Pro Poker Player From Scotland Found Dead in Manila, Foul Play Suspected

Professional poker player Darren Young was found lifeless in a luxurious condo in Manila’s bustling Bay City, leaving behind a swirl of unanswered questions and a grieving family desperate for justice.

Jackie Bain, Darren’s mother, has expressed her fear that Darren may have been murdered after he was found dead in the Philippines last May.

She was the first to raise the alarm when she couldn’t reach her son. Her worst fears were confirmed when Darren’s body was discovered in May. His watch, wallet, bank card, a pile of casino chips, and large amounts of cash were missing. Filipino coroners ruled his death as caused by double pneumonia, but this diagnosis was met with skepticism by experts back in the UK.

Darren Young, known for his prowess at the poker table, had carved out a lucrative career, primarily through online poker, which had funded his extensive travels across Asia. Before arriving in the Philippines, he had visited China, Pakistan, Dubai, Thailand, and Cambodia. His journey, meant to be a mix of leisure and high-stakes gaming, took a dark turn just weeks after he settled into a luxury condo he rented in Bay City, the Philippines’ “Entertainment City” casino hub located in the reclamation area on Manila Bay.

Hours before his death, Darren sent a chilling text to friends, saying, “I think I’ve been drugged.” He mentioned meeting an American gambler and a Filipina, expressing unease about the encounter. A July 13 report published by The Scottish Sun disclosed that Darren told his friends that the couple that he met may have spiked his drink.

Despite no signs of a struggle, the disappearance of his belongings and his final message suggested foul play.

Darren’s mother remembers the 32-year-old poker prodigy from Kilmarnock, Scotland as a kind-hearted and successful young man who loved nice clothes and fine dining. “I got a call to tell me they had found him. I was just screaming. Darren was the kind of guy who would give you everything he had if you needed it more,” she was quoted as saying by The Scottish Sun.

When Darren’s body was brought to the UK, a pathologist ruled out pneumonia as the cause of death, but further investigations were hindered by the fact that Darren’s body had been embalmed in the Philippines. This has left a cloud of doubt over the true circumstances of his demise.

The British Foreign Office is currently liaising with Filipino authorities to uncover the truth behind Darren Young’s death. As the investigation continues, his family and friends are left to grapple with their grief and the unsettling questions surrounding his final days.