Thai Poker Delegation Makes Statement at Poker Dream 20 as TPSA Eyes 2026 Homecoming
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The 20th edition of Poker Dream in Malaysia brought together some of the region’s most ambitious players, and among them was a Thai delegation carrying more than just tournament buy-ins.
While 26-year-old Yoskai “Benz” Patcharapon chased a career-best score on the felt, Naphat “Dew” Liamsanguan, an advisory board member of the Thai Poker Sports Association (TPSA), was working behind the scenes with a longer-term mission to help pave the way for a major international poker festival to return to Thailand in 2026.
From Bangkok Breakthrough to Regulatory Reset
Momentum for Thai poker surged in August 2025 when Bangkok hosted the WPT Prime Thailand Exhibition, the first officially sanctioned international poker festival held in the country.
The Main Event drew 2,337 entries, a figure that signaled significant appetite for large-scale tournaments in Thailand and positioned the country as a potential regional hub.
However, shifts in the regulatory landscape following administrative changes have slowed further developments. According to Liamsanguan, discussions around broader gaming frameworks and integrated resorts remain ongoing.
Despite that pause, TPSA officials remain optimistic. The goal, Liamsanguan says, is to bring at least one major international poker series back to Thai soil in 2026, operating fully within updated guidelines and with international-standard infrastructure.
Benchmarking Success at Poker Dream
For Liamsanguan, attending Poker Dream in Malaysia was a big research trip. He described the organization, presentation, and branding of the series as a model for future Thai festivals.
TPSA’s long-term strategy centers on collaboration along with building partnerships with established operators, developing qualified dealers and tournament staff, and aligning poker with tourism and career development opportunities are key pillars of that vision.
Liamsanguan's aim when Thailand next hosts a major poker festival, it must meet international standards in professionalism, fairness, and player experience.
Benz’s Breakthrough Run in the Main Event
While administrative groundwork was being discussed off the felt, Patcharapon delivered results on it.
After reaching Day 2 in the Mystery Bounty, he turned his focus to the Poker Dream Main Event and embarked on a three-day run that became the biggest result of his career.
In Flight 1D, Patcharapon navigated a 60-entry field where only six players would advance in the money. He bagged the second-largest stack of the flight.
As surviving fields merged, maintained a patient approach, avoiding unnecessary risks and preserving his stack through key stages.
With 16 players left and the final table within reach, Patcharapon picked up pocket kings against an under-the-gun shove holding ace-jack.
The preflop favorite, he saw an ace fall on the board, costing him a crucial double-up opportunity and reducing his stack from nearly two million chips to 800,000.
“It was the turning point,” he admitted afterward. Had his kings held, he would likely have entered the final table among the chip leaders.
Despite the setback, Patcharapon battled to the final table.
Short-stacked with seven big blinds, he shoved king-ten from the cutoff. Unfortunately, India’s Ritesh Khatwani woke up with pocket aces on the button and held to eliminate the Thai player in eighth place.
Patcharapon collected MYR 55,400, approximately $13,850, marking the largest live cash of his career. The score more than tripled his total recorded live earnings, which now stand at roughly $20,743.
The result also propelled him to the top of the Thailand Regional Player of the Year 2026 standings, narrowly edging local rivals in an early-season race.
Celebrating a Thai Poker Milestone
The momentum for Thai poker was further underscored earlier this month in Bangkok, where TPSA hosted a ceremony honoring Punnat Punsri for his historic 2025 season.
Punsri became the first Thai and Asian player to sweep all four major Global Poker Index categories in a single year, including GPI Player of the Year and GPI Asia Player of the Year.
He reportedly amassed approximately $10.9 million in 2025 alone and now boasts nearly $32 million in lifetime live earnings.
Eyes on 2026
The goal now for TPSA is to develop human infrastructure working constructively with regulators, and aligning poker with tourism remain central goals.
Thailand offers natural advantages that few destinations can match, from beaches and cuisine to vibrant cities and hospitality. The challenge now is converting that appeal into a stable, internationally recognized poker ecosystem.
