The Japan Open Poker Tour (JOPT) Tokyo came to an exciting close on October 13 after five days of nonstop poker action, cementing its reputation as Japan’s premier live poker festival.
Held at Bellesalle Takadanobaba, this year’s edition featured a staggering 64 events across a wide range of formats — from No-Limit Hold’em and Omaha to mixed games, draw, and even Open-Face Chinese Poker. Backed by a record-breaking 60 sponsors, the festival generated an estimated $3 million in prize pools.
Main Event: Seki’s 13BB Miracle Run
Event #1: the No-Limit Hold’em Main Event drew an enormous 3,330 entries across 12 starting flights — five online, four live in Tokyo, and three hosted in Korea through PMANG SHOWDOWN HOLD’EM. The cross-border structure underscored JOPT’s fast-growing international reach.
In a storybook finish, Ryota Seki turned just 13 big blinds into the win, banking $131,665 after one of the most dramatic comebacks in JOPT history.
Heads-up play began with Ryu Ikuta holding a commanding 152 big blinds to Seki’s 13, and the outcome looked inevitable. But on the fourth hand, Seki’s 9♠8♠ found a lifeline against Ikuta’s Q♥J♥ on an A♥A♣9♥ board. After check-calling a shove on the turn, Seki doubled up when the 5♠ hit the river.
From there, momentum swung sharply. Seki doubled twice more, flipped the stacks, and sealed the deal after 30 hands with pocket aces holding strong against pocket sevens in a five-bet preflop clash.
“Poker is a cherished hobby and an irreplaceable part of my life,” Seki said afterward, surrounded by friends celebrating on the main stage.
High Rollers: Kitajima and Hattori Strike Gold
The high-stakes action didn’t disappoint either. The NLH Platinum event — the highest buy-in on the schedule — ran in partnership with the Asia Poker Tour (APT), which provided event vouchers to the top 13 finishers. Hayato Kitajima, remembered for his deep run at EPT Barcelona 2022 (€10,200 6-Handed), emerged victorious for $77,777 and the event’s sleek matte-black trophy.
In the APT-backed NLH Crown, Masahito Hattori outlasted a tough field to earn $65,833. The final table played out beneath a stained-glass-inspired stage — fitting for an event whose champions receive JOPT’s signature stained-glass trophy, now expanded to include new color themes like the heart edition.
Heads-Up Championship Makes Triumphant Return
After a one-year hiatus, the NLH Heads-Up Championship returned to the JOPT lineup with renewed excitement. With past winners like Tomoki Iida and Shiina Okamoto watching on, Takeomi Miyazawa claimed the winner-take-all title, pocketing $8,678 and the trophy after a dominant run.
Ami Ohta Shines in JOPT STARS TABLE
The invitational JOPT STARS TABLE brought together eight top pros from Japan and abroad, including Shiina Okamoto and Jun Obara, fresh off a TRITON Mystery Bounty win. But it was Ami Ohta who took center stage, adding yet another trophy to her resume following two recent titles at APT Jeju 2025.
Looking Ahead: JOPT 2026 Tokyo Kicks Off This December
The Japan Open Poker Tour will return soon with JOPT 2026 Tokyo #01, running December 27, 2025 to January 4, 2026 at Bellesalle Takadanobaba. The New Year series promises not only thrilling poker but also Japanese cultural touches — including soba, osechi, and kimono celebrations — blending tradition with modern high-stakes excitement.
JOPT’s momentum shows no sign of slowing, as the tour continues to elevate Japan’s presence on the global poker stage.
