07:36
18 Sep
High stakes poker pro and Triton Poker founding member Seng Yee “Ivan” Leow has died aged 41, apparently of a heart attack, his tragically early demise reported on Twitter by long-time friends and business partners, Paul Phua and Richard Yong.
“It is with great sadness we announce that our dear friend, partner, supporter and founding Triton member, Ivan Leow, 41, passed away this morning of natural causes,” Triton tweeted.
Their statement reads:
“Ivan was a hugely popular member of the Triton family. He was warm, generous, and enormous fun both at the tables and off – a loyal friend to us all. He was also a fantastic poker player, with a lifelong passion for the game. Ivan was a very special person, who lived life to the full, was always smiling, and loved the game of poker. He will be sincerely missed by his family, friends, and everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him.” The highstakes pro is one Malaysia’s top players, sitting third behind only Phua and Yong in the nation’s all-time tournament earnings ranking with $13,147,664.
He made 12 Final Tables on the Triton Series and famously won two Triton titles in Jeju & Sochi in 2018. It immediately made him one of the best known and best loved poker players in his native Malaysia, and far beyond.
His career record includes a monster $2.46million runner-up cash at last year’s SHRB Europe Main Event, as well as his most recent cash at the Triton Poker SHR Series in northern Cyprus.
The series has been ended prematurely as a sign of respect for Leow’s passing although it is unclear whether or not the final table of Event 12, the $50,000 Short Deck Ante Only, will be played out to a finish.
The first the poker world new of a potential problem was when the Triton Poker Twitter account released:
“Owing to a medical emergency, Triton Series events for today (Saturday) have been suspended. We will update with further information when we have it. Thank you for your understanding.”
That was followed shortly afterwards by the shocking news that Ivan Leow had passed away, of natural causes, news sources describing it as an “apparent heart attack”.
Ivan’s friends, contemporaries, and peers were quick to offer their messages of condolence on his passing, a selection below:
- “Ivan and I were joking around at the table this trip and he said to me “You know, I love you very much”. I was taken aback and gave a meek response that I immediately regretted. He passed days later. Life is short. Tell people that you care about them when you can” – Sam Greenwood
- “Very sad and shocking news this morning. Just 41 years old, gone too soon… RIP” – Daniel Negreanu
- “Such shocking sad news, Ivan was such a positive spirited person. Such a terrible loss for our community” – Erik Seidel
- “Devastating. In the short time I played w/him, Ivan was such a joy to be around. Sending so much love to his family and the entire @tritonpoker family” – Ebony Kenney
PokerTube also offers its heartfelt condolences to Ivan’s family and friends.
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