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It is his second win in a row: he picked up a similar award in the same Fantasy Gardens category two years ago, at the inaugural festival.
The 28-year-old sales and marketing director of Far East Flora received his award last night from President S R Nathan at the Awards Gala, at Suntec Convention Centre. Also present was National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan.
The awards dinner kicked off the festival, which opens today at the convention centre.
Visitors to the biennial event, held over eight days this year, will be able to check out garden and floral displays by 32 award-winning designers from 17 countries. Some 200,000 people are expected to attend the show.
Mr Cheok said: 'This year the competition was intense. I wasn't expecting us to win, so it was a surprise.'
His garden, called Seeking Shangri-La, is a lavish depiction of an underwater mythical paradise. The garden consists of plants from Malaysia such as sedums, cacti and sarracenias, which were planted to resemble corals.
Two others won Best Of Show awards.
Japanese designer Kazuyuki Ishihara topped the Landscape Design category with Ryokufu Tei (The Green Breeze), a serene garden sanctuary built like a secret hideaway.
In the Floral Display category, Canada's Hitomi Gilliam took the top spot with Galerie Aux Saisons (Seasons Gallery Canada), which takes the visitor through the seasons of the Canadian Northern Frontier.
Aside from viewing these award-winning gardens, visitors to the festival will also be able to check out award-winning orchids, buy exotic flowers, plants and botanical artworks.
The Singapore Garden Festival 2008 is on from today to Aug 1 at Suntec Convention Centre, 10am to 10pm daily. Tickets cost $6 (weekday) and $12 (weekend) for adults, and $3 (weekday) and $6 (weekend) for children, students and senior citizens. Family tickets for two adults and three children cost $18 (weekday) and $36 (weekend) and are available at level one of the Suntec Convention Centre. For more information, log on to www.singaporegardenfestival.com
