Hieu Ngoc Ma

Hieu Ngoc Ma was born circa 1957 in Vietnam, of ethnic Hoa descent. He immigrated to Southern California in 1985 and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen. Ma now resides in South El Monte, California, with his wife and two children.

Ma, who plays under the name Tony Ma, emerged as a prominent tournament player in the 1990s. He won his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet in 1996 in the $5,000 Limit Hold'em event, taking home $236,000. In 1999, he was awarded the Card Player Player of the Year award. He secured a second WSOP bracelet in 2000 in the $2,000 Limit Hold'em event, earning $367,040. Over his career, Ma has accumulated 22 WSOP cashes, totaling $1,157,987. He also cashed in the WSOP Main Event in 2013, finishing 526th. Beyond the WSOP, Ma has made eight money finishes on the World Poker Tour (WPT), including a final-table appearance in Season 1's Pro-Celebrity Invitational, where he placed 5th. His total live tournament earnings exceed $4.8 million, with a best cash of $435,980.

Ma is known as a tight-aggressive player, exhibiting patience and strong hand-reading skills. Despite his nickname "The Animal," his style is methodical and disciplined, focusing on waiting for premium spots in deep-stacked tournaments. He is often described as steady and composed under pressure.

Outside of poker, Ma is an amateur golf enthusiast. He continues to play selectively on the tournament circuit, maintaining a presence in both live and online events.

A notable data point from Ma's career appears in his Wikipedia entry, which was last updated on July 24, 2009. At that time, his live tournament winnings were reported to be over $4,100,000. This figure was sourced from the Hendon Mob poker database, a widely recognized authority on tournament results. The $4.1 million milestone represents the cumulative earnings from his tournaments up to that date. This snapshot is particularly interesting because it predates his later cashes, including his 2013 WSOP Main Event appearance and additional WPT finishes, which eventually increased his total earnings to over $4.8 million. However, the 2009 figure remains a key reference for his mid-career achievements.

Tony Ma's tournament results are well-documented on several major poker websites. The Card Player website features a profile page listing his career highlights, including his 1999 Player of the Year award. The Hendon Mob database provides a comprehensive list of all his recorded tournament cashes, with details on events, dates, and prize money. The World Poker Tour official site tracks his performances in WPT events, noting his eight money finishes and his final table appearance in the Season 1 Pro-Celebrity Invitational. Additionally, the WSOP.com player profile displays his two bracelets and 22 in-the-money finishes. These online resources collectively offer a thorough view of his poker journey.