Kazuhiko Yotsushika

Kazuhiko Yotsushika, based in Tokyo, balances his poker career with running a real estate company in Kumamoto, Japan. Before poker, he established himself as a master of backgammon, winning the Japanese national championship in the board game. That analytical background sharpened his mathematical skills and risk management instincts, which he later translated directly to the poker table. His transition to poker was swift, and he quickly became one of Japan's most recognizable and successful players on the international high-roller circuit.

Yotsushika's career-defining moment came in 2018 when he won the €25,000 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller at the European Poker Tour (EPT) Barcelona, taking home $431,092—his largest live score to date. That victory cemented his reputation as a force in elite buy-in events. He has continued to deliver strong results across the globe. In December 2024, he finished third in a €2,000 event at EPT Prague, and earlier that year he made the final table of a €10,000 event at EPT Monte Carlo. In 2025, he placed seventh in the EPT Barcelona Main Event for $141,224 and held the chip lead on Day 3 of the same festival's €1,650 PokerStars Open. He also cashed in the 2024 WSOP $1,500 Seven Card Stud event and won a hyper turbo high roller at the 2024 APT Taipei.

Beyond those highlights, Yotsushika has amassed 112 recorded live cashes and total earnings of $2,646,981 as of December 2024. His most recent cash at that time was $37,183 on 15 December 2024. He also won the €1,100 No-Limit Hold'em event at the 2023 EPT Monte-Carlo, adding another European title to his resume. In 2024, he took first place in the $1,600 Pot-Limit Omaha $500k GTD at the Aria Poker Classic, earning $220,214. His versatility across formats—from high rollers to Omaha and stud—sets him apart from many contemporaries.

Yotsushika is widely regarded for his intelligent, technical, and unflappable style. Nicknamed "The Maverick," he combines mathematical precision honed through backgammon with deep psychological fortitude. His deadpan expression makes him nearly impossible to read at the table, a trait that has become part of his public persona. He excels in both deep-stack high rollers and high-variance hyper turbo events, showing adaptive aggression depending on the format. His strategy revolves around equity calculations, position-based pressure, and maintaining composure in nosebleed-stakes confrontations against the world's best players. This blend of calculation and calm has made him a feared opponent in tournaments across Europe, Asia, and the United States.

Yotsushika is consistently ranked among Japan's top earners, sitting third on the country's all-time money list as of 2024, with some sources placing him fifth depending on the date. He is often grouped with Masashi Oya and Tsugunari Toma as leaders of the modern Japanese poker wave that has brought international attention to the country's talent. While Toma is part of the PokerStars team and enjoys celebrity status, Yotsushika stands out for his poker skills, fashion-forward fits, and a face that betrays nothing. His estimated net worth exceeds $5 million, and his stoic, stylish image has made him a cult figure among fans. Despite occasional dips in international results—such as a 170th-place finish in the $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em event at the 2024 World Series of Poker—he continues to add to his impressive earnings and inspire a new generation of players in Asia. As a part-time professional who also runs a successful real estate business, he exemplifies how poker can complement a broader entrepreneurial life.