Poker Tournament Hong Kong

Elton Tsang
Residence	Hong Kong
Born	Elton Tsang Ka Wai Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
World Series of Poker
Money finish(es)	1
European Poker Tour
Money finish(es)	1

1. We are dedicated to bringing you the real poker experience and live action for free in Hong Kong. We run weekly free No Limit Texas Holdem Poker Tournament at different clubs around Hong Kong where winners receive nightly prizes. All players collect points in our league and have their ranking in Hong Kong. Get your own ranking in HKGC!
2. Hong Kong gamblers can take the action up a notch by showing off your skills at a poker tournament. As if that weren’t enough, you can take poker on the go with a mobile or tablet device. Whenever you have a question, reach out to a team of multilingual customer support members who are standing by 24/7.

Elton Tsang Ka-wai (born 1980) is a Chinese Canadian poker player currently residing in Hong Kong.^[1] Considered as one of the five best Asian poker players,^[2] Tsang has achieved icon status in the international poker scene with his involvement in several historic achievements including: 1) his role in founding and organising the first ever live poker tournament in Macau, China,^[3] 2) his winning the 3rd highest prize in poker tournament history (€11,111,111),^[4] and 3) his part in the biggest pot in TV poker history (€2,090,000).^[5]

The Hong Kong Poker League™, formed in February of 2007, hosts Free Live Texas Hold’em Tournaments at your favorite locations throughout Hong Kong allowing you to learn the game, test your poker skills against others in your area, sharpen the skills you have already mastered, and enjoy the “Poker Night” food and drink specials at participating venues. Hong Kong, Hong Kong; 9 members; Public group. Poker Card Games Texas Hold 'em Poker Cash Games No Limit Texas Hold 'em Texas Hold 'em Tournaments Poker Home Games.

Outside of poker, Tsang is a successful investor and visionary entrepreneur. He has amassed a large portfolio of positions in early-stage to pre-IPO companies with a particular interest in technology, finance, and cryptocurrency sectors. One investment of which he is particularly proud is in a Hong Kong cryptocurrency exchange company where Tsang was the single investor from seed round through subsequent rounds providing the company sufficient liquidity and ultimately winning the government's regulatory approval gaining legitimacy.

Poker[edit]

Early Years[edit]

Born and raised in Vancouver, and with a bachelors degree from University of British Columbia, Canada, Tsang first started playing poker online on party-pooper in 2001 in $2/$4 Limit Hold'em games. It was upon returning to Hong Kong after graduating university that he realized poker was still very much non-existent in the neighboring city-state of Macau, where gaming was legal. With the vision that poker would be instantly popular in Macau, Tsang had the idea of hosting the first ever live poker tournament in Macau. After some research, he discovered that his relative was the owner of the Grand Waldo Casino in Macau. Tsang scheduled a meeting, gave a successful pitch, and went on to become the tournament's founding organizer in partnership with famed tournament director Matt Savage and Poker Stars as sponsors. This is how the APPT Macau (Asia Pacific Poker Tour) was started.^[6] But having signed just a one-year deal with Poker Stars and the casino, Tsang was left out the second year and the tournament continued to become what it is today. This was Tsang's first entrepreneurial move having invested about a million HKD (US $130K) of his own saving.^[7]

Tsang continued to play small stakes online, and had a short but successful run in the live tournament circuit before focusing mainly on cash games and playing full time. Starting off at the HKD$25/$50 ($3/$6) games in Hong Kong, Tsang begun to build his bankroll and moved up to higher stakes. Tsang later moved to Macau hoping to capitalise on the growing popularity of live cash games, and the influx of wealthy Asian businessmen whom were new to the game. His games started at HKD$50/$100, then moved to HKD$100/$200 where he struggled the most to maintain. At that time his goal was to play in the HK$1000/$2000 private game. He spent the next a couple years moving up and down the stakes while improving his skill. One of his defining moments in poker came during this time when he was able to finally out-play his then-nemesis, a US pro called Vietnamese John (John Hoang), in a tournament where Tsang came first after beating Vietnamese John heads-up. This was an important win and a significant boost to Tsang's confidence having been crushed and sent back down to lower stakes by Vietnamese John many times before.^[8]

The Big Game[edit]

Between 2010 and 2012, Tsang continued to live in Macau, playing poker constantly, and living the fun and exciting life of a professional poker player. He made a lot of great poker friends there and he attributes them for helping him improve his game. Tsang was now playing at HK$300/$600 stakes steadily and some HK$1000/$2000 games. When Macau introduced Omaha, Tsang was ready having learned it online previously. He played in the HK$1000/$2000 Omaha games where he grew his bankroll considerably. Armed with a healthy bankroll, Tsang moved up the stakes onto HKD$10,000/$20,000 (USD$1.2K5/$2.5K) & HKD$20,000/$40,000 (USD$2.5K/$5K) No Limit Hold'em games where all the big pros played'.I t was a juicy game', as Tsang calls it.^[9] Tsang was now playing in The Big Game alongside the world's biggest names in professional poker which included Gus Hansen, Phil Ivey, Patrik Antonius, John Juanda, Tom Dwan, and Johnny Chan. Tsang struggled to maintain at this game at first, having to drop down the stakes to play Pot Limit Omaha which he frequently used to build his bankroll back up. Eventually Tsang was able to overcome his loss, survive, and kept going up steadily after that. Tsang went on to become a regular in the world of super high stakes poker cash games, winning and losing pots in excess of one million Hong Kong dollars (US$12.7M). Tsang shares the story of his most memorable game: “One of the games where I still remember until now. It was a game that would have broke me or made me. I was in Macau playing three-handed with Tom Dwan and the Chairman. That game, we were playing HKD Ten Million dollar buy-in (USD$1.2m) HK$50,000/HK$100,000 (USD$6/$12k) No- Limit. After playing 24-hours, I had lost HKD$60 million (USD$7.6m). That was my stop-limit. I was ready to quit. But then I ended up giving it one more bullet. I bought in for another HKD$20m (USD$2.5m) and had I lost it I would have had to move down in stakes and start all over. I was fortunate enough to win all my money back, and HKD$60m on top of that. It was the most important game of my life. I think that was in about 2014 or 2015.”^[10]

Big One for One Drop 2016[edit]

In October 2016, Tsang was invited by Guy Laliberté, the founder of Cirque du Soleil, to participate in the €1,000,000 Monte-Carlo One Drop Extravaganza, an exclusive poker tournament. He defeated 25 other players to win the tournament and received a €11,111,111 ($12,248,912) payout for first, the third largest single payout in poker history.^[11][12][13] Tsang was coached by professional poker player, Mustapha Kanit.^[14]

Tsang's entry and eventually win in the Big One for One Drop tournament came at the right time. By then he had already established himself in the private world of super high stakes cash games, but still remained largely unknown to the general public. He was very comfortable financially but was finding himself being banned more and more from private games due to his success in those games. “The One Drop was good timing. All the time before that I wanted to stay low profile. Before that tournament happened, people in the poker world already know me. It doesn’t matter anymore. I am already getting the feeling people didn’t want me to play anyway. So it was good timing to win it. When I first started playing poker I wanted to win a bracelet, I wanted the first place; I wanted to be the champion. All the big players already knew about me, and how good I am, so I can’t hide that anymore', Tsang says. “It’s good because it’s a weird mix. The One Drop event made me recognised by the public, and most importantly my family. They can brag about this to their friends. This event made my family realise the accomplishment I have made. When I tell them about playing cash games, they don’t know what’s going on. Being on the news is different. It was in the newspapers in Hong Kong, so I was happy that my family got to recognise ten years of hard work.”^[15]

The Scandal[edit]

In the same year, an anonymous story emerged alleging that while playing in a private game hosted at Casino Barcelona, Leon Tsoukernik had lost over €3,000,000 dollars to Tsang. Tsoukernik paid €1,200,000, but refused to pay the remaining €2,000,000. When Tsang requested that the debt be paid in full Tsoukernik refused claiming the game was 'strange',^[16] elaborating that '...some people take advantage of knowing me and target me when I play poker cash games. I have thus experienced a variety of practices in the game, which corrupt the sport of the game. For example, poker collusion, marked cards, and hired professionals. I have many stories to tell, but I prefer to fight it my own way with the support of the courts of justice and other poker entrepreneurs instead of fighting rumours and lies over the internet.'^[17]

Tsang confirmed this allegation in a 2017 interview, further clarifying that the amount he was owed were much higher. He says he had won from Leon €1,190,000 in the first 3 sessions plus another €3,375,000 in the last session, and Leon had paid €1,200,000, so he was still owed €3,365,000. ^[18][19]

Tsang's accusation of Leon echoes a similar case where Australian poker pro Matt Kirk sues Leon for refusing to repay a $2,000,000 debt.^[20] In support of Tsang, several prominent poker players came to his defence including Tong G, Winfred Yu, Philipp Gruissem,^[21] and the most vocal being Daniel Negreanu posting on Twitter saying 'Elton is an honorable guy and is not lying.'^[22]

Tournament results[edit]

Date	Country	Event	Place	Prize (USD)
14-Oct-2016	Monaco	€ 888,889 + 111,111 No Limit Hold'em Monte-Carlo One Drop Extravaganza The Monte-Carlo One Drop Extravaganza, Monte Carlo	1st	$ 12,248,912
13-Apr-2013	Australia	A$ 50,000 No Limit Hold'em - High Roller Rebuy World Series of Poker Asia-Pacific (WSOP APAC), Melbourne	5th	$ 162,212
08-Mar-2012	South Korea	KRW 1,000,000 + 240,000 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event APPT - Seoul, Seoul	14th	$ 8,023
22-Jan-2012	Australia	A$ 10,000 + 600 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event 2012 Aussie Millions Poker Championship, Melbourne	21st	$ 46,326
12-Oct-2011	Macau	HK$ 20,000 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event Macau Poker Cup - October Special, Macau	22nd	$ 5,704
30-Mar-2011	Philippines	$ 2,500 + 200 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event APT - Philippines, Manila	2nd	$ 95,230
07-Nov-2010	Macau	HK$ 32,500 + 2,500 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event Asian Poker Tour - Macau, Macau	7th	$ 26,059
18-May-2010	Macau	HK$ 40,000 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event APPT - Macau, Macau	33rd	$ 8,203
23-Apr-2010	Macau	HK$ 7,500 + 500 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event Asian Poker King Tournament, Macau	1st	$ 71,307
20-Mar-2010	Philippines	$ 2,500 + 200 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event APPT - Manila, Manila	29th	$ 5,200
11-Nov-2009	Philippines	₱ 94,000 + 6,000 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event Filipino Poker Tour 11 / APPT - Philippines, Cebu	31st	$ 3,720
13-Aug-2009	Macau	HK$ 1,000 + 150 No Limit Hold'em 2009 Asian Poker Tour - Macau, Macau	2nd	$ 2,580
10-Jul-2009	Macau	HK$ 49,000 + 1,000 No Limit Hold'em - High Roller Event PokerStars Macau Poker Cup, Macau	2nd	$ 19,351
15-Nov-2008	Philippines	₱ 40,000 No Limit Hold'em - Seven Handed Filipino Poker Tour 8 / APPT - Manila, Manila	4th	$ 1,072
25-Oct-2008	Macau	HK$ 10,000 No Limit Hold'em - Red Dragon Event Macau Poker Cup, Taipa	4th	$ 4,581
01-Sep-2008	Macau	HK$ 25,000 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event APPT - Macau, Taipa	52nd	$ 4,858
05-Jan-2008	Bahamas	$ 7,800 + 200 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure PCA - 2008, Paradise Island	37th	$ 32,000
04-Nov-2006	Philippines	$ 2,500 No Limit Hold'em PanAsia Poker Tour, Paranaque City	4th	$ 7,650

Charity[edit]

Tsang is involved in charity. He has donated to Mother's Choice, sponsoring children at a local orphanage Po Leung Kok, and Lord Grace Home for the Aged. He credits Sheen Hok Charitable Foundation founder, Alice Chiu, as being an inspiration saying 'my passion for charitable work originates from Alice Chiu ... I was deeply touched by her efforts to help the needy in the society. Earlier, I visited children with amblyopia in Handan, China. The experience taught me to be grateful for all I have, and do my best to help those in need.'^[23]

References[edit]

1. ^'WSOP NEWS: ELTON-TSANG-WINS-2016-BIG-ONE-FOR-ONE-DROP'. www.wsop.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
2. ^'Five of the Best Asian Poker Players'. www.pokernews.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
3. ^yro07. 'Who is Elton Tsang?'. Smart Spin. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
4. ^'Elton Tsang Wins the Big One For One Drop Extravaganza for €11,111,111!'. www.pokernews.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
5. ^'Biggest pot in TV poker history? Million Euro Cash Game at Triton Poker Super High Roller Series - YouTube'. www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
6. ^yro07. 'Who is Elton Tsang?'. Smart Spin. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
7. ^'Winning and losing millions playing poker with Elton Tsang (part 1)'. CalvinAyre.com. 2017-08-14. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
8. ^'Winning and losing millions playing poker with Elton Tsang (part 1)'. CalvinAyre.com. 2017-08-14. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
9. ^'Winning and losing millions playing poker with Elton Tsang (part 1)'. CalvinAyre.com. 2017-08-14. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
10. ^'Winning and losing millions playing poker with Elton Tsang (part 1)'. CalvinAyre.com. 2017-08-14. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
11. ^'Elton Tsang Wins €1 Million Big One Invitational For €11,111,111 - Poker News'. www.cardplayer.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
12. ^'Elton Tsang Wins the Big One For One Drop Extravaganza for €11,111,111!'. www.pokernews.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
13. ^'WSOP NEWS: ELTON-TSANG-WINS-2016-BIG-ONE-FOR-ONE-DROP'. www.wsop.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
14. ^'Elton Tsang and Mustapha Kanit Reflect on €11,111,111-One Drop Extravaganza Win'. www.pokernews.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
15. ^'Elton Tsang and Mustapha Kanit Reflect on €11,111,111-One Drop Extravaganza Win'. www.pokernews.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
16. ^'The Three Million Euro Welcher?'. PokerTube. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
17. ^'Winning and losing millions playing poker with Elton Tsang (part 2)'. CalvinAyre.com. 2017-08-14. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
18. ^'Winning and losing millions playing poker with Elton Tsang (part 2)'. CalvinAyre.com. 2017-08-14. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
19. ^'Elton Tsang: 'Leon Tsoukernik owes me €2,000,000''. HighstakesDB. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
20. ^'Aussie High Stakes Player Matt Kirk Sues Leon Tsourkernik over $2,000,000 Debt'. HighstakesDB. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
21. ^'Winning and losing millions playing poker with Elton Tsang (part 2)'. CalvinAyre.com. 2017-08-14. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
22. ^'https://twitter.com/realkidpoker/status/930220746130862080'. Twitter. Retrieved 2020-12-03.External link in title= (help)
23. ^Lai, Elly (January 2017). 'Finding an International Foothold'. Precious. 60: 90–93.

External links[edit]

Poker in Hong Kong has become a fast growing activity in 2007.
In social occaison organized games held in clubs and restaurants in Hong Kong every week. Even though the law in Hong Kong does not allow gambling, there had been found ways to organize and hold professional events.
Starting from weekly meetings the movement has grown to poker events, which last over several month. Pokerpro and event organiser Kelly F. who is also the founder of the Hong Kong Poker League (http://www.hkpokerleague.com) , the www.pokerschool.com.hk and a team member of the Asian Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) support the community.
History:
Even in late 2007 there is only one casino in the “Asian Las-Vegas” Macau, which provides Texas Hold'em Poker. Some of the reasons might be, that there are no professional dealers and missing international support for Poker. But with a non-stop growing interest of the Asian community in Poker more and more casinos plan to integrate poker in to their program. Some of the biggest Casinos already applied a license for Texas Hold'em Poker (underneath them the Sands/Venitian Group and Whynn).

Poker Tournament Hong Kong Tvb

Hong Kong is growing faster than Macau. Since a couple of years there exist private organized poker clubs and periodically hold meetings. At the beginning of 2007 the first sponsored tournament was held in an exclusive members club in Hong Kong, which opened the doors for every poker player and non-members. The sponsoring was brought by a spirits company, which supplied poker chips, tables and prices.
The Tournament, which went over 2 months, showed a great success with over 60 players every week.
Kelly F. who noticed the potential for Poker in Hong Kong, decided to establish professional Poker how it is played at the APPT and WOSP Events. Under his management the Hong Kong Poker League and the Hong Kong Pokerschool was founded. After getting in contact with sponsorships from companys like Tequila Patron, Pokerstars and the Pharaoh Palace Casino in Macau he supplied professional poker equipment, dealers and tournament directors.
The first Event under the management of Kelly F. was held Hong Kongs most famous venue, which just opened for this event on a Wednesday afternoon. It was advertised in the local press such as JUICE and BEATS Magazine and online on Hong Kong Clubbing to name some of them.
Announced is a tournament in the world famous shareholder club M1NT that is waiting for a license to hold a poker tournament. In the upcoming year tournaments and cooperations are planed with Casinos in Macau, Restaurants, Bars and Hotels in Hong Kong and partnerships with events like the APPT.
The Hong Kong Poker League will be open for the public in the 4th quarter of 2007.
Support
Without support and sponsorship professional events are difficult to manage.
The main organizer for poker events in Hong Kong is the Hong Kong Poker League in cooperation with the Hong Kong Pokerschool. Part of this team is Kelly who has his roots in the marketing of action sports. With his concept and presents on all international tournaments he is named as one of the keyfiguers in establishing professional poker on the Asian market. He is also the publisher of a poker magazine called “Under the Gun” in Las Vegas. Through his contacts it was possible to get sponsorships like the world famous online poker platform Pokerstars and Tequila Patron from Las Vegas even in the beginning of Poker in Hong Kong.
To run a sponsored tournament in Hong Kong there is a need of a license from the Hong Kong government, which takes up to half a year to apply. The following article shows a part out of the Gambling Ordinance of Hong Kong.

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Law
The Law in Hong Kong does not allow running a casino. Gambling is lawful if the game is played on a social occasion in private premises. This includes the most gambled game mahjong. Everywhere in Hong Kong Bars and Clubs are open to rent out mahjong tables and equipment. An entrance fee is often charged. The government sees in mahjong a social activity, which is permitted and lawful. So is Poker.

Poker Tournament Hong Kong Buffet

The Gambling Ordinance describes gambling as lawful as following:
...
(2) Gaming is lawful if the game is played on a social occasion in private premises and is not promoted or conducted by way of trade or business or for the private gain of any person otherwise than to the extent of a person's winnings as a player of or at the game.
(3) Gaming is lawful if the game is one in which dice, dominoes, mahjong or tin kau tiles, or playing cards are used and-
(a) the game is played on a social occasion in-
(i) premises licensed as a restaurant under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132); (Amended 10 of 1986 s. 32(1))
(ii) premises where intoxicating liquor is sold pursuant to a licence or other authorization granted under any Ordinance; or

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(iii) a club-house in respect of which either of the conditions indicated in section 4(2) of the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance (Cap 376) has been satisfied; (Replaced 38 of 1994 s. 3)
...
Still a problem is article (2), which declares gambling just as lawful if it is not promoted, on social occasion and not conducted by way of trade or business. To run a tournament lawfull it must happen “cash-free” (chip value as play money). Though all prices of the tournaments are sponsored prices like flight tickets, seats in international poker events or liquor from the liquor companies.
The Hong Kong Poker League is working on a special permit to allow gambling with real cash value like it is allowed in mahjong or the betting on horses in the Hong Kong jokey club.