Since the end of the pandemic, poker in Asia has surged, benefiting both new and established poker organizations. Leading the charge is China’s premier brand, China Poker Games (CPG), which has seen its annual Championship Finals numbers soar to unprecedented heights. During the 10th annual celebration in March 2023, CPG set a record 4,406 entries, creating a staggering prize pool of US$ 6.5 million with 1,722 unique players.
Impressively, this incredible achievement has been consistent year after year despite international attendance not a contributing factor. However, that is set to change as international interest continues to grow steadily over time.
International Players At 2024 CPG Championship
At opening day of the 2024 CPG Championship, international players were already spotted on the grounds with more arriving on the second day. The most familiar was Alex Lee from Singapore who is a frequent flyer at CPG events around the country. In 2023, Lee won the CPG Haitang Satellite Main Event.
As one of CPG’s avid supporters, Lee shared with SMP that he’s brought a group of Singaporeans to experience the festival for the first time. He hopes to assist them with any questions to ensure they have a memorable first experience. This applies as well to other international players with inquiries. Recently seen at the tables were fellow players Zhao Feng and Neo Zhi Han who is fresh from a 9th place finish at APPT Manila.
Day 2 also saw the arrival of American star pro Daniel Cates aka Jungleman. In early-May, Cates was last seen in Cambodia for the Jin Bei Cup. SMP will try to catch the pro in the coming days for a quick interview on his first CPG experience.
The largest international contingent is from Vietnam with numerous players seen both on and off the tables. Unlike many foreign nationals, Vietnam is not part of the visa-exempt list. Players have to apply for a visa online which we were told takes a quick 2-3 days.
Among those having early success was Pham Tien Dung who survived Day 1A of the 12th Anniversary Special. Day 1B is currently ongoing with Huu Dung Nguyen, Quang Huy Nguyen, Nhat Duc Nguyen, Thi Bao An Nguyen, Trung Doan, and famous Vietnamese gamer Danh Tuan Luu aka “Hehe” among the sluggers.
Table Tips For International Players
While most players are familiar with the basics of poker, it’s important to note that Mandarin is the primary language at the tables in CPG events. For those who do not speak or understand Mandarin, it’s highly recommended to learn how to count in the language, as this can be very helpful, especially when bets are not rounded off.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with some basic phrases, which, though not the exact spelling, are pronounced as follows.
Call – Gen Zhu (Ken-Joo)
Raise – Jia Zhu (Ja-Joo)
Fold – Qi Pai (Chi-Pai)
All in – All in
The English phrases are used as well and are understood by all players and dealers.
For event information, make sure to check out the Player Guide via the link provided below.
CPG Championship – PLAYER GUIDE
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