Renji Mao

Renji Mao began his poker career playing online, building the technical foundation that would later define his live tournament game. He transitioned to the live felt and gradually established himself as one of China's most recognizable professional poker players, competing regularly across the Asia-Pacific region. Over the years he has recorded more than 200 live cashes, with total career earnings surpassing $4.7 million according to major poker tournament databases.

Mao has been a consistent presence at high-stakes events, making multiple final tables in series such as the Triton Series and the Asian Poker Tour. His results include victories in a number of tournaments, though his largest payday came on the international stage. He has also been a featured PokerStake seller, offering staking in major events, which has connected him with a global audience of poker investors and fans.

The defining moment of Mao's career to date came during a record-breaking Triton Poker Series stop in Jeju, South Korea. In the 8-Max No-Limit Hold'em Event #5, Mao turned a $30,000 buy-in into a third-place finish worth $737,000. The result stood as his single largest live payout and capped a remarkable month on the Korean island. The article "Renji Mao's Million Dollar Month" highlighted that his success in Jeju was not an isolated flash; the entire month represented the most successful stretch of his poker career, coming amid an event that drew stars such as Anatoly Filatov, Sean Winter, Punnat Punsri and Bryn Kenney.

Mao has also made deep runs at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. During the 2025 WSOP, he reached the final four of the $25,000-entry Heads-Up Championship, sharing the stage with PokerStake colleague Patrick Leonard. The run put him in contention for WSOP bracelet gold, and he was later highlighted alongside Jon Kyte as one of the players pushing for a bracelet. These performances reinforced his status as one of the few Chinese players to make sustained noise at the highest levels of the game.

Mao is widely recognized for his aggressive and fierce style, particularly his ability to apply pressure post-flop using positional and range advantages. He employs a mixed strategy, balancing value hands with bluffs, and has strong hand-reading and adjustment abilities. In deep-stacked confrontations, his decisions are decisive and aggressive, making him a difficult opponent for both conservative and aggressive players. His style is especially notable in the relatively conservative Asian poker scene, where his willingness to attack small pots and exploit tight-passive opponents sets him apart.

In the poker community, Mao is often labeled a rising star of Chinese poker. He is respected by peers for his calm demeanor at the table and humble personality. Live stream commentators have described him as "one of the toughest Asian players to face." Beyond the table, Mao has a keen interest in poker theory and frequently shares insights with domestic players, helping to grow the game in China. His combination of results, aggression, and approachability has made him one of the most closely followed players in the Asia-Pacific region.