Li Yan

In 2013, Li Yan first encountered competitive poker, and by 2014, she had already embarked on her journey to international tournaments. From the World Series of Poker (WSOP) to the European Poker Tour (EPT), the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT), and the Aussie Millions, her presence has been felt across the globe’s top poker events, where she has consistently achieved remarkable results. Although her career earnings are close to eight figures, she has never won a single seven-figure prize. A former legend in the finance industry, she once achieved seven times her annual KPI in just a few days before transitioning to a full-time poker career. She has made multiple final tables in both domestic and international tournaments, clinching several championship titles.

Known for her bluntness, Li Yan has repeatedly spoken out for players on public platforms, exposing industry malpractices, which has landed her on media blacklists. Her polarizing personality means those who love her adore her, while those who dislike her despise her. Despite having 100,000 followers on Weibo, making her a top influencer in the poker community, she has never leveraged her fame to collaborate with online platforms to “exploit” players. She doesn’t take advertisements, sponsorships, sell shares, or accept disciples. In her own words, “I don’t feel qualified yet.” However, she always takes the time to answer questions from strangers about tournaments or hand analysis, sharing her insights without reservation.

Her passion for poker borders on obsession. She dreams of a day when competitive poker will have a complete industry chain and a healthy competitive environment, much like esports. Her eloquence and sharp wit make her a compelling figure—sometimes an outspoken rebel, other times as gentle as a clear pool of water. Her charisma has earned her the nickname “Luo Yonghao of Poker.”

In 2019, Li Yan ranked second on the Global Poker Index (GPI) annual rankings, with the Chinese national flag proudly displayed beside her name. She was the second-ranked female player globally and the top player in Asia. Behind this achievement lies her unwavering love for poker and countless lonely days and nights. Known as the “Discipline Inspector” for exposing tournament scandals on Weibo, she has made many enemies in the industry but remains unfazed. She founded the EventGuard app and the “WAN Family” mini-program, dedicated to optimizing tournament structures and enhancing player experiences, pushing for the standardization and professionalization of competitive poker.

Since becoming an entrepreneur, Li Yan has rarely appeared in domestic tournaments, but whenever she does, she delivers impressive results. She seldom grants interviews, with her first being conducted by the international poker media POKER NEWS. She avoids interviews because she feels most questions fail to touch on what truly matters to her, and what she dares to say often goes unpublished. As her fan of seven years, I had the privilege of meeting her again at the CPG Hefei Elite Invitational and conducting this exclusive interview.

Selected Interviews

Q: What does poker mean to you?
Li Yan: Poker is a tool for my emotional management. Weaknesses in emotional control are directly magnified in poker, and if you don’t improve, you will definitely pay for it. Poker is like the capital market, where one’s strengths and weaknesses are magnified exponentially and ultimately reflected in your earnings. The longer you play, the more you can take many things in life in stride. It has taught me a lot and made me stronger in other endeavors.

Q: How do you see the future of offline poker tournaments in China?
Li Yan: If we continue with the current model, the end result will only be to be banned. No truly legitimate tournament will handle prize pools opaquely. Scratching the surface is not a long-term solution, and the players are always the ones who end up paying the bill. Over the years, I’ve seen too many runaway organizers, but how many are truly responsible for their players?

Q: What is your ideal poker environment and tournament?
Li Yan: It’s like the old Macau. The tournaments in Macau are in line with international standards, service fees are kept under 15%, prize pools are transparently displayed on electronic screens, prizes are paid out instantly, and penalties are fair.

Q: What are the advantages and disadvantages for female players in offline tournaments?
Li Yan: The disadvantage is probably guts and vigor. Women are usually not as decisive as men and are more likely to be indecisive. However, women also have advantages, such as being able to use their appearance to attract attention in certain situations. As for physical strength, the difference between men and women is not that big.

Q: Have you ever encountered any unfair treatment in a match?
Li Yan: I have played very few domestic tournaments and to be honest, I have never encountered any unfair treatment. The referee would even remind the dealer to be careful with me and not to make any bad calls.

Q: What was your most memorable match?
Li Yan: The PCA (PokerStars Caribbean Adventure) at Atlantis on Paradise Island, Bahamas. It was the farthest place I’ve ever been, a 23-hour flight. in 2019, PokerStars hosted the PSPC (PokerStars Players Championship) there for the first time, and it was the largest $25,000 buy-in tournament in the history of global poker. I achieved the best results for a Chinese player in both the PSPC and the PCA Main Event, and although I was sorry to go out in the end, that experience made me feel cared for by PokerStars.

Q: What is the gap between domestic and international poker tournaments?
Li Yan: Gaps? I don’t think we can talk about the gap now, because the foundation is completely different. One is legal and the other is in the gray area. Domestic tournaments need to be transparent in terms of prize money and fair in terms of dealing with partner poker before we can talk about the gap. Are there any results for the runaway tournaments? Do players have a place to complain? Fair play is the only standard to measure the tournament environment.

Q: What is the gap between domestic and foreign players?
Li Yan: To be honest, the overall level of domestic players is actually higher than foreign players. If you go to the WSOP or EPT, you will find a lot of “fish”. However, the learning environment and game environment for domestic players is too poor. Overseas players have clear channels of complaint and awareness of their rights, while domestic players are vulnerable.

Q: How do you feel about the polarized opinion of the poker community?
Li Yan: Haha, I don’t really care. Steve Jobs said that if people you hate call you names, it means you’re doing something right. The more people who don’t like me, the safer I feel instead. Their dislike doesn’t affect me in any way, just like a small insect on the head of a high-speed train, it doesn’t affect my speed.

Q: What was the hardest moment in your startup?
Li Yan: I’ve been able to overcome all the difficulties in entrepreneurship, but there are some moments that make me feel powerless. For example, my friend could not afford to buy a south-facing house because he was 50,000 dollars short, and I could not help him. This feeling of powerlessness is what saddens me the most.

Afterword

Li Yan spent more than four hours answering my questions seriously. She said she has social phobia and prefers text communication. But in this interview, she was like a thinker, a preacher, and even a “madman” who wanted to overturn the industry. I believe that Li Yan’s footsteps will not stop. When the breeze blows over her forehead, those beliefs related to sunshine will eventually lead her to meet us again on the field of dreams.