Roy Thung

Roy Thung was born in Indonesia and immigrated to the United States in 1969, settling in White Plains, New York. Before becoming widely known in the poker world, Thung built a successful career as a business executive. His accomplishments in the corporate world were significant enough that Forbes featured him in 2012, highlighting his executive achievements alongside his later poker pursuits.

Thung first attended the World Series of Poker in 1997, marking the start of a long and distinguished tournament career. His first WSOP cash came that same year with a fifth-place finish in the $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha event, earning him $21,150. While he was primarily known as a mixed cash game specialist, Thung consistently performed well in tournament settings throughout his career.

Over the course of his poker career, Roy Thung accumulated nearly $900,000 in live tournament cashes according to major poker databases. He was a regular presence at the World Series of Poker, where he frequently made deep runs and cashed in multiple events. One notable performance came during a WSOP event where Thung was the only player to reach 300,000 chips on Day 1, ending the day with the chip lead at 303,000. This strong start demonstrated his ability to compete at the highest levels of tournament poker.

Thung's tournament results placed him among the respected grinders of his era, though he was often overshadowed by more flamboyant personalities. His consistent cashes and deep runs in mixed game events earned him a reputation as a formidable opponent, particularly in Pot-Limit Omaha and other non-hold'em disciplines.

Roy Thung was celebrated as a mixed games legend, a title that reflected his deep expertise across various poker variants. While many players of his generation focused primarily on Texas Hold'em, Thung excelled in the more complex and nuanced mixed game formats. His proficiency in these games made him a respected figure among fellow professionals, who recognized his skill and dedication to the craft.

His passing was noted by PokerNews, which reported that Thung had just cashed at the World Series of Poker before his death in Las Vegas. The poker community mourned the loss of a player who had contributed significantly to the mixed games scene for decades.

Roy Thung passed away in Las Vegas at the age of 82. His death came shortly after he had recorded another WSOP cash, a fitting end for a player who had remained active in the tournament circuit well into his later years. Friends and colleagues remembered him not only for his poker abilities but also for his successful business career and the quiet dignity with which he conducted himself both at and away from the tables.

Thung's legacy lives on through his tournament results and the respect he earned from his peers. He will be remembered as a dedicated mixed games player who balanced a thriving executive career with a lifelong passion for poker.