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Controversial poker pro Ren “Tony” Lin is off to a flying start in 2026 with two wins sporting his new WPT Global ambassador patch.
Lin pillaged the inaugural King Poker Cup in Jeju, South Korea, for two victories, including the 191-player Main Event for $600,700. Earlier in the series, he won the NLH/PLO Mix event for $70,000.
The Chinese poker pro lost his sponsorship deal with GGPoker after coaching a friend in real time during an online tournament last year.
Lin issued an apology for his actions on Twitter but denied any malicious intent. As it turned out, he didn’t have to wait long for a deal with another major poker brand. WPT Global announced a deal with Lin on Jan. 12, less than three months after losing his deal with GGPoker.
WPT Global Sponsorship Leads to Brand Infighting
It’s fair to say that WPT Global has taken some flak for signing the controversial poker pro.
The Tweet announcing Lin’s new role at WPT Global quickly turned into a battleground, as poker personalities like Todd Witteles and Vanessa Kade criticized the brand’s integrity.
The fallout continued as Chip Race podcast hosts David Lappin and Dara O’Kearney decided to end their partnership with the company over the decision to sign Lin.
In the most surprising turn of events, the signing sparked public infighting among WPT brands.
ClubWPT Gold Retweeted the Tweet announcing Lin’s signing with the word “BANNED” superimposed over the player, implying that he will not be permitted to play on ClubWPT Gold.
WPT Global responded with a Tweet that criticized ClubWPT Gold for signing YouTube influencers rather than winning players.
It is worth noting that the WPT brands are separate entities. ClubWPT Gold (and sister site ClubWPT) is owned by the WPT and operates in the US. Meanwhile, WPT Global is licensed in Curaçao and does not serve US players. WPT Global licenses the WPT name from the parent company.
It’s clear this corporate structure has created at least some degree of cognitive dissonance for WPT fans.
Lin Still Has Supporters
Not everyone is against Lin, however. GGPoker pro Daniel Negreanu initially praised Lin for accepting the consequences of his actions. More recently, Xuan Liu, who is involved in a dispute with WPT Global over the use of her likeness, said Lin would make a ‘fantastic ambassador’.
Why sign Lin in the first place? First off, he’s a skilled player who plays some of the highest stakes imaginable.
He currently sits third on the Chinese all-time poker earnings list with just over $16 million in earnings. The Chinese market is routinely cited as a potentially lucrative opportunity for online poker sites.
Strong Debut for King Poker Cup in Jeju
Regardless of Lin’s performance, the King Poker Cup in Jeju proved to be an unmitigated success with hundreds of players making their way to the small South Korean island to play cards for vast sums of money.
The tour, formerly known as Poker King Cup, rebranded this year to target a more global audience of high-stakes players. The tour advertises low fees and lucrative prize pools.
The inaugural series in Jeju was hosted in collaboration with the Long Poker Tour to help offer a wide variety of poker formats.
There are plans for the King Poker Cup to make stops in the United Kingdom, Cyprus, and the Philippines. Manila was always a popular stop for the original Poker King Cup, which was primarily focused on the Asian market. On the other hand, the UK represents new territory for the burgeoning King Poker Cup.
Image Credit: King Poker Cup/Instagram
