Derick Elomina discovered poker at 14, playing home games with his high school friends. What began as a pastime quickly grew into a passion that shaped his career. By 21, he entered the poker industry as a field reporter — just old enough to step foot inside the casino. Starting as a hand reporter, he steadily honed his craft, blending sharp observation with growing writing skills. Known for his dedication, he constantly roams the floor to capture the action, conduct interviews, and deliver live updates. With a strong commitment to the game and a passion for telling poker’s stories, Derick continues to build his path in the industry.

Updated: 2026.01.08

Taowei Zheng is a Chinese professional poker player and competitive “Match Poker” athlete. Unlike many of his peers who focus exclusively on traditional casino tournaments, Zheng has distinguished himself as a key representative for Team China in international mind sports, balancing a career as a lawyer with high-level competitive play.

Career Earnings & Biggest Results

According to the latest data from The Hendon Mob, Taowei Zheng has established a consistent record in both live tournaments and team-based poker.

Notable career highlights include:

TMT Championship Taipei (Oct 2025): Secured a major 4th-place finish in the NT$ 35,000 Main Event for NT$ 1,842,000 (~$59,710). This deep run in a field of over 1,000 entries stands as his most significant live championship result to date.
APT Jeju (July 2025): Recorded a deep run in the KRW 1,000,000 No Limit Hold’em event, finishing in the money and contributing to his 2025 Player of the Year standing.
Asian Nations Cup (2023): Represented Team China as a core member of the squad created by China Poker Games (CPG). Zheng’s tactical contributions helped China maintain its status as a dominant force in Asian Match Poker.
China Poker Games (CPG) 2018: Finished 6th in a major No Limit Hold’em side event in Sanya, one of his earliest significant cashes on the domestic Chinese circuit.

Biography & Poker Background

A resident of China, the 39-year-old Zheng is frequently cited in the poker community for his dual life as a lawyer and a high-stakes competitor. This professional background is often credited for his disciplined and highly analytical approach to the game.

Zheng is a prominent figure in the China Poker Games (CPG) ecosystem and has been a frequent traveler to major Asian poker hubs including Macau, Taipei, and Jeju. His selection for the Chinese national team by the Match Poker Federation highlights his reputation for being a “player’s player”, someone whose game is built on theoretical soundness rather than just variance-heavy gambling.

Play Style & Strategy

Zheng is recognized for a methodical and risk-averse play style, a hallmark of many successful players who transition from competitive mind sports to live tournament poker. He excels in “Main Event” structures where the deep stacks allow his post-flop technical skills and patience to shine.

His performance at the 2025 TMT Championship in Taipei showcased his ability to navigate the volatile dynamics of a massive field, where he maintained one of the top chip stacks throughout Day 3. Known for his mental stamina and focus, Zheng is particularly adept at the “Match Poker” format, which emphasizes skill over luck by dealing the same cards to different tables to compare player decisions. This unique training has made him a formidable opponent in traditional No Limit Hold’em, where he is known for making precise, high-value folds and calculated bluffs.

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