Frequently Asked Questions On Attending CPG Championship Final Sanya 2025

China’s premier poker brand, China Poker Games, returns to Hainan Island for the 13th annual CPG Championship Final Sanya, taking place from August 20 to 29, 2025 at the Howard Johnson Resort Sanya Bay. Recognized as the largest annual gathering of poker players in China, it has become a must-attend stop on the calendar for many of the nation’s poker enthusiasts.

And the numbers speak for themselves.

Last year’s festival generated approximately US$ 15 million in prize pools across 91 events , the richest poker series ever staged in the region. One of the keys to its massive draw is Hainan Island itself: players can combine world-class tournament action with a tropical getaway, a perk especially appealing to those traveling with family. This year, the event brings a massive 98 events (including satellites) with the Main Event alone projected to draw around 4,300 entries and create an estimated US$ 6 million prize pool.

CPG CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL SANYA – Schedule

While the majority of the field is made up of domestic players, the event continues to attract an international contingent. Last year saw the debut of American high-stakes star Daniel “Jungleman” Cates, alongside representatives from Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore. Vietnam’s Ngoc Dai Nguyen captured his country’s first CPG side event title, while Dutch player Tom Verbruggen made a deep run in one of the festival’s closing events.

But unlike most poker stops, joining the action in Sanya isn’t as simple as walking in and buying a seat. CPG operates under a unique, app-based entry system that domestic players know well, but which can be unfamiliar to international visitors. To help, SMP has compiled answers to the most frequently asked questions from overseas participants, along with essential tips to make your trip – and your tournament experience – as smooth as possible.

FAQ On CPG Championship Final Sanya

Over the years, CPG has remained a step ahead of the industry, setting new standards for how live poker is run. Long before “digital integration” became a trend, the brand had already developed its all-in-one tournament ecosystem, a fully connected system that streamlines every stage of the player journey through the CPG App.

In accordance with Chinese regulations, CPG uses an app-based entry model. This approach is also rooted in the brand’s commitment to positioning poker as a true sport and to promote sport tourism in Hainan Island. And just like in any other competitive discipline, players are required to register and confirm participation by a set deadline.

What Is The CPG APP

First introduced in 2015, the CPG App is China Poker Games’ official all-in-one tournament platform, designed to handle every stage of the player experience for CPG events, from registration to results. It’s the central hub where players can:

• Register for CPG events
• Receive seat allocation
• Secure and manage event vouchers (required for entry)
• Purchase or use app credits for buy-ins
• Track chip counts, payouts, and schedules
• Watch the high quality livestream coverage of featured tables
• Get instant updates and seat change notifications in real time
• Access news, promos, and exclusive offers

Because of Chinese regulations, there are no walk-in registration nor on-site cash buy-ins allowed. Every player, local or international, must have a verified CPG App account and prepare their event voucher in advance. All live event registrations at CPG are processed through the app using app credits.

In addition to tournament functions, the app allows users to browse restaurant options at the venue, book travel packages and activities around Sanya, order massage services while playing poker, rent cars, plan family activities, and get shopping tips. The app is a convenient one-stop shop, and players can easily make payments using CPG service vouchers.

• Book hotel packages
• Reserve shuttle to and from the airport
• Exploring tours and activities to enjoy in Sanya during the festival
• Spa and massage services
• CPG accredited restaurants where you can use your service vouchers

Can Vouchers Be Purchased

Vouchers are earned through online practice games on the CPG App. However, players with extra vouchers may invite friends to participate. For international players, vouchers can be obtained by purchasing travel/poker packages directly from CPG.

Q: Are vouchers transferable?

CPG does not support player-to-player trading. However, vouchers can be transferred only once if a player wishes to invite a friend. Once transferred, the voucher becomes exclusive to the new holder.

How To Sign Up To Events

Players sign up to events via the app then only need to have it scanned to get their ID. Once signed up to any event, players are automatically registered to the festival. Additionally, Main Event voucher holders are automatically registered for the festival. Deadline to sign up to the series is August 19, 2025.

Q: With CPG now fully automated, what is the procedure for international players to sign up for the Main Event?

CPG will have an international host team on-site to guide players through the registration process. While it may seem complex at first, once the setup is complete, the system is quick and easy to use.

Main Event Information

This year, around 4,300 entries are anticipated. Roughly 4,000 vouchers have been pre-issued, with another 500–800 expected to be awarded during the live satellites in Sanya.

Q: What is the estimated prize pool for the Main Event?

Approximately US$ 6 million.

Q: What is the buy-in for the Main Event?

Like past editions, buy-in is around US$ 1,500.

Q: What is the registration deadline for the Main Event?

Registration closes at 14:00 on August 19.

Q: What is the format of the Main Event?

All phased events, including the Main Event, follow a repechage format. Players are only allowed to enter once per starting day. No same-day re-entry allowed. All non-phased events are freezeout.

Main Event Schedule

• Day 1A: Saturday, August 23, 2025
• Day 1B: Sunday, August 24, 2025
• Day 1C: Monday, August 25, 2025
• Day 2: Tuesday, August 26, 2025
• Day 3: Wednesday, August 27, 2025
• Day 4: Thursday, August 28, 2025
• Day 5: Friday, August 29, 2025

Other Key Events

• International Team Event: August 20, 2025
• 13th Anniversary Special: August 20-22, 2025 – two starting days scheduled
• “Hainan Go” Free Trade Port Event: August 21-22, 2025
• PLO: August 22-23, 2025
• Lucheng Cup: August 26-29, 2025 – two starting days scheduled
• High Roller: August 27-29, 2025
• Sanya Bay Cup: August 28-29, 2025

Cashing Out

Players that cash at any of the events will instantly receive cash plus credit vouchers in the CPG APP. There are multiple ways to convert the vouchers into hard cash. The CPG international host team will assist players with the withdrawal process, which supports both local and international banking options.

Latest Promos

This year, CPG is focusing on sport tourism. New international players and potential business partners who share this vision may receive complimentary local tours, cultural goods, and other perks during the festival. At this time, hotel packages at Howard Johnson Resort Sanya Bay have sold out however CPG can customize packages for international players at other hotels.

Visa Free To Sanya

Traveling to Sanya is a breeze with 59 select countries eligible for visa-free entry to Hainan Island. Last year, the Somuchpoker team experienced this firsthand, flying in via Hong Kong as visa-exempt travelers. Players opting to fly in through mainland China, however, will need to obtain a visa. Additionally, if your country is not part of the list, you will need to apply for a visa to China to get to Hainan Island.

Upon arrival, we immediately lined up at immigration where standard questions were asked about our purpose, length of stay, hotel accommodations, and traveling party. Our passports were then stamped for a 30-day stay. After collecting our baggage, CPG provided shuttle service to the hotel. This service is available to all international players and those who have CPG Championship Finals Packages.

Visa-free countries

America: USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile
Oceania: Australia, New Zealand
Schengen Countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
European Countries: Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Monaco
Asia: Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar

Venue

For the 11th consecutive year, the CPG Championship Finals takes place at the Howard Johnson Resort Sanya Bay. Unlike its beginnings with just one room able to accommodate the main and side event fields, last year, four rooms were set up (Red, Blue, Purple, Orange) with a whopping 184 poker tables in total. That alone should give players an idea of the magnitude of this event and how much larger it will be this year.