Joseph Cheong: Career, Poker Earnings and Major Victories

Joseph Cheong has remained a fixture in high-level tournament poker since his breakthrough run in the 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event. Best known for his fearless aggression, willingness to contest enormous pots and success across both American and Asian tournament circuits, Cheong has built a career that extends far beyond the result that first made him famous.

The Korean-American professional has won a WSOP bracelet, four WSOP Circuit rings and more than $21 million in recorded live tournament earnings. His résumé also includes a victory in one of the largest buy-in tournaments ever held in Asia and sustained success on the Asian Poker Tour.

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Joseph Cheong at a Glance

Full name: Sanghyon “Joseph” Cheong
Online screen name: subiime
Born: Seoul, South Korea
Nationality: United States
Residence: Las Vegas, Nevada
Primary discipline: No-Limit Hold’em tournaments
WSOP bracelets: 1
WSOP Circuit rings: 4
Largest live cash: $4,130,049
Recorded live tournament earnings: More than $21 million as of July 31, 2026

Tournament earnings and rankings change whenever a player records another cash. The figures above are based primarily on The Hendon Mob and the official WSOP player database.

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Early Life and Introduction to Poker

Cheong was born in Seoul and moved to the United States as a child. Before becoming a full-time poker professional, he attended the University of California, San Diego, where he earned a psychology degree and completed a joint degree in mathematics and economics.

That academic background offered an unusually relevant foundation for poker. Mathematics and economics apply directly to probability, risk and decision-making, while psychology can help a player understand tendencies and behavior at the table.

Cheong began producing notable tournament results shortly after college. In March 2010, he won a WSOP Circuit event at Harrah’s Rincon for $17,541 and his first Circuit ring. Only months later, he reached poker’s most visible final table.

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Breakthrough at the 2010 WSOP Main Event

Cheong became internationally known during the 2010 WSOP Main Event. He advanced through the $10,000 world championship and entered the November Nine third in chips with 23,525,000.

At 24 years old, Cheong was competing for poker’s biggest title against a final table that included Jonathan Duhamel, John Racener, Michael Mizrachi and Filippo Candio.

He eventually reached three-handed play and finished third for $4,130,049, which remains the largest live tournament cash of his career. Duhamel went on to defeat Racener heads-up for the championship.

Cheong’s elimination became one of the most discussed hands of that year’s Main Event. Holding ace-seven, he engaged in an escalating preflop confrontation with Duhamel and ultimately moved all-in after a six-bet. Duhamel called with pocket queens and won the enormous pot.

The result generated years of debate. Some observers viewed the hand as an unnecessary risk under significant payout pressure. Others saw it as a reflection of the aggressive strategy that had helped Cheong reach the final three in the first place. Either way, the hand established his reputation as a player unafraid to apply maximum pressure in major situations.

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Success After the Main Event

A deep WSOP Main Event run can define a player’s public image, but Cheong proved that his 2010 performance was not an isolated result.

In 2012, he finished second in the WSOP’s $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em Mixed Max event for $296,956. Later that year, he placed fourth in the WSOP Europe Main Event. He came close to a bracelet again in 2014, finishing runner-up in the $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball event.

Those near misses reinforced Cheong’s versatility. Although most closely associated with No-Limit Hold’em, he demonstrated the ability to compete in alternate formats and draw games against accomplished tournament fields.

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Manila Millions Victory

Cheong recorded another defining result in April 2013 when he won the Asian Poker Tour Manila Millions.

The event carried a HK$1 million buy-in, then worth approximately $129,000. Cheong defeated a final table that included Richard Yong, Paul Phua and Peter Chan to win HK$10,428,000, approximately $1.34 million at the time.

The victory became the foundation of Cheong’s long association with tournament poker in Asia. By July 2026, the Asian Poker Tour identified him as its all-time leader in career prize money, with more than $2.4 million earned in APT events.

That record demonstrates the international scope of his career. While many American professionals concentrate primarily on Las Vegas, Cheong has continued traveling and competing successfully throughout Asia.

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First WSOP Bracelet

Despite numerous final tables and close calls, a WSOP bracelet eluded Cheong until 2019.

He ended the wait by winning the $1,000 Double Stack No-Limit Hold’em event at the 2019 WSOP. Cheong outlasted 6,214 entries and defeated David Ivers heads-up to collect $687,782 and his first bracelet.

The victory was significant for more than its prize money. Cheong had already amassed millions in tournament winnings and had come within a few places of the Main Event title, but the bracelet added one of poker’s most recognized achievements to his résumé.

His WSOP record also includes four Circuit rings, according to the tour’s official player database.

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Joseph Cheong’s Playing Style

Cheong is widely associated with an aggressive tournament style, particularly before the flop.

His approach is built around applying pressure, contesting pots with wider ranges and forcing opponents to make difficult decisions for substantial portions of their stacks. The famous six-bet pot against Duhamel remains the clearest televised example, but that single hand should not be mistaken for the entirety of his game.

Sustaining a career across more than 15 years requires adaptation. Tournament structures, bet-sizing conventions and strategic theory have changed considerably since Cheong’s 2010 breakthrough. His ability to continue producing major scores indicates a player capable of adjusting rather than relying only on the fearless image created by one memorable final table.

Cheong has also shown the range needed to succeed in large-field tournaments, high rollers and non-hold’em events. That versatility separates his career from those of players who briefly emerged during poker’s televised boom but could not maintain consistent results.

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Career Earnings and Current Status

As of July 31, 2026, The Hendon Mob lists Cheong with more than $21 million in live tournament earnings and a career-best cash of $4,130,049. Because live earnings databases update as results are reported, the exact total can change throughout the season.

Cheong remains active on the international tournament circuit. His continued appearances at the WSOP, PokerGO Tour events and major Asian festivals show that his career is still developing rather than being preserved only by earlier accomplishments.

His place in poker history is already secure. He is a WSOP bracelet winner, a former Main Event finalist, a multimillion-dollar champion in Asia and one of the leading live tournament earners of his generation.

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Why Joseph Cheong Matters in Poker

Cheong’s career represents more than a single dramatic hand or a memorable November Nine appearance.

He broke through on poker’s largest stage at a young age, endured several major near misses and continued competing until he earned a WSOP bracelet. He also developed one of the strongest records of any international player on the Asian Poker Tour.

That combination of longevity, aggression and worldwide success makes Cheong an important figure in modern tournament poker. Newer fans may first discover him through archived footage of the 2010 Main Event, but his complete résumé shows a professional who converted an early breakthrough into a sustained career at the highest levels of the game.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much has Joseph Cheong won in live poker tournaments?

Joseph Cheong has more than $21 million in recorded live tournament earnings as of July 31, 2026. Tournament databases may update that total as new results are reported.

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What is Joseph Cheong’s largest poker cash?

His largest live cash is $4,130,049, earned for finishing third in the 2010 WSOP Main Event.

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Does Joseph Cheong have a WSOP bracelet?

Yes. Cheong won his first WSOP bracelet in 2019 by taking down the $1,000 Double Stack No-Limit Hold’em event for $687,782.

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How many WSOP Circuit rings has Joseph Cheong won?

The official WSOP player database credits Cheong with four WSOP Circuit rings.

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Where did Joseph Cheong finish in the WSOP Main Event?

Cheong finished third in the 2010 WSOP Main Event. Jonathan Duhamel won the tournament, and John Racener finished second.

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What is Joseph Cheong’s online poker name?

Cheong has played online under the screen name “subiime.”

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What is Joseph Cheong’s playing style?

Cheong is best known for an aggressive tournament style that uses frequent raises and substantial preflop pressure. His approach became widely recognized during the 2010 WSOP Main Event.

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Sources

• World Series of Poker

• The Hendon Mob

• Asian Poker Tour

• PokerNews

• Global Poker Index

• Las Vegas Review-Journal