Different Journeys, Same Destination: O’Neill and Park at NagaWorld

Micheal O’Neill does not need much convincing when it comes to returning to Cambodia .

After finishing runner-up in the WPT Cambodia Championship 2026 earlier this year for his biggest live tournament score of $249,700, O’Neill left NagaWorld with more than a career-best result. He left with a promise to himself. “Every time there’s a WPT at NagaWorld, I’ll be there.”

True to his word, O’Neill is back at NagaWorld for the WPT Cambodia: Passport to the World Championship , once again making the long journey to Southeast Asia as he looks to add another deep run to an already impressive record in the country.

A Cambodia Trip Worth Repeating

O’Neill’s poker travels have taken him well beyond Cambodia.

After his runner-up finish, he returned home to Ireland before heading to Las Vegas , where he came close to another big result without quite getting over the line. He eventually made his way back to Asia, travelling through Colombia and Ireland before arriving in Phnom Penh.

It is a long route, but for O’Neill, the destination makes it worthwhile. “I promised myself I wouldn’t miss any WPT events at NagaWorld.”

The previous WPT Cambodia Championship was a breakthrough tournament for O’Neill, who finished second in the Main Event and collected the biggest cash of his career.

But that was not his only strong result in Cambodia. “I played four tournaments, and I finished second in two of them and won one. So, out of the four, I came away with two runner-up finishes and one trophy.”

Those results have quickly turned Cambodia into one of his favourite stops on the poker calendar. “Every time I come here, I have deep runs, so it’s good.”

That consistency has also brought some silverware. O’Neill already had a trophy from a previous visit before adding another deep run and his biggest score to his record earlier this year.

For a player who spends much of his time moving around Asia, Cambodia has clearly become more than just another stop on the schedule.

Always Looking for the Next Festival

O’Neill is currently based around Asia, spending much of his time in Thailand and moving between different locations. That lifestyle makes travelling to regional poker festivals relatively straightforward, and he keeps a close eye on what is happening across the scene.

He first became aware of the latest WPT Cambodia festival through friends and social media, with Facebook remaining one of his main sources for poker information. “I have a few friends who would share that kind of thing with me. And obviously, since I’m based in Asia, I’d come across most poker-related things anyway.

For O’Neill, being plugged into the Asian poker scene means the next tournament is never too far away.

And Cambodia has already earned a permanent place on that list.

When asked whether he would return for the next major WPT Cambodia festival, running from January 12 to February 7, 2027, his answer was immediate.

“Yeah, 100%. I’ll be there.”

Why NagaWorld at Cambodia?

Results are obviously part of the attraction, but O’Neill’s attachment to NagaWorld at Cambodia appears to go beyond simply running well.

He has now experienced multiple festivals here, produced deep runs and built memories around the destination. His previous success has only reinforced the appeal.

There is also something important about the accessibility of the regional poker circuit for players like O’Neill. Based in Asia and regularly travelling between countries, he can combine poker with a lifestyle that keeps him close to some of the biggest festivals in the region.

For O’Neill, Cambodia has become one of those places where the combination simply works.

The numbers tell part of the story: multiple deep runs, multiple trophies and a career-best $249,700 score.

But his own explanation is much simpler.

“I like it here.”

That may be enough.

From Second Place to the Next Trophy

O’Neill’s runner-up finish in the WPT Cambodia Championship established him as one of the players to watch whenever the festival returns to Phnom Penh.

Now he is back, with another opportunity to turn another Cambodia trip into a memorable one.

His journey this time is already familiar: a long flight, another tournament schedule, and another chance to test himself against an international field.

But there is one difference.

O’Neill already knows what Cambodia can produce.

He came here before and left with his biggest cash. He has returned and continued to find deep runs. And if his promise holds, this will not be his last trip to Phnom Penh either.

For Micheal O’Neill, Cambodia is no longer simply a tournament stop.

It is a place he keeps coming back to – and for very good reason.

Hyunkyou Park Finds His First WPT Trophy

Hyunkyou Park started playing poker in 2023. Three years later, he is already travelling alone from Seoul to Phnom Penh to play international tournaments – and now he has a WPT trophy to show for it.

Park made his fourth trip to Cambodia for the WPT Cambodia Passport to the World Championship, where he took down Event #3 6-Max Megastack Turbo for his first WPT title.

“Everything is Cheaper here”

Park lives in Seoul, South Korea and has made each of his trips to Cambodia independently, coming specifically to play poker at NagaWorld.

His tournament travels have included both APPT and WPT events, with Cambodia becoming one of the destinations he knows well despite only beginning his poker journey three years ago.

When asked what keeps bringing him back, Park pointed to the practical advantages of playing in Cambodia. “Everything is cheaper here – the hotel, food, transportation, everything. Even the rake is cheaper compared to other places in Asia. So for me, it’s a good place to come and just play poker.”

There is no elaborate travel plan behind his trips. “I just travel for poker.”

And although he travels alone, the tournament experience itself is enough to keep bringing him back.

For Park, NagaWorld in Cambodia was already one of the most worthwhile and affordable destinations for poker in Asia.

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