Kai Cocklin is a poker journalist and live reporting manager who has worked with PokerNews at major festivals including the World Series of Poker and the European Poker Tour. He has managed multiple live reporting teams at the World Series of Poker and trained individual reporters to develop their skills. He now oversees Somuchpoker’s editorial and live coverage, ensuring consistent quality and engaging content across the Asian poker scene.

Updated: 2025.12.17

Oliver Lirio is a prominent Filipino professional poker player who surged into the spotlight in 2025 following a career-defining performance at the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) Manila. He is currently a top-60 player on the Philippines All-Time Money List.

Career Earnings & Biggest Results

With over $218,286 in total live earnings, according to The Hendon Mob, Oliver Lirio crossed the $100,000 milestone in mid-2025.

His career-best live cash of ~$160,902 (PHP 9,250,000) was achieved in July 2025 for a 2nd-place finish in the APPT Manila Main Event. In a massive field of 1,246 entries, Lirio navigated to the heads-up finale, eventually falling to fellow countryman Justin Ong in a dramatic coin-flip finish. Other major 2025 highlights include:

~$18,267 (NTD 572,500) – 88th place in the APT Championship Main Event in Taipei City.
~$13,566 (NTD 407,200) – 2nd place in a No Limit Hold’em event at WPT Prime Taiwan in August.
~$4,726 (NTD 142,800) – 2nd place in the High Roller Big Bounty Turbo at the Zodiac Series of Poker II.
~$4,631 (KRW 6,530,000) – 14th place in the Mystery Bounty Hunter at APT Jeju.

Biography & Poker Background

Originally from and residing in the Philippines, Oliver Lirio is a regular fixture in the Manila poker scene and across the wider Asian circuit. While his record shows smaller cashes dating back several years, 2025 served as his breakout year, catapulting him from a local grinder to a recognized international competitor. He is currently ranked 58th on the Philippines All Time Money List and holds a Global Poker Index (GPI) ranking of 5,567th.

Play Style & Strategy

Lirio is characterized by his high-pressure, fearless tournament play, particularly effective during deep-stack and late-stage situations. During his run in the APPT Manila Main Event, he was noted for his clinical knockouts, including a hand where his Ace-King improved to quads to beat a full house. He also displayed sophisticated hand-reading abilities, such as over-calling an all-in on a river with an Ace-high flush to eliminate a King-high flush. His consistency in finishing 2nd in major events like WPT Prime Taiwan and APPT Manila suggests a highly resilient strategy that excels in navigating through massive, elite fields.

Recent Attendances