Kai Cocklin is a poker journalist and live reporting manager who has worked with PokerNews at major festivals including the World Series of Poker and the European Poker Tour. He has managed multiple live reporting teams at the World Series of Poker and trained individual reporters to develop their skills. He now oversees Somuchpoker’s editorial and live coverage, ensuring consistent quality and engaging content across the Asian poker scene.

Updated: 2025.12.23

Fangzhou Zhu is a Chinese professional poker player who has quickly risen through the ranks of the Asian tournament circuit, establishing himself as a highly consistent competitor in major regional festivals.

Career Earnings & Biggest Results

With almost $260,000 in total live tournament earnings, according to The Hendon Mob, Zhu has become a familiar face at final tables across the Asia-Pacific region. His career-defining performance occurred at the Jeju Poker Festival 2025, where he finished 3rd in the Baby Dragon event for a career-best live score of ~$58,590.

Zhu’s 2025 campaign has been marked by several other high-profile results:

The Lord Poker Tour (TLPT) Jeju: Finished 4th in the Main Event for $40,300 in May 2025.
Asian Poker Tour (APT) Jeju South Korea: Secured a runner-up finish in the Heads-Up (32 Cap) event for ~$4,700.
Red Dragon Poker Tour (RDPT) Jeju: Notched a deep run in the Championship event, finishing 112th for ~$3,700, and a 3rd-place finish in the Win the Button Hyper Turbo for ~$2,742.

These consistent finishes have significantly bolstered his poker net worth and placed him among the top 400 players on the China All-Time Money List.

Biography & Poker Background

Originally from China, Zhu has focused his career on the booming South Korean and Southeast Asian poker scenes. He has become a specialist in the Jeju circuit, frequently competing in prestigious series such as the Asian Poker Tour (APT), Red Dragon Poker Tour (RDPT), and the Jeju Poker Festival. Zhu is known for his incredible efficiency in live tournaments, recording an impressive “In The Money” (ITM) rate of over 85% across his major event attendances in late 2024 and 2025.

Play Style & Strategy

Zhu is recognized for an adaptable and technical play style, excelling in both large-field championships and specialized formats like heads-up and turbo events. His ability to navigate massive fields, evidenced by his deep run in the 997-entry Red Dragon Championship, demonstrates strong patience and situational awareness.

His tactical approach is characterized by:

Heads-Up Proficiency: Proven success in cap-bracket formats that require precise aggression and a deep understanding of short-handed ranges.
Turbo Adaptability: The skill to maintain a high level of play in fast-paced structures, as shown by his podium finishes in hyper-turbo events.
Consistency in High-Pressure Spots: His repeated appearances at major final tables in Jeju suggest an elite mental game and the ability to perform under the bright lights of televised Asian circuits.

Recent Attendances