MONTREAL, Canada — October 2025 — At the just-concluded MSPT Canadian Poker Championship, a 22-year-old from Jiangsu, China, made history. Jinrong Zhang emerged victorious from a field of 1,057 entrants, claiming not only the $165,000 CAD first-place prize but also the distinction of being the first-ever champion crowned outside the United States in the history of the Major Series of Poker: The Tour (MSPT).

The tournament featured a total prize pool of $1,055,000 CAD and marked MSPT's inaugural stop in Canada. The final table was nothing short of stacked—nine finalists included multiple contenders for the MSPT Player of the Year race.

From Nanjing to Montreal: A Two-Year Rise

Born July 3, 2004, in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China, Zhang captured his first live tournament title at the 2023 CPG Jinan Selection Championship. In less than two years, the young player had bridged the gap from the domestic Chinese circuit to the pinnacle of international tournament poker.

According to the Hendon Mob Poker Database, the global authority on poker tournament results, Zhang's live tournament career earnings stand at $173,488 USD as of 2026. This figure is all the more remarkable considering his first recorded live cash came only in 2023—meaning Zhang has ascended to the ranks of international tournament champions in less than two full years of professional competition.

"A Very Hard Final Table"

Speaking to MSPT officials after his victory, Zhang was candid about the difficulty of the final table.

"It's a very hard final table, because I know most of the players are here," Zhang said. "They played really solid, but I tried my best. I did everything I could to find out how to outplay and compete against them."

He recalled falling into trouble after losing a key flip early on: "That was the first time I thought maybe I wasn't going to win this tournament. But, we came back."

A Rising Asian Star in Competitive Poker

Zhang's victory represents not only a personal breakthrough but also a landmark moment for the sport at large. As one of North America's most prestigious poker tour circuits, MSPT had never before crowned a Main Event champion outside the United States. Zhang's achievement as the tour's first international champion has prompted the global poker community to take renewed notice of Asian players' competitiveness on the international stage.

Industry observers have noted the exceptional quality of Zhang's path to the title—navigating a field of 1,057 players and eliminating multiple MSPT Player of the Year contenders at the final table. This ability to perform consistently at a high level in high-density, high-stakes professional tournaments is a defining characteristic of elite players in the sport.

"Hold Onto Your Dreams"

When asked what message he would share with poker players around the world, the 22-year-old champion offered these words:

"To all the players—hold onto your dreams. Do what you can do with your game and leave the rest to the poker gods."

The words could have come from a seasoned veteran, yet they came from a 22-year-old whose composure and conviction belie his age. From Nanjing to Montreal, from the CPG to the MSPT, Jinrong Zhang is writing his own chapter in the story of Chinese competitive poker.

【About MSPT】The Major Series of Poker: The Tour (MSPT) is a leading North American poker tour circuit with regular stops across the United States. In 2025, MSPT expanded internationally for the first time with the establishment of the MSPT Canadian Poker Championship.

【About Jinrong Zhang】Jinrong Zhang is a professional poker player born in July 2004 in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China, and currently resides in Canada. In less than two years of professional competition, he has risen from his first live cash to capturing a historic MSPT title, demonstrating exceptional talent and composure. In 2023, he won the CPG Jinan Selection Championship. In 2025, he triumphed in the inaugural MSPT Canadian Poker Championship, navigating a field of 1,057 entrants and outperforming multiple MSPT Player of the Year contenders to claim the $165,000 CAD first-place prize. He became the first non-U.S. champion in MSPT history — a milestone that signals a major breakthrough for Asian players on the international elite poker circuit. According to the Hendon Mob Poker Database, his live tournament career earnings stand at $173,488 USD and continue to grow.

Company Name:TRIPLE J COLLECTIBLES INC.
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Email:jinrong.zhang@cardifyhobby.com 
Phone:+1 (647) 920-7710 
City:Toronto
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