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: 2025.12.13

Nozomi Ota is a professional poker player from Japan who is actively building a reputation in the Asian tournament circuit, particularly within the Japanese and Philippine poker communities. She is a regular competitor in regional festivals such as the Japan Open Poker Tour (JOPT) and the Manila Megastack, where she frequently navigates large fields in side events.

Career Earnings & Biggest Results

According to The Hendon Mob, Nozomi Ota has accumulated total live earnings of $12,142. Her career-best score occurred recently in December 2025 during the Manila Megastack 23 festival in the Philippines. In the ₱25,000 No Limit Hold’em Big Mystery Bounty event, she secured a runner-up finish, taking home ₱309,900 ($5,294).

Prior to this breakout result, she demonstrated her consistency by cashing in international events, including a 5th place finish at the Asia Series Poker Tour (ASPT) in Incheon, South Korea, in January 2023 for KRW 4,000,000 ($3,212). She also made her mark on the global stage by cashing in the 55th World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas in 2024, finishing 147th in the $1,000 Freezeout event.

Biography & Poker Background

Originally from Tokyo, Japan, Nozomi Ota is part of the growing wave of Japanese players making their presence felt in the international live poker scene. While she maintains a strong presence in her home country’s major leagues like the Japan Open Poker Tour (JOPT) and U Series of Poker (USOP) Osaka, she has increasingly expanded her schedule to include stops in South Korea and the Philippines. Her participation in events ranging from “Tag Team” tournaments to “Mystery Bounty” formats suggests a player who is deeply embedded in the social and competitive fabric of the Asian poker community.

Play Style & Strategy

Ota’s tournament history reflects a preference for No Limit Hold’em events with tactical structures, such as Mystery Bounties and Deepstacks. Her recent runner-up performance in a Mystery Bounty event indicates a strong understanding of variable-prize formats, where adjusting ranges based on bounty values is critical. Her ability to cash in large-field events like the WSOP Freezeout and JOPT side events demonstrates patience and the ability to preserve her stack through the middle stages of tournaments. She appears to favor a solid, low-variance approach in standard events but can switch gears to a more aggressive style when the format demands it.