Aaron Zang

Aaron Zang (full name Zang Shu Nu) was born on June 21, 1982 in China. He attended university, where he first discovered poker through a friend. During high school, Zang was an accomplished player of Magic: The Gathering, winning a Chinese championship in the card game. He graduated from university in 2005.

After university, Zang began playing poker online on online poker, but initially struggled, repeatedly losing deposits. In 2006, his uncle gave him ¥1,000 (about $150), which Zang used to build a bankroll of ¥400,000 ($63,000) within a year. Encouraged by this success, he turned professional in 2007 and moved to Macau to play live poker.

Zang’s first recorded live cash came in 2007, but he did not see significant tournament results until later years. In 2015, he finished runner-up in a HK$100,000 event at the APPT Macau, earning $222,430. The following year, he cashed in the HK$500,000 Super High Roller at the Asia Championship of Poker, taking fifth place for $250,250.

Zang’s career-defining moment came in August 2019 at the Triton Million for Charity in London, a £1,050,000 buy-in event. He reached heads-up against American star Bryn Kenney, who held a 5:1 chip lead. The two agreed to a deal that guaranteed Zang £13,779,491 ($16,775,820). Despite the chip disadvantage, Zang staged a comeback and won the tournament outright. His first-place prize ranked as the third-largest single payout in poker history at the time. For this achievement, he received the Triton Million title and widespread recognition.

Just days after his Triton Million win, Zang finished third in a £250,000 Short Deck event at the same series, adding $2,712,016 to his earnings. In March 2023, he won the $100,000 Short Deck Main Event at the Triton Super High Roller Series Vietnam, collecting $1,544,000. This victory solidified his status as a dominant force in high-stakes short deck poker.

As of August 2020, Zang’s live tournament earnings exceeded $17.6 million, overtaking Elton Tsang as the most successful Chinese poker player in live tournaments. By March 2023, his total reached nearly $22 million, placing him first on the China all-time money list and 49th globally. His career includes eight recorded cashes across 2007-2023, with three tournament victories.

Outside of poker, Zang is an entrepreneur. In 2013, he founded a company in Shenzhen specializing in Bitcoin. He resides in Macau and is known for his humble demeanor and disciplined approach to the game.

Aaron Zang’s triumph in the Triton Million for Charity remains one of the most remarkable moments in poker history. By turning a small gift from his uncle into a multi-million dollar career, he exemplifies the potential of skill and perseverance in poker.