In the last couple of days it has come to light that Xuan Liu has severed her connection with 888 Poker. After the announcement on her twitter page, The natural response is perhaps to wonder whether another announcement will be made to say that she has signed for an other brand. After all, she is talented, marketable and has a couple of large scores on her record, despite only turning her focus to live tournaments a few years ago. It is clear that 888 Poker have lost a gem of a player, and ambassador.
Her two largest results are 4th place in the 2012 PCA main event for $600,000 and 3rd place in the EPT San Remo in 2011 for almost $525,000, and she has had deep runs in several other big events too.
After 888, what's next for Xuan Liu?
Xuan Liu began her poker journey while in university, using cash games and sit n gos to bring in some extra money each week. This was around the time of the Moneymaker boom, and since then, poker has become a far more serious part of her life. Liu talks fondly of the opportunity she now has, to travel the world eating good food, with like minded people, doing something she loves. In some ways she also seems relieved to have had those two huge results, and fully understand the doors that have been opened by them. Liu says that there is almost nothing in the world that could keep her away from playing poker now, and with a deep bankroll, she can now travel the tournament circuit for as long as she is happy to do so. In terms of goals, Liu mentions wanting to win a WSOP bracelet, but you can be sure she has an EPT title in mind too, after coming so close at San Remo. It is immediately clear whenever she speaks, that Xuan Liu is an intelligent person with a passion for what she is doing.
Along with playing poker, she also organised a professionally run poker game on her university campus in the early years, and traded stocks in between her lectures. Liu initially had some of the same issues as other players with regards to family being unsure of her chosen course. Her mother eventually challenged her to either accomplish something big in poker or leave it behind forever, rather than 'hustling' for a living. Since 2010 though, she says her parents have grown more at ease with her chosen path, and she now has their full blessing. In many ways you could say her PCA and EPT scores in the year that followed, added up to accomplishing something big anyway, but you can be sure there will be bigger to come in the next few years as Liu continues to tour the circuit.
Louis Hartwell
Graduated in Media Communication at the University of Lausanne, Louis Hartman is a co-founder of somuchpoker.com. He began his career in Cambodia as freelance journalist. In same time he was making his living by playing poker every night at that time. Intense learner, he read dozens of poker strategy books to improve his skills during many years. With a strong interest about poker "behind the scene" in Asia and his communication skills, Louis launched Somuchpoker in 2014.
Follow Me:
