Kevin Li is quickly emerging as one of poker’s brightest young stars. At just 23, the Vancouver native has already captured a WSOP bracelet and a Circuit ring, signaling the start of what could be a long and decorated career in the game.
In this rising star article, we will delve into the journey of Kevin Li, a software engineer who mistakenly became a talented poker player.
Kevin Li’s Early Life and Introduction to Poker
Kevin Li is a 23-year-old poker talent hailing from Vancouver, Canada. He burst onto the scene in May 2025 by becoming the first bracelet winner of the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) season, a feat that established him as a rising force in the game.
Interestingly, poker wasn’t always in the cards for Li. He earned a degree in software engineering and initially planned to pursue a career in the tech industry. But fate had other plans. What began as a casual interest transformed into a full-fledged passion and profession. Today, Li is a proud owner of both a WSOP gold bracelet and a WSOP Circuit ring.
Though still early in his journey, all signs suggest that Li has the skill and temperament for a long and successful poker career.
Career Winnings and Highlights
Kevin Li’s tournament record started modestly. His first recorded live cash came in 2023, when he earned $755 for a min-cash finish in the MGM Grand Summer $300 NLH Grand Stack Night.
Fast-forward to July 2024, Li showcased major improvement at the MGM Grand Summer Poker Festival. Competing in the $300 NLH MoneyMaker Mega Stack, he battled his way to a podium finish, placing 3rd for $9,970.
Riding the momentum, Li returned home to Canada and made his mark at the WSOP International Circuit stop in Calgary. There, he conquered the C$600 Mixed Games: NLH/PLO event, winning $19,235 and collecting his first WSOP Circuit ring. The victory also came with a freeroll seat into the prestigious 2025 WSOP Tournament of Champions.
Li’s hot streak continued online, where he secured a 5th-place finish in the WSOP Online Canada Ontario C$400 NLH Colossus Event, earning $15,986.
But his biggest breakthrough came in early 2025. At the WSOP Tournament of Champions held at the Commerce Casino, Li outlasted a stacked 485-player field to clinch a career-best payday of $200,000 from a $1 million prize pool.
Given his recent form and performance, Li is definitely a player to watch out for the remainder of 2025.
Keep following PokerProNews for more such inspiring stories of rising stars in poker.
