Dream Builders and Dream Chasers: The Personnel and Players Shaping Thai Poker

GENTING HIGHLANDS, Malaysia — While the Asian poker circuit has several famous stops, few can match the unique atmosphere of Genting Highlands . For the 20th edition of Poker Dream , a determined Thai delegation traveled to the Malaysian peaks. Leading the group were two figures representing different sides of the game: Yoskai “Benz” Patcharapon , a rising talent competing on the felt, and Naphat “Dew” Liamsanguan, an Advisory Board Member of the Thai Poker Sports Association (TPSA), working behind the scenes.

Together, they represent a community at a turning point: combining the passion of the player with a strategic plan to legitimize the sport in the Land of Smiles.

The Shadow of WPT Bangkok: A Dream Deferred

To understand why this trip matters, you have to look back to August 2025. For one week, Bangkok became the center of the poker universe, hosting the WPT Prime Thailand Exhibition . It was the first—and so far, the only—official poker festival ever sanctioned on Thai soil. With 2,337 entries in the Main Event, the festival was an undeniable success, proving that Thailand was ready to become a global poker hub.

“WPT Thailand was one of the most important milestones for us,” Dew explains. “It was the proof of concept, the result of our hard work and passion.”

However, the regulatory landscape has shifted since that week. Following changes in the administration, ongoing discussions regarding gaming and integrated resorts have slowed the pace of development. Despite this, organizers remain focused. Dew is optimistic, noting that the Association is working within current guidelines to bring at least one major poker series back to Thailand in 2026.

Poker Dream: A Benchmark for the Future

Dew traveled to Malaysia with these future goals in mind. His presence at Poker Dream was a benchmarking mission and a statement of intent. He views the professionalism of the series as a model to emulate.

“My experience was truly beyond my expectations,” he notes. “From the moment I arrived, I was impressed. The decorations and trophy display were beautifully designed… they told the story of Poker Dream visually, without the need for words.”

He noted how the brand caters to both Asian and international players, balancing serious competition with a friendly atmosphere. Crucially, Dew emphasizes the importance of building sustainable partnerships with established operators to ensure a stable market.

“We believe in growing together in the same direction, creating a healthy ecosystem without unnecessary competition that could harm long-term development,” Dew asserts. This fits the TPSA’s goal: “to connect poker sports with tourism and career development opportunities.”

The Main Event: A Three-Day Run

While Dew studied the infrastructure, Benz focused on the tournament. The 26-year-old Bangkok-based player found the Genting environment perfect for his game.

“We chose to come to Genting because it is a perfect place to play poker, and it really feels like a vacation,” Benz says.

After a deep run in the Mystery Bounty (reaching Day 2), Benz entered the Main Event, beginning a gruelling three-day marathon.

• Day 1 (Flight 1D): The Launchpad – Benz started strong. In a flight of 60 entries where only 6 players advanced to the money, he secured the second-largest stack of the flight.

• Day 2: Navigating the Field – As the fields merged, the competition got tougher. Benz stayed patient against seasoned pros. “I felt very calm,” he recalls. “I didn’t throw my stack away. Even when facing bad beats, I stuck to my strategy and managed my chips to survive the day.”

• The Final Day: Heartbreak and Resilience – The tournament reached its climax on the third day. Near the Final Table, Benz faced a brutal shift in momentum.

Approaching the final nine, a player under the gun moved all-in for ~1,200,000 chips with ace-jack. Sitting in the cutoff with kings, Benz made the call. Despite being the favorite pre-flop, an ace on the board gave his opponent the double-up.

“That hand was the turning point,” Benz reflects. “It dropped my stack from nearly 2 million down to 800,000. If my kings had held, I would have entered the Final Table sitting 3rd or 4th in chips.”

The Final Table: The Last Stand

Despite the blow, Benz fought his way to the Final Table. With blinds rising, he was soon in the “red zone” with only 7 Big Blinds.

In a classic “Push or Fold” scenario, Benz moved all-in from the cutoff with king-ten. Unfortunately, India’s Ritesh Khatwani found pocket aces on the button and made the snap-call.

A king on the flop gave Benz a glimmer of hope, but the “rockets” held firm. He was eliminated in 8th place, cashing for MYR 55,400 (~USD 13,850).

With this result, Benz now leads the Thailand Regional Player of the Year 2026 race with 453.32 points, just ahead of Sutthissuwan Areerat (453.08) and Poopadsri Panitan (405.14).

A New Career High

Though he didn’t take home the trophy, the tournament was a milestone for Benz. This score represents his single largest live cash, beating his previous record of ~USD 5,502 from Taipei in 2025. He has now more than tripled his total live earnings to ~USD 20,743.

For Dew, results like this validate the TPSA’s mission. “Exposure to international competition raises the overall skill level, professionalism, and mindset of our players,” he observes. “Over time, this creates clearer career pathways and strengthens the entire domestic poker ecosystem.”

The Road to 2026: Building a Human Infrastructure

The Thai delegation left Malaysia feeling determined. Benz plans to reinvest his winnings and is eyeing his first major trophy next year.

“I want to keep learning and developing,” Benz says. “The message to my fellow Thai players is simple: Keep fighting. We can fall, but we will never give up.”

For the TPSA, the work continues off the felt. Preparing for major festivals involves more than just rules; it involves training people.

“The key next steps include working with the new government, and developing qualified personnel such as dealers and tournament staff,” Dew explains. He insists this focus on quality is crucial: “Our goal is to ensure that when Thailand hosts poker festivals, they meet international standards in professionalism, fairness, and overall player experience.”

The goal is to make Thailand a “natural central hub for Asian poker events.” Dew believes Thailand has a combination of attractions no other destination can match.

“We can offer players not only a poker tournament experience, but also beautiful beaches, vibrant city life, rich cultural heritage, world-famous cuisine, and warm hospitality,” he concludes.

A Historic Celebration: The “World’s No.1” Returns Home

The momentum of the “Thai Dream” was on display recently at the “World’s No.1 Trophy Ceremony” held in Bangkok on February 15, 2026. The TPSA, led by President Thana Chunpunasak, partnered with the Taenaatak community to host the event.

The evening honored Punnat Punsri , the first Thai and Asian player to sweep all four major Global Poker Index (GPI) categories for 2025. Punsri won 7 titles and earned approximately USD 10.9 million in 2025. Addressing the crowd, Punsri echoed Dew’s sentiments, calling for poker to be recognized as a sustainable career and highlighting the need for government support.

“It was not only a celebration of one champion, it was also a reflection of how far Thai poker has progressed on the international stage,” Dew added. With Punsri at the top of the world rankings and players like Benz Patcharapon rising through the ranks, the “Thai Dream” has never been closer to reality.

Text and interviews by Dimitri Vernier