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Yueqi Zhu, often known by his nickname “Rich,” is a highly respected professional poker player from the United States who has become a true ambassador for the game in the Chinese community. Based in Rowland Heights, California, he is widely considered one of the most successful mixed-game specialists in the world. Before he was a permanent fixture at the World Series of Poker, Zhu was a professional engineer, and he brought that same technical precision and problem-solving mindset to the poker table. As a WSOP bracelet winner with hundreds of cashes, he has spent decades promoting the game through magazines and forums, helping bridge the gap between Asian and American poker.
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
According to The Hendon Mob, Yueqi Zhu has total live earnings of nearly $3.8 million. He currently sits at 59th on the California All Time Money List. His career reached a historic peak in 2018 when he won WSOP Event #35: $1,500 Mixed Omaha for $211,781 and his first gold bracelet.
Zhu is a master of consistency, especially during the summer months in Las Vegas. His biggest career score came in 2018 when he finished 10th in the WSOP Main Event for $850,025, coming agonizingly close to the final table in a massive three-way pot. His other major results include a 2nd place finish in a $3,000 Limit Hold’em event for $184,409 and a 3rd place finish in the $1,500 Omaha Mix for $84,106. In 2025, he continued his dominance in mixed formats by finishing 3rd in a WSOP Online $400 Mystery Bounty for $47,053 and 8th in the $3,000 Nine Game Mix for another significant score.
Biography & Poker Background
Born in Benxi, China, Yueqi Zhu moved to the United States in the 1990s to study at the University of Wisconsin, where he earned his degree in electrical engineering. He worked as an engineer for many years, but his passion for strategy eventually led him to the poker rooms of Southern California. Zhu is much more than just a player; he is a pioneer who started one of the most respected poker forums in the Chinese-speaking world and published a poker magazine for over seven years. He often says that he treats the game with the same discipline he used in engineering, focusing on the numbers and staying calm under pressure. Even after winning millions, he remains one of the most humble players on the circuit, often spending his free time helping new players learn the complexities of mixed games.
Play Style & Strategy
Zhu is best known for his adaptability and incredible patience at the table. Because he specializes in mixed games like Omaha Hi-Lo, Razz, and Stud, he is an expert at adjusting to different rules and opponents on the fly. He describes his style as highly observant, often relying on “reads” he picks up during long sessions to make big decisions. In his 2018 Main Event run, he famously made several tournament-saving calls with sets and two-pair because he trusted his instincts over the cards. While he is a fierce competitor who isn’t afraid to put his tournament life on the line with a strong read, he is also very polite and professional at the table. This “gentleman’s approach” makes him a favorite among his peers, though his ability to out-calculate opponents in complex split-pot games makes him a player that nobody wants to face heads-up.
Social Media & Online Presence
Want to keep up with Yueqi “Rich” Zhu as he competes in the 2026 World Series of Poker and the PGT PokerGO Cup? You can follow his career and see his latest results through these links:
