The 2025 poker season further solidified China’s position as a major force on the global poker landscape. Despite strict legal restrictions on poker-related activities in mainland China, Chinese players continue to expand their influence on the international stage. So how did Chinese players perform in the 2025 SPI rankings? Here is our report:
First, let’s take a look at what SPI is. The SPI (Somuchpoker Index) rankings are based primarily on tournament volume and consistent performance across the Asia-Pacific region. The latest leaderboard highlights an interesting divide — on one side are the high-volume “grinders” who dominate regional tours through steady accumulation of points, and on the other are the “high rollers” who compete on the global stage, making headlines with major scores and high-profile finishes. This dual-track development has given China’s poker scene a more dynamic and multidimensional presence in 2025.
2025 SPI Standings: Top Ten Chinese Teams
| Rank | Player | SPI Score | Total Earnings | ITM | Festivals | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tingjia Cao | 21,524 | $428,414 | 45 | 15 | 55 |
| 2 | Yankai Zhang | 20,503 | $361,954 | 40 | 14 | 48 |
| 3 | Ledong Zhou | 20,340 | $292,115 | 46 | 15 | 55 |
| 4 | Haohui Ma | 19,773 | $477,955 | 33 | 11 | 47 |
| 5 | Renji Mao | 18,344 | $1,323,254 | 36 | 9 | 50 |
| 6 | Biao Ding | 17,331 | $2,166,670 | 17 | 8 | 26 |
| 7 | Junjie He | 14,508 | $553,830 | 17 | 8 | 24 |
| 8 | Dong Li | 14,214 | $137,079 | 43 | 9 | 52 |
| 9 | Xiaosheng Zheng | 13,796 | $245,415 | 27 | 11 | 32 |
| 10 | Xiangyu Yu | 13,529 | $494,240 | 24 | 10 | 30 |
Player Profiles
1. Tingjia Cao
Tingjia Cao finished 2025 at the top of the Chinese rankings, defined by an exceptionally consistent season. He attended 15 festivals and recorded 45 cashes, accumulating a 2025 SPI Score of 21,524. His total SPI earnings reached $428,414.
His standout performance came at RDPT Jeju II 2025, where he captured the Red Dragon Prestige High Roller title. Outlasting a 135-entry field, Cao secured KRW 146,580,000 (approximately $107,620), marking a career-best score. Across 55 events played during the season, he maintained remarkable consistency to stay ahead of a highly competitive field.
2. Yankai Zhang
Yankai Zhang ranked second with a 2025 SPI Score of 20,503. A respected veteran of the Asian circuit, Zhang has nearly $800,000 in total live earnings. Impressively, he earned $361,954 in 2025 alone — more than half of his career total.
He recorded 40 cashes in 48 events, with his biggest result coming at the VPT Championship 2025 Main Event, where he claimed VND 3,720,375,000 (approximately $144,269) for the victory.
3. Ledong Zhou
Ledong Zhou secured third place with a 2025 SPI Score of 20,340 and $292,115 in SPI earnings. He matched Cao with 15 festival appearances, demonstrating strong dedication to the circuit.
Zhou continues to chase a new career high. In 2024, he won the USOP Grand Finale Main Event in Hai Phong for VND 6,175,000,000 (approximately $243,105), setting a major milestone in his career.
4. Haohui Ma
Haohui Ma finished fourth with a 2025 SPI Score of 19,773 and $477,955 in SPI earnings — the highest SPI earnings among the top four. Despite attending only 11 festivals, he maximized his results through deep runs in higher-stakes events.
He cashed 33 times in 47 events. His highlight came at Poker Dream Malaysia 15, where he won MYR 570,000 (approximately $126,585) in the Super High Roller, pushing his lifetime live earnings close to the $1 million mark.
5. Renji Mao
Two-time WSOP bracelet winner Renji Mao represents the “high-impact” tier of Chinese players. He recorded $1,323,254 in SPI earnings and a 2025 SPI Score of 18,344, ranking fifth overall.
Competing in just nine festivals, Mao secured 36 cashes. His biggest 2025 result came at Triton Super High Roller Series Jeju II 2025, where he finished runner-up in the NLH 8-Handed event for $882,328 — the largest score of his career so far.
6. Biao Ding
Biao Ding was the financial leader among the top ten, amassing $2,166,670 in SPI earnings. He played a selective schedule of eight festivals and 26 events.
His results were driven by elite finishes in Triton Poker Series and high-stakes PLO events, earning him a 2025 SPI Score of 17,331. His biggest 2025 payday came from a runner-up finish in the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Jeju 2025 Main Event for $1,610,000. His career-best remains $2,870,000 from a runner-up finish in the 2024 Triton NLH 8-Handed event.
7. Junjie He
Junjie He ranked seventh with a 2025 SPI Score of 14,508 and $553,830 in earnings. He focused on eight major festivals, cashing 17 times in 24 events.
His career-best payout of $274,092 came from winning the APT Incheon 2025 Main Event, which attracted a record-breaking 1,281 entries in Korea.
8. Dong Li
Dong Li finished eighth with a 2025 SPI Score of 14,214. While his $137,079 in SPI earnings were the lowest among the top ten, his volume was extraordinary.
He played 52 events and cashed in 43 of them, maintaining an exceptional ITM rate. His top career result remains $261,152 from winning the Poker Dream Jeju 16 Main Event in 2025.
9. Xiaosheng Zheng
Xiaosheng Zheng ranked ninth with $245,415 in SPI earnings and a 2025 SPI Score of 13,796.
He competed in 11 festivals and 32 events, cashing 27 times. A veteran with over $2.2 million in total live earnings, Zheng recorded a career-best $244,500 by winning the WPT Cambodia Championship in 2026.
10. Xiangyu Yu
Xiangyu Yu completed the top ten with a 2025 SPI Score of 13,529 and $494,240 in earnings.
He cashed 24 times in 30 events, proving to be a consistent final-table threat. His career-best score of $218,500 came from finishing sixth in the Triton One High Roller at Triton One 2025.
Poker Landscape in China
Under Article 303 of China’s Criminal Law, traditional gambling is strictly prohibited. However, “Sports Poker” clubs operate legally, awarding tournament tickets, points, or travel packages instead of cash prizes.
Sanya remains the center of China’s poker scene and the home of China Poker Games (CPG). Since the 2018 crackdown on poker apps, the online landscape has shifted toward private invitation-only clubs and blockchain-based platforms.
Major venues include the Beijing Poker Club (BPC), Atlantis Sanya, Chimelong Hengqin Bay Hotel in Zhuhai, and Howard Johnson Resort Sanya Bay — long regarded as the spiritual home of the CPG Championship Finals.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The 2026 race is already heating up. Tony Ren Lin currently leads with an SPI score of 11,661, while Xiaosheng Zheng follows with 8,752.
With several major festivals still ahead, the leaderboard remains far from settled. The battle for China’s SPI Player of the Year promises to remain competitive throughout the season.
Red Dragon Poker APP Officially Launched
The long-established tournament brand Red Dragon Cup has now released its own app — “Red Dragon Poker.”
The Red Dragon Cup is a well-known Asian poker brand with a strong reputation across the region. Originating in Macau, it quickly became one of the most influential poker events in Asia. Red Dragon Poker tournaments regularly attract players from all over the world, offering massive fields and impressive prize pools.
For those interested, we highly recommend downloading the “Red Dragon Poker” app to join more exciting tournaments.