It’s almost as though it were written that Ren “Tony” Lin would win the King Cup 2026. After taking the WPT Ambassador appointment and it causing such a stir, he put on a bulldozing masterclass at the King Cup final table, taking 1st.
“Game over” Lin announced when he called Nguyen Trung Hieu’s all-in with A4 – as though he already had the nuts to Heiu’s Q7. And, as it turned out, Lin wasn’t wrong, as Heiu failed to hit and Lin’s A4 high finished the job.
Starting with a slight chip lead going into the final table, Lin picked some perfect spots to apply pressure, without having any major showdowns in the first few orbits.
Ren Lin Wins a Coinflip and Dominates the Final 5
Lin nursed his top 3 stack from the start, hovering in 2nd again Ceesvin who took a big lead about halfway through, with 95BB’s to Lin’s 30BB in second. But it all changed with a classic coinflip when Ceesvin with 10 10 had Ren Lin all-in with AK, only for Lin to hit a K on the river (ironically after stating “story of my life” on the turn.
Few players seem to have had such a comeback in terms of reputation and results as Lin, since his being thrown out of a tournament for cheating just last year.
Tony Lin ‘Ren’ is one of poker’s most polarizing figures right now, yet his live tournament results demand respect regardless of personal feelings. With over $16.8 million in total live earnings and a current 90th place on the all-time money list—peaking as high as 88th—China’s Tony Lin has built a resume that silences doubters through sheer cashed volume and high-stakes consistency.
His largest score, a $1,045,781 cash, highlights his knack for navigating massive fields and deep runs, ranking 3rd on China’s all-time money list while holding an 8th Global Poker Index. Tony’s sustained presence in marquee events like PokerGO Tour, PokerStars Live, and Asian Poker Tour stops proves Lin is no flash in the pan. This latest King Poker Cup win only goes to cement that status, and at a propitious moment for this much-talked about player.
