Malaysian reigns in World Poker Tour

MANILA, Philippines – A 35-year-old Malaysian who runs an accounting firm stashed away over P4million in cash yesterday in the World Poker Tour National Philippines main event at Solaire Resort and Casino.

Ying Lin Chua, who hails from the city of Johor Bahru, had a pair of twos (swans in poker lingo) against the ace-king (Ana Kournikova to pokers) of Norway’s Markus Garberg.

The banker turned his hands over, and Ying won the battle for the top prize of $86,130 or a little over P4 million on top of the bragging rights in the amazing world of poker.

Ying held his winning cards before the cameras, stacks of chips in front of him and a pair of voluptuous ladies, known as the WPT Royal Flush Girls, right behind him.

“Wow,” was the first word that came out of Ying’s mouth when The STAR spoke to him.

“I’m very happy. This is my biggest win. I’m so happy to be here. This is a fantastic event,” said Ying, who’s been to Manila a couple of times.

But this is the visit he will remember most because it’s the biggest win for him in six or seven years in the pro poker circuit.

Ying said he will stay another night in Manila, with his Malaysian friends who also came to play, and then head to Macau for another event scheduled next week.

A total of 268 players signed up for the main event, with a buy-in of $1,250. The lone Filipino in the final table, Dennis Gamboa, finished ninth and went home with $8,610 or roughly P405,000.

Garberg should be happy with his $60,440 for second place.

Ying said he will celebrate with his friends, but not wildly. He said he intends to keep the money for now, and use it for his campaign as a poker player.

“I don’t spend my money blindly, not with luxury. But I’ve been there and done that,” said Ying.

He left the room richer by $86,000.