Singapore's Lau Kah Loong is Asia's most passionate English Premier League (EPL) fan, according to ESPN Star Sports. Lau won by 691 votes to his nearest rival in the Most Passionate EPL Fan contest run by the channel.

This was the first-ever regionwide contest of its kind organised by Asia's leading sports broadcaster, according to an official release.

Contestants entering ESPN Star Sports' Asia's Most Passionate EPL Fan Contest had to demonstrate their devotion towards their favorite EPL football club. Espnstar.com claims to have received entries from fans from 13 countries.

Lau wins airfare and a pair of EPL tickets to catch his favourite football club, the Southampton Saints, in action at their home ground at the Friends Provident St. Mary's Stadium in May.

Lau set up a Saints Supporters Club in Singapore and used the internet to tap into the global Saints fan base. Two days after he was announced one of the five finalists, Lau sent an email to the webmaster of the official Southampton site saintsfc.co.uk appealing for support in the online vote at espnstar.com. The webmaster contacted Lau, wrote an article and posted the info in the news section with a link to the voting page. This created an online network that was instrumental in his winning the top prize, the release says.