After months of controversy, Chinese poker pro Ren Lin is back in the winner’s circle, storming the 2026 tournament circuit with four victories in just over a month, racking up more than $1.2 million in prize money.
Lin’s recent return to form follows a turbulent period that began in October 2025, when he was disqualified from the WSOP Super Circuit Cyprus Main Event. The incident stemmed from Lin counseling a friend via video call while they played a $10,000 online tournament on GGPoker—a violation of the platform’s terms of service. At the time, Lin was a GGPoker ambassador, but his suspension led to him being removed from the brand and its partners, including the WSOP. His suspension lasted under two months, and he was back competing at WSOP Paradise in December.
The drama didn’t end there. In January 2026, WPT Global announced Lin as a new ambassador, sparking an online spat among World Poker Tour-affiliated brands and causing Chip Race podcast hosts David Lappin and Dara O’Kearney to cut ties with the show’s sponsor.
Back on Top: Lin’s Recent Victories
Soon after the WPT Global announcement, Lin made a statement on the felt. At the King Poker Cup Series in South Korea, he claimed two titles in mid-January, including the Main Event for $600,700 and a mixed NLH/PLO High Roller for $70,000—both while proudly wearing the WPT Global patch.
Lin continued his hot streak at the APT Jeju Classic, also held at LES A Casino. On February 1, he bested 115 entries in a $10,000 buy-in event, winning $275,220 and 600 Card Player POY points. Just two days later, he conquered 49 entries in the $25,000 SuperStar Challenge High Roller, adding $321,364 and 420 points to his tally.
Lin Takes Early Lead in POY Standings
With 2,028 total points, Lin has surged to the top of the 2026 Player of the Year standings, presented by CoinPoker. Notably, three of his four wins counted toward POY points, while the $10,000 NLH/PLO mixed event did not meet the threshold for points allocation. His Main Event win contributed 1,008 points, further solidifying his early advantage.
Ren Lin is no stranger to POY contention—he finished fifth overall in 2023 and seventh in 2024. His remarkable start to 2026 has also pushed his career earnings to nearly $19.1 million, with 13 titles and 275 cashes recorded.
APT Jeju Classic $10,000 Buy-In Final Standings
| Place | Player | Payout | POY Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ren Lin | $275,220 | 600 |
| 2 | Ryuta Nakai | $185,960 | 500 |
| 3 | Quang Dinh Do | $120,875 | 400 |
| 4 | Khoa Anh Ngo | $100,090 | 300 |
| 5 | Guoliang Wei | $80,730 | 250 |
| 6 | Ryan Plant | $63,670 | 200 |
| 7 | Yosuke Miki | $48,680 | 150 |
| 8 | Kento Nasu | $36,645 | 100 |
| 9 | Paulius Plausinaitis | $27,350 | 50 |
APT Jeju Classic $25,000 SuperStar Challenge Final Standings
| Place | Player | Payout | POY Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ren Lin | $321,364 | 420 |
| 2 | Minh Quang Nguyen | $236,828 | 350 |
| 3 | Fendy Kosasih | $158,445 | 280 |
| 4 | Khoa Anh Ngo | $119,517 | 210 |
| 5 | Lester Edoc | $85,041 | 175 |
| 6 | Paulius Plausinaitis | $63,366 | 140 |
| 7 | Joseph Cheong | $50,578 | 105 |
| 8 | Huu Nguyen | $41,129 | 70 |
| 9 | Ryuta Nakai | $35,571 | 35 |
Ren Lin’s return to dominance on the circuit shows that even after controversy, a focused run of form can quickly reestablish a player at the very top of the poker world.
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