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: 2025.12.12

Yuichi Kanai is a Japanese professional poker player, widely recognized as a dedicated Mixed Games specialist with multiple titles on the Asian Poker Tour (APT) circuit.

Career Earnings & Biggest Results

According to The Hendon Mob, Yuichi Kanai has accumulated $148,459 in total live earnings. His career-best live cash of $95,981 was earned for a 2nd-place finish in the $1,500 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw at the 55th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2024. His triumphs in 2025 demonstrate his dominance in specialized variants: he won his maiden APT title in the NT$35,000 5 Card Draw Masters at APT Taipei 2025 for TWD 273,000 (~$8,426). He also secured 6th place in the NT$70,000 9 Game – Mixed Games Championship at the APT Championship, Taipei 2025, earning NT$243,700 (~$7,810).

Biography & Poker Background

Kanai holds Japanese nationality and resides in Niiza, Japan. He is currently ranked 168th on the Japan All Time Money List. His tournament schedule is notable for his deep runs in WSOP events focusing on non-Hold’em variants, as well as high-volume participation in various Japan Open Poker Tour (JOPT) and APT events. He is a seasoned pro with over $100,000 in live earnings who is consistently competing on the Asian circuit.

Play Style & Strategy

Kanai is primarily known as a specialist in Mixed Games, successfully competing across multiple poker variants like Triple Draw, 9-Game, and Fixed Limit Dealer’s Choice. His ability to secure three titles in South Korea and Taiwan in early 2025 in specialized formats underscores a versatile and disciplined strategy that allows him to excel in technically demanding tournaments.