James Chen

James Chen was born in Taipei, Taiwan, and currently resides in Taichung. Before becoming a professional poker player, he worked as a software programmer, a background that contributed to his analytical approach to the game. He began playing live tournaments in Asia, with his first major cash coming in 2015 at the Macau Poker Cup. Chen quickly established himself in the Asian poker circuit with a string of consistent results.

Chen's career-defining moment came in October 2019 at the World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) held at King's Casino in Rozvadov, Czech Republic. He entered the €250,000 No-Limit Hold'em Super High Roller, an event with a €5 million guarantee, and emerged victorious out of a field of top international players. The win earned him €2,842,500 (approximately $3,142,848), his largest live cash to date, and secured him a WSOP bracelet. This triumph placed him at the top of the Taiwan All Time Money List, a position he has held ever since.

Prior to his bracelet win, Chen had already demonstrated his skill in high-stakes events. In June 2019, he finished runner-up in the $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Eight Max event at the WSOP in Las Vegas, earning $1,000,253. This runner-up finish showed his versatility across poker variants. Chen continued to excel in high-roller tournaments, notably in the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series. In August 2023, he cashed twice at the Triton London series: 7th in the $125,000 NLH for $705,000 and 9th in the $262,500 NLH Invitational for $680,000. In March 2024, he placed 5th in the Triton Jeju $150,000 NLH Eight Max for $1,254,000.

Chen has been a dominant force in Asian poker, particularly in Macau and South Korea. His first major victory came in September 2015 when he won the Macau Poker Cup High Roller for $220,000, defeating a 75-player field in just 75 minutes at the final table. In September 2024, he placed 3rd in the Poker Dream XII Jeju KRW 42,000,000 NLH event for $320,857. He also has cashes in the 2025 Triton Jeju $100,000 NLH (16th for $280,000) and the 2025 WSOP $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw (12th for $27,214). As of 2026, his live earnings exceed $11.5 million with 79 recorded cashes and one bracelet.

James Chen is known for his aggressive, technically sound playing style, often described as an "end boss" at high-stakes tables. His transition from a software programmer to a poker professional reflects a methodical, data-driven approach to decision-making. He is equally adept at No-Limit Hold'em and Pot-Limit Omaha, as shown by his deep runs in both variants. Chen's Twitter handle is @ChipBurglar, reflecting his reputation for accumulating chips. He is widely respected in the Asian poker community and is a regular participant in the Triton series, Macau high rollers, and WSOP events.

Chen continues to perform at the highest levels. In the 2026 WSOP Europe, he cashed in the €20,800 Eight Max (18th for $56,350) and the €1,650 Monster Stack (133rd for $3,761). He also earned a PGT title in October 2024, winning the $10,000 PLO event on the PGT PLO Series. With total live earnings of $11,539,341, Chen holds the #1 position on the Taiwan All Time Money List, far ahead of any other Taiwanese player. His legacy is cemented as one of the most successful poker players to emerge from Taiwan, known for both his high-stakes victories and his consistent presence at the top of the game.