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Winfred Yu is a legendary figure in the Asian poker world, serving as both an elite high-stakes competitor and a pivotal industry leader. As the President of the Poker King Club and a co-founder of major tournament series, Yu has been instrumental in bridging the gap between Western poker culture and the booming markets of Macau, Manila, and Jeju.
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
According to The Hendon Mob and its total earnings, Winfred Yu has accumulated $11,305,542 in total live winnings. His career reached a spectacular pinnacle in April 2022 when he triumphed in the Triton Poker Cyprus $75,000 Short Deck event, securing a massive $1,010,000 first-place prize. This victory highlighted his dominance in the Short Deck (6+) format, a variant he has helped popularize globally.
Yu’s success has continued into the 2025 season, where he recorded several six-figure scores in South Korea. At the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Jeju 2025, he finished 4th in a $30,000 NLH 8-Handed event for $595,000. He also showcased his prowess in regional tours, winning the K Poker Cup (KPC) $20,000 Super High Roller for $285,300. His resume is further bolstered by a 2nd-place finish in the Poker Dream 12 Jeju Main Event for KRW 634,876,000 (∼$485,241).
Biography & Poker Background
Hailing from Hong Kong, Yu emigrated to Canada at 14, where he studied mathematics and statistics, a foundation that would later fuel his analytical approach to the game. His introduction to poker was a literal meeting of destinies: on his first day at a Canadian poker club, he sat next to a young Daniel Negreanu, who was then a dealer. Yu eventually returned to Asia to lead the Poker King Club under SunCity, transforming it into the premier destination for the world’s most exclusive cash games, often referred to as “The Big Game.” Beyond management, he has appeared in poker-themed films and continues to be a driving force behind the Triton Series and Poker Dream festivals.
Play Style & Strategy
Yu is widely regarded as a “Short Deck wizard,” possessing an intuitive and mathematically grounded understanding of the 36-card game’s unique equities. While he modestly describes himself as less concentrated than full-time pros due to his business commitments, his results against the world’s elite suggest otherwise. He is known for a fearless table presence and an ability to “play the player,” a skill sharpened by thousands of hours spent hosting and competing in the highest-stakes cash games in Macau. His strategy effectively balances GTO principles with sharp exploitative adjustments, making him a perennial threat at final tables where ICM pressure and hand-reading are paramount.
