Last year, Asia’s largest online poker room, Natural8, announced the addition of Eric Tsai Ting Yi to Team Hot, its esteemed group of poker ambassadors.
Despite his youth, Eric, who also goes by “Six Poker” has achieved significant success in the tournament world. By 17th January 2024, he has amassed over $2.3 million in live tournament winnings, securing the 5th position in Taiwan’s all-time tournament rankings at the time of the announcement.
Eric’s poker journey had a remarkable start, marked by his initial Hendon Mob cash in the ₱ 2000 No Limit Hold’em PokerStars Live Manila event in July 2016, where he emerged victorious and claimed ₱ 75,130. Subsequently, he continued to make waves in the poker scene, securing notable finishes in various tournaments, such as a 33rd-place finish in the Main Event and a second place in the Midnight Turbo event during the same tournament series.
As a consistent presence in the Asian tournament circuit, including events like the Asian Poker Tour, Asia Pacific Poker Tour, and PPPoker events, Eric expanded his horizons in 2019 by participating in the Western poker scene, making his debut in EPT Prague and cashing in five different events.
Eric’s foray into the live World Series of Poker (WSOP) in 2021, where he cashed in nine different events, solidified his position as a versatile and accomplished player. His diverse performance across various tournaments caught the attention of Team Hot, leading to his inclusion in the team.
Throughout his eight-year poker career, Eric has accumulated a substantial amount in tournament winnings, achieving notable victories such as the KRW 2,150,000 No Limit Hold’em High Roller event at APT Incheon 2018 and a second-place finish in the 2019 KRW 2,500,000 No Limit Hold’em Red Dragon Main Event at Jeju, where he earned KRW 290,000,000 (over $250,000).
Currently holding the fifth position on Taiwan’s all-time money list according to the Global Poker Index’s rankings, Eric made strides in 2023 with high-profile finishes, including a 3rd place in the NT$ 25,000 No Limit Hold’em Championship in Taipei City and the $1,500 No Limit Hold’em APPT Cambodia Main Event.
Eric’s impressive performance extended to the 2023 WSOP, where he cashed in six events, including a 37th-place finish for $43,750 in the $25,000 No Limit Hold’em High Roller 8-Handed event. Notably, he secured victory in the $1,100 No Limit Hold’em UltimateStack event at The Venetian DeepStack Championship Poker Series for over $53,000.
In the fiercely competitive arena of the World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) 2023 in Rozvadov, Eric Tsai showcased his exceptional poker skills across multiple events. Notably, in the €10,350 No Limit Hold’em WSOPE, Eric achieved an impressive 2nd place, securing €891,000 (approximately $951,252) in winnings. This wasn’t his only achievement at the 2023 WSOPE. In fact, in total, he cashed in at four events within the span of 5 days.
From his early triumphs at the ₱ 2000 No Limit Hold’em PokerStars Live Manila event to his notable performances in various tournaments across Asia and the Western poker scene, Eric has consistently proven his versatility and skill. His inclusion in Team Hot is a testament to his remarkable achievements, and as he continues to make waves in the poker landscape, Eric Tsai stands poised to leave an enduring legacy in the world of professional poker.
