2025 SPI Review: Top Ten Malaysian Poker Players

The 2025 poker season has highlighted the incredible depth of talent within the Southeast Asian circuit, with top ten Malaysian poker players proving to be some of the most consistent and high-performing competitors in the region. According to the Somuchpoker Poker Index (SPI) , the 2025 SPI Score leaderboard reflects a year where Malaysian pros successfully balanced heavy volume in regional events with high-stakes precision on the global stage.

2025 SPI Score: Malaysia Top Ten

Player Profiles

1. Ming Ken Thoo

Finishing at the summit of the top ten Malaysian poker players is Ming Ken Thoo , whose 2025 season was defined by relentless volume. Thoo accumulated a massive 2025 SPI Score of 17,268 by navigating an exhausting schedule of 51 events across 14 festivals. With over half a million in total live earnings, Thoo demonstrated consistent high-volume play and numerous successes on the Asian tournament circuit, with total SPI earnings of $236,420 across 2025 from 45 cashes. It underscores a level of consistency rarely seen on the circuit.

His highlight in 2025 was no doubt at the Poker Dream 17 , where he triumphed in the Mystery Bounty High Roller for the top prize of MYR 195,000 (~$44,160). While impressive, he is still on the way to break his career-best cash, which stands at MYR 344,600 (~$72,850), where he secured a 3rd-place finish in the Main Event at the 2024 Poker Dream 8.

2. Wai Kiat Lee

Ranked second but leading the group in raw financial power is the world-renowned Wai Kiat Lee . Despite playing nearly half as many events as Thoo, Lee’s 2025 SPI Score reached 15,850 due to his dominance in elite fields.

Currently ranked 2nd on the Malaysia All Time Money List with over $20.5 million in total live earnings, Thoo once again proved his unquestionable technical tournament strategy in “High Roller” and “Turbo” formats in 2025 by claiming the runner-up spot in the $200K Short Deck PLPF event at Triton Super High Roller Series Jeju II 2025 for his career-best cash of $2,465,000. This contributed the majority to his staggering SPI earnings of $3,137,515, representing more than the rest of the top ten Malaysian poker players combined, further solidified by deep runs in the highest-stakes festivals globally.

3. Jeremy Je Min Chan

Jeremy Je Min Chan secures the third spot among the top ten Malaysian poker players with a 2025 SPI Score of 14,207. Chan mirrored the leader’s dedication by attending 14 festivals, resulting in 30 cashes and a total SPI earnings of $356,325. His ability to maintain deep-run consistency across 44 events played makes him a formidable presence in any regional lineup.

Approaching half a million in total live earnings, Chan is known for a calculated, high-pressure tournament strategy, often excelling in “High Roller” and “Super High Roller” formats. He displayed his technical precision in the APT Super High Roller 8-Max event at the Asian Poker Tour (APT) Incheon 2025 by taking home the runner-up prize of KRW 223,790,000 (~$160,428), setting a new benchmark as his career-best cash.

4. Sean Ooi

Occupying the fourth position in the top ten Malaysian poker players, Sean Ooi recorded a strong 2025 SPI Score of 14,158. Ooi proved to be highly efficient in 2025, turning 37 event entries into 26 cashes and a significant SPI earnings of $524,570. His performance at major Asian stops has cemented his reputation as one of the most technical “trophy hunters” in the country.

Currently ranked 14th on the Malaysia All Time Money List with nearly $2 million in total live earnings, Ooi’s highlight in 2025 was at Poker Dream 16 Jeju , where he secured a runner-up prize of KRW 442,230,000 (~$327,395) in the SuperStar Challenge. While impressive, he is still chasing his career-best cash of AUD 585,000 (~$377,086), set at the Australian Poker League Poker Tour APL Million 2023, where he claimed the title in the APL Million Gold Coast Main Event.

5. Juns Leong

Rounding out the top five of the top ten Malaysian poker players is Juns Leong with a 2025 SPI Score of 13,387. Leong utilized his 12 festival appearances to secure a SPI earnings of $186,290. With 28 “In The Money” finishes, he remains a staple of the Malaysian grinder community. He is recognized for a resilient and highly adaptable tournament strategy.

With over half a million in total live earnings, Leong’s 2025 highlight was at the Korea Poker Cup , where he claimed the runner-up prize of KRW 52,000,000 (~$37,865) in the Jeju Cup event. His current career-best cash stands at MYR 737,100 (~$155,180), where he achieved a runner-up finish in the Super High Roller at Poker Dream 9 in 2024.

6. Chin Wei Lim

Chin Wei Lim holds the 6th spot of the top ten Malaysian poker players with a 2025 SPI Score of 13,072. A high-roller specialist, Lim focused on elite-tier festivals, attending only 9 throughout the year. This selective approach paid off financially, resulting in a substantial SPI earnings of $829,305 from just 19 cashes.

Known for his impressive success in high-stakes tournaments, including the prestigious Triton Poker Series and World Series of Poker (WSOP) events, Lim has accumulated over $17 million in total live earnings and ranked 5th on Malaysia All Time Money List. His 2025 highlight was from the Poker Dream 15 , where he took home the runner-up prize of MYR 131,000 (~$29,852) in the Mystery Bounty High Roller event.  Impressive as it is, his career-best score came at the World Series of Poker Europe in Rozvadov, where he emerged champion in the Diamond High Roller event for a first-place prize of EUR 2,172,104 (~$2,416,241).

7. Jo Seng Mok

Sitting at 7th place of the top ten Malaysian poker players, Jo Seng Mok recorded a 2025 SPI Score of 11,260. Mok displayed an incredible work ethic, participating in 41 events and securing 32 cashes. His total SPI earnings for the season reached $101,566, proving that steady regional participation is a viable path to the top ten.

Mok’s highlight in 2025 came at the Players Series Taiwan Championship 2025 , where he captured the title in the Super High Roller Open for TWD 910,000 (~$27,770). Notably, his career-best score stands at MYR 218,000 (~$48,791), achieved in the Main Event at Poker Dream 13 in 2024.

8. Win Meng Tan

Win Meng Tan takes the 8th position among the top ten Malaysian poker players with a 2025 SPI Score of 10,953. Tan recorded 23 cashes across 29 events, maintaining a high level of efficiency. His efforts across 9 festivals resulted in a SPI earnings of $174,194.

Tan has established himself as a high-volume competitor on the global circuit, particularly excelling in the Asia-Pacific and Australian regions. With nearly $1 million in total live earnings, Tan’s career-best cash stands at VND 1,728,540,000 (~68,385), where he claimed the title in the APT Super High Roller at the APT Phu Quoc 2024 .

9. Isaac Chern Chze Phua

Isaac Chern Chze Phua ranks 9th in the top ten Malaysian poker players with a 2025 SPI Score of 10,639. Phua was one of the most active players in terms of “In The Money” finishes, recording 33 cashes across 10 festivals. His total SPI earnings of $134,135 reflects a consistent performance throughout the 37 events he entered.

Particularly recognized for his major title victories in Taiwan and Malaysia, Phua scored his career-best cash in the APT Taipei Poker Classic 2024 , where he captured the victory in the APT Mystery Bounty Hunter for the first-place prize of TWD 1,921,880 (~$60,861), while his highlight in 2025 came from Poker Dream 15 , where he claimed the title in the Mystery Bounty High Roller for MYR 195,000 (~$44,436).

10. Lee Wee Liew

Rounding out the top ten Malaysian poker players is Lee Wee Liew with a 2025 SPI Score of 9,682. Liew attended 8 festivals and played 25 events, securing 22 cashes. His season concluded with a SPI earnings of $103,296, cementing his status as one of Malaysia’s elite competitors in 2025.

Liew’s 2025 highlight came at Poker Dream 17 , where he finished 12th in the Main Event for a prize of MYR 56,700 (~$12,839). Impressive as it is, his career-best score came at P oker Dream 13 in 2024, where he claimed 3rd place in the Single Day High Roller for MYR 103,000 (~$23,035).

Where to Play in Malaysia

While domestic options are limited by regulation, Malaysian players congregate at:

• Resorts World Genting : Located in the Genting Highlands, this remains the primary land-based destination for gaming in Malaysia, often serving as the central hub for the local poker community.

Malaysia’s Poker Festivals

• Poker Dream Malaysia : This festival has become an iconic stop for the top ten Malaysian poker players. In 2025, Poker Dream Malaysia 15 stood out as a premier event, attracting the region’s best and providing a platform for massive scores, such as the career-high payday recorded by Haohui Ma in the Super High Roller.

Advancing into 2026, the race for the next Player of the Year is already heating up. With top players like Ming Ken Thoo, Wai Kiat Lee, and Jeremy Je Min Chan building on their 2025 successes, the competition promises even fiercer battles across high-stakes and high-volume events, as the country’s elite continue to push the limits of skill, consistency, and strategy on both regional and international stages.