Windred Yu is a well-known businessman and poker player from Hong Kong. He has become synonymous with the growth and evolution of poker in Asia. From humble beginnings in Hong Kong to becoming a key figure in the Asian poker industry, Yu’s journey is one of passion, innovation, and relentless dedication. He has worked as a President at Poker King Club, a popular poker hub located in Macau. He is one of the best poker players and has over $9 million live earnings. He also co-founded Poker Dream, currently one of the biggest poker tournament in Southeast Asia. Let’s delve into the visionary’s early life, poker career, and his work.
Humble Beginning To Be The Face of Asian Poker
Winfred Yu was born and raised in Hong Kong. He along with his family emigrated to Canada when he was just 14 years old. He studied mathematics and statistics at university, which was eventually a stepping stone in his poker journey. He along with some friends went to a poker club, where Yu ran into a Canadian player who would become one of the best poker players in the world – Daniel Negreanu.
“It was the first time poker introduction in Canada,” Winfred states. “On my first-day playing, the person sitting next to me was Daniel Negreanu! Back then, he was dealing at a poker club. I suppose I learned from one of the best right from the start!”
His love for poker eventually led him to find jobs in the poker world. Yu got jobs in Canadian poker rooms, where he was spotted by popular gaming operator SunCity who brought Yu to Macau to run their poker rooms. Under Winfred’s guidance, SunCity aimed to popularize poker in Asia, financing the 2009 comedy film Poker King.
Winfred soon etched his name among Asian poker’s prime movers. He launched Poker King Club in Venetian Macau. As a president of the poker room, he expanded this brand with operations in Macau, Manila, Jeju and Poipet. Under his leadership, Poker King Club went on to become the home for high-stakes cash games. It became very popular among pros like Tom Dwan, Phil Ivey, and many more top players.
Winfred has organized major asian poker tournaments, including the Triton Poker High Roller series and the Poker King Club Cup. He is recognized as a smart man and keep player, Paul Phua, who met him during a high-stakes game in Macau.
Creating Poker Dream
After successfully creating Poker King Club, Winfred Yu went on to co-found Poker Dream, which is currently one of the most popular poker tournaments in Asia. Poker Dream was launched in 2022, not long after the pandemic was over.
Poker Dream quickly became popular among Asian poker players, especially the ones who aspire to play massive GTD tournaments with low buy-ins, making it accessible to every bankroll player. Poker Dream tournaments offer over $1 million in guarantees with $1 million reserved for the Main Event.
In 2024, he opened Dream Room in Taipei City, Taiwan along with partners, friends and colleagues. The launch ceremony was attended by many popular figures from the industry, including CEO Andy Wong, Pokerchain President Chen An Lin, USA pro Daniel Cates, Poker Dream CEO Rex Cheong, Danny Tang, Wai Kiat Lee and many more.
Winfred Yu Poker Career Highlights
Apart from being a successful businessman, Winfred Yu has achieved a lot as a poker player. His poker career boasts numerous cashes and final table appearances across Asia and the USA. His first major breakthrough came in 2012 when he finished 2nd in the Asian Poker Tour (APT) Macau Main Event, earning over $131,000.
He quickly followed this with two major scores, which included a $535,000 for a 3rd-place finish in the Aspers £100,000 High Roller, and $442,917 in April 2013 for another 3rd place in the WSOP-APAC Main Event.
In September 2016, Yu scored big again with a 4th-place finish in the Super High Roller Triton Charity Poker Tournament, earning $232,192. Two months later, he claimed $402,274 after finishing 5th in the Triton Super High Roller Series Main Event.
Two years later, in May 2018, Winfred scored his career first seven-figure score of $1,172,727 for finishing 4th in Triton HK$1 Million NLH Short Deck. Four months later, Yu ran deep in the WSOP Europe $25k NLH High Roller, claiming a $169,328 payday. In 2019, Yu won his first triton title, winning the Triton Poker SHRS Montenegro Short Deck NLH Ante Only for a $259,952 payday.
He then collected a whopping $1,339,193 for finishing 11th in the Triton Million For Charity London event. After a two-year hiatus, Yu came back to the poker world in style, winning the Triton Poker SHRS Cyprus $75k Short Deck for another $1 million score. In 2023, Yu emerged victorious in his own tournament, winning the Poker Dream Manila NLH Short Deck High Roller for an impressive $336,508. Winfred Yu also scored some impressive money finishes in 2024, including a 2nd place finish in the Poker Dream 12 Jeju High Roller for a whopping $485,241.
Winfred Yu’s last cash of 2024 includes a 2nd place finish in WPT Korea KPC Single Day High Roller, adding $211,956 to his earnings. As of January 2025, Winfred Yu has earned over $9 million from 76 tournament cashes. In addition to participating in live poker tournaments.
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