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Cheong is a young and aggressive poker player with a promising career as a professional poker player. He is best known for his third place and $4.1 million finish at the 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event.
Intro
Cheong first appeared on the live tournament circuit in 2009 making a few cashes at the WSOP Circuit as well as some other minor events. Then in 2010 he took things to a completely different level. First he cashed in two WSOP-C events, and then in a WPT and an NAPT event. He then finished in the money in two World Series tournaments and finally went all the way to the WSOP Main Event final table finishing in third place for more than $4 million. After that Cheong became a regular in many of the major live tours and scored numerous big money finishes.
Background
He moved to America from Seoul, South Korea when he was just seven years old. Cheong got his degree in psychology at the University of California, San Diego and then another degree in double concentration, mathematics and economics. However, he never really put his skills and knowledge to seek a job in any of the two fields. Cheong instantly started playing poker professionally.
World Series of Poker
The 2010 World Series of Poker was Cheong's first and so far the most successful tournament. He started off with a $13,739 cash for the 24th place in the $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em - Six Handed event. Then a week later Cheong finished in the money again, this time collecting just over $17,000 for the 29th place in the $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em - Six Handed tournament.
However, it was nothing compared to what was lying ahead for Cheong in the Main Event. Not only did he made it into the November Nine, he finished the tournament in third place just behind John Racener and the eventual champion Jonathan Duhamel. Cheong collected $4.13 million in prize money.
Two years later Cheong came very close to winning his first World Series bracelet when he finished runner-up in the $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em - Mixed Max event for almost $300,000. He lost that heads-up battle to the Frenchman Aubin Cazals.
Joseph Cheong's Top 5 WSOP Results
| Year | Event | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em - Mixed Max | 2nd | $296,956 |
| 2010 | $10,000 Main Event | 3rd | $4,130,049 |
| 2012 | WSOPE €10,000 Main Event | 4th | €292,320 ($381,375) |
| 2012 | $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha - Six Handed | 9th | $34,620 |
| 2012 | $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em | 15th | $43,095 |
World Poker Tour
Cheong has a total of six World Poker Tour cashes. His best result to date is the second place finish at the Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em event which he scored in 2010 taking home $57,000 in prize money.
Joseph Cheong's Top 5 WPT Results
| Year | Event | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em | 2nd | $57,000 |
| 2012 | WPT World Championship $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em | 3rd | $27,936 |
| 2011 | Five Star World Poker Classic $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em | 5th | $7,372 |
| 2011 | Amneville €3,200 Main Event | 13th | €11,926 ($16,712) |
| 2012 | Legends of Poker $3,500 Main Event | 18th | $18,100 |
European Poker Tour
Cheong has cashed in three EPT events so far. His first money finish came in 2010 when Cheong finished second at the EPT London £10,000 High Roller event for £162,280. A year later Cheong traveled to the Italian riviera to play the EPT Sanremo €4,600 Main Event. He finished the tournament in 31st place and took home €16,000. Cheong came back to Sanremo in 2012 to place fourth in the €10,000 High Roller event for €74,100.
Joseph Cheong's Top 5 EPT Results
| Year | Event | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | London £10,000 High Roller | 2nd | £162,280 |
| 2012 | Sanremo €10,000 High Roller | 4th | €74,100 |
| 2011 | Sanremo €4,600 Main Event | 31st | €16,000 |
Other Achievements
In March, 2010 Cheong won the World Series of Poker Circuit $300 No-Limit Hold'em event in Harrah’s Rincon, San Diego for $17,541. Just a couple of months later, in October he took down the $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em tournament at the Festa Al Lago in Las Vegas collecting $142,635.
Sponsorship
Joseph Cheong was a Full Tilt Poker sponsored poker pro and a member of Team Full Tilt before the site was seized buy the U.S. Department of Justice in June, 2011.
Did you know?
- Joseph Cheong can be found at the online poker tables playing by the alias “subiime”.
