Elton Tsang: Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
removed promo cruft |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{short description|Chinese Canadian poker player}} |
|||
{{Infobox poker player |
{{Infobox poker player |
||
| name=Elton Tsang |
| name=Elton Tsang |
||
| nickname= |
| nickname= |
||
| image=ET profile2.jpg |
| image=ET profile2.jpg |
||
| caption=Elton Tsang |
| caption=Elton Tsang |
||
| Line 20: | Line 19: | ||
| ept money finishes=1 |
| ept money finishes=1 |
||
| updated= |
| updated= |
||
}} |
|||
|Image=[[File:ET profile2.jpg|thumb|Tsang profile photo]]}} |
|||
'''Elton Tsang Ka |
'''Elton Tsang Ka-wai''' (born 1980) is a [[Chinese Canadian]] [[poker]] player currently residing in [[Hong Kong]] who won the [[List of largest poker tournaments in history (by prize pool)|fifth largest single payout]] in poker tournament history.<ref name="wsop_WSOP">{{Cite web| title = WSOP NEWS: ELTON TSANG WINS 2016 BIG ONE FOR ONE DROP| author = Kirschen, Robert| work = WSOP.com| date = 16 October 2016| accessdate = 2017-05-05| url = http://www.wsop.com/news/2016/Oct/7950/ELTON-TSANG-WINS-2016-BIG-ONE-FOR-ONE-DROP.html}}</ref> He is an entrepreneur with investments in IT, travel agencies, and internet firms.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.highstakesdb.com/7302-elton-tsang-wins-1m-one-drop-for-122m.aspx|title=Elton Tsang Wins €1m One Drop for $12.2m|work=HighstakesDB|access-date=2017-09-25}}</ref> [[Jason Koon]] believed Tsang to be one of the biggest winners in Macau cash games with estimated winnings of over $120 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pokerground.com/en/jason-koon-elton-tsang-may-be-the-biggest-winner-as-far-as-cash-games-go/|title=Jason Koon – "Elton Tsang may be the biggest winner as far as cash games go"|last=Wesker|date=2018-06-02|website=PokerGround.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-24}}</ref> Tsang is involved in charity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2016/10/elton-tsang-mustapha-kanit-reflect-on-one-drop-win-26093.htm|title=Elton Tsang and Mustapha Kanit Reflect on €11,111,111-One Drop Extravaganza Win|website=www.pokernews.com|language=en|access-date=2019-04-24}}</ref> |
||
==Poker== |
==Poker== |
||
Tsang's first live tournament cash was in 2006 where he finished 4th in the $2,500 No Limit Hold'em event at the PanAsia Poker Tour. |
|||
In April 2010, Tsang was the champion of the Asian Poker King Tournament winning his first tournament and earning HK$553,600 (USD $71,307) in the process.<ref name="thea_Elto">{{Cite web| title = Elton Tsang Wins the Asian Poker King Tournament| work = Asian Poker Tour| date = 2010-04-27| accessdate = 2017-05-05| url = http://www.theasianpokertour.com/news/elton-tsang-wins-the-asian-poker-king-tournament.html}}</ref> |
|||
=== Early Years === |
|||
Born and raised in Vancouver, and with a bachelor's degree from [https://www.ubc.ca/ University of British Columbia], [[Canada]], Tsang first started playing poker online on [[partypoker]] in 2001 in $2/$4 [[Texas hold 'em|Limit Hold'em]] games. It was upon returning to [[Hong Kong]] after graduating university that he realised poker was still very much non-existent in the neighbouring 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 organiser in partnership with famed tournament director [[Matt Savage (poker director)|Matt Savage]] and [[PokerStars]] as sponsors. This is how the [[Asia Pacific Poker Tour|APPT Macau]] (Asia Pacific Poker Tour) was started.<ref name="yro07"/> But having signed just a one-year deal with PokerStars 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 savings.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://calvinayre.com/2017/08/14/poker/winning-losing-millions-playing-poker-elton-tsang-part-1/|title=Winning and losing millions playing poker with Elton Tsang (part 1)|date=2017-08-14|website=CalvinAyre.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-24}}</ref> |
|||
| ⚫ | In October 2016, Tsang was invited by [[Guy Laliberté]], the founder of [[Cirque du Soleil]], to participate in the €1,000,000 [[Big One for One Drop|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 [[List of largest poker tournaments in history (by prize pool)|third largest single payout]] in poker history.<ref name="card_Elto">{{Cite web| title = Elton Tsang Wins €1 Million Big One Invitational For €11,111,111| author = Fast, Erik| work = CardPlayer.com| date = 2016-10-16| accessdate = 2017-05-05| url = http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/20915-elton-tsang-wins-1-million-big-one-invitational-for-11-111-111}}</ref><ref name="poke_Elto_Wright">{{Cite web| title = Elton Tsang Wins the Big One For One Drop Extravaganza for €11,111,111!| author = Wright, Nick| work = PokerNews| date = 2016-10-16| accessdate = 2017-05-05| url = https://www.pokernews.com/news/2016/10/elton-tsang-big-one-for-one-drop-extravaganza-11111111-26078.htm}}</ref> Tsang was coached by professional poker player, [[Mustapha Kanit]].<ref name="poke_Elto">{{Cite web| title = Elton Tsang and Mustapha Kanit Reflect on €11,111,111-One Drop Extravaganza Win| author = Op de Woerd, Frank| work = PokerNews| date = 2016-10-19| accessdate = 2017-05-05| url = https://www.pokernews.com/news/2016/10/elton-tsang-mustapha-kanit-reflect-on-one-drop-win-26093.htm}}</ref> |
||
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.<ref name=":0" /> |
|||
| ⚫ | 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",<ref name="poke_TheT">{{Cite web| title = The Three Million Euro Welcher?| author = Burnett, Andrew| work = PokerTube| date = 19 August 2016| accessdate = 2017-08-21| url = https://www.pokertube.com/article/the-three-million-euro-welcher}}</ref> 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."<ref name="calv_Winn" /> Tsang confirmed this allegation in 2017 which Tsoukernik vehemently denies.<ref name="calv_Winn">{{Cite web| title = Winning and losing millions playing poker with Elton Tsang (part 2)| author = Davy, Lee| work = CalvinAyre.com| date = 2017-08-15| accessdate = 2017-08-21| url = https://calvinayre.com/2017/08/15/poker/winning-losing-millions-playing-poker-elton-tsang-part-2/}}</ref><ref name="high_Elto">{{Cite web| title = Elton Tsang: "Leon Tsoukernik owes me €2,000,000"| author = Pete| work = HighstakesDB| date = 19 August 2017| accessdate = 2017-08-21| url = https://www.highstakesdb.com/8092-elton-tsang-leon-tsoukernik-owes-me-2000000.aspx}}</ref> |
||
=== The Big Game === |
|||
As of 2017 Tsang's live tournament winnings exceed $12,700,000. |
|||
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 (US$1.25K/$2.5K) & HKD$20,000/$40,000 (US$2.5K/$5K) No Limit Hold'em games where all the big pros played. "It was a juicy game", as Tsang calls it.<ref name=":0" /> |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
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 hundred 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.”'' <ref name=":0" /> |
|||
=== Big One for One Drop 2016 === |
|||
| ⚫ | In October 2016, Tsang was invited by [[Guy Laliberté]], the founder of [[Cirque du Soleil]], to participate in the €1,000,000 [[Big One for One Drop|Monte-Carlo One Drop Extravaganza]], an exclusive poker tournament. |
||
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.”''<ref name=":1" /> |
|||
=== The Scandal === |
|||
| ⚫ | 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. |
||
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.<ref name="calv_Winn">{{Cite web| title = Winning and losing millions playing poker with Elton Tsang (part 2)| author = Davy, Lee| work = CalvinAyre.com| date = 2017-08-15| accessdate = 2017-08-21| url = https://calvinayre.com/2017/08/15/poker/winning-losing-millions-playing-poker-elton-tsang-part-2/}}</ref><ref name="high_Elto">{{Cite web| title = Elton Tsang: "Leon Tsoukernik owes me €2,000,000"| author = Pete| work = HighstakesDB| date = 19 August 2017| accessdate = 2017-08-21| url = https://www.highstakesdb.com/8092-elton-tsang-leon-tsoukernik-owes-me-2000000.aspx}}</ref> |
|||
Tsang's accusation of Leon echoes a similar case where Australian poker player Matt Kirk sues Leon for refusing to repay a $2,000,000 debt.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.highstakesdb.com/7953-aussie-high-stakes-player-matt-kirk-sues-leon-tsourkernik-over-2000000-debt.aspx|title=Aussie High Stakes Player Matt Kirk Sues Leon Tsourkernik over $2,000,000 Debt|website=HighstakesDB|access-date=2019-04-25}}</ref> In support of Tsang, several prominent poker players came to his defence including [[Antanas Guoga|Tony G]], Winfred Yu, [[Philipp Gruissem]],<ref name="calv_Winn" /> and the most vocal being [[Daniel Negreanu]] posting on [[Twitter]] saying "Elton is an honorable guy and is not lying".<ref>{{Cite tweet|number=930220746130862080?lang=en|title=Cliff notes on Elton Tsang situation: -Elton wins 4.6 mill over 3 sessions in Barcelona -Leon says he will pay 1.6 mill or nothing Elton is an honorable guy and is not lying. He went into detail on @PokercastAdam @tchanpoker podcast.|last=Negreanu|first=Daniel|date=2017-11-13|user=realkidpoker|language=en|access-date=2019-04-25}}</ref> |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
{| class="wikitable" |
{| class="wikitable" |
||
| Line 62: | Line 45: | ||
|14-Oct-2016 |
|14-Oct-2016 |
||
|Monaco |
|Monaco |
||
| |
|€ 888,889 + 111,111 No Limit Hold'em [[Big One for One Drop|Monte-Carlo One Drop Extravaganza]] |
||
The Monte-Carlo One Drop Extravaganza, Monte Carlo |
The Monte-Carlo One Drop Extravaganza, Monte Carlo |
||
|1st |
|1st |
||
|$12,248,912 |
|$ 12,248,912 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|13-Apr-2013 |
|13-Apr-2013 |
||
|Australia |
|Australia |
||
|A$50,000 No Limit Hold'em - High Roller Rebuy |
|A$ 50,000 No Limit Hold'em - High Roller Rebuy |
||
World Series of Poker Asia-Pacific (WSOP APAC), Melbourne |
World Series of Poker Asia-Pacific (WSOP APAC), Melbourne |
||
|5th |
|5th |
||
|$162,212 |
|$ 162,212 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|08-Mar-2012 |
|08-Mar-2012 |
||
| Line 79: | Line 62: | ||
APPT - Seoul, Seoul |
APPT - Seoul, Seoul |
||
|14th |
|14th |
||
|$8,023 |
|$ 8,023 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|22-Jan-2012 |
|22-Jan-2012 |
||
|Australia |
|Australia |
||
|A$10,000 + 600 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event |
|A$ 10,000 + 600 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event |
||
2012 Aussie Millions Poker Championship, Melbourne |
2012 Aussie Millions Poker Championship, Melbourne |
||
|21st |
|21st |
||
|$46,326 |
|$ 46,326 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|12-Oct-2011 |
|12-Oct-2011 |
||
|Macau |
|Macau |
||
|HK$20,000 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event |
|HK$ 20,000 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event |
||
Macau Poker Cup - October Special, Macau |
Macau Poker Cup - October Special, Macau |
||
|22nd |
|22nd |
||
|$5,704 |
|$ 5,704 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|30-Mar-2011 |
|30-Mar-2011 |
||
|Philippines |
|Philippines |
||
|$2,500 + 200 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event |
|$ 2,500 + 200 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event |
||
APT - Philippines, Manila |
APT - Philippines, Manila |
||
|2nd |
|2nd |
||
|$95,230 |
|$ 95,230 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|07-Nov-2010 |
|07-Nov-2010 |
||
|Macau |
|Macau |
||
|HK$32,500 + 2,500 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event |
|HK$ 32,500 + 2,500 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event |
||
Asian Poker Tour - Macau, Macau |
Asian Poker Tour - Macau, Macau |
||
|7th |
|7th |
||
|$26,059 |
|$ 26,059 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|18-May-2010 |
|18-May-2010 |
||
|Macau |
|Macau |
||
|HK$40,000 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event |
|HK$ 40,000 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event |
||
APPT - Macau, Macau |
APPT - Macau, Macau |
||
|33rd |
|33rd |
||
|$8,203 |
|$ 8,203 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|23-Apr-2010 |
|23-Apr-2010 |
||
|Macau |
|Macau |
||
|HK$7,500 + 500 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event |
|HK$ 7,500 + 500 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event |
||
Asian Poker King Tournament, Macau |
Asian Poker King Tournament, Macau |
||
|1st |
|1st |
||
|$71,307 |
|$ 71,307 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|20-Mar-2010 |
|20-Mar-2010 |
||
|Philippines |
|Philippines |
||
|$2,500 + 200 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event |
|$ 2,500 + 200 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event |
||
APPT - Manila, Manila |
APPT - Manila, Manila |
||
|29th |
|29th |
||
|$5,200 |
|$ 5,200 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|11-Nov-2009 |
|11-Nov-2009 |
||
| Line 135: | Line 118: | ||
Filipino Poker Tour 11 / APPT - Philippines, Cebu |
Filipino Poker Tour 11 / APPT - Philippines, Cebu |
||
|31st |
|31st |
||
|$3,720 |
|$ 3,720 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|13-Aug-2009 |
|13-Aug-2009 |
||
|Macau |
|Macau |
||
|HK$1,000 + 150 No Limit Hold'em |
|HK$ 1,000 + 150 No Limit Hold'em |
||
2009 Asian Poker Tour - Macau, Macau |
2009 Asian Poker Tour - Macau, Macau |
||
|2nd |
|2nd |
||
|$2,580 |
|$ 2,580 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|10-Jul-2009 |
|10-Jul-2009 |
||
|Macau |
|Macau |
||
|HK$49,000 + 1,000 No Limit Hold'em - High Roller Event |
|HK$ 49,000 + 1,000 No Limit Hold'em - High Roller Event |
||
PokerStars Macau Poker Cup, Macau |
PokerStars Macau Poker Cup, Macau |
||
|2nd |
|2nd |
||
|$19,351 |
|$ 19,351 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|15-Nov-2008 |
|15-Nov-2008 |
||
| Line 156: | Line 139: | ||
Filipino Poker Tour 8 / APPT - Manila, Manila |
Filipino Poker Tour 8 / APPT - Manila, Manila |
||
|4th |
|4th |
||
|$1,072 |
|$ 1,072 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|25-Oct-2008 |
|25-Oct-2008 |
||
|Macau |
|Macau |
||
|HK$10,000 No Limit Hold'em - Red Dragon Event |
|HK$ 10,000 No Limit Hold'em - Red Dragon Event |
||
Macau Poker Cup, Taipa |
Macau Poker Cup, Taipa |
||
|4th |
|4th |
||
|$4,581 |
|$ 4,581 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|01-Sep-2008 |
|01-Sep-2008 |
||
|Macau |
|Macau |
||
|HK$25,000 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event |
|HK$ 25,000 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event |
||
APPT - Macau, Taipa |
APPT - Macau, Taipa |
||
|52nd |
|52nd |
||
|$4,858 |
|$ 4,858 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|05-Jan-2008 |
|05-Jan-2008 |
||
|Bahamas |
|Bahamas |
||
|$7,800 + 200 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure |
|$ 7,800 + 200 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure |
||
PCA - 2008, Paradise Island |
PCA - 2008, Paradise Island |
||
|37th |
|37th |
||
|$32,000 |
|$ 32,000 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|04-Nov-2006 |
|04-Nov-2006 |
||
|Philippines |
|Philippines |
||
|$2,500 No Limit Hold'em |
|$ 2,500 No Limit Hold'em |
||
PanAsia Poker Tour, Paranaque City |
PanAsia Poker Tour, Paranaque City |
||
|4th |
|4th |
||
|$7,650 |
|$ 7,650 |
||
|} |
|} |
||
| Line 190: | Line 173: | ||
[[File:Sheen Hok1.jpg|thumb|Donation presentation to Sheen Hok Charitable Foundation 2016]] |
[[File:Sheen Hok1.jpg|thumb|Donation presentation to Sheen Hok Charitable Foundation 2016]] |
||
[[File:Sheen Hok2.jpg|thumb|Donation presentation to Sheen Hok Charitable Foundation 2017]] |
[[File:Sheen Hok2.jpg|thumb|Donation presentation to Sheen Hok Charitable Foundation 2017]] |
||
Tsang is |
Tsang is involved in charity. He has donated to [[Mother's Choice (Hong Kong)|Mother's Choice]], sponsoring children at a local orphanage [[Po Leung Kuk|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|Handan, China]]. The experience taught me to be grateful for all I have, and do my best to help those in need."<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Lai|first=Elly|date=January 2017|title=Finding an International Foothold|url=https://www.precioushk.com/|journal=Precious|volume=60|pages=90–93|via=}}</ref> |
||
== References == |
== References == |
||
Revision as of 12:07, 8 September 2020
| Elton Tsang | |
|---|---|
 Elton Tsang | |
| Residence | Hong Kong |
| Born | Elton Tsang Ka Wai 1980 (age 43–44) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| World Series of Poker | |
| Money finish(es) | 1 |
| European Poker Tour | |
| Money finish(es) | 1 |
Elton Tsang Ka-wai (born 1980) is a Chinese Canadian poker player currently residing in Hong Kong who won the fifth largest single payout in poker tournament history.[1] He is an entrepreneur with investments in IT, travel agencies, and internet firms.[2] Jason Koon believed Tsang to be one of the biggest winners in Macau cash games with estimated winnings of over $120 million.[3] Tsang is involved in charity.[4]
Poker
Tsang's first live tournament cash was in 2006 where he finished 4th in the $2,500 No Limit Hold'em event at the PanAsia Poker Tour.
In April 2010, Tsang was the champion of the Asian Poker King Tournament winning his first tournament and earning HK$553,600 (USD $71,307) in the process.[5]
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.[6][7] Tsang was coached by professional poker player, Mustapha Kanit.[8]
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",[9] 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."[10] Tsang confirmed this allegation in 2017 which Tsoukernik vehemently denies.[10][11]
As of 2017 Tsang's live tournament winnings exceed $12,700,000.
Tournament results
| 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
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."[12]
References
- ^ Kirschen, Robert (16 October 2016). "WSOP NEWS: ELTON TSANG WINS 2016 BIG ONE FOR ONE DROP". WSOP.com. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
- ^ "Elton Tsang Wins €1m One Drop for $12.2m". HighstakesDB. Retrieved 2017-09-25.
- ^ Wesker (2018-06-02). "Jason Koon – "Elton Tsang may be the biggest winner as far as cash games go"". PokerGround.com. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
- ^ "Elton Tsang and Mustapha Kanit Reflect on €11,111,111-One Drop Extravaganza Win". www.pokernews.com. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
- ^ "Elton Tsang Wins the Asian Poker King Tournament". Asian Poker Tour. 2010-04-27. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
- ^ Fast, Erik (2016-10-16). "Elton Tsang Wins €1 Million Big One Invitational For €11,111,111". CardPlayer.com. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
- ^ Wright, Nick (2016-10-16). "Elton Tsang Wins the Big One For One Drop Extravaganza for €11,111,111!". PokerNews. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
- ^ Op de Woerd, Frank (2016-10-19). "Elton Tsang and Mustapha Kanit Reflect on €11,111,111-One Drop Extravaganza Win". PokerNews. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
- ^ Burnett, Andrew (19 August 2016). "The Three Million Euro Welcher?". PokerTube. Retrieved 2017-08-21.
- ^ a b Davy, Lee (2017-08-15). "Winning and losing millions playing poker with Elton Tsang (part 2)". CalvinAyre.com. Retrieved 2017-08-21.
- ^ Pete (19 August 2017). "Elton Tsang: "Leon Tsoukernik owes me €2,000,000"". HighstakesDB. Retrieved 2017-08-21.
- ^ Lai, Elly (January 2017). "Finding an International Foothold". Precious. 60: 90–93.