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Takashi Ogura is a legendary Japanese professional poker and mahjong player who has been a dominant force in the Asian live circuit for over a decade. Currently ranked as one of the top three players in Japan’s history, Ogura is widely respected for his technical versatility and longevity in the game.
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
With total live earnings exceeding $1.67 million, Takashi Ogura is a titan of the Japanese All Time Money List. His career is marked by numerous high-stakes victories and final tables across the most prestigious tours in Asia, from the early days of the Macau Poker Cup to modern-day festivals in the Philippines and South Korea.
Notable results include:
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$327,468 (PHP 18,154,500) for a victory in the Poker Dream Manila Super High Roller in May 2023.
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$178,000 (HKD 1,382,000) for a 3rd-place finish in the record-breaking Macau Poker Cup 24 Red Dragon Main Event.
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$169,423 (HKD 1,323,831) for a runner-up finish in the 2018 Poker King Cup Macau High Roller.
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$14,300 (KRW 18,540,000) for a 22nd-place finish in the Asian Poker Tour (APT) Jeju Classic Main Event in February 2026.
These consistent performances have solidified his status as one of Japan’s most successful exports, frequently competing at the highest levels of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT). For a full breakdown of his tournament history, you can view the Takashi Ogura Hendon Mob Profile.
Biography & Poker Background
Originally from Japan, Takashi Ogura is a dual-threat professional, maintaining a high-level career in both competitive mahjong and poker. His crossover skills from mahjong—where pattern recognition and psychological warfare are paramount—helped him quickly ascend the poker ranks during the late 2000s. Ogura is often described as a “private” figure who shuns the spotlight, preferring to let his results on the felt speak for themselves. In early 2026, he demonstrated his enduring skill by making a deep run at the APT Jeju Classic, proving he remains a top-tier competitor in the modern era.
Play Style & Strategy
Ogura is recognized for a “deliberate, slow-burning” style that emphasizes deep tactical analysis and composure under pressure. His strategy is deeply influenced by his professional mahjong background, leading to a patient, exploitative approach that thrives in high-stakes, short-handed environments. He famously pulled off an “epic comeback” in the 2023 Poker Dream Manila Super High Roller, recovering from just half a big blind to win the title—a feat that highlights his mental resilience and ability to navigate extreme variance. This combination of technical soundness and unwavering focus makes him one of the most dangerous and respected veterans in the Asian poker community.
