Originally from the Lake District, UK, I’ve spent the last few years living and breathing the Southeast Asian poker circuit. Since 2025, I’ve been a fixture on the floor at the APT, PokerStars, and WSOP events, serving as a lead reporter and media specialist for Somuchpoker. My work is about more than just recording action; I manage the social media and digital content that brings action rail to the fans. By combining a business education and creative background, I aim to look past the technical hand histories to capture the actual human grit and drama that happens during a deep run.

Updated: 2026.05.01

Kyota Henzan is a professional poker player from Nagoya, Japan, who has emerged as a consistent competitor on the international circuit in 2024 and 2025. He is currently experiencing a career-high period, having significantly climbed the national rankings through deep runs in the United States, Taiwan, and South Korea.

Career Earnings & Ranking

As of December 20, 2025, Kyota Henzan has established a solid professional foundation with recorded live earnings exceeding USD 51,500:

Total Live Earnings: $51,501 (The Hendon Mob).
Japan All-Time Money List: 461st (climbing from 510th in mid-2025).
Global Poker Index (GPI) Ranking: 8,101st (climbing from 10,149th earlier this year).
Japan National Rank (GPI): 102nd.

Notable 2025 Results

The 2025 season has been the most productive of Henzan’s career, highlighted by his largest live score in South Korea and consistent performance at the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

Gods Of Poker (GOP) Jeju (Dec 2025): Captured his career-best live score by finishing 4th in the GOP Mini Main Event for USD 7,065 (10,390,000 KRW).
WSOP 2025 (Las Vegas): Recorded multiple cashes during the summer series, including:
- USD 800 No Limit Hold’em – Deepstack: Finished 327th for USD 1,649 (Event #95).
- Significant scores in mid-June with Point of Year (POY) points totaling over 150 across three events.
Japan Open Poker Tour (JOPT) Grand Final (May 2025): Finished 23rd in the No Limit Hold’em – Deepstack event.
Jeju Poker Festival (Nov 2024): Previously recorded deep runs in the Red Dragon Championship series in Jeju.

Play Style & Strategy

Kyota Henzan is recognized as a disciplined deepstack specialist. His results suggest a highly adaptable approach to large-field tournaments:

Mid-Major Proficiency: His ability to reach the final two tables of flagship series like the GOP Mini Main and JOPT Deepstack indicates a strong grasp of mid-tournament navigation and ICM (Independent Chip Model) pressure.
International Versatility: Unlike many regional grinders, Henzan has successfully transitioned his strategy from the aggressive “Asian Meta” in Jeju and Taiwan to the technical, high-volume environment of the WSOP in Las Vegas.
Endurance Navigation: Consistent cashes in “Deepstack” formats suggest he prioritizes patient, post-flop technicality over high-variance “push-fold” strategy.