Wai Kin Yong

Wai Kin Yong was born on December 25, 1987, in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, his father Richard Yong is a well-known businessman and one of the founders of the Triton Poker series. From an early age, Wai Kin was exposed to high-level business environments, but his interest in poker sparked during his college years at a university in Malaysia. He began playing small-stakes games at local open-air cafes, initially treating poker as a hobby. A pivotal moment came when he met Swedish professional Mikael Thuritz, who mentored him and helped transition his style from a 'crazy' amateur to a disciplined high-stakes player.

Yong’s first serious tournament experience was in Macau, where he played low-stakes games alongside his father’s friends. His natural talent quickly became evident; within months, he won over $50,000 in live games. This success motivated him to move up to higher stakes, where he earned an additional $382,000. Initially driven by money, Yong soon aspired to compete among the world’s elite, leading him to dedicate himself fully to professional poker. He built his own bankroll rather than relying on his father’s resources, a testament to his independent drive.

Yong’s first major live tournament triumph came in November 2016 at the Triton Super High Roller Series in Manila, where he won the $2,080,556 Main Event for $793,604. This victory marked the beginning of a series of high-profile successes. His career-best cash came in August 2019 at the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series London Main Event, where he claimed first place and $3,154,064. Later that same series, he finished runner-up in the Short Deck Main Event for $2,232,740. In March 2020, he won the Short Deck No-Limit Hold’em event at the MILLIONS Super High Roller Sochi for $800,000. His fourth Triton title came in August 2023 in London, winning the Short Deck Ante Only event for $350,000.

As the son of Triton co-founder Richard Yong, Wai Kin has been a regular participant in the Triton Poker Series, often playing in the highest buy-in events. He has become one of the most successful players in the series, earning multiple titles and deep runs. Notable Triton results include a 7th-place finish in the 2024 Triton Montenegro Main Event for $800,000, and a 14th-place in the 2024 Triton Monte Carlo Super High Roller for $67,000. His consistent success in these ultra-high-roller tournaments has cemented his reputation as a world-class player.

Beyond Triton, Yong has cashed in several World Series of Poker (WSOP) events. In 2013, he finished 14th in the WSOP Europe €5,300 Mixed-Max No-Limit Hold’em for €14,905 and 44th in the EPT London Main Event for £11,425. In the 2014 WSOP, he placed 30th in the $10,000 6-Handed Championship for $17,793. More recently, at the 2024 WSOP Paradise, he finished 18th in Event #7: Triton Main Event for $215,000. He also placed 13th in a 2025 Triton Jeju Pot-Limit Omaha event for $36,000. Online, Yong has recorded strong finishes, including 3rd place in the $10,300 Super Million$ on GGPoker for $210,000 in March 2023, and a runner-up finish in a $5,250 No-Limit Hold’em event on GGPoker for over $100,000 in August 2021.

Yong is known for a 'purely intuitive and hyper-aggressive' playing style. He describes himself as an 'intuition guy,' rarely relying on GTO solvers or extensive theoretical study. Instead, he uses extreme pressure and unconventional moves to keep opponents off balance. He is particularly adept in Short Deck and Pot-Limit Omaha formats, often finding standard No-Limit Hold’em 'boring' compared to the high-equity action of mixed games. His aggression is tempered by patience learned from his father, allowing him to make well-timed bluffs and hero calls in multi-million dollar pots. Yong’s ability to trust his reads under pressure has made him a feared opponent at any table.

As of 2024, Yong’s live tournament earnings exceed $14.4 million, ranking him 97th on the all-time money list and 6th among Malaysian players. He continues to compete actively in high-stakes events worldwide. In 2024 alone, he cashed in multiple Triton events and the WSOP Paradise, demonstrating enduring competitiveness. His estimated net worth from poker exceeds $15 million. Yong is regarded as a pioneer of Asian poker, inspiring a new generation of players from the region. Despite his success, he maintains a low public profile, rarely appearing in media, and lets his results speak for themselves.