Kawata Yuji

Kawata Yuji (川田悠二) is a Japanese poker player and tournament organizer. He earned more than $105,200 from online poker on Poker-in.com, and has participated in over 32 live tournaments. He is ranked #123 in Japan and #24,835 on the all-time money list. His largest single tournament cash exceeded $45,346.

• Online Success: Won $105,200 on Poker-in.com.
• Live Tournament Results:
  • AJPC Samurai Circuit Incheon (May 2023): Won KRW 1,513,000 in the KRW 150,000 + 30,000 No Limit Hold'em - Crazy KO Bounty.
  • AJPC Asian Circuit Incheon (Dec 2019): Cash in the Main Event (KRW 1,804,000), GOLD DRAGON (KRW 2,510,000), and other side events.
  • WPT National Korea (Dec 2015): KRW 700,000 in a Knockout Bounty event.
  • WPT Korea (Sep 2017): KRW 1,306,000 in a Head Hunter Bounty event.
  • PokerStars LIVE Manila Super Series (Feb 2018): ₱ 16,900 in Bubble Rush and ₱ 8,000 in KO Turbo.
  • Japan Gold Dragon Daegu (Sep 2018): KRW 5,170,000 in the Gold Dragon event.
  • AJPC Asian Circuit Taiwan (Nov 2018): NT$ 138,500 in a High Roller event.

Beyond playing, Kawata Yuji is a prominent figure in Japan's poker scene. He owns and operates POKER LIVE OSAKA, a poker room in Osaka's Fukushima district, which he purchased from a previous owner and grew to triple the original revenue. He is also the creator and producer of the Japan Gold Dragon tournament series, a nationwide competition involving over 100 poker rooms across Japan. The series features satellite qualifiers leading to a final event in Osaka, with a prize pool of ¥5 million (about $35,000) and a top prize of ¥2 million. Kawata's entrepreneurial efforts have significantly expanded Japan's amateur poker community.

Kawata is known for a patient, tight-aggressive style, excelling in deep-stack play and late-stage tournament management. He built his bankroll gradually through consistent small cashes rather than one big score. While specific statistics on his playing style are limited, local poker communities describe him as a "grinder" with a stable long-term edge. He transitioned from online to live tournaments seamlessly, and his ability to read opponents and manage pressure has been noted in several events.