Yoshio Nakano

Yoshio (Yosh) Nakano is a professional poker player and entrepreneur who resides in Long Beach, California. He has played professionally for over 20 years and is a long-time high limit poker host at the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles. He was a co-founder and a “resident pro” at the online poker site PokerBlue, before it closed down in March 2007.

He represented Japan in the inaugural Intercontinental Poker Championship. Nakano defeated Australian Tony G two out of three matches at the heads up final table to take down the $350,000 first place money. In the final hand, Nakano’s 3-c 3-d held up against Tony G’s K-c 9-s on a board of A-s A-c J-c 7-h 3-h.

As of 2007, Nakano’s live tournament winnings exceed $590,000.