Kai Cocklin is a poker journalist and live reporting manager who has worked with PokerNews at major festivals including the World Series of Poker and the European Poker Tour. He has managed multiple live reporting teams at the World Series of Poker and trained individual reporters to develop their skills. He now oversees Somuchpoker’s editorial and live coverage, ensuring consistent quality and engaging content across the Asian poker scene.

Updated: 2025.12.17

Jiabao Cai is a Chinese poker player who made a sensational entrance into the professional scene in late 2025, capturing a major High Roller title in his first-ever recorded live cash.

Career Earnings & Biggest Results

Jiabao Cai’s total live earnings are approaching $50,000, according to The Hendon Mob, with the vast majority of this total coming from a single breakout performance in October 2025.

His career-best live cash of ~$69,006 (KRW 96,608,000), which includes bounties, was achieved for a 1st place victory in the Single Day High Roller – Mystery Bounty at the Asian Poker Tour (APT) Jeju . This impressive haul included approximately ~$32,143 in mystery bounties. Other notable results from his debut series include:

~$2,900 (KRW 4,060,000) – 53rd place in the KRW 1,300,000 KPC Main Event.

Deep run in the APT Jeju Ultra Stack, where he finished Day 1 as a top-three chip leader in his flight.

Biography & Poker Background

Jiabao Cai is a Chinese national and was described by tour officials as an amateur player at the time of his first major victory. His professional record begins abruptly in September 2025 at the APT Jeju festival in South Korea, suggesting he is a newcomer to the international live circuit. Despite his amateur status, his immediate success against a field of 141 entries, which included world-class professionals like Punnat Punsri , has quickly made him a player to watch on the Asian circuit.

Play Style & Strategy

Cai is characterized by his composure and resilience under high-pressure conditions. During his Mystery Bounty victory, he successfully negotiated a three-way ICM deal with fellow countrymen Sishu Peng and Chuan Feng, eventually “holding his nerve” to win the remaining prize pool and the trophy in the heads-up finale. His performance in multi-flight events like the Ultra Stack further demonstrates his ability to build and maintain large chip stacks throughout a long tournament day.

Recent Attendances