Ryutaro Ito

Ryutaro Suzuki, a 25-year-old from Japan, began his World Series of Poker journey in 2022. He credits the influence of Japanese poker YouTubers, particularly Masato Yokosawa, for the growing number of players from Japan participating in the WSOP.

Suzuki first broke through in 2023, winning Event #36: $3,000 Nine Game Mix for $221,124, becoming only the seventh Japanese player to win a WSOP bracelet. He followed that with several deep runs, including a third-place finish in the 2024 $10,000 Dealer's Choice Championship for $144,431.

In the 2025 WSOP, after a series of underwhelming results, Suzuki entered Event #93: $3,000 T.O.R.S.E. as his final event of the summer. He defeated a 522-entry field and outlasted Toby Lewis heads-up to win his second bracelet and $273,386. Suzuki admitted he was tired but happy to achieve the goal. He joins Shiina Okamoto as the only Japanese players with two WSOP bracelets.

At the 2026 WSOP, Suzuki continued his success, finishing fourth in the $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship for $139,038 and cashing multiple times across mixed game events.

Beyond the WSOP, Suzuki has cashed in events like the Asia Series Poker Tour Incheon Main Event (2nd in 2023 for $34,089) and the APT Incheon Main Event in 2025.

Suzuki excels in mixed game formats, as evidenced by his bracelet wins in Nine Game Mix and T.O.R.S.E., as well as his third place in Dealer's Choice. He plays a full schedule and has made four WSOP final tables, with total live earnings exceeding $1 million. His goal is to become a world-known player like Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth.

After his second bracelet win, Suzuki said through a translator: "I'm really happy to have gotten this great result. I've been playing a very full schedule and I was really tired, but in the end I was able to achieve my goal." When asked about his future, he added: "I've always wanted to become a world-known player."