From Main Event Drama to High Roller Action in USOP Osaka Day 4
Wei Seizes Day 2 Chip Lead
One of the most anticipated events of the series, Main Event Day 2, has officially entered the USOP history books, with Hong Kong’s Horace Wei grabbing the chip lead with a commanding stack of 5,230,000 at the grand Dojima River Forum.
Starting the day with 315 returning poker elites, the Hong Kong pro navigated the minefield of the tournament through twelve grueling 40-minute levels, demonstrating the resilience and stamina of a true professional, ultimately securing the chip lead with authority. He was forced to settle for second on the leaderboard during the last level, after his queen-high bluff was picked off by Kasaki Ryusuke’s flopped pair of aces.
However, Wei was only biding his time. In the final five hands of the night, he picked the perfect moment, shoving with pocket kings against Ryusuke’s Big Slick. Just like that, Wei stormed back to reclaim the chip lead in style.
Hot on the heels of the Hong Kong player is Japan’s Kasaki Ryusuke, who looks poised to keep the pressure on the frontrunner with a towering stack of 4,610,000. Rounding out the top three is Mii, the only female player in the trio, who also crossed the four-million mark, bagging 4,490,000 to advance into Day 3.
Among the day’s most heartbreaking exits was Stanley Karl, who burst the bubble when his ace-queen failed to connect against Rapuasu’s pocket fives, ending his Main Event dream in 151st place and walking out empty-handed.
Highlights on Amazing High Roller
In the midst of the Main Event, another highly anticipated contest, the Amazing High Roller, took center stage, amplifying the electric atmosphere in the venue. Known for its status as the tournament’s most expensive buy-in event, it attracted a roster of well-known poker professionals, all eager to test their skills and wits, guts, and grit against a stacked and competitive field.
Following through on his promise from yesterday at GACKT’s Party, GACKT made a striking appearance at today’s felt, ready to battle against a field of skilled players. Among the heavy hitters was Joseph Cheong, also known as ‘subiime’, who boasts over $20M in live earnings and a multiple worldwide titles under his belt. Even after firing two bullets in this high-stakes event, the US poker elite showcased his experience and skill throughout the day, making for a thrilling and competitive showdown.
Another notable contender in the field was Japan’s Kyosuke Nagami, a seasoned pro with over $1M in live earnings. Nagami entered the tournament with high ambitions, aiming to capture his maiden USOP title. Although his run didn’t last until the end of the day, his presence was certainly felt, leaving a mark on this prestigious stage.
It was Korea’s Louie Yu who capped off the event in blistering fashion. From the very start of the final table, his surge only grew faster and stronger, showing no signs of slowing down. In less than three hours on the feature table, Yu completed his unstoppable run and claimed the coveted trophy.
Final Table Result
| Pos | Name | 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 |
Rui’s Way to the Trophy
The pace at the final table began to accelerate after Sam Lam Fung fell as the first casualty, setting the stage for Yu’s unstoppable surge. Japan’s Shobu was the first to fall to his momentum, as Yu’s rivered Broadway cracked pocket sixes of Shobu. After several orbits of chips changing hands, Wong Tim Lam became the next victim when his eight-high ran into Yu’s ace-high on a clean board, sending him to the rail and leaving the field to five-handed.
After Lam’s exit, Muu put his entire stack in against Yu. He held the lead when a queen connected with the board; however, the deck had other ideas. An ace jumped on the river to pair Yu’s hand, cutting short Muu’s deep run in fifth place .
With the table down to four-handed, Yu continued to showcase his dominance on the felt. First, he claimed Hashimoto as a victim , spiking a rivered straight to crack the Japanese player’s pocket aces. Not long after, Yu sent Hashimoto’s countryman Hajimechan to the rail as well, with ace-jack overpowering ace-eight to tighten his grip on the table.
Yu entered the final heads-up with a commanding near 9-to-1 chip lead, and as expected, he wasted little time in sealing the deal. After picking up a few more chips in the first two hands, Kinako shoved once again on the button, only to be called by Yu. Kinako’s pocket sailboats couldn’t stay afloat against Yu’s jack-five suited, which completed a flush on the river. In lightning-fast fashion, Yu captured the trophy and the ultimate glory.
Yu’s dominant performance capped off Day 4 of the USOP Osaka 2025 and will surely be remembered as one of the most decisive and thrilling victories in USOP history.
