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: 2026.04.15

Kozo Yamada is a prominent Japanese professional poker player who has become a consistent force on the Asian tournament circuit. Based in Japan, he is currently experiencing a career-best period, significantly increasing his live earnings and national ranking throughout the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

Career Earnings & Ranking

As of late 2025, Kozo Yamada has established himself as one of Japan’s most active and successful tournament regulars:

Total Live Earnings: USD 271,094 (The Hendon Mob).
Japan All-Time Money List: 96th.
Global Poker Index (GPI) Ranking: 2,234th (National Rank: 36th).
Best Live Cash: USD 135,307, achieved in 2024.
2025 Player of the Year (PoY) Rank: 3,303rd globally (National Rank: 52nd).

2025 Season: The “Jeju Meta” Dominance

The 2025 season has seen Yamada maintain high volume, with over USD 52,000 in recorded winnings this year alone. He is a frequent deep-runner in the South Korean poker hubs of Jeju and Incheon.

Gods of Poker (GOP) Eden Awakens, Jeju (Dec 2025): * Finished 6th in the Titan Stack for USD 4,624 (KRW 6,810,000).
- Finished 42nd in the GOP Main Event for USD 3,300.
Jeju Poker Festival (Nov 2025): Secured a 25th-place finish in the Red Dragon Prestige High Roller for USD 9,297.
Red Dragon Poker Tour (RDPT) Jeju (May 2025): Finished 2nd in the Survivor Bounty for USD 8,020 (KRW 10,900,000).
APT Incheon (Aug 2025): Recorded several cashes, including a deep run in the Sunday Super Stack.

Career Highlights & Biography

Yamada surpassed the USD 100,000 milestone in early 2024, largely due to a massive breakout performance in South Korea where he secured his best live cash of USD 135,307. His results history shows a specialized proficiency in Large-Field No-Limit Hold’em and Mixed Game formats.

His play style is characterized by:

Mixed Game Capability: He is a frequent participant in Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) 5 Card – Hi-Lo (Big O) and Fixed Limit Omaha H/L8 events, recording several podium finishes in these technically demanding formats.
Bounty Strategy: His success in Survivor Bounty and Titan Stack formats indicates a strong technical edge in adjusting ranges for bounty value and accelerated blind structures.
Deepstack Specialist: Consistent deep runs in “Main Event” and “Prestige” structures suggest a high level of patience and the mental stamina required for multi-day tournament navigation.