Alan King Lun Lau

Alan King Lun Lau hails from Hong Kong and began his poker journey online before transitioning to live tournaments. He quickly made a name for himself in the mid-2010s on the Asian circuit, particularly in Macau, where he built a reputation for consistent deep runs. His first major breakthrough came in 2015 when he won the PokerStars Asia Player of the Year (APOY) title by a narrow margin, signaling his arrival as a top contender.

Lau's most spectacular year was 2017, when he captured two of the most prestigious titles in Asian poker. In February, he outlasted a field of 1,216 entries to win the Red Dragon event at the Macau Poker Cup, earning US$420,802. Then in October, he triumphed in the Asia Championship of Poker (ACOP) Main Event at City of Dreams Macau, defeating a record 308-player field to claim the top prize of HK$5,500,000 (approximately US$692,066). This victory made him the first player ever to win both the Red Dragon and ACOP Main Event in the same calendar year. In 2019, he finished runner-up in the APT Taiwan Main Event for US$90,952, and in 2023, he won the Single Day High Roller Freezeout at APT Hanoi Billions for US$58,194.

Lau is a two-time PokerStars Asia Player of the Year champion (2015 and 2017), becoming the first player to win the award twice. His 2017 campaign was especially dominant: he recorded 34 cashes, 20 final table appearances, and 8 titles over the course of the year. He accumulated over US$1.2 million in earnings that season alone, largely due to his Red Dragon and ACOP wins. For his APOY victory, he was awarded a one-year sponsorship with PokerStars LIVE.

Lau is known for a systematic, highly disciplined approach to tournament poker. He employs a tight-aggressive (TAG) style, emphasizing strong starting hand selection and positional awareness. He excels at hand reading and exercises patience to navigate large fields. His strategy shines in freezeout and bounty formats, where he balances survival with timely aggression. Fellow players often label him as a "grinder" who avoids unnecessary risks, relying on deep runs and consistent cashes rather than volatile swings.

As of 2026, Lau's live tournament earnings exceed $2.29 million placing him 12th on the Hong Kong all-time money list. He continues to travel extensively, competing in events across Macau, Taiwan, the Philippines, Korea, and occasionally in Las Vegas and Europe. His 2024 WSOP performance highlighted his adaptability, notably in mystery bounty formats. Lau remains a respected figure in Asian poker, admired for his work ethic and loyalty to the PokerStars circuit. He is widely regarded as one of the most consistent and accomplished players to emerge from Hong Kong.

The ACOP Main Event final table featured world-class opponents including England's Stephen Chidwick, Germany's Dominik Nitsche, American Brian Altman, Spain's David Laka, and USA's Aaron Been. Early eliminations saw Laka (6th) and Altman (5th) fall to Nitsche. A lengthy four-handed battle followed, during which Lau surged into the chip lead. Eventually, Chidwick (4th) and Nitsche (3rd) were eliminated by Been, setting up heads-up play. Lau overcame a chip deficit to defeat Been and claim the title, earning HK$5,500,000 (US$692,066).

Lau dominated the 2017 APOY race after a mid-year scare. In August, he was overtaken by Sparrow Park Yu Cheung at the PokerStars Festival Manila. However, Lau responded with six deep runs at Macau Poker Cup 27 and three more at the PokerStars LIVE Manila Super Series 4, regaining the lead. He sealed the APOY title with four cashes at the ACOP series, including his Main Event victory. His 2017 stats comprised 34 cashes (4 in five-figure range), 20 final table appearances, and 8 titles. This secured his place as the first two-time APOY champion.

As of mid-2026, Lau's live tournament earnings have approached $3 million according to some sources, with The Hendon Mob reporting $2,290,660. He ranks 12th on the Hong Kong all-time money list and 1,207th globally on the All Time Money List. His best career cash remains the ACOP Main Event ($692,066), followed by the Red Dragon ($420,802). Lau has also achieved a Global Poker Index ranking in the top 3,000, reflecting his consistent performance in Asia-Pacific events. He continues to add cashes at major festivals, maintaining his status as a top Hong Kong pro.