As the European Poker Tour (EPT) Monte Carlo Main Event entered its final day, Chinese poker fans were waiting to wave their flag as they supported poker pro Wei Huang who was looking to capture China’s first EPT trophy.
Chinese Contingent Cheer Huang
Chinese poker players are slowly but surely making a name for themselves on the international poker circuit. They cannot do it back home in Mainland China as poker and all forms of gambling are banned. This forces Chinese poker players to travel to international locations and play in poker tournaments.
They have done well for themselves in recent times. Haoxiang Wang came very close to winning China’s first international poker event but fell just short and took second place at the 2019 EPT Barcelona Main Event. He was present at the Monte Carlo Main Event to support his friend Huang along with a small Chinese contingent of players who belong to a poker playing group in Shanghai.
Wang not only came out in support of Huang but also offered him advice as he advanced to the main table. Fellow Chinese player Yan Li was also there to cheer for Huang. Li won two events and finished third in another event at the Asia Pacific Poker Tour Korea stop held in April 2019.
Huang Finishes In Second Place
Huang, Manig Loeser and Viktor Katzenberger were the final three players left at the table and they agreed to share the €4,471,700 prize pool, leaving the EPT trophy plus €78,061 up for grabs.
Huang and Loeser engaged in a heads-up battle, with the latter dominating the chip count. The German poker player finished strong and ended up winning the 2019 EPT Monte Carlo Main Event and took home €603,777. The event marks the second major live tournament victory for Loeser, who is currently ranked in 10^th spot on Germany’s all-time money list. His recent win will add to his $10 million in cashes.
Huang put in a great performance but fell short of creating history for Chinese poker players. He took home €552,056 for his second place finish while Hungarian player Katzenberger came in third and took €529,707.
The two other players making the top 5 was American poker pro Ryan Reiss who was the 2013 WSOP Main Event champion. He received €265,620 for his fourth place finish while Italian pro Nicola Grieco took the fifth spot and went home with €206,590.
Chinese Poker Pros Not Giving Up
Chinese poker enthusiasts have been facing hurdles in their home country, especially with the government making it difficult for players to play the game without fear of legal repercussions. Poker fans have to organize gatherings privately or play together on an app to indulge their passion for the game. Those who want to take part in bigger, better-structured tournaments have to leave their own country and play elsewhere.
However, despite this current scenario, Chinese players are still able to perform well. Wang said this is because Chinese poker players are not giving up on poker. Despite their busy schedules, Wang, Huang and other poker players still find time to play poker after work hours, though they play strictly for leisure and learning.
Huang, for example, is working as a finance controller for PepsiCo. This year’s Monte Carlo event was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him to take part in a major tournament and he decided to give it his best shot.
Chinese poker pros remain optimistic that if they manage to win a major international poker event, it will send a strong message to the government back home and push them to reconsider the ban on poker.
Keeping The Poker Dream Alive
While no Chinese poker pro has so far one a major international poker event, the Chinese poker team fared well overall in their EPT quest, with two of their players making the final table of the Main Event in a 12 month period.
Some of the world’s best poker players came from China, including 10-time WSOP winner Johnny Chan, and 5-time WSOP champ David Chiu, both of whom are now based in the US. The Chinese poker team is confident that it is just a matter of time before they create history and bring home their first international poker trophy!