If, like a large part of the poker world, you are wondering where Phil Ivey is these days, the answer is not Vegas. He is in fact travelling to Beijing to promote the Chinese poker app ‘Zhi Zou’. There is a promotional tournament involved, which will take place on September 23rd, with Phil Ivey set to play. Players can attempt to qualify via the poker app Zhi You, with the field size capped at 100 players.

For players who are able to gain entry through points challenges or satellites, the event will include heads-up exhibition games and a chat with Ivey himself, along with a souvenir photo. Ivey has released a video encouraging players to qualify through the app, and Chinese fans have been encouraged to retweet it.

Building relationships in Asia

In a time when poker’s elite are competing for the purple jacket over in Las Vegas, Ivey is once again highlighting the fact that his strongest ties are with Asia. Ivey has supported other Asian projects before now, most notably the Poker King Club and Paul Phua’s Poker School project, and now he lends his weight to another fledgling venture with Zhi You.

Messages posted on Chinese social media underlined the fact that, although money helps to persuade global stars to endorse a product, Ivey is also very keen to ensure that he maintains close relationships within the Asian poker world.

Article by Craig Bradshaw

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