Zoe has covered major poker series across Asia, including APT and the Players Series. With solid experience as a live reporter, she now joins SoMuchPoker to deliver in-depth coverage and share her insights from the tables.

Updated: 2025.12.26

Shinya Maeda is a Japanese professional poker player who has become a significant force on the Asian tournament circuit, widely recognized for his high level of consistency and major deep runs in championship fields across Vietnam, South Korea, and Taiwan.

Career Earnings & Biggest Results

With over $197,200 in total live earnings, Shinya Maeda currently ranks 125th on the Japan All Time Money List. According to The Hendon Mob, his career-best live cash of VND 2,429,580,000 (~$102,672) was achieved in July 2023 at the APT Summer Series Da Nang, where he finished as the runner-up in the record-breaking VND 12,000,000,000 GTD Main Event. After a short 17-hand heads-up battle, he secured the six-figure score, marking a major milestone in his professional career.

The year 2025 has been a prolific season for Maeda, yielding multiple high-stakes results and final table appearances. His recent triumphs and records include:

3rd Place, Super Cup in Incheon Mini High Roller (October 2025) for $4,364.
3rd Place, APT Incheon Super Hyper Turbo Bomb Pot (August 2025) for $2,358.
8th Place, APT Incheon Mini Main Event (August 2025) for $9,824.
9th Place, APT Manila Classic ₱ 30,000 No Limit Hold’em (February 2025) for $1,481.
10th Place, APT Incheon Micro Main Event (August 2025) for $1,398.
11th Place, APT Taipei NT$ 10,000 No Limit Hold’em (April 2025) for $1,787.

Biography & Poker Background

Originally from Japan and currently residing in Tokyo, Shinya Maeda has transitioned from a regional standout to a feared professional regular on the international stage. While he is a staple of prominent Asian festivals such as the Asian Poker Tour (APT) and the Japan Open Poker Tour (JOPT) , his resume includes global experience with cashes at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and The Wynn Summer Classic in Las Vegas. His steady climb is reflected in his Global Poker Index (GPI) ranking, where he reached a career-high of 2,955th in the world during late 2025, currently ranking as the 45th best player in Japan.

Play Style & Strategy

Shinya Maeda is known for a calculated and resilient tournament strategy, often excelling in “High Roller” and “Mini Main” formats where technical precision and stack management are paramount. During his deep run in the 2023 APT Da Nang Main Event, live reporting highlighted his tactical discipline, where he successfully slow-played pocket kings to score a crucial double-up at the final table and eventually navigate his way to a podium finish. His approach combines a disciplined understanding of No Limit Hold’em with the aggression needed to thrive in fast-paced “Turbo” and “Bomb Pot” events, a skill evidenced by his ability to consistently reach the final stages of the most competitive festivals in Southeast Asia and Japan.

Recent Attendances