Player News Mixed Games Legend Roy Thung Passes Away Days After Last WSOP Cash

The poker community is reeling from the news of the passing of Roy Thung, a revered figure in mixed games and an exceptionally successful entrepreneur, who died in Las Vegas at the age of 82. His death comes with a poignant timing, occurring less than two weeks after he recorded his final cash at the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP), a testament to his enduring passion and skill for the game.

While the exact cause of his death remains undisclosed, Thung's legacy is clear: a man who excelled profoundly in two distinct, demanding worlds. Beyond the felt, he was the distinguished CEO of Independence Holding Co., a prominent insurance firm specializing in disability, supplemental health, and group life insurance, showcasing a breadth of talent rarely seen.

Thung's professional journey was as compelling as his poker career. Born in Indonesia, he immigrated to the United States in 1969. Despite initially facing challenges in finding employment after earning a master's degree from the University of Indonesia, his perseverance shone through. As he once told Forbes in a 2012 feature, he "landed a position with Lybrand, Ross Brothers & Montgomery in its international tax, accounting and consulting practice."

His entrepreneurial spirit truly took flight in 1976 when, with limited savings, he acquired a small mail-order company, Nasco International. Under his astute leadership, Nasco burgeoned into an enterprise generating over $200 million in revenue during his 35-year tenure. This success was replicated in the insurance sector, where in the 1980s, he acquired and subsequently built up a life and health insurance firm, Southern Life & Health Insurance, from retiring owners.

Thung's business acumen was characterized by his uncanny ability to identify and acquire undervalued businesses, transforming them into multi-million dollar operations. This strategic brilliance mirrored the calculated risks and deep understanding required at the poker table, where he also carved out a significant reputation.

As a poker player, Thung was primarily known for his prowess in mixed cash games, though his tournament results speak volumes. His first appearance at the World Series of Poker dates back to 1997, where he immediately made an impact with a fifth-place finish in the $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha event, earning $21,150. This early success set the stage for a long and distinguished poker career.

Representing White Plains, New York, Thung amassed nearly $900,000 in live tournament cashes, as recorded by The Hendon Mob database. His final tournament cash, a 72nd-place finish for $12,390 in the $5,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold'em event at the 2026 WSOP, occurred mere days before his passing.

Earlier this summer, Thung demonstrated his mixed game mastery on one of poker's grandest stages: the WSOP $50,000 Poker Players Championship. In this prestigious event, often considered the ultimate test of a poker player's all-around skill, he secured a remarkable 13th-place finish, adding $109,459 to his impressive career earnings. His consistent performance at such high-stakes events underscores his status as a true mixed games legend. Roy Thung's passing leaves a void in both the business and poker communities, but his legacy of intelligence, perseverance, and success will undoubtedly endure.