Top 20 Finalists: Shingo Nozaki (-45-)

A former professional mahjong player, Shingo Nozaki (-45-) is already one of the best-known poker players in Japan. "We believe in his limitless potential in the Japanese market," says Everest Poker's Japanese Manager Lina Yamazaki and Team Everest's Kim Wooka. As part of a new generation of Japanese poker players who have emerged onto the scene within the past year, Shingo is an exceptional cash game player and makes over $100,000 a year from online ring games alone. Since there are no land-based casinos in Japan, he often travels to Las Vegas and Korea for live events, including the WSOP.

"I play with Everest Poker because it is the best online poker room in Japan. They are the most famous, and they have always provided me with better Japanese support whenever I have needed anything."

Why did Shingo give up a successful professional mahjong career? He felt poker presented him with limitless challenges and possibilities. "Poker takes more skill and is easy to access online. It is more fun. In mahjong, you are always limited to only 4 players," he says. "What I love about poker is that you can play with one other person, or you can play with hundreds of thousands of other players. This is what makes poker a special game."