Rui Cao

Rui Cao was born in China and raised in France. His early aptitude for competitive games came through video gaming, which honed his analytical and fast-paced decision-making skills. He transitioned to poker in 2006 and quickly ascended the stakes, eventually joining the elite French professional group "Team Limpers." Initially a No-Limit Hold'em player, he gained notoriety online as a Pot-Limit Omaha specialist under the alias "PepperoniF." Now based in France, Cao travels extensively to compete in the world's most prestigious high-stakes cash games and tournaments.

Cao began his poker career at low-stakes online tables, rapidly moving up to high-stakes games on platforms like PokerStars. He honed his skills against top players and became a regular in high-profile cash game streams such as Hustler Casino Live. His first recorded live tournament cash came in the 2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, where he placed 647th for $21,230. Over subsequent years, he cashed in several WSOP events, including a 28th-place finish in the 2009 $2,000 No-Limit Hold'em event ($11,893) and a 39th-place in the 2009 $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed event ($17,272). In 2010, he placed 63rd in the $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed event for $4,669. Despite these results, his reputation was built primarily on cash game prowess and high-roller tournaments.

Cao's most notable achievements have come on the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series, where he has become a dominant force, especially in Short Deck (6+ Hold'em) events. He has accumulated 10 Triton cashes totaling $8.78 million, with two wins and eight final-table appearances.

His breakthrough victory came in May 2019 at the Triton Poker Montenegro HKD 1,000,000 Short Deck Main Event. Outlasting a field of 98 entrants (including 51 reentries), Cao won HKD 26,300,000 ($3,350,725), nearly doubling his career earnings and propelling him to fifth place on the France All-Time Money List. In the final hand, he defeated Paul Phua heads-up. This was Cao's first live tournament win, and he remarked, "First time I ever won a tournament, and this is a good one. So I’m happy." The final table included Romain Arnaud (3rd, $1.5M), Daniel Dvoress (4th, $1.16M), and Kenneth Kee (5th, $917K). Earlier in that same series, Cao placed 3rd in a Mixed NLH/Short Deck event for $199,087 and 8th in a Short Deck Turbo for $61,258.

Prior to his win, Cao had two close calls in 2018. At the Triton Montenegro series, he finished runner-up in the HKD 1,000,000 Main Event for HKD 13,217,000 ($1,686,225) and fifth in the HKD 1,000,000 Short Deck Ante-Only event for HKD 6,299,000 ($803,626). In July 2018 at Triton Jeju, he placed second in a HKD 500,000 Hold'em event for HKD 5,280,000 ($673,622).

In 2019, Caostruck again at Triton London, finishing fifth in the £100,000 Short Deck Main Event for £783,000 ($998,951) and 14th in a £25,000 Short Deck Ante-Only event for £42,800 ($54,604).

Cao's second Triton title came in May 2022 at Triton Madrid, where he won the €25,000 Short Deck Ante-Only event for €497,000 ($523,689). Most recently, in May 2026, he cashed in the $200,000 Triton Invitational at Triton SHRS Montenegro Season 5, finishing 15th for $425,000.

Beyond Triton, Cao has cashed in various high-roller events worldwide. His total live earnings stand at $9,328,985, ranking him 5th on the France All-Time Money List (as of 2026). His biggest scores include the 2019 Triton Montenegro win ($3.35M) and the 2019 Triton London fifth place ($1M). He also has notable results in the European Poker Tour (EPT) and other festivals, though specific details are less documented. In online poker, Cao remains active in high-stakes cash games, often streaming his sessions.

Cao is widely regarded as an "ultra-aggressive" strategist who thrives in high-variance formats. He is frequently cited by peers as one of the best Short Deck players in the world, a game that demands high-level intuition and extreme bravery—qualities that align perfectly with his natural style. He prefers deep-stacked environments where he can exert maximum pressure on opponents, often utilizing unconventional bet sizings and large bluffs. His approach combines mathematical calculation with sharp reading abilities, making him a formidable opponent in both cash games and tournaments. However, this aggressive style brings high variance, and he has been labeled a "high-risk player" and "cash game master."

Under the alias "PepperoniF," Cao built a reputation as a ruthless Pot-Limit Omaha specialist online. He has appeared on popular live-streamed cash games such as Hustler Casino Live, where his decision-making and psychological battles have become fan favorites. His off-table personality is low-key, contrasting sharply with his on-table aggression. In Chinese poker circles, he is often called "Lao Cao" (老曹) due to his Chinese descent and fluency in Mandarin.

Cao continues to be a regular on the Triton circuit and in high-stakes cash games. His 2026 cash in the Triton Invitational shows he remains competitive at the highest levels. With over $9.3 million in live earnings and a growing reputation as one of the premier Short Deck specialists, Cao's legacy as a fearless and technically masterful player is secure. He has yet to win a WSOP bracelet, but his consistent performance in super high-roller events underscores his elite status.