Kai Cocklin | Head of Live Poker at SoMuchPoker
Kai Cocklin is Head of Live Poker at SoMuchPoker, overseeing live tournament coverage, reporting teams and festival partnerships across the Asia Pacific region and beyond. Before joining SoMuchPoker he worked with PokerNews at major festivals including the World Series of Poker and the European Poker Tour, where he managed live reporting teams and helped develop new writers.
Leading Live Poker Coverage
I oversee SoMuchPoker’s live tournament coverage, from WSOP bracelet events in Las Vegas to festivals across Asia Pacific such as the Asian Poker Tour (APT), TMT in Taipei, Poker Dream, RDPT and TLPT. That means coordinating reporting teams on the ground, working directly with tournament organizers, and making sure results and recaps get to readers quickly and accurately.
Background in Live Reporting
Before joining SoMuchPoker I worked with PokerNews at major festivals including the World Series of Poker and the European Poker Tour. There I managed live reporting teams and helped train new writers, experience that now shapes how I build and run SoMuchPoker’s own coverage across the region.
Content Philosophy
Live reporting runs on deadlines, but accuracy still comes first. I focus on building a team and a process that can deliver consistent, high quality coverage under pressure, whether that is a WSOP final table or a regional festival in Asia Pacific.
Areas of Expertise
- Live Tournament Reporting & Coverage
- Asia Pacific Poker Festivals
- WSOP Bracelet Event Coverage
- Reporting Team Management & Training
- Tournament Organizer Partnerships
Connect
Inside INSPIRE: Exploring the New Home of WPT Seoul
Explore INSPIRE Entertainment Resort, the new home of WPT Seoul 2026, from its casino and hotel to dining, entertainment and more.
Somuchpoker and Poker Dream Announce Media Partnership
Somuchpoker announces a Poker Dream media partnership, bringing daily recaps, interviews and onsite coverage from every PD festival.
WPT Australia 2026 Just 1 Week Away From Sydney Return
WPT Australia 2026 begins September 10 at The Star Sydney, with 36 events, nine WPT World Championship tickets and three weeks of poker.
Off the Felt in Sanya: The Best Things to Do Away From the CPG Tables
Discover six outdoor things to do in Sanya away from CPG, from paddleboarding and surfing to rainforest walks and canyon stream trekking.
RPT Championship IV Returns with VND 80 Billion Guaranteed
RPT Championship IV runs in Hanoi from September 11–22, 2026, with over VND 80b guaranteed and a VND 20b Main Event at Royal Poker Club.
KPC Poker Returns to Jeju with KRW 3.1 Billion Guaranteed
The KPC Poker Series October 2026 heads to Jeju from October 10-21 with ₩3.1 billion guaranteed, two Main Events and four Early Bird packages.
CPG Championship Main Event Draws 3,972 Entries in Sanya
The CPG Championship 2026 Main Event attracts 3,972 entries in Sanya, producing the fourth-largest field in the tournament’s 14-year history.
Two Victory Laps, Eight Records and One Huge APT Incheon
APT Incheon 2026 drew 14,059 entries and awarded KRW 15.96B as Stephen Pang won the Main Event and 8 tournament records fell in Korea.
Why the CPG Championship Returns to Sanya Every August
Why CPG returns to Sanya each August, how Howard Johnson backed the festival and what the Championship brings to Hainan.
Is There Really Poker in China? Inside the Country’s Growing Tournament Scene
Is there really poker in China? Discover how CPG uses online qualification and organised competition to grow the country’s tournament scene.
14,059 Entries as Lee and Liao Close APT Incheon
APT Incheon 2026 ends with 14,059 entries and KRW 15.96 billion awarded as Chang Hwan Lee, Po Hao Liao and six more champions win titles.
Chang Hwan Lee Flies High With KRW 200M APT Incheon High Roller Victory
Chang Hwan "Jack" Lee turns the Day 1 chip lead into a KRW 199.87 million APT Incheon High Roller victory after defeating Jun Li heads-up.
Stephen Pang and Punnat Punsri Capture Special Lions at APT Incheon
Stephen Pang wins the APT Incheon Main Event for KRW 411 million as Punnat Punsri takes the Superstar Challenge and KRW 360 million.
Stephen Pang Wins Record APT Incheon Main Event for KRW 411M
Stephen Pang survives a wild heads-up battle to win the record 1,393-entry APT Incheon Main Event and KRW 411.18 million after an ICM deal.
Stephen Pang Leads Final 9 as Masatoshi Minowa Wins Zodiac Classic
Stephen Pang leads the APT Incheon 2026 Main Event final nine as Masatoshi Minowa wins the record-breaking Zodiac Classic for KRW 155m.
Shinichiro Kano Leads Final 47 as APT Incheon Records Continue to Fall
Shinichiro Kano leads the final 47 in the record APT Incheon Main Event, while the Zodiac Classic draws 403 entries and Yingjie Chen wins.
Deng Leads Record APT Incheon Main Event Into the Money; Lin Tops High Roller
The APT Incheon Main Event record falls as 1,393 entries build a KRW 3 billion prize pool, with 207 players advancing into the money.
Kunlei Xie Wins APT Incheon High Roller Ultra Stack as Main Event Tops 1K
Kunlei Xie wins the APT Incheon High Roller Ultra Stack for KRW 179.6 million as the Main Event grows to 1,177 entries.
Bao Qiang Ho Wins KPC Final Coronation for USD 608K; Punsri Claims Single Day High Roller Title
Bao Qiang Ho wins the KPC Final Coronation for USD 608,600, while Punnat Punsri closes the Jeju festival with a USD 262,640 High Roller victory.
Mike Takayama Wins Biggest APPT Manila Main Event Ever for PHP 15.5M
Mike Takayama defeated Florencio Campomanes to win the record 1,413-entry APPT Manila Main Event and PHP 15.53 million at Okada Manila.
Shawn Lee Leads Main Event as Jeremy Chan Breaks Curse on APT Incheon Day 4
APT Incheon 2026 Day 4 saw Shawn Lee take the Main Event lead, Jeremy Chan win KRW 236 million and Daniel Smiljkovic top the Ultra Stack
