In one of the more distressing turn of events at the Triton Poker Super High Roller event in Cyprus, the Co-Founder of Triton Poker and one of Malaysia’s most successful poker professionals, Ivan Leow passed away on Saturday 17th September aged just 39.
A tweet from Triton Poker revealed that Leow had died to due ‘natural causes’, later revealed to be a heart attack.
From Paul & Richard,
— Triton Poker (@tritonpoker) September 17, 2022
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. pic.twitter.com/ZT0tPLfAPr
As a mark of respect and to be able to mourn Leow’s unexpected passing, the remaining events scheduled to take place at the Triton Poker Cyprus event were cancelled with immediate effect meaning the last three tournaments will now no longer take place.
We have decided to cut short the Triton Series event in Northern Cyprus to mourn his passing together.
— Triton Poker (@tritonpoker) September 17, 2022
Poker Stars Take To Twitter To Pay Tribute To Malaysian Star
Amongst those to express their disbelief, sadness and shock at Leow’s passing were a number of poker stars including Bryn Kenney and John Juanda.
RIP my friend and fellow gangster style player, you will be missed ????❤️????❤️
— Bryn Kenney (@BrynKenney) September 17, 2022
Ivan was one of the smartest, funniest, kindest poker player I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. He was truly one of a kind. I’ll remember forever all the sweetest memories we’ve shared in and outside of poker: KL, Tokyo, and all the Triton stops. R.I.P. Ivan ????♥️????
— John Juanda (@LuckBoxJuanda) September 18, 2022
Another Poker Star, Sam Greenwood expressed his condolences and regreat at Leow’s passing
His presence was warm and joyous and I never heard him utter a bad word about anyone. He personified Triton Poker in many ways. He is loved and will be missed by everyone who knows him. RIP
— Sam Greenwood (@SamGreenwoodRIO) September 17, 2022
News of Leow’s passing has shocked the poker world to the core, with many players expressing their shock and sadness at the news.
Therefore, it is unsurprising that the Triton series is now cancelled with three events still to finish as a mark of respect for the co-founder.
Leow’s Legacy
From the time he burst onto the poker scene back in 2015, Leow had amassed over $13.1 million in prize money.
Thus making him the third most successful Malaysian poker professional of all time, ranked only behind Paul Phua and Richard Yong.
In 2018, Leow won two huge tournaments. First winning the partypoker LIVE MILLIONS Russia Super High Roller for just over $1.1m and then a couple of months later he landed a $1.4m top prize for winning the WSOP Europe €100,000 Leon’s High Roller event.
His biggest ever tournament cash came in August 2021, when he took home $2.46 million after finishing second to Wiktor Malinowski in the Merit Poker Super High Roller Bowl Europe.
In the Triton Poker series which he co-founded, he made over a dozen final tables.
Leow won the 2018 Triton Poker Jeju Short Deck event for just over $1m.
He last cashed out when finishing 12th in the first event of the Triton Poker Cyprus SHR Event just over a couple of weeks ago, earning $59,000.
With 44 final tables reached in his 51 recorded High Roller tournament cashes, consistency was Leow’s byword.
He is already sorely missed by the poker community and beyond.
