This article needs to be updated. (August 2023) |
Aaron Zang (simplified Chinese: 臧书奴; traditional Chinese: 臧書奴; pinyin: Zāng Shūnú; born 21 June 1982) is a Chinese poker player currently residing in Macau. He won the £1,050,000 No Limit Hold'em Triton Million for Charity event in 2019 which has the largest single payout in poker tournament history.[1]
| Aaron Zang | |
|---|---|
| Residence | Macau |
| Born | Shu Nu Zang 21 June 1982 China |
Poker career
editZang got into poker through a friend after he went to university. He regularly deposited money into the partypoker online poker room which he repeatedly gambled away. In 2006, his uncle gave him ¥1,000 which he used to build a bankroll of ¥400,000. In 2007, Zang began playing professionally in Macau.[2]
In 2019, Zang won the £1,050,000 No Limit Hold'em Triton Million defeating Bryn Kenney heads up. The tournament had the largest scheduled single payout in poker tournament history with first place receiving £19,000,000 ($23,100,000). However, due to a prize splitting deal agreed with Kenney, Zang ended up receiving £13,779,491 ($16,775,820) for first place while Kenney received the larger prize of £16,890,509 ($20,563,324) for finishing runner-up. The deal was made when the tournament entered heads up with Kenney holding an over 5:1 chip lead against Zang. Zang made a comeback and eventually won the tournament.[3][4] For his victory in the 2019 Triton Million event, Zang received the third largest single payout in poker tournament history behind Kenney's runner-up place prize in the same tournament and Antonio Esfandiari's victory prize at 2012 Big One for One Drop for $18,346,673.[5]
As of August 2020, Zang has won over US$17,600,000 in live poker tournaments, overtaking Elton Tsang as the most successful Chinese poker player in live tournaments. His latest victory coming from Triton Poker Vietnam where he won $1,00,000 in the Short Deck Main Event. [6]
Personal life
editZang played Magic: The Gathering during high school and won a Chinese championship in the card game. He graduated from university in 2005. In 2013, he founded a company specializing in Bitcoin in Shenzhen.[2]
Prize Money Overview
editWith total tournament earnings of nearly $22 million, Aaron Zang is the most successful Chinese poker player on the All-Time Money List[7] as of March 15, 2023.
Total tournament earnings by Aaron Zang since 2007:
| Year | Prize Money (in $) | Tournament Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 1,783 | 0 |
| 2008–2012 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 | 116,938 | 0 |
| 2015 | 251,771 | 0 |
| 2016 | 330,073 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 156,848 | 0 |
| 2019 | 19,487,836 | 1 |
| 2020–2022 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1,544,000 | 1 |
| Total | 21,889,249 | 3 |
References
edit- ^ "Zang takes Triton Million title as Kenney wins biggest ever prize". Triton Poker. 3 August 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ a b "Aaron Zang: From Magic The Gathering to Winning the Triton Million for Charity". Triton Poker. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ Trenholm, Brandyn (3 August 2019). "Aaron Zang Wins Triton Million for $16.7 Million; Bryn Kenney Finishes Runner-Up for $20 Million". PokerNews. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ Fast, Erik (3 August 2019). "Aaron Zang Has Won The Largest Buy-In Poker Tournament Ever". cardplayer.com. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ Shillibier, Will (31 December 2019). "Biggest Tournament Cashes of the Decade". PokerNews. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ Fast, Erik (31 March 2023). "Aaron Zang Wins Triton Poker Vietnam $100,000 Short Deck Main Event". CardPlayer.com. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ "China All Time Money".