By Staff
Rounder Magazine’s Fall 2024 cover model is reigning World Series of Poker Ladies Champion Shiina Okamoto. The young Japanese poker pro experienced a meteoric rise in the poker world when, in storybook fashion, she returned to the United States in 2024 to, as she explained, “claim what I left behind.”
Her epic journey began in 2023 when she entered the WSOP Ladies Championship Event at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. The relatively unknown amateur at the time turned heads while navigating her way through the 1,295-player field on her way to the final table, eventually finishing as the runner-up, which earned her $118,768.
Remarkably, she returned in 2024 and miraculously navigated through another large field (1,245) for back-to-back final table appearances. This time, she would not be denied, capturing her first gold bracelet and the $171,732 first-place prize.
In her post-game interviews, Okamoto reflected on the excitement of winning the championship, with her supporters on hand. “After finishing second last year and with all my supporters here, winning this year feels even more special,” she remarked through a translator.
“There was a long way to go and I didn’t think it would really happen. But by the end of Day 2, I had a really massive stack, and at that point, I thought it could be true.”
When Shiina agreed to appear on the cover of Rounder Magazine, she was busy playing in a Japan Open Poker Tour event, but still managed to make time to fit in a photoshoot, and an interview.
R: Tell us a little about your background. What occupations are your parents in? Do you have any siblings?
Shiina: One of my parents is a scientist, and the other is a teacher. I have one brother.
R: How did you get into poker?
Shiina: I had been absorbed in board games like Catan, before I got into poker. One day, my friend, who played board games with me, introduced me to poker, and I started playing.
R: What do you remember about your first time playing at a casino?
Shiina: 2022 WSOP was my first time. I played only small stakes tounaments, but results were not so good (laughing).
R: Do you have a coach, or are you self-trained?
Shiina: Basically, I have no coach and am self-trained, but I sometimes have study meetings with my friends.
R: When did you realize you were good enough to play professionally?
Shiina: It was last year. My results, even without the WSOP Ladies Events, were good enough that I got sponsors who support me. I am now able to play tournaments all over the world.
R: How confident were you this year (2024) going into the final table of the Ladies Championship Event after coming so close last year?
Shiina: I had much more confidence that I could win when I reached the final table because I was used to the situation. The final table makes players very nervous, and avoid playing as usual. Thanks to the experience from last year, I was prepared.
R: How did you prepare? Did you change your strategy at all going in, after coming so close in 2023?
Shiina: Regarding skill aspects, I studied heads-up play deeply so I could compete with confidence. I also made an effort not to appear too happy or dejected when I won or lost a pot ~ to stay calm.
R: What were the key hands, in your mind, that put you over the top?
Shiina: The full house when I had A-2 heads-up, and turning two pair in the final hand.
In the hand(s) reported by PokerNews, heads-up opponent Jamie Kerstetter raised to 250,000 with 10♥ 8♦ from the big blind after a limp from Shiina Okamoto with A♥ 2♠. Okamoto made the call.
The flop came out as 2♥9♥7♠, and Kerstetter, as the preflop raiser, placed her continuation bet of 200,000. Okamoto quickly called after hitting her pair of twos.
On the 2♦ turn, Kerstetter checked, and Okamoto bet 400,000 with her trips. Kerstetter called with her open-ended straight draw. The river A♦ gave Okamoto a full house, and she bet 1,500,000 after Kerstetter checked.
Kerstetter took a moment to ponder and decided to bluff the river, three-betting to 3,500,000, and Okamoto quickly called with her full house.
In the final hand, Kerstetter limped on the button with A♦ 7♥, and Shiina Okamoto, holding 9♠ 5♦, checked her option. The flop came 10♠ A♣ 9♦. Okamoto check-called a bet of 200,000 from Kerstetter. The turn was the 5♥. Okamoto checked again, and Kerstetter bet 550,000. Okamoto took a moment and then went all-in. Kerstetter fairly quickly called.
Kerstetter could still improve, but it was not meant to be, as the 2♥ rolled off instead, ending her impressive deep run in the tournament in second place.
When the last card was dealt, sealing the win for Shiina, her rail of friends and fans—who had been boisterous throughout the day—erupted in celebration for Japan’s newest poker star.
After a short celebration with her close friends, Shiina got back to business a couple of days later, entering the WSOP Main Event, where she recorded a min-cash for $15,000.
Since her epic bracelet win, Shiina has been jetsetting around the globe playing poker, and she doesn’t plan on taking a break anytime soon.
“I want to play every WSOP and WPT event I can. I’m considering going to Triton Jeju in March. No Japanese woman has ever cashed in Triton, so it will be a big challenge for me.”
In October (2024), Shiina announced on her Instagram page that she was taking on an ambassadorship role with the JOPT.
“I’m pleased to announce that I have been appointed as the official ambassador of Japan Open Poker Tour”JOPT”, which is the biggest poker event in Japan.
I’ll make my best effort to expand and promote JOPT toward the best poker event in Asia. I will also do my best to be active as a poker player all over the world. I appreciate your continued support.”
On its website japanopenpoker.com, a message reads; “JOPT is not just a poker tournament. Adults get seriously excited. They share their joys and sorrows with their friends and praise each other. There is a lot of drama there. You will discover the charm of poker you never knew existed. In just a few days, a hero that everyone will know will be born.”
Shiina Okamoto is Japan’s hero right now!
Who will be the next?
Photography courtesy of JOPT/AYATO *Shiina’s Ladies Championship winner pic courtesy of WSOP
