Mystery DRAGON (20,000 JPY)

The Mystery Dragon Flight A at USOP Osaka 2025 has concluded inside the Dojima River Forum, with Japan’s Dots sitting atop the leaderboard with staggering 476,000 chips, while more challengers take their seats in Flight B.

After fifteen 25-minute levels of play, the first flight drew a field of 134 entries, with just 15 survivors bagging their chips to advance into Day 2.

Chasing closely behind Dots is his countryman Nakai, who has accumulated an imposing stack of 455,000 chips. Rounding out the top three is Kazuki, also from Japan, with a healthy stack of 395,000.

With Flight B still ongoing, turnout is expected to surge further, as it also provides fallen pros with another chance at redemption.

Stay tuned as we bring you the thrilling action for the remainder of the 2025 USOP Mystery Dragon.

After a few hands, Tenten shoved for 14,000 from middle position, and Atsu three-bet to 30,000 from the cutoff. Peng Yang, seated in the big blind, went into deliberation but accidentally moved his blind chips back while folding, which prompted the dealer to call the floor.

Following the floor’s ruling, Yang was required to call instead. The dealer spread an 8♣ 5♥ T♣ flop, where Yang checked to Atsu, who continued for 20,000. Yang then shoved for 581,000, and Atsu quickly stepped aside, leaving Tenten at risk against Yang.

Peng Yang: A♠ 7♦

Tenten: T♥ 9♥

Tenten picked up the lead with a flopped pair of tens, but Yang took over the dominance on the A♥ turn, connecting with his ace.

The deck sealed Tenten’s fate with the 3♠ on the river, eliminating him in the final level of the day.

The action was picked up on the 9♣ 8♠ 2♣ flop with 95,000 chips in the pot. Kang opened to 25,000 from under the gun, only to be jammed by Tenten for 130,000. Kang called for his 129,000, putting his tournament life on the line.

Tenten: Q♣ J♠

Kang: A♣ A♠

Kang dominated the hand with pocket aces, while Tenten picked up a gutshot. The dealer sent a 5♥ on the turn, leaving Tenten drawing thin.

The deck sealed a double-up for Kang with the 3♣ river, leaving just 1,000 for Tenten to continue his run.

Cutiff Akito opened to 16,000 and received calls from Tenten on the button and Atsu in the big blind.

On the A♣ 4♣ 6♣ flop, Atsu check-folded and Akito check-called Tenten's 15,000 wager.

Once the 2♣ hit the felt on the turn, Tenten continued, this time for 20,000. Akito couldn't find the call and surrendered the pot.

Kang opened to 6,000 from the cutoff and button Peng Yang, small blind Donghwan Min and big blind Akito called to take them four-ways to the flop.

All players checked through the 4♣ A♦ 5♦ board to take them to the Q♠ turn, where Akito slid 13,000 into the middle. Only Min called.

On the 5♥ river, Akito fired off 25,000. Min showed his Q♣ while sending his hand back to the dealer. Akito flicked over the A♥ while raking in the pot.

Kazuki opened the button to 13,000 and was called by the blinds: Shuu and Tsuru.

The blinds checked over the 8♥ 9♣ T♣ flop to Kazuki, who continued for 45,000. Only Shuu dropped in the call.

The tow checked through the 2♣ Q♣ runout and took it to a free showdown.

Kazuki tabled 8♣ 8♦ for a set, but it still couldn't beat a rivred straight with Shuu's J♣ T♠

Players are now on their final 10-minute break of Day 1A

Shinchan opened to 8,000 from under the gun and Akito called in the cutoff, as did Sakurai from the big blind.

The dealer delivered a J♣ T♣ K♦ flop, and Sakurai checked to Shinchan, who continued with a bet of 12,000. Akito and Sakurai stuck around.

Action checked to Akito, who bet 25,000 on the 6♥ turn, and only Shinchan made the call to see a 3♠ filled out the board, where both players checked to showdown.

Chichan flipped Q♠ Q♦, but it was no match for a flopped pair of kings with Akito's K♣ 8♣.

R_RR opened the hijack to 6,000, only to be shoved by Eom Jihye on the button for 31,000. R_RR snap-called to put his opponent at risk.

Eom Jihye: A♠ Q♠

R_RR: 7♠ 7♦

Eom Jihye was behind with ace-high but still had several outs to win the coin flip. The dealer sent a 9♦ J♠ K♣ flop, giving Jihye a gutshot.

A board-pairing 9♥ landed on the turn, leaving Jihye with just one card to stay alive. Unfortunately for Jihye, the river didn't cooperate as a 2♦ sealed her elimination from the tournament.

Tsuru opened to 6,500 from the cutoff with only big blind Taehee Lee joining in the fun.

Lee check-called Tsuru's 4,500 continuation-bet once the 7♠ 4♣ Q♥ hit the felt.

On the K♠ turn, Lee checked once more; Tsuru then fired off 22,000 into the middle, enough to force a fold from Lee and rake in the pot.

Pass raised to 4,000 from the hijack and received two calls; James on the button and big blind Shinji, and they headed three-ways to the flop.

The dealer turned over the 3♣, 4♥ and 9♥ for the flop. Shinji checked, as did Pass, but James fired off 10,000. This was enough to throw the other two off and he raked in the modest pot.

Nakai made it 4,500 to go from the cutoff, and Nori defended his big blind.

On the K♦ 4♥ A♦ flop, Nori check-called Nakai's 10,000 continuation-bet to see a 5♥ fall on the turn, where Nori shoved his remaining 6,500. Nakai snap-called.

Nakai: A♥ J♥

Nori: A♠ 4♦

Nori dominated the hand with a flopped two pair, looking set for a double-up. However, the deck had other plans, as a board-pairing 5♣ landed on the river, turning it into a chop pot and allowing Nakai to dodge the double-up fate.

Yuri Murakami opened to 3,000 from the cutoff, blinds Masa and Shuu joined to take them three-ways to the flop.

Play was cautious and checked through the T♦ 9♥ J♥ flop and A♥ turn. Once the A♦ hit the felt, Masa led out for 5,500. Shuu responded in turn with a 12,000 bet of his own, and only Murakami called.

Shuu flipped over 3♥ 6♥ for a turned flush, whilst Murakami slid her cards away.

Atsu opened to 3,000 from under the gun, and Reon called in the cutoff, as did Dots from the small blind. Peng Yang then three-bet to 33,000 from the small blind. Atsu and Reon folded. Dots jammed for 128,500, to which Yang called off his 95,000.

Peng Yang: A♣ 3♣

Dots: A♦ K♥

Dots picked up the lead with Big Slick and extended his dominance on the Ka A♠ 2♠ flop, improving him to two pair.

The dealer revealed the 5♣ on the turn, giving Yang a straight draw. Just when it seemed Yang was on his way out, the deck delivered exactly what he needed, the 4♠, completing a runner-runner straight and shipping him a much-needed double-up.

Players are on a 10-minute break now.

Tenten called from under the gun along with cutoff Shuu, whilst TT checked in the big.

TT checked on the K♣ 3♣ A♠ flop, then raised after Tenten fired off 1,500. Both Shuu and Tenten called, then all three players checked through the 9♦ turn.

The J♠ landed on the river and TT checked again, as did Tenten. This time around Shuu led the betting, sending 11,000 into the middle, and only Tenten called to see Shuu table 3♠ 3♦ for a set on the flop. Tenten knocked the table and sent the chips over.

Benjamin Foulgot limped in from the small blind, and Sangheun Lee raised to 3,600 in the big blind. Foulgot called.

The dealer delivered K♣ 5♣ 5♠ flop, and Foulgot checked to Lee, who continued for 2,600. Foulgot then put in a raise to 7,000, sending Lee into the tank.

After a long consideration, Lee eventually folded and yielded the pot.

Sangseok Kim completed in the small blind and Hayato checked in the big.

On the T♣ 3♣ 8♦ flop, Kim check-raised to 5,000 following Hayato's 1,500 bet.

Kim took the betting lead on the J♦ flop, pushing 10,000 into the middle. Hayato thought it wise not to call and thus tossed his cards to the middle.

Peng Yang limped in from the small blind and Atsu checked over in the big blind.

The two checked through a 3♣ 2♣ K♣ 8♥ Q♦ board and took it to a free showdown.

Yang revealed 7♦ 4♥, and it was no match against Atsu's 9♣ 7♥.

Kazuki raised to 2,000 from under the gun and found two callers; button Tomozou and Jongseok Baek in the big blind.

Baek checked the 4♠ T♦ 6♠ flop; before eventually folding to Kazuki's 2,000 continuation-bet, as did Tomozou.

Daon Kang raised to 2,000 from the hijack and was called by Anishraj Jeebun in the big blind.

Both players checked through the 4♠ T♦ 6♠ flop to the J♦ turn, where Jeebun check-folded Kang's 4,000 continuation bet.

Following his fold, his flicked over the A♥ face-up from his hole cards.

Marino limped in from the small blind and Donghwan Min checked from the big blind.

Both players checked to the river on a board of 4♥ 8♠ 7♥ Q♦ 3♠, where Marino bet 1,800. It was good for the pot.

Event starts 12:00 local time...