Schedule for PS Championship IV Taipei 2026
The PS Championship IV Taipei 2026 hits the Asia Poker Arena from August 19–31 ,2026 with 104 events and a NTD 39M series guarantee.
Shiina Okamoto’s Historic Three-Peat Bid Falls Short in 2026 WSOP Ladies Championship
Two-time defending champion Shiina Okamoto saw her historic 3-peat bid come to an end during Day 1 of the 2026 WSOP Ladies Championship.
Benny Glaser Wins $50,000 Poker Players Championship for 9th Career Bracelet
Benny Glaser defeated Josh Arieh and Phil Ivey to win the 2026 WSOP $50,000 Poker Players Championship, securing his 9th career bracelet.
TMT 20 Unveils Early Bird Packages, Team Challenge, and Exclusive Gotnofears Merchandise
TMT 20 launches Early Bird packages, the Millions Warrior Team Challenge, and exclusive merchandise ahead of its biggest festival yet.
ACE Poker League (APL) Jeju 2026 Hits Halfway Mark with Main Event on Pace to Crush Guarantee
The 10th anniversary APL Jeju 2026 festival hits its halfway mark at LES A Casino as the Main Event early flights pull in massive entry fields.
OLA Poker Tour Rozvadov 2026 Set for Sep 9–14 at King’s Resort with $3 KKPoker Satellites & Exclusive Hotel Discounts
OLA Poker Tour Rozvadov 2026 runs September 9–14 at King's Resort with a €400K Main Event, and exclusive hotel discounts for players.
Quads Poker Championship 2026 Main Event Down to Final 49, VND 3.43 Billion Up Top
Quads Poker Championship 2026 Main Event is down to the final 49 players, all guaranteed a payday as they chase the VND 3.43 billion top prize.
