Paul Phua

Phua is and will likely always remain one of the most interesting people ever to have graced the game of poker.

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.

Read More
4 years ago9,513PokerTube,

Published 4 years ago

Triton Poker Cash Game Montenegro Episode 1

It's time for the new Triton Poker cash game series played during the Montenegro festival. Players feature Ike Haxton, Tony G, Jun...

4 years ago5,471PokerTube,

Published 4 years ago

Triton Pokers Biggest Cash Game Pot

Watch Tom Dwan take on Paul Phua in a $2.3Million pot during the Triton Poker Super High Roller cash game.

4 years ago5,431PokerTube,

Published 4 years ago

Triton Poker Jeju 2019 - Short Deck Cash Game Ep 2

Featuring the worlds best poker players including Tom Dwan.

5 years ago5,651Asdfghjklqwertyuiop,

Published 5 years ago

Triton Poker SHR Jeju 2018 Short Deck Cash Game Ep 4

The high rollers are back and this time they have removed all 2's-5's out of the deck in a game called short deck! This ensures ma...

5 years ago7,356Okjad1idgsLig,

Published 5 years ago

Triton Poker SHR Jeju 2018 Short Deck Cash Game - Episode 1

$300K sit down, billionaire businessmen, the worlds best poker pros and a new variation of NLHE where all the small cards have bee...

5 years ago27,411Jhffff,

Published 5 years ago

Triton Poker Super High Roller Jeju 2018 Cash Game - Episode 7

It's time for the final part of the Triton Poker Jeju High Roller cash game featuring the richest players and businessmen in the w...

5 years ago75,023Dandfgrwbn,

Published 5 years ago

Triton Poker Super High Roller Jeju 2018 Cash Game - Episode 6

Episode 6 of the biggest cash game held by Triton Poker in JeJu! Expect the biggest pros, richest amateurs and shot takers to...

5 years ago30,605Jbella21,

Published 5 years ago

Triton Poker Super High Roller Jeju 2018 Cash Game - Episode 5

The $1,000,000 buy in cash game continues as the biggest names in the industry collide on the felt in the biggest gave ever televi...

5 years ago32,822bfdhddnd,

Published 5 years ago

Triton Poker Super High Roller Jeju 2018 Cash Game - Episode 4

Tom Dwan is back as he makes an appearance and plays the biggest televised pot of all time in the Triton High Roller cash game whi...

5 years ago8,441BellaForza,

Published 5 years ago

Triton Poker Super High Roller Jeju 2018 Cash Game - Episode 3

The $1,000,000 buy in Triton cash game is back and features the biggest and richest poker players on the planet. You will wit...

Online Poker , 5 years ago

ACR Launching 6 Plus Poker and $1million Encores

The incredibly exciting Short Deck poker is coming to America’s Cardroom next week

Another Victory for Paul Phua - Judge Rules Fourth Amendment Violation

Judge Gordon ruled that Paul Phua's privacy rights were violated by the FBI's ruse and reconfirmed inadmissibility of evidence

Live Poker Events, 9 years ago

Businessmen and Celebrities at the WSOP: Who They Are and What They Do (2)

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

Charges against Paul Phua Dismissed

Paul Phua emerged victorious in his legal battle, as federal judge dismissed all charges against the Malaysian businessman

Dan Cates With Paul Phua: From Playing Poker With Scraps to The Biggest Games in The World

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.

Daniel Cates in Conversation with Paul Phua: 'Big players Win Small Pots'

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.

Darren Phua Decides to Enter Plea Agreement in Illegal Betting Case

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

Live Poker Events, 6 years ago

Fedor Holz Wins Triton High Roller For $444,893

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.

How Doug Polk Won a $300k Pot Vs. a Billionaire

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!

Live Poker Events, 5 years ago

Mikita Badziakouski Wins 2018 Triton SHR Series Montenegro For $2,550,392

The Triton Titan just keeps trucking this week with another massive win at the Super High Roller Series in sunny Montenegro.