Main Event (100,000 JPY)

Flight A of the 2025 USOP Osaka Main Event has officially come to a close. A total of 300 hopefuls sat down aiming to survive 12 levels of intense poker and qualify for Day 2, but only 71 managed to bag chips and advance.

Leading the pack is Denmark’s Michael Falcon. A USOP circuit regular with over $500,000 in live earnings, Falcon last appeared at the Hai Phong Championship event in 2024, where he reached the final table and cashed for around $14,000. This time, he’ll certainly be aiming not just for another final table, but a podium finish later in the week.

Falcon steadily climbed the leaderboard throughout the day, relying on a mix of patience, skill, and perfectly timed aggression. By the end of play, he had bagged more than 700,000 chips—firmly at the top of the counts.

At around Level 7, Falcon sat on roughly 200,000, but surged more than 300% over the last five levels. One memorable hand came in the penultimate level, when he asked a tablemate what chips were hiding behind his stack before moving all-in. He then pretended it was a misclick and revealed a bluff after his opponent folded. “Sorry, I thought it was a stack of 25,000s, I wouldn't have shoved if I knew it was 500s” Falcon joked as he flipped over five-eight offsuit for complete air.

Chasing Falcon in second place is Tooya, who spent much of the day at the same table. Tooya held the chip lead until the final levels, building a strong stack before losing a significant pot when an opponent shoved on him, costing him the top spot but still leaving him in a strong position heading into Day 2.

That concludes the coverage of Day 1A for the Main Event, Day 1B is currently underway and coverage is live at this link!

Tooya raised to 8,000 from under the gun only to be met with a 16,000 four-bet from Kadota on the button, which Tooya called.

Both players swiftly checkedd the 4♣ 4♠ 8♣ flop, after which Tooya led out for 13,000 following the 2♠ turn.

Kadota responded by moving the rest of his ~46,000 stack into the middle, and after asking for a count, Tooya opted to fold.

Paruko was all in from the cutoff for 25,000 and was put at risk by Katsu from the small blind.

Katsu: 7♦ 6♦

Paruko: A♦ A♣

Paruko was far ahead with pocket aces against Katsu's seven-six suited and maintained his dominance throughout the board of 4♣ 5♠ 2♣ J♣ J♦, dragging in a much-needed double-up.

In a blind-versus-blind battle, Joseph Philip picked up 2♦ 2♣ in the small blind and raised to 9,000. Sayuri defended her big blind with K♥ 6♦ .

The flop came K♠ 3♦ 6♠ , giving Sayuri two pair. Joseph continued with a bet of 6,000, and Sayuri quickly called. On the turn 9♣ , Joseph fired again for 26,000, but Sayuri stayed with the hand and called once more. The river T♣ slowed Joseph down, and he checked. Sayuri then shoved for 94,000, putting maximum pressure on her opponent. After tanking for nearly two minutes, Joseph finally released his pocket deuces.

Sayuri confidently dragged the pot with a smile, stacking up the chips in style.

Action was joined with Comori all-in for around 40,000 from the small blind, with Yuki in the hijack making the call, looking to eliminate him in the penultimate level of Day 1A.

Comori: 8♦ 8♠

Yuki: A♣ 9♥

The dealer ran out the board T♥ K♦ J♦ K♠ K♣, giving Comori a boat and securing the full double.

Babi with Q♦ T♣ in UTG+1 opened to 4,500. Camuro in the small blind called with A♣ 3cv. The flop came K♠ J♦ 3♦ then Babi bet 4,000, and Camuro check-called. On the turn A♦ , both players improved, Camuro to two pair, and Babi to the nut straight. Camuro led for 5,500, and Babi just called.The river 6♦ completed a second-nut flush for Babi. Camuro checked, and Babi shoved his remaining 25,500. Camuro made the call, only to see Babi scoop the pot.

Babi scored a big double-up against table chip leader Camuro.

Misaking from UTG picked up A♥ K♦ and raised to 4,000. Jin Jungwoo in +2 called with 3♠ 3♣ , while both blinds defended.

The flop came 3♦ 3♥ A♦ , giving Jin quads. Both blinds checked and folded when Misaking bet 5,000, leaving only Jin to call, slow-playing his monster hand.

On the turn Q♣ , Misaking fired again for 12,000, and Jin just called. The river 2♦ saw Misaking bet 20,000, only for Jin to snap shove all in. After tanking, Misaking put in her remaining 16,000 for a total of 36,000.

Jin tabled his flopped quads, eliminating Misaking. Despite the brutal cooler, Misaking still smiled, stunned by Jin’s incredible hand.

Daeyoung Park made it 4,000 to go from the hijack and Miya defended his big blind.

Miya checked on the 3♦ 3♥ K♣ flop to Park, who continued for 3,000, to which Miya stuck around.

When the Q♣ slid on the turn, Miya checked over again, and Park sent another bet of 7,500, only to face a raise to 21,500 from Miya. After tanking for a long time, Park dropped in the call.

The 9♠ rolled off on the river, and Miya fired 60,000. Park took a few moments before he made the call. Miya revealed 6♠ 5♣ for a bluff, while Park tabled a flopped pair of kings with K♦ J♠ to drag in the pot.

Players are on a 10-minute break now.

Wai Ching Chiang continues his ascent up the leaderboard as the penultimate level of Day 1A of the Event Event nears.

Monburajunia opened with a 4,000 raise, called by Chiang in the cutoff and Yuki in late position.

On the Q♣ J♥ K♥ flop, both Yuki and Monburajunia check-folded when Chiang fired off 4,000 into the middle, and he raked in the modest pot as he looked to top the chip leaderboard.

Ito raised to 3,000 from middle position and Koo three-bet to 8,500 in the cutoff. Ito called.

On the A♣ 6♦ 3♣ flop, Ito check-called a bet of 8,700 from Koo to see a 9♠ fall on the turn, where Ito checked to Koo again, who sent a bet of 22,000.Ito stuck around.

When a T♦ landed on the river, Ito checked and Koo shoved all in for 87,300, sending Ito into the tank. After a long consideration, Ito eventually let go of his cards.

UTG+2 Kinako opened to 3,500, and Suzuki and Misaking called from the hijack and big blind. The flop came 9♥ T♣ 6♣ , giving Kinako a middle set. He c-bet 4,000, Suzuki called, and Misaking check-called.

On the turn 2♠ , Misaking checked again, and Kinako bet 10,000. Suzuki folded, and Misaking called with two pair.The river 8♠ saw Misaking bet 1 BB, but Kinako snap-called with 9♦ 9♣. Kinako’s set held strong, taking the pot over Misaking’s T♦ 2♦ two pair.

Katsu raised the hijack to 3,000 and Arima defended his big blind.

Both players checked to the river on a board of 7♥ 4♥ 8♥ 5♦ 6♠, where Arima sent a bet of 5,000 and Katsu called.

Arima revealed a nine-high straight, and it was good for the pot as Katsu returned his cards to the dealer without showing.

Button Nakagiri raised it to 8,000 and found two callers in Elle in middle position and cutoff Takayuki, and they headed three-ways to the flop.

Elle and Takayuki checked following the 8♣ J♠ 2♦ flop, but only Elle stuck around when Nakagiri fired off 5,000 into the middle.

Both players checked the J♣ turn to see the 8♠ river, where Elle took the betting lead and counted out 20,000 chips, placing them into the middle. Nakagiri couldn't find the call and surrendered the pot to Elle.

T raised to 4,300 from middle position, receiving calls from Nhu An Le in the hijack and Koji on the button. Seongmin Ha then three-bet to 11,300 from the big blind, and only Koji came to see the flop.

The dealer flipped over T♣ A♣ 4♥, and Ha continued for another 8,000. Koji didn't feel like sticking around and promptly returned his cards.

Jin Jungwoo from UTG+1 opened to 2,600 holding Q♥ Q♦ . Babi on the button called with J♦ T♥ , and Misaking defended his big blind with 6♦ 2♦ .

The flop came Q♣ 9♠ A♥ , giving Jin a middle set. He c-bet 3,200, Babi called with an open-ended straight draw, and Misaking folded.

The turn K♠ completed Babi’s straight. Jin bet 7,000, and Babi raised to 18,000. Jin called.

The river 9♣ gave Jin a full house. He bet 25,000, and after some tanking, Babi called. Jin’s full house held strong, beating Babi’s nut straight and taking the pot.

Gouda made it 2,2000 to go from the cutoff and Toshiki called in the small blind, as did Eru from the big blind.

A flop dealt Q♠ A♥ J♥, and action checked to Gouda, who continued for 2,500. Both Toshiki and Eru stuck around.

When an 8♦ hit on the turn, three players checked through to see the T♣ fall on the river, where Toshiki shoved all in for around 20,000. Eru stepped aside and Gouda called.

Toshiki revealed K♣ 5♣ for a Broadway, while Gouda also tabled a Broadway with A♦ K♥, making it a chop pot.

After one hand, Joseph Philip from the cutoff called an initial raise from Babi in the hijack. Misaking, holding J♥ J♦ , raised to 10,000, but Babi folded. Joseph, holding 5♠ 5♥ , called the raise.

The flop came 2♠ 9♣ 3♠ , and Joseph check-called a 10,000 c-bet from Misaking. On the turn T♦ , Misaking bet 30,000 after Joseph checked, and Joseph tanked before folding.

With these two hands, Joseph lost more than half of his big stack, suffering a huge setback in just a short sequence.

Action was joined at the table with an all-in between big blind Misokatsunohito, and at-risk caller Junji seated in middle position.

The board was already reading 9♦ J♦ 7♦ when Misokatsunohito shoved his stack and they flipped their hands:

Junji: A♥ Q♠

Misokatsunohito: K♥ K♠

The Q♥ on the turn provided little comfort for Junji and the 4♠ on the river sealed his elimination out of Day 1A of the Main Event.

Action folded to Babi on the button, who opened to 2,600. Singapore’s Joseph Philip 3-bet to 9,000, and Babi responded with a 4-bet to 16,000 holding J♦ 5♥ . Joseph called with a mystery hand.

On the flop Q♣ 8♥ 4♦ , Babi fired 10,600, and Joseph check-called. Joseph checked again on the turn 4♥ , and Babi shoved his remaining 16,800. After some tanking, Joseph folded 9♠ 9♣ , and Babi successfully pulled off a massive bluff to take the pot.

Suzuki from UTG+1 opened to 2,500 with K♠ J♦ . Nobunaga in UTG+2 called with T♥ T♦ .

The flop came J♠ 6♠ 4♣ , and Suzuki bet 3,500, with Nobunaga calling. On the turn 2♣, Suzuki fired 5,000, and Nobunaga called again. Both players checked the river 7♥ , and Suzuki won the pot with the higher pair.

Seated in middle position, Kairi got the last of her ~35,000 chips into the middle and was facing a call from Tstyle on the button.

Kairi: 9♥ 9♦

Tstyle: A♠ K♥

The dealer ran out the board: Q♠ 6♦ T♣ 4♥ 3♥, keeping Kairi's pocket nines ahead and securing the double for her.

With a pile of chips in the middle, a flop came 5♣ 3♠ 6♠, and Seungmin Yu checked from the big blind to Michael Falcon, who led out for 2,000 in the hijack. Taka folded in the cutoff, and Yu put in a raise to 100,000. Falcon stuck around.

Yu sent another barrel of 15,000 on the 4♦ turn, and it didn't deter Falcon from making the call.

When an 8♥ filled out the board, Yu tossed his third barrel of 15,000, sending Falcon into the tank. After thinking for a long time, Falcon elected to call.

Yu tabled A♣ 7♥ for ace-high and it was good for the pot.

Newcomer to the table Moteticks raised to 2,000 from middle position which was called by cutoff Joonhee Yea, only to be three-bet to 10,000 by big blind Po Sen Wang, both players made the call.

On the T♦ T♠ 6♦ flop, Wang led out for a further 7,000 and only Moteticks stuck around.

Both players slowed and checked through the 4♠ turn, and on the 9♣ river Wang fired off 15,000 into the middle. Moteticks pondered for a moment before ultimately tossing in the call.

Wang flicked over K♣ K♦, a jarred Moteticks revealed he had A♦ K♥.

Yun-Chen Lee min-raised to 2,000 from under the gun, with Akkiey on seat to his left, button Yuxiang Zhao and big blind Kirara all going to the flop.

Kirara and Lee both check-folded Zhao's 3,000 bet, with only Akkiey check-calling to see the turn.

Action slowed from both players where the 6♣ went check-check.

Akkiey then fired off 16,000 on the K♦ river, a price too high for Zhao who released his cards back to the dealer.

Kazui shoved all in from the cutoff for 6,400 and was put at risk by Satsuki in the big blind.

Satsuki: T♦ 3♣

Kazui: K♠ 4♠

Kazui had chances to score a double-up with his king-high; however, the dealer crushed his hope on the 7♠ 8♥ 3♠, connecting with Satsuki's three.

The turn improved Satsuki to two pair with a T♣, leaving Kazui drawing to a spade to stay alive.

Unfortunately for Kazui, the river didn't cooperate and sent a 9♣ to complete the board, sending him out of the field.

Players are on another 10-minute break now.

Ito raised to 2,000 from middle position and found three callers; Mogu on the button, Rodriguez in the small blind and Macchan in the big blind, and they headed four ways to the flop.

Rodriguez check-called Ito's 3,000 continuation-bet following the J♦ 4♠ K♣ flop, both Mogu and Macchan check-folded.

On the 9♠ turn, Ito continued with a further 7,500 bet. Rodriguez check-folded and Ito scooped up the pot.

In the next hand, button Rodriguez got the rest of his ~25,000 stack into the middle and eas called by Mogu in the cutoff, and they placed their cards on their backs:

Rodriguez: A♠ 8♠

Mogu: K♥ J♣

The 6♠ T♦ J♦ 9♣ 3♦ stayed clean for Mogu, avoiding Rodriguez' straight draw and eliminating him.

Lakcy168 made it 1,600 to go from early position, and Miliakov Aleksandr three-bet to 4,000 from middle position. Rinatei called on the button, as did Lakcy168.

On the 5♥ 5♣ T♠ flop, it checked to Rinatei, who led out for 7,000. Only Aleksandr came along for the ride.

It went check-check on the A♠ turn. When a 9♣ filled out the board, Aleksandr sent a chunky bet of 27,000 after tanking for a long time. It forced Rinatei to fold instantly.

Daburupottokatoo from under the gun, Zihao Zhang from middle position, Le Nhu An on the button, Yumeotoko from the small blind limped in, and Akihito checked over in the big blind.

On the T♥ 4♣ 2♣ flop, Yumeotoko checked and Akihito led out for 1,500, which only Daburupottokatoo stuck around.

It went check-check on the K♠ turn, and the river brought a J♦. Akihito sent a bet of 3,000. Daburupottokatoo called to take it to a showdown.

Akihito flipped over A♠ T♠ for a flopped pair of tens and took down the pot as Daburupottokatoo mucked.

Action was joined on a flop of 6♠ A♦ T♦, with Kiyohito acting from the hijack and Koji in the cutoff. Kiyohito had just moved the rest of his ~29,000 stack into the middle, and Koji made the call:

Kiyohito: T♥ T♣

Koji: A♣ Q♦

Kiyohito looked like a strong favourite to double and the remainder of the 5♠ J♥ runout confirmed just that.

Daon Kang opened the button to 2,000 and Sayuri defended her big blind.

Sayuri checked on the 4♦ 8♥ 9♦ flop to Kang, who continued with a bet of 3,000. Sayuri stuck around.

When a 3♥ fell on the turn, Sayuri checked again, and Kang fired out another barrel of 5,700. After thinking for a while, Sayuri eventually opted to fold.

Sam Lam Fung raised to 1,300 from the hijack and was called only by Dasol Lee defending in the big blind.

Lee check-called Fung's 1,100 continuation-bet following the 7♥ J♠ K♠ flop.

On the K♥ turn, Lee check-called again, this time to the tune of 4,000.

On the Q♣ river, Lee took the betting lead and fired off 12,000. Fung tanked for a while, before ultimately deciding to let the hand go.

Kurochyan raised from early position to 2,000 and Toranpuman called on the button, as did Katsuo from the big blind.

On the 2♦ T♥ 5♦ flop, Katsuo checked to Kurochyan, who continued for 10,000. Toranpuman called and Katsuo folded.

Kurochyan then sent another barrel of 5,000 on the 5♣ turn, and Toranpuman stuck around to see the 7♣ river. Kurochyan didn't slow down here and fired out 50,000, prompting a snap-fold from Toranpuman.

Akiko raised to 1,500 from late position and recieved two callers; K-style in the hijack and Katsu in the small blind, and they headed three-ways to the flop.

Action checked through the K♦ J♥ 9♦ board to the 5♣ turn; Katsu led out for 2,000 and only K-style stuck around to see the river.

Both players checked upon seeing the 5♦ land on the felt, and Katsu turned over J♠ 9♣ for two pair on the flop, whilst K-style sent his cards into the muck.

Jonathan Joseph opened the hijack to 1,200 and Kinako defended his big blind.

Kinako checked on the 4♦ K♥ 7♦ flop to Joseph, who continued with a bet of 1,000. Kinako made the call.

When an A♥ fell on the turn, Kinako check-called again, this time for a bet of 4,000 from Joseph.

The 3♣ filled out the board and it went check-check.

Kinako revealed 7♠ 6♦ for a flopped pair of sevens, but it was cracked by Joseph's 9♣ 9♥.

Kyuzo raised to 1,500 from under the gun, and faced a 5,000 three-bet from Yuujipo one seat to his left, which was eventually called.

Kyuzo checked the 3♣ A♣ 9♠ flop, but when Yuujipo fired off 3,500, he bumped it up to 13,500 to go, which Yuujipo stuck around for.

The dealer flipped over the 5♦ for the turn, and Kyuzo put out 13,000 into the middle this time. Yuujipo responded by placing the remainder of his ~22,000 stack into the middle, which was promptly called and they went to showdown:

Yuujipo: A♠ K♥

Kyuzo: A♥ 9♦

The Q♠ on the river kept Kyuzo's two pair ahead and Yuujipo was eliminated.

Kubota Naoki made it 1,000 to go from the cutoff and Kirara called on the button, as did Keigo from the big blind.

Three players checked to the river on the K♥ Q♣ 8♠ 4♦ 6♠ board, where Keigo checked to Naoki, who bet 2,300. Kirara called and Keigo folded.

Naoki quickly revealed 6♥ 4♥ for rivered two pair to drag in the pot as Kirara threw her cards into the muck.

Players are now on their first 10-minute break.

Chen Ping opened to 1,000 from the hijack and was met with a three-bet from Miyabi on the button. Seki wasn’t backing down in the small blind and put in a four-bet to 8,000, with both opponents making the call to go three-ways to the flop.

The dealer spread A♣ 7♣ 3♥, and the action slowed as all three players checked through. The 5♠ hit the turn, where Seki fired off a hefty 15,500 bet. Neither opponent was willing to continue, and the small blind dragged in a tidy pot without a showdown.

Nori made it 1,200 to go from the hijack and got himself four callers on the felt: Kairi in the cutoff, Yuuki on the button, Take and Tstyle from the blinds.

On the A♣ 5♣ 6♦ flop, it checked to Kairi, who led out for 2,000. Yuuki stepped aside. Take, Tstyle, and Nori check-called.

When a 4♣ fell on the turn, it checked to Kairi again, who sent another barrel of 5,000. This time only Take came along for the ride.

The board-pairing 6♣ completed the runout, and Take checked. Kairi fired her third barrel for 15,000, forcing a fold from Take.

Here’s a look at some of the early eliminations after just over 90 minutes of play in Day 1A.

Small blind Satsuki re-raised to 3,600 after a 1,000 open from KJ Shark in middle position, only to face a four-bet to 6,600 from big blind Sunacchi. Satsuki made the call, going heads-up to the flop.

The dealer spread J♥ 9♥ 7♠, and Satsuki checked. Sunacchi slid forward a red 5,000 chip, announcing “three,” and Satsuki stuck around.

The 6♥ hit the turn, and once again Satsuki check-called, this time facing a bet of 6,300.

When the river brought the 6♣, Satsuki checked for a final time. Sunacchi fired a third barrel worth 15,000, and Satsuki decided she had seen enough, sending her cards into the muck and taking a sizable hit to her stack in the early stages of Day 1A.

Ryuto opened to 600 from under the gun and got himself two callers from the blinds: Yuki and Chai Kok Hoe.

On the T♥ Q♠ 8♣ flop, it checked to Ryuto, who continued for 600 and Yuki called. Hoe then put in a raise to 2,200, and both of his opponents called.

A Q♦ fell on the turn. Yuki checked and Heo sent a chunky bet of 5,200, which only Ryuto came along for the ride.

When a 6♥ filled out the board, Heo grabbed a pile of red stacks as a bet of 35,000 after checking the pot size, sending Ryuto into the tank. After around 2 minutes, Ryuto eventually mucked.

Toma limped in from under the gun and Kazuki checked over in the big blind.

The two checked through the 8♣ A♥ A♠ flop to see a 7♥ fall on the turn, where Kazuki led out for 500 and Toma dropped in the call.

A 6♠ rolled off on the river and it went check-check.

Kazuki tabled J♠ 8♥ for a flopped pair of eights to collect the pot as Toma tossed his cards into the muck.

Ukkarihachibee raised the small blind to 400, and Rinatei three-bet to 1,600. Ukkarihachibee snap-called.

A flop came Q♥ Q♠ K♠, and Ukkarihachibee checked to Rinatei, who continued with a chunky bet of 2,000. It was good for the pot as Ukkarihachibee laid it down.

In the very next hand, Ukkarihachibee opened the button to 500 and Na defended his big blind.

Both players checked through the runout of 9♠ 2♦ K♦ K♥ Q♣ to take it to a free showdown.

Na quickly revealed T♦ 4♦ for ten-high, and it was enough to take down the pot.

Yuki raised to 500 from the cutoff, with button Chai Kok Hoe and big blind Jinyoung Kang coming along for the ride, and they headed three-ways to the flop.

Kang checked following the reveal of the 3♥ 9♠ 8♥ flop, and Yuki checked behind. Hoe threw a 1000 chip into the centre of the table, announcing a bet for 700. It didn't take long for both Yuki and Kang to release their cards back to the dealer.

Shuffle up and deal has been announced and the cards are in the air for the first flight of USOP Osaka Main Event.

Day 2 of 7 of the USOP has officially started here at the heart of Osaka, Japan. Kicking things off we have the first of four flights of the Main Event, with Day 1A starting at 11:00 a.m, and Day 1B starting at 17:00 p.m, giving hopefuls plenty of time to build their stacks going into the Main Event's second day.

All flights will follow the same structure; featuring 12 levels, starting at 100/200/200 and closing at 2,000/4,000/4,000. Players will enjoy three short breaks along the way, giving plenty of room for deep stacks early before the pressure builds in the late stages. Survivors bag up at the end of Level 12 and return for Day 2.