27-year-old Yuto Moriyasu is safe, although secrecy about his disappearance remains
A Japanese poker player reported missing in Las Vegas during the World Series of Poker has been found safe, according to local authorities. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed on Thursday that 27-year-old Yuto Moriyasu is alive and in good condition after concerns about his disappearance drew attention from both local media and the poker community.
Moriyasu had been in Las Vegas since May, assisting a friend and participating in poker tournaments, including plans to play in the WSOP Main Event. He was last seen on July 2 at the Horseshoe Casino, one of the central venues for the WSOP series.
Worry began to build after his friend and roommate, Nobuaki Sasaki, said that communication with Moriyasu abruptly stopped early that morning. When Sasaki returned to their Spring Valley Airbnb later that day, he found several of Moriyasu’s personal items—including his wallet, phone, and Japanese ID—still in the room. A large kitchen knife was also seen on a chair, which added to the concern. Notably, Moriyasu’s passport and the $10,000 in cash he had intended to use for his WSOP Main Event entry were missing.
Great news: missing Japanese poker player Yuto Moriyasu has been found alive. Friends say more details about his disappearance will be provided later. Rumors that he was found sunburned on the roof of Caesars Palace are unconfirmed. https://t.co/HeJ8lT5bYj pic.twitter.com/i8mayMzE27
— Las Vegas Locally 🌴 (@LasVegasLocally) July 10, 2025
Fearing for his friend’s safety, Sasaki contacted the police and reached out to the public for help. The poker world quickly responded, sharing Moriyasu’s photo and details across social media and poker forums in hopes of finding him.
The details of where Moriyasu had been or why he disappeared remain unclear. A post from Las Vegas Locally on X hinted that more information would be released soon, jokingly referencing the Hangover movie due to the strange circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
For now, friends and fellow players are relieved to know Moriyasu is safe, and updates are expected as more information comes to light.
