Derick Elomina discovered poker at 14, playing home games with his high school friends. What began as a pastime quickly grew into a passion that shaped his career. By 21, he entered the poker industry as a field reporter — just old enough to step foot inside the casino. Starting as a hand reporter, he steadily honed his craft, blending sharp observation with growing writing skills. Known for his dedication, he constantly roams the floor to capture the action, conduct interviews, and deliver live updates. With a strong commitment to the game and a passion for telling poker’s stories, Derick continues to build his path in the industry.

Updated: 2025.12.12

Noel Llamedo is a Filipino professional poker player and tournament champion, widely recognized as a consistent performer in the Asian poker circuit, particularly within the vibrant Manila scene.

Career Earnings & Biggest Results

According to The Hendon Mob, Noel Llamedo has accumulated total live earnings exceeding $40,000, a figure recently bolstered by a breakout performance in late 2025. His most significant career achievement occurred at the Manila Megastack 23 in December 2025, where he conquered the PHP 15,000 Deepstack event. Outlasting a field of 214 entries, he captured the spadie trophy and a career-best first-place prize of ₱566,556 (approximately $9,665). This victory surpassed his previous best score of $7,754 (NT$ 241,300), which he secured with an 11th-place finish at the U Series of Poker (USOP) Main Event in Taiwan in 2023. He also holds an Asian Poker Tour (APT) title, having won the Super Deep Stack Turbo event at APT Philippines in November 2022 for ₱298,100.

Biography & Poker Background

Originally from the Philippines, Llamedo is a “local bet” who has successfully defended home turf against international competition. He is a regular fixture at major festivals hosted in Manila, including the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT), Manila Megastack, and APT Philippines series. While primarily competing in his home country, he has expanded his reach to regional hubs, logging results in Taiwan and Vietnam. His trajectory shows a steady climb from smaller daily tournaments to conquering substantial side events at prestigious international festivals.

Play Style & Strategy

Llamedo has carved out a niche in fast-structured and deep-stacked tournament formats. His resume is populated with strong finishes in “Turbo,” “Hyper Turbo,” and “Deepstack” events, suggesting a play style that thrives on adjusting to varying stack depths. The ability to navigate the high-variance stages of Turbo tournaments, evidenced by his APT trophy, combined with the patience required for Deepstack structures (like his recent Manila Megastack win) paints the picture of a versatile player who understands how to apply ICM pressure effectively when the blinds escalate.