The poker industry has flourished unprecedentedly over the past few years. A major credit goes to the relentless efforts of several instrumental individuals who work hard behind the scenes to grow, innovate, and promote the game of skill globally. These contributors include operators, organizers, and industry visionaries who have significantly contributed to enhancing the poker ecosystem.
Be it Asia, Europe, and others, these industry leaders have helped stretch poker’s reach through well-structured tournaments, dynamic platforms, and innovative approaches towards the game. Tournament operators often work tirelessly to curate specialised world-class events which provide players with opportunities to showcase their unique talents. On the other hand, digital operators and platform developers have used technology to bring poker to a larger audience via online platforms, thus ensuring the game’s accessibility and popularity.
Meanwhile, advisors and organizers do their bit by shaping the policies, structures, and logistics of major series including the World Poker Tour (WPT), European Poker Tour (EPT), and Asian Poker Tour (APT) among others. Their roles facilitate smooth, high-quality experiences for participants and fans alike.
The collaborative efforts of these key individuals, be it organizers and business leaders to technical innovators, form the backbone of the poker industry. Their vision and dedication continue to drive the game forward, bridging the gap between traditional and modern formats, while also expanding into new markets, and solidifying poker as a globally recognized and respected sport. One such instrumental and well-respected individual is Paul Phua.
Introduction, early life and education
Wei Seng Phua, better known as Paul Phua is a mega-rich Malaysian businessman and poker player. Phua was born in 1964 in the coastal city of Miri, located in northeastern Sarawak in Malaysia. As a young boy, he was driven towards sports, he played badminton, football, basketball, softball and table tennis as a child.
Later, at the age of 15, Phua was sent to attend school in Singapore. Here he played bowling before he got involved in the Macau casino junket business.
Career highlights as a poker player
One will often find him playing high-stakes cash games and tournaments in and around Macau. Besides, he is also frequently seen at Super High Roller events that are part of the Triton Poker Series.
Interestingly, despite being an active and significant part of the poker scene for years, Phua did not start playing Texas Holdem until he was in his 40s. In 2010, the Las Vegas high-stakes cash games began to move to Macau. This resulted in prominent players such as Tom Dwan, Phil Ivey, Chau Giang, Patrik Antonius and John Juanda playing there.
By 2011, other professional poker players also began joining the games in Macau. It was from these professionals that Phua learned and eventually played with them. In 2012, Phua entered the 2012 World Series of Poker $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop event, marking his WSOP debut.
The same year, he won the Aspers £100K High Roller in London by defeating Richard Yong in heads-up play. This victory earned him his career-best cash of $1,621,297.
Later in 2016, he went on to win the One Drop Extravaganza €100,000 Super High Roller event beating pro Mikita Badziakouski in heads-up play and pocketing $827,722 in the process.
In September 2018, Phua was a part of what was back then the biggest televised cash game pot. Here he won $2.35 million against Tom Dwan.
Then on 8 August 2019, Paul Phua finished runner-up at the Triton Series 2019 £100,000 Tournament. For this, he cashed £2,558,305.
As of 2024, interestingly Paul Phua’s total live tournament cashes stands at more than $29,900,000.
Career highlights as a businessman
Paul Phua has made significant strides in the business space of poker. Phua is a VIP junket operator in Macau. Besides, once he was also an ambassador for San Marino to Montenegro. In 2006, he worked closely with Steve Wynn who started Wynn Macau and further helped him expand Wynn’s business.
One of Phua’s biggest career highlights as a businessman is that he founded the Triton Poker Series in 2015. The Triton series includes and is synonymous with Super High Roller tournaments. These events attract the biggest high-stakes names from the poker world. Despite founding the series and playing in almost all of its tournaments, Paul did not have a Triton Poker title to his name for the longest time. It was only in May 2022 that he took down the €30,000 buy-in seven-handed No-Limit Hold’em event at the Triton Poker Series Madrid and finally added a title to his name.
In 2016, Phua even started his own poker strategy website named Paul Phua Poker. The site includes strategy and tips videos from big players like Phil Ivey, Timofey Kuznetsov, Dan Colman, Daniel Cates, Tom Dwan, Sam Trickett, Lauren Roberts and others who have contributed with their expertise. The site also features six-plus hold ’em, which is a newer variation of Texas hold ’em wherein the cards valued 2 through 5 are removed.
Paul Phua is also close personal friends with many of the poker stars who are often seen giving interviews on his YouTube channel. He is known to share the closest relationship with Tom Dwan.
Poker net worth 2024
Thanks to his shining and decorated poker resume as a player and his different poker business ventures, Paul Phua has not only earned a lot of fame and respect but has also accumulated envy-worthy wealth for himself.
Apart from these, reports suggest that Paul regularly hosts high-stakes gambling which has further helped him allegedly build up a net worth of USD$10 billion.
Personal life
Not much is known about Phua’s personal life and his wife. However, it is known that he has a son named Darren Wai Kit Phua who also plays poker.
Back in July 2014, Paul Phua was arrested by the FBI who charged him with handling close to $400 million in illegal sports betting. The US Department of Justice also claimed that Phua was a senior member of the Hong Kong 14K triad.
Later, U.S. District Judge Andrew Gordon ruled that Phua’s villa at Caesars Palace being raided by the FBI was unconstitutional. As a result, the case against him was dismissed in June 2015.
Where is he now?
According to reports, Paul Phua currently resides in Macau, wherein he plays and operates his poker ventures. He also travels a lot for poker, including travelling to Triton Poker Series destinations to participate in his series.
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