Kai Cocklin is a poker journalist and live reporting manager who has worked with PokerNews at major festivals including the World Series of Poker and the European Poker Tour. He has managed multiple live reporting teams at the World Series of Poker and trained individual reporters to develop their skills. He now oversees Somuchpoker’s editorial and live coverage, ensuring consistent quality and engaging content across the Asian poker scene.

Updated: 2025.12.17

Yukinari Mera is a Japanese professional poker player who has experienced a rapid rise on the Asian circuit, crossing the $100,000 career milestone in 2025 following a string of high-profile final table appearances and titles.

Career Earnings & Biggest Results

With $110,846 in total live earnings, according to The Hendon Mob, Yukinari Mera is currently ranked 232nd on the Japan All-Time Money List. His career took a massive leap forward in 2025, with over $93,000 of his lifetime winnings coming from that year alone.

His career-best live cash of ~$27,079 (KRW 37,910,000) was earned in September 2025 for a 2nd-place finish in the KRW 1,300,000 Freezeout at APT Jeju . This result nearly tripled his previous best score and highlighted his emergence as a top regional competitor. Other significant 2025 victories and cashes include:

~$5,815 (KRW 8,092,576) – 1st place in the Super Hyper Turbo (Event #17) at APT Incheon in August.
~$7,848 (NTD 255,840) – 1st place in the Hyper Turbo (Event #75) at APT Championship Taipei in November.
~$6,128 (KRW 8,570,000) – 2nd place in the Turbo Win the Button at APT Incheon.
~$12,381 (NTD 403,000) – 4th place in the NLH Freezeout at APT Taipei.

Biography & Poker Background

Originally from and residing in Japan, Yukinari Mera is a dedicated “grinder” on the international Asian circuit. His tournament record spans multiple major hubs, including South Korea (Jeju and Incheon), Taiwan (Taipei), and the Philippines (Manila). Mera is recognized for his high volume of play in fast-paced tournament formats, often competing in multiple events within a single festival to maximize his ROI. His breakout 2025 season saw him climb into the top 50 of the Japan Global Poker Index (GPI) rankings.

Play Style & Strategy

Mera is characterized by his exceptional proficiency in Turbo, Hyper Turbo, and Freezeout formats. His strategy is defined by high-pressure, late-stage decision-making, as evidenced by his multiple titles in events with fast-blind structures where ICM (Independent Chip Model) awareness is critical. In his deep run in the APT Jeju Freezeout, he was noted for his technical resilience, pushing for his second APT title and successfully navigating a field of 237 entries to secure a runner-up finish. His versatility is further proven by his ability to capture titles in specialized games like “Win the Button” and “Super Hyper Turbo”.

Recent Attendances