The Asian poker scene has become a hotbed for emerging talent, and one name that continues to stand out is Yankai Zhang.
This Chinese poker pro has been steadily climbing up the ranks since entering the live tournament circuit, and 2025 has been a breakout year.
After a deep run at the USOP Grand Finale and a headline-grabbing win at the Vietnam Poker Tour Main Event, Zhang has firmly established himself as one of the brightest rising stars in the region.
Early Life and Introduction to Poker
Yankai Zhang is a professional poker player hailing from China, who has recently made waves in the Asian poker scene. While little is publicly known about Zhang’s early life, his rapid rise in the poker world speaks volumes about his dedication and skill.
According to his Hendon Mob profile, Zhang began his live poker journey in 2020. Since then, he has become a regular figure on the Asian poker circuit, with consistent performances and multiple deep runs in prestigious events.
Poker Career Highlights and Achievements
Zhang’s first recorded live cash came in 2020 at the Taishan Cup Season 2 Main Event, where he finished 21st for $3,826. He quickly found success, and in December 2021, he claimed his first live tournament victory by winning the TJPT 2021 NLH Rusher Event, taking home $7,225 and his first trophy.
Later that same series, he added a 5th-place finish in the ¥6,000 NLH Elite Event, earning $14,921. Zhang continued to build his résumé in 2023, winning the ¥3,600 NLH Super DeepStacks Turbo at TJPT Shanghai for $14,145. He followed it up with another title in October at the CSPG Cangshan ¥6,000 NLH Championship Shot Clock, good for $23,494.
In 2024, Zhang made his presence felt across various high-profile tournaments. He scored a 65th-place finish in the USOP Da Nang NLH Main Event, collecting $4,176. He then notched a podium finish in the Poker Dream 11 Malaysia Mystery Bounty event, earning $23,289. Later, he placed 26th in the USOP Hai Phong Main Event for $6,539.
His breakthrough came at the USOP Grand Finale Hai Phong Main Event, where he finished 4th for a career-best $122,044. That major score marked a turning point in his career.
Zhang carried his momentum into the Super Cup Jeju, where he won the KRW 300K Survivor Bounty for $3,787 and the KRW 400K NLH Turbo for $3,179. In the same series, he also finished runner-up in the Poker Dream 16 Jeju KRW 1,200,000 NLH Superstack, collecting $21,720. Shortly after, he placed 2nd in the P1 Circuit Incheon Main Event, pocketing $17,057.
2025 is turning out to be a breakout year for him with already four live titles under his belt. In April 2024, Zhang captured the biggest title of his career so far, winning the Vietnam Poker Tour Phu Quoc Main Event for $144,269. He followed that up by winning the VPT NLH Hyper Turbo for an additional $2,908.
Most recently, he cashed two events at Red Dragon Poker Tour in Jeju, including a 5th place finish in the Red Dragon Poker Tour Jeju Main Event and adding $12,273 to his growing bankroll.
Lifetime Earnings and Future
As of now, Yankai Zhang has over $591,000 in live tournament earnings across 66 cashes. With a consistent track record and an impressive run throughout Asia, Zhang is fast emerging as one of China’s brightest poker prospects.
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