John Juanda 🇮🇩

John Juanda was born in Medan, Indonesia, and moved to the United States in 1990 to study at Oklahoma State University. He later earned an MBA from the University of Seattle and began honing his poker skills in local poker rooms on weekends. Before becoming a professional poker player in 1996, he held various jobs, including stockbroker and even a traveling Bible salesman. John Juanda is known for his composed, Buddhist-influenced demeanor and legendary "death stare." His peers often praise his keen ability to interpret opponents' body language, a skill he developed while learning English as a second language.

John Juanda is renowned for his all-around poker skills, possessing world-class mastery of virtually every poker variant, including No-Limit Hold'em, Short Deck Poker, and mixed games. His strategy is characterized by extreme patience and discipline, combined with the ruthless aggression required for high-stakes tournaments. At the recent APT Taipei High Roller, he demonstrated his ability to navigate the massive modern poker tables with his deep-stacked, technical play. His reputation for "gentlemanly conduct" complements his ruthless and efficient tactical abilities, which have allowed him to remain profitable throughout his four-decade career.

John Juanda's live tournament winnings exceed $26,473,000, currently placing him at the top of Indonesia's all-time money list. According to Hendon Mob, as of the end of 2025, he ranks 47th on the global all-time money list, having previously reached a career-high of fifth place. His best live tournament winnings were $2,870,092 won in the 2017 Triton Super High Roller Main Event in Macau. His illustrious record at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) is a major highlight of his career, having won five WSOP bracelets across various events, including Three Draws, Seven-Card Stud, and Pot-Limit Omaha. In 2015, he was inducted into the prestigious Poker Hall of Fame for his outstanding contributions and consistent performance. 2025 is expected to be an exceptionally active and successful season for Juanda, as he continues to demonstrate his dominance in major Asian tournaments. His recent achievements include: APT Taipei Single-Day High Roller champion (April 2025), winning US$110,401 (NT$3,571,700); Poker Dream 16 Jeju Superstar Challenge champion (February 2025), winning US$288,284 (KRW389,400,000); 7th place in the Jeju Poker Festival KPC Super High Roller (November 2025), winning US$22,860; 8th place in the APT Taipei Championship Super High Roller (November 2025), winning US$9,948; and 15th place in the APT Taipei Championship Super High Roller (November 2025), winning US$36,378. His victory in Taipei is particularly historic, as the event set a new record for the number of participants and the prize pool in the history of the APT Single-Day High Roller, further proving that John Juanda remains a top player in the "new era" of poker. John Juanda (Photo courtesy of the Asian Poker Tour)