Welcome to the Asia Poker Round-Up — your weekly snapshot of major tournaments, breakout players, featured poker rooms, and the latest industry news across the region.
Live Event Reports
Korea Poker Cup Series 2 Kicks Off in Incheon
The Korea Poker Cup Series 2 is now underway at the Paradise City Casino in Incheon, running from June 14 to 24, 2025. Organized by the Korea Poker Tour (KPT), the series features 27 events with a strong mix of No Limit Hold’em and Omaha formats. Highlights include the KRW 1.1 million Main Event and high roller tournaments that aim to attract both local grinders and international players.
With buy-ins ranging from KRW 100,000 to 7 million (~USD 70 to 5,000), the series caters to a wide range of bankrolls. The festival marks another step in solidifying South Korea’s presence on the Asian poker map, especially as Paradise City continues to grow as a premium poker venue near Seoul and a gateway for overseas players.
Czar Ian Marcos Triumphs as Manila Super Series 22 Wraps in Style
The Manila Super Series 22 took place from June 6 to 15, 2025 at PokerStars LIVE Manila (Okada Manila), featuring a total of 39 events and boasting a prize pool exceeding ₱47.6 million (~USD 844,000). The action-packed festival catered to a wide range of players, from turbo qualifiers to high rollers.
The centerpiece was the Main Event (#30), held from June 12 to 15, with an ₱18,500 buy-in (₱16,280 + 2,220). It drew 1,168 entries, smashing the ₱10 million guarantee to generate a ₱18.44 million (~USD 330,170) prize pool, and paid 176 players. Czar Ian Marcos emerged victorious, claiming ₱2,584,000 (~USD 45,985) after defeating Germ De Haas in heads-up play and winning his first Main Event title.
Current/Upcoming events in June/July
- 16-25 June: AAPT Season I, Laos
- 17-23 June: Korea Poker Cup Series 2, South Korea
- 4-13 July: RDPT Jeju II, South Korea
- 10-28 July: Taiwan Millions Tournament TMT 18
- 15-21 July: AJPC Samurai Circuit, Philippines
- 17-21 July: Japan Poker Open Tour – JOPT, Tokyo, Japan
- 23 July-4 August: PokerStars APPT Manila, Philippines
- 1-5 August: WPT Prime Thailand Exhibition, Bangkok, Thailand
Asia Player Spotlight
In this section, we use the poker results database, The Hendon Mob, and current news to highlight Asian poker players.
Sparrow Cheung (Hong Kong)
Hong Kong’s Sparrow Cheung, also known as Cheung Park Yu, the man with the most live tournament cashes in a single year in Asia (67 in 2018), has joined Natural8’s Team Hot. With over 460 career cashes, Cheung is a true volume grinder who built his name through relentless consistency. His record-setting grind makes him one of the most respected figures in the Asian poker circuit.
Chuanshu Chen (China)
China’s Chuanshu Chen turned heads at the 2025 WSOP Seniors High Roller, finishing as runner-up out of a field of 801 in the $5,000 event, securing $431,173 after a bruising heads-up battle against David “ODB” Baker. A seasoned grinder with over 460 live cashes and four final tables across tournaments like WPT and regional tours, Chen has now added his biggest-ever score on the world’s biggest stage, solidifying his reputation as a consistent and formidable presence in high-stakes tournament poker.
Poker Room Spotlight – The Star, Sydney, Australia
This week, we expand our spotlight a little bit and include Australia for a highlight.
The Star Sydney stands as the leading poker destination in Australia, offering the most consistent and high-stakes action in the country. With over 30 poker tables and a dedicated poker room, it’s the go-to venue for both seasoned pros and recreational players. The casino regularly hosts major tournament series such as the Star Sydney Champs, WSOP Circuit, and Sydney Championships, drawing in large fields and international attention.
Poker in Australia has a passionate following, but its live scene has consolidated in recent years. While Melbourne’s Crown Casino was once the epicenter—especially with the iconic Aussie Millions—it has significantly scaled back poker operations. This shift has allowed The Star Sydney to take the spotlight, offering daily cash games, frequent tournament action, and a well-run, centrally located venue.
Despite ongoing debates around gambling regulation in Australia, poker remains a legal and thriving part of casino life. Online poker, however, operates in a more restricted legal environment, pushing live venues like The Star to become even more critical to the local scene. For any poker enthusiast traveling to Australia, The Star Sydney is the undisputed hub of the action.
Asia Legislation & Industry
Thailand’s Casino Dreams on Shaky Ground as Political Pressure Mounts
Thailand’s ambitious push to legalize casino resorts is hitting turbulence. A key coalition party has exited the government, leaving Prime Minister Srettha with a razor-thin majority—complicating the approval of controversial projects like integrated resorts. Despite the uncertainty, the government is moving ahead with a high-profile entertainment complex summit in November, signaling commitment to the idea. Industry veterans have been appointed to an advisory board, aiming to add credibility to the effort.
However, regional tensions add further instability: recent conflicts along the Cambodia-Thailand border have disrupted casino labor flows, while civic groups are pushing back at home. A formal petition demanding a nationwide referendum on legalizing casinos suggests growing public resistance.
In short, Thailand’s casino future remains uncertain, balanced between bold planning and political fragility.
Japan Blocks Offshore Casinos in Major Online Gambling Crackdown
Japan is taking decisive action against illegal online gambling by ordering internet service providers to block access to unlicensed foreign casino websites. The move targets over 20 major offshore platforms, marking a rare but strong enforcement push. Authorities aim to curb the rising trend of unauthorized gambling among Japanese citizens, which has long operated in a legal gray zone. This crackdown aligns with Japan’s broader efforts to regulate its gambling industry, especially as it prepares to open its first integrated resort in Osaka by 2030.
Source: World Casino News
