Controversial Tony “Ren” Lin Clinches Two APT Jeju Classic Titles in As Many Days

The huge Asian Poker Tour (APT) Jeju Basic 2026 solely kicked off on the LES A On line casino contained in the luxurious Jeju Shinhwa World resort on January 30, however there have already been some large winners. Controversial Chinese language professional Tony “Ren” Lin has received large not as soon as however twice, doing so within the house of a few days.

Lin hit the headlines for all the mistaken causes in October 2025 after he was disqualified from the World Collection of Poker (WSOP) Tremendous Circuit Cyprus Foremost Occasion earlier than the beginning of Day 2. WSOP Match Director Andy Tillman knowledgeable Lin that he was disqualified after information broke that Lin had offered real-time help to a participant who went on to win the $10,300 GGMillion$ on-line occasion at GGPoker, the WSOP’s homeowners.

The charismatic Chinese language star issued an apology and promised by no means to present real-time recommendation to others once more. His apology was not sufficient to avoid wasting his place as a GGPoker ambassador.

Regardless of his disqualification in October 2025, Lin appeared on the WSOP Paradise pageant lower than two months later. He cashed in three occasions, together with the $125,000 Triton 7-Handed occasion and the $25,000 Tremendous Foremost Occasion, a lot to the dismay of the poker neighborhood. A month later, WPT International signed Lin as an envoy, in the end leading to Dara O’Kearney and David Lappin, hosts of the award-winning The Chip Race podcast, quitting WPT International solely seven months after the net poker big began sponsoring the present.

Lin Lets His Poker Do the Speaking

Lin was one in all 115 entries within the APT Jeju Basic 2026 Tremendous Excessive Curler, a event that noticed a KRW 1,589,587,500 ($1,103,880) prize pool created, the largest-ever APT-run Tremendous Excessive Curler ever held in Korea.

Having navigated his method to the ultimate desk, Lin discovered himself right down to a meagre two large blinds with solely three gamers remaining, and a third-place end seemed on the playing cards. Nevertheless, the Poker Gods transfer in mysterious methods, and after doubling with queen-jack towards the five-trey of Quang Dinh Do, Lin started rebuilding his nano-stack. Twelve palms later, Lin was a slender chip chief.

Lin eradicated Do when Do flopped center set solely to find Lin had flopped a straight. 4 palms later, Lin check-raised the flop, guess the flip, and shoved the river with the board studying eight-five-eight-four-ace. Do could not fold his seven-five, which have been crushed by Lin’s king-eight.

Talking to Somuchpoker after his victory, Lin stated, “My life has gone by means of a whole lot of highs and lows. I’ve hit all-time low many occasions, however I bounce again rapidly. Irrespective of how troublesome issues really feel, I sleep on it, and the following day I am filled with constructive vitality once more.”

APT Jeju Basic 2026 Tremendous Excessive Curler Remaining Desk Outcomes

One other Tremendous Excessive Curler Win for Lin

That positivity was there for all to see when Lin entered the star-studded Superstars Problem, a KRW 35,000,000 ($25,000) buy-in occasion. Forty-nine gamers jumped into the motion on Day 1, however solely 16 gamers bagged stacks on the finish of the night time. Lin discovered himself on the high of the pile after Day 1.

After Haruhiko Shoohara fell in tenth place on Day 2, Lin discovered himself at one other Tremendous Excessive Curler last desk and within the cash once more.

Ryuta Nakai, runner-up within the Tremendous Excessive Curler occasion, busted in ninth, with Huu Dung Nguyen working out of steam in eighth-place. The harmful Joseph Cheong bowed out in seventh earlier than Paulius Plausinaitis and Lester Edoc have been relieved of their chips, leaving solely 4 gamers within the hunt for the title.

Lin loved an enormous double up with pocket queen towards Quang Minh Nguyen’s king-jack, which gave him the chip lead. Lin then despatched Khoa Anh Ngo to the rail in fourth, eradicated Fendy Kosasih in third, after which noticed his lowly ten-five prevail towards short-stacked Nguyen’s king-three of diamonds to clinch a second title in as many days, plus one other $323,100 in prize cash.

SPT Jeju Basic 2026 Superstars Problem Remaining Desk Outcomes

With these two victories, Lin has closed the hole on Biao Ding in China’s all-time cash itemizing. Lin has $17,431,793 in winnings, whereas second-placed Ding has earned $19,678,797. There’s nonetheless a ways between Lin and Ding and the present number-one Aaron Shu Nu Zhang ($21,920,818). Nevertheless, with Lin in a purple patch of kind and having secured an APT Jeju Basic Foremost Occasion seat when he received the Tremendous Excessive Curler occasion, there’s each likelihood the controversial grinder not solely takes over Ding but in addition leapfrogs Zhang on the high of the tree.

Lead picture courtesy of the Asian Poker Tour

Matthew Pitt hails from Leeds, West Yorkshire, in the UK, and has labored within the poker business since 2008, and labored for PokerNews since 2010. In September 2010, he grew to become the editor of PokerNews. Matthew stepped away from dwell reporting duties in 2015, and now concentrates on his function of Senior Editor for the PokerNews.