Singaporean pro Alex Lee talks about his big win at the CPG Atlantis Main Event

 

The China Poker Games (CPG) concluded a weeklong festival at Hotel Atlantis in Haitang Bay, Sanya Island with Singaporean pro Alex Lee becoming the first international player to win the Main Event. Lee  outlasted a field of 1,205 entries to earn CNY 1.58 million (about US$ 225,400). He was also awarded packages to the upcoming CPG Championships and CPG Masters.

SMP:  You are a regular on the CPG circuit, how does it feel to finally win a CPG Main Event?

Lee: Relief and a sense of accomplishment! No big emotions took over though; the process of playing well mattered more than the end result in itself.

SMP: You’ve had numerous titles throughout your poker career, how special is this one? 

Lee: This would probably be the one that’s closest to heart! The first international player that won the CPG Main Event and besting a fairly large field.. and a grueling 5-day marathon that culminated in the grand prize. This was an experience unlike any other!

SMP: How was the experience?

Lee: CPG’s superb organization sets a high bar for other operators to follow. From its app check-in (seat assignment), to the professionalism (and high quality control) of the dealers, the CPG experience has been smooth without any hiccups. As for the playing experience, it was a predominant Chinese field. I was blessed to have made many good friends along the way – people who railed me, genuinely happy to have played together with me, and sincerely congratulating me after. Props to the big-heartedness of the Chinese players!

SMP: How did you find the competition, especially at the final table?

Lee: Playing styles are varied and differ one to the other even amongst the Chinese. After emerging as the Day 2 chip leader, I was extensively featured in various Chinese media along w my lifetime accomplishments, and this may have created an unfair advantage that extended to the final table, as there are some who may shy away from engaging in a full-bloodied battle. Hahaha.

SMP: What makes you keep coming back to play the CPG events?

Lee: CPG is China’s leading tournament operator, with them, you can be assured of a seamless playing experience along with the promise of large fields. Their strong brand presence, along with catching up with friends from China, makes every visit memorable in its own way

SMP: What’s next for you?

Lee: Definitely CPG’s marquee event in Sanya in August this year! 4000-5000 entrants are expected, and it’d be one to savor/the next milestone to shoot for!

Main Event final hand

The Main Event attracted 1,205 entries for a prize pool of over US$ 2 Million. Final day entering chip leader Liu Guanyu faced off against Alex Le for the title. Lee clinched it with dominating for his biggest live cash to date. With this win his total earnings climbed to over US$ 1.4 million. He adds this title to his two CPG high roller wins earned back in 2018 and 2019.

Main Event details

Date: May 13 to 19, 2023
Buy in: CNY 12,000 (~US$ 1,700)
Entries: 1,205
Prize pool: CNY 14,460,000 (~US$ 2,056,000)
ITM: 121 places

Day 1A: 248 entries / 77 survivors – Zhao Xiaobo chip leader
Day 1B: 511 entries / 179 survivors – Shi Yuechun chip leader
Day 1C: 446 entries / 156 survivors – Shu Jianguo chip leader
Total – 1,205 entries

Final table places

1	Alex Lee	Singapore
2	Chen Guanyu	China
3	Chen Canlin	China
4	Liang Zhu	China
5	He Wenfei	China
6	Yu Hong	China
7	Zhu Ge	China
8	Qiu Hanwei	China
9	Xie Haoqi	China

Other winners

The CPG Atlantis festival was another huge success for the brand, drawing a large crowd from start to end. CPG reported that the event awarded an estimated total of $3 million across 25 events. Other notable winners were Liu Xiaohua (Beautiful Sanya Cup), Lin Jianwei {Haitang Bay Cup), Li Lei (National Bay Cup), and Shi Jun (Elite Invitational).

CPG Jinan Satellite up next

With CPG Atlantis in the books, players can look forward to the next festival, CPG Satellite in Jinan. The event is scheduled to take place from June 19 to 23 at the Jinan Meihao Lizhi Hotel. More details to follow.