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

• The Hendon Mob Profile