ACR Launching 6 Plus Poker and $1million Encores
The incredibly exciting Short Deck poker is coming to America’s Cardroom next week
As far as life stories go, they don’t come more colorful than Paul Phua’s, the billionaire businessman with a passion for poker rising through the ranks to become one of the most powerful men in Macau.
Wei Seng "Paul" Phua was born in Borneo, Malaysia back in 1964 and rose from poor beginnings through the construction industry and Kuala Lumpur backstreet gambling houses to running the world’s biggest bookmakers IBCBet.
It’s clear he moves in the highest circles, playing the nosebleed stakes in Macau along with Ivey, Dwan and a host of other big name pros – and Phua holds his own, a hard worker at the game he loves.
He had to work hard, as back in the mid-noughties he was just another rich whale, allegedly blowing millions along with business partner and fellow poker convert Richard Yong. According to English-Chinese bookmaker Tom Hall:
“Paul and Richard were the biggest whales in the world. They were losing $30 million to $100 million every year on baccarat. I said, 'Hey, you guys should try poker. You can play other players, instead of losing to the house'.”
In Brett Forrest’s incredibly detailed ESPN account of Phua’s dealings, he writes:
"They didn't know how to play. In Macau, there was no one to teach them. Phua and Yong gathered a small group of associates for regular games, these experienced gamblers teaching themselves this new game as they went along."
With 2011 and the Black Friday shockwaves which hit the poker world, the biggest pros were looking for new pastures – and Phua with Yong offered them untold riches and adventures in the Far East, not only leading to their own games improving but also offering business opportunities in the poker staking world.
Now, several years on, in tournament play, Paul Phua has over $4.5million in earnings – although every penny is from the Super High Rollers (from as far afield as London and Melbourne to Monte Carlo and Manila) taking down his first-ever tournament cash for £1million ($1,621,297) at London’s Aspers Casino in 2012 in the £100k buy-in event.
Whatever people might think of his business background and connections, his love for poker is evident, and the new Paul Phua Poker website and school is testament to his desire to explain the game at all levels to all players.
Video content interviews with Ivey, Dwan, Colman and others gives an insight into how the best players in the world think, while rules, strategy and general information fills out an increasingly popular hub for those interested in the game.
Phua is and will likely always remain one of the most interesting people ever to have graced the game of poker.
Published 9 years ago
Aussie Millions 2014: High Stakes Cash - Ep4Paul Phua, Phil Ivey, Patrik Antonius, Doug Polk and other big name pros continue to battle it out in the super high stakes cash g...
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Changing Playing Styles With Paul Phua!Billionaire businessman turned poker enthusiast Paul Phua discusses his playing style and how it has evolved overtime from once pa...
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Doug Polk Barreling in a Big Pot Against Paul PhuaPhua and Polk involved in a big pot during Aussie Millions Cash Game
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FBI Ruse in Paul Phua CaseA report on FBI ruse in Paul Phua case
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Funny $1M Cash Pot - Paul Phua vs Rono LoTwo Super Rich Asian Business men clash in this funny hand during the Aussie Millions Cash Game 2014. They're pretty calm and casu...
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Gus Hansen vs Paul Phua - Unlucky RundownGus Hansen in a really tough spot vs Paul Phua
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High Stakes 'Short Deck' Poker with Phil IveyThe exciting 'short deck' version of poker makes its way to the high stakes arena at the 2018 Triton Series. With a €200,000 buy...
Published 9 years ago
Malaysian High Rollers Requesting Approval to Play PokerMalaysian high rollers, Paul Phua and others, requesting approval from the court to play poker while awaiting decision
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Millions Russia $100k Super High Roller Final TableThe Triton sponsored $100,000 buy-in Super High Roller at the partypoker Live Millions Russia in Sochi reaches it's final table, h...
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Nosebleed Cash Game Young Guns Talk Strategy With PhuaPaul Phua sits down with Rui Cao and Wai Kin Yong to discuss poker strategy! Rui one of the most successful players to come from o...
The incredibly exciting Short Deck poker is coming to America’s Cardroom next week
Judge Gordon ruled that Paul Phua's privacy rights were violated by the FBI's ruse and reconfirmed inadmissibility of evidence
Big:T;he first part of this article focused on some of the big television names who took some time off from their busy schedules and came down to Las Vegas to enjoy in one of their favorite pastimes
Paul Phua emerged victorious in his legal battle, as federal judge dismissed all charges against the Malaysian businessman
This week’s bonus video sees Daniel ‘Jungleman’ Cates in the hot seat, a short but revealing insight into his beginnings as a poker player.
Paul Phua gets tips on heads-up poker strategy from Dan “Jungleman” Cates in the latest of the Paul Phua Poker School video interviews with high-stakes pros.
Big:T; he father – son duo of Paul and Darren Phua have been in the midst of a long and grueling battle with the legal system for months now, trying to get illegal gambling charges against them
A slew of high-roller heavyweights were battling it out in Budva, Montenegro for the Triton High Roller title and a share of the almost $1.25 million prizepool on offer.
If you’re desperate to find out just how to bluff an billionaire off a premium hand, watch Polk’s video and prepare to be impressed!
The Triton Titan just keeps trucking this week with another massive win at the Super High Roller Series in sunny Montenegro.