Wai Kiat Lee is a high stakes poker pro from Malaysia and an ambassador for Natural8.
With over $26 million in career tournament earnings, he has multiple wins on the Triton Super High Roller circuit where he is one of the most successful players in its history.
The WSOP has always been something very special to me, even way before I became a professional player.
I can still remember watching the old November Nine broadcasts on YouTube and being completely fascinated by them. I even used to play the WSOP game on my PlayStation before I moved to the UK.
Back then, actually playing the WSOP felt like a dream that was a long way away.
I got my start more than a decade ago, playing with friends back in Malaysia just for fun. As I became more interested in the game, I spent hours studying strategy, reviewing hands, and learning from stronger players.
Back then, poker resources weren’t nearly as accessible as they are today, so a lot of the learning came through trial and error. I wouldn’t say I was a natural. Like most players, I made plenty of mistakes in the beginning. What helped me was that I genuinely enjoyed learning and was always looking for ways to improve.
Every mistake became an opportunity to learn. I would spend time finding the right answer, understanding why I made the mistake, and making sure I didn’t make it again.
I think that mindset has been one of the biggest reasons I’ve continued to improve throughout my career.
As I worked on my game and got better, the major turning point came in 2015 when I won a £300 tournament in the UK for around £50,000. That result gave me the confidence and the bankroll to take poker seriously as a profession.
More importantly, it gave me the freedom to keep playing and learning without worrying as much about the financial side.
From a dream to reality
Winning that tournament in the UK, at Dusk Til Dawn in Nottingham, will always be one of my favourite memories because it completely changed the direction of my life. I remember my friend Danny Tang also made the final table — more on him a little later.
As a result of that win, in 2016 I finally got to play my first WSOP at the Rio. It’s a moment I’ll remember forever.
I still remember hearing the sound of thousands of poker chips being shuffled before I even walked into the tournament hall. Then I stepped inside and saw the giant photos of all the previous Main Event champions and Player of the Year winners lining the walls.
The atmosphere was incredible, so grand and inspiring. At that moment, I realised I was finally part of the tournament I had dreamed about watching for so many years.
What I find most fascinating about the World Series now is seeing people travel from every corner of the world, all chasing the same dream.
Everyone is fighting for that bracelet and the chance to make poker history. That’s why I’ve always felt that the WSOP is like the World Cup of poker; the biggest stage, where the best players come together to compete for the most prestigious title in the game.
And of course, the competition itself is incredible. Every table can have multiple bracelet winners, high rollers, and some of the best online players in the world.
Personally, it’s been another great summer in Las Vegas. I’ve been very fortunate this year, especially after pulling a $250,000 prize in the $1,000 WSOP Mystery Bounty event. That was definitely one of the highlights of my summer and a moment I’ll never forget.
Another highlight has been getting to rail a couple of my friends as they made final tables. Watching and supporting them from the rail is such a great feeling.
Friends like Danny Tang, who finished runner-up in the $2,500 Mixed Triple draw event. Meeting him has been one of the biggest blessings in my poker journey.
We studied together, and challenged each other to improve. He has helped me tremendously throughout my career, and I’m incredibly grateful to have had someone like him to learn and improve with.
Poker can be a very individual game, but seeing your friends succeed can be just as exciting as having your own deep run, and remind you just how close the poker community is.
Keep working, but enjoy the journey
Every year I’m reminded how much the game continues to evolve. The level of competition keeps getting higher, especially in the high roller events, and you can really see how much work players are putting in away from the tables.
Preparation doesn’t just happen at the poker table. I spend a lot of time reviewing hands, discussing strategy with friends, and keeping up with how the game is evolving. Poker is changing all the time, so if you stop learning, you’ll quickly fall behind.
Advances in solvers and other training tools have raised the standard dramatically. Players today are much better prepared than they were even five or 10 years ago. You have to keep improving if you want to stay competitive.
And for me, that’s actually one of the most enjoyable parts of poker. The game is always changing, there’s always something new to learn. No matter how long you’ve been playing, you can never stop studying if you want to compete at the highest level.
But I also make sure to enjoy the journey. Poker has given me the opportunity to travel the world, meet incredible people, and experience different cultures.
I never want to take that for granted, and I think having that perspective helps me stay fresh and enjoy competing year after year.
Wai Kiat Lee is an ambassador for Natural8, Asia’s largest online poker room.
Additional images coourtesy of the APT/WSOP.
