Thailand’s First Major Poker Tournament Draws Over Two Thousand Entries

Bangkok has just wrapped up a milestone moment for its poker scene — the WPT Prime Thailand Championship — and it couldn’t have gone much better. A total of 2,337 entries packed into the debut event, marking Thailand’s official arrival on the international poker calendar.

Good to know

• Haoran Sun won the championship, earning $353,497 and a seat at the 2025 WPT World Championship.
• Thailand only recently recognized poker as a sport, allowing official tournaments to take place.
• The WPT Prime Thailand Championship prize pool hit 75.48 million THB (~$2.3 million).
• Winners received travel funds instead of cash due to local gambling restrictions.

The tournament’s launch comes shortly after the Thai government reclassified poker as a sport, opening the door to regulated events in the country. That move is part of a broader effort to appeal to younger travelers and diversify the nation’s entertainment options.

Big Numbers for Thailand’s Poker Debut

The championship featured a 37,000 THB buy-in (around $1,114), drawing players from across Asia and beyond. The prize pool reached 75,488,000 THB, and while gambling laws prevented direct cash payouts, prizes were issued in travel funds.

The atmosphere was electric, but regulations added some unique twists — play was capped at six hours on weekdays, forcing the tournament to move at a faster pace. Levels were shortened, and the final day saw rapid eliminations.

Haoran Sun Takes the Crown

China’s Haoran Sun came out on top, earning 11,477,000 THB ($353,497) plus a $10,400 seat to the 2025 WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas. Sun’s aggressive style on the livestreamed final table kept opponents under pressure and chip stacks short.

One of his defining hands came when he eliminated Allen Nielsen’s suited queen-jack with pocket kings, solidifying his lead. Canada’s Philipp Zukernik handled several knockouts himself but couldn’t close the gap in the heads-up match. Duhan Lee of South Korea rounded out the top three.

WPT Prime Moves On to Taiwan

Fresh off the success in Thailand, WPT Prime now heads to Taiwan for its next stop from August 6–19. The series will feature a championship event with a TWD 35 million ($1.1 million) guarantee and a TWD 35,000 ($1,171) buy-in.

With Thailand now firmly on the map for poker, the event’s success signals that Asia’s live tournament scene is getting even stronger — and more destinations could follow suit.

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