Tony Ma

Tony Ma, born Hieu Ngoc Ma around 1957 in Vietnam, is an ethnic Hoa who moved to Southern California in 1985. He began playing poker in local card rooms and eventually became a regular on the tournament circuit. He now resides in South El Monte, California, with his wife and two children.

Ma's poker career took off in the mid-1990s. He won his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet in 1996, taking the $5,000 Limit Hold'em event for $236,000. In 1999, he was named Card Player of the Year. He earned his second WSOP bracelet in 2000 by winning the $2,000 Limit Hold'em event, collecting $367,040.

Beyond the WSOP, Ma has had significant success on the World Poker Tour (WPT). He made the final table of the WPT Season 1 Pro-Celebrity Invitational, finishing 5th. His biggest cash came in 2005 when he won the No-Limit Hold'em event at the Five-Star World Poker Classic (WPT) for $435,980. That same year, he also won the California State Poker Championship No-Limit Hold'em event for $384,025.

Ma has 57 WSOP cashes, totaling over $1.4 million in winnings. His two bracelets are both in limit hold'em, showcasing his expertise in that format. His best WSOP Main Event finish is 526th in 2013. He continues to play in WSOP events, with recent cashes in 2024 and 2025.

On the WPT, Ma has 8 cashes and one final table (5th in the Pro-Celebrity Invitational). He has earned over $226,000 on the WPT. He also finished 2nd in the 1999 Carnivale of Poker II Championship Event ($192,850) and has numerous other top finishes.

Known by the nickname "The Animal," Ma is recognized for his aggressive limit hold'em play. His style contrasts with the more conservative approaches often seen in modern tournaments. He has been a consistent presence in the poker world for over three decades.

With live tournament earnings exceeding $4.7 million, Tony Ma is one of the most successful American poker players of Vietnamese origin. His two WSOP bracelets and Card Player of the Year award cement his place in poker history. He remains active on the tournament circuit, inspiring new generations of players.