Zoe has covered major poker series across Asia, including APT and the Players Series. With solid experience as a live reporter, she now joins SoMuchPoker to deliver in-depth coverage and share her insights from the tables.

Updated: 2026.02.27

Peter Kiem is an American poker pro who has become a familiar presence on both the Las Vegas and Asian tournament circuits. A seasoned competitor known for his strategic discipline, Kiem has built a career spanning over two decades. While long recognized as a consistent performer in the United States, his recent surge in the high-stakes “Seniors” group and his success in major Asian festivals have solidified his status as an adaptable and dangerous opponent on the global stage.

Career Earnings & Biggest Results

With total live tournament earnings of over $617,000 (according to The Hendon Mob), Kiem is currently enjoying the most productive stretch of his career. His biggest career score came in 2025 at the 56th World Series of Poker (WSOP) , where he finished 5th in the $5,000 Seniors High Roller for a massive $155,498. Proving this was no isolated run, Kiem has remained incredibly active through 2025 and early 2026, securing deep runs in the WPT Prime Taiwan and the Asian Poker Tour (APT) , including a 4th-place finish in the 2025 Trip of Poker High Roller Cup for $12,825 and a deep run in the APT Taipei Main Event for $9,451.

Peter Kiem poker (photo courtesy of Asian Poker Tour) — Peter Kiem (photo courtesy of Asian Poker Tour)

Biography & Poker Background

Based in Studio City, California, Peter Kiem’s poker journey is a marathon, not a sprint. His first recorded live cashes date back to the early 2000s in the legendary card rooms of Southern California like Commerce Casino and The Bike. For years, Kiem was a respected mainstay of the West Coast poker scene before expanding his horizons globally. In recent years, he has successfully exported his veteran savvy to the booming Asian poker market, becoming a familiar face in Taipei and Manila. This transition from a regional California player to an international traveler has seen him cross the $500,000 career earnings milestone in 2025, fueled by his ability to compete across various buy-in levels and regions.

Play Style & Strategy

Peter Kiem is widely regarded as a patient, fundamental-heavy specialist who excels in the nuances of tournament poker. His strategy is built on a foundation of disciplined hand selection and a keen ability to navigate through large, diverse fields. While he has found significant success in age-restricted “Seniors” events, where he uses his experience to outmaneuver aggressive younger fields, he remains equally effective in open High Roller events. His results show a particular proficiency in 8-Max and Full Ring No Limit Hold’em, where his composure during high-pressure final table situations allows him to capitalize on opponents’ ICM mistakes.

Want to track Peter Kiem’s progress as he hunts for his first WSOP bracelet and continues his 2026 campaign in Asia? You can follow his official stats and updates here: