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Hideo Sawai is a Japanese poker player and a high-volume grinder on the Asian live circuit, competing regularly across South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines. He most recently finished runner-up in the Titan Stack Daily at GOP Taipei 2026.
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
With total live tournament earnings of $30,844 across 21 recorded cashes (according to The Hendon Mob), Sawai's career-best live score of $4,943 came from winning the P1 Circuit PACIFIC Charity Tournament in Incheon, South Korea in August 2024.
Notable results include:
September 2026: 2nd place in the GOP Taipei 2026 Titan Stack Daily for TWD 170,500 (~$5,400), falling heads-up to Yuto Ishibashi.
September 2025: 22nd place in the APT Jeju Mystery Bounty Hunter for KRW 4,360,000 (~$3,092).
October 2024: 9th place in the APT Taipei Poker Classic High Roller Double Stack for NT$151,000 (~$4,741).
August 2024: 1st place in the P1 Circuit PACIFIC Charity Tournament in Incheon for KRW 6,722,000 (~$4,943) — his career-best cash.
Biography & Poker Background
Based in Japan, Sawai is an active tournament grinder who splits his schedule across the major stops on the Asian circuit, with results spanning the Asian Poker Tour, APPT, Taiwan Millions Tournament, PokerStars LIVE, and the Japan Open Poker Tour.
His 21 recorded cashes reflect a consistent presence across Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines, with his strongest results coming in South Korea. His runner-up finish at GOP Taipei 2026 came during a strong stretch of results across the second half of 2026.
Play Style & Strategy
Sawai is a tournament specialist with broad experience across the Asian circuit, comfortable in a range of formats from deep-stack Main Events to faster daily and turbo structures. His high-volume schedule and steady record of cashes across multiple countries point to a disciplined, adaptable approach, with his best results tending to come in the mid-stakes fields of Korea's major festivals.
Social Media & Online Presence
About the Editor
Callum Jury is Somuchpoker's Live Content and Social Media Specialist, reporting live from WSOP and Asia Pacific poker festivals including the APT and PokerStars LIVE series. Originally from the Lake District in the UK, he has covered the Southeast Asian poker circuit since 2025, combining day-by-day tournament reporting with the social and digital content that brings the action to fans.