Conversations With Chien Yu Lin: TMT 19 Female Player of the Series

Chien Yu Lin

Chien Yu Lin of Taiwan is a stand-up comedian by trade, which is something that doesn't come very easy. Performing on stage takes as a comedian takes several years of gaining confidence, coming up with material and experiences, then translating that into making other people laugh. It isn't very easy, but she has done that quite well.

On her spare time, she began taking poker. What started out as being just a poker enthusiast has now reached professional outputs. Her records in Hendon Mob boasts over USD 160,000 in total live earnings. And those results came from grinds at the lower and middle stakes as she manages her own modest bankroll.

Her run truly began in 2023 where she made cashes during March, May, June, August, November and December, making 11 final tables in the 16 tournaments she cashed. Some were small stake tournaments, winning sometimes less than USD 100 to earning as much as USD 1,600. But what she found more than the money was poker confidence and the grind to show up and play.

In 2024, those results changed dramatically, cashing in every month except October. She logged her first ever victory in a 3-Card turbo for over USD 1,000 during the Taiwan Millions Tournament 15 on January and that gave her momentum through the rest of the year, earning during Asian Poker Tour Taipei 2024, the HKPPA Premier League, the Red Dragon Poker Tour and Taiwan Millions Tournament 16. She also ventured to try her luck outside of Taipei to play at the Red Dragon Poker Tour Jeju 2024, where she managed to bank nearly USD 12,000 from four events.



In 2025, she cashed EVERY month and booked her biggest win during March, where she topped the Zodiac Series of Poker - Zodiac Horse Freezeout - taking home the horse trophy and her career best USD 14,742 top prize. In July, she won the Poker Queen event during Taiwan Millions Tournament 18 for nearly USD 6,000. Then, she won the Ladies Championship during World Poker Tour Prime Taiwan in August for over USD 3,700 and placed 21st during the WPT Prime Championship for over USD 10,500.

She capped off that year with seven cashes during the Asian Poker Tour Championship Taipei and pocketed a toal haul of over USD 15,000, showing her consistency.

At the recent Taiwan Millions Tournament 19 in Taipei, Lin was in the running the Female Player of The Series, sitting at 2nd - booking a victory in the WIN The Button event, then placing 3rd and 15th in one of the daily High Roller events offered. It was at this time, where I got to ask her a few questions online. And she responded via the aid of a translator. Ahh... you have to love 21st Century technology.

Pokerism: I saw from your Hendon Mob that you've been cashing almost every month since 2023. Are you now considering yourself a professional poker player? 

Chien Yu Lin: At the moment, I still feel like I'm on my way toward becoming a professional poker player, but I would still consider myself an amateur for now -- haha.

Pokerism: What did you do before taking poker seriously? Or are you still doing other things apart from playing poker?

Chien Yu Lin: My full time job is being a stand-up comedian in Taiwan. I've been doing it for over 10 years, and I've produced five solo shows and performed hundreds of times. Right now, I'm trying to find a balance between these two relatively flexible careers.

Pokerism: I also saw that you're in the running for Female Player of the Series in TMT 19. How has the series been so far for you?

Chien Yu Lin: So far, I think the series (TMT 19) has been going pretty smoothly for me. Maybe because I'm more familiar with Taiwan, and of course I've also been running well, so the results have been better than usual.

Pokerism: I also noticed you've been getting to the final table a lot and winning. Did you do anything to change or improve your game?

Chien Yu Lin: I often talk with top poker players and ask for feedback on hands. I'm also surrounded by a group of players who truly love poker and are constantly improving, and through those discussions I'm able to spot my own weaknesses. Playing more tournaments also helps me reduce the pressure and difficulty that comes with competition.

Pokerism: How do you balance your poker life and personal life?

Chien Yu Lin: When I go through a downswing, I return to my main career and find confidence and peace again on stage. My experience performing has helped me handle pressure better, and I also turn funny moments from poker tournaments into comedy material.

Click HERE FOR HER COMEDY YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Click HERE for the bit about poker.

(Note: The YouTube videos and channel are all in Mandarin without subtitles, but you can listen to it real time via Google translate.)


Pokerism: What are your favorite things to do apart from playing poker?

Chien Yu Lin: I have two cats and I love staying at home and spending time with them. 😸 (yes, she really put a cat emoji)

Pokerism: What is your goal in poker for the near future? Is there a specific number of $ you want to earn, any festivals you want to join or win?

Chien Yu Lin: I haven't won a tournament with a prize over NTD 500,000 (~USD 20,000), so I hope I can break that barrier in the near future. It's definitely a small and not-so-impressive goal, but I'll work hard for it. 😂 (yes, she put that too.)

Pokerism: No husband or boyfriend to keep you away from poker?

Chien Yu Lin: No, single 😂

Just an update, Chien Yu Lin did win the Female Player of the Series. She followed up her earlier achievements with an 11th place win in Poker Queen, 38th place in the Mini Main, 90th in the NLH Master, 5th in the High Roller Turbo, 35th in the NLH Head Bounty, 30th in the TMT 19 Main Event and capped it off with a 60th place finish in the Last Chance Champion Win Big.

That's a total of 11 cashes that include 1 trophy and three final tables and enough points to win as Female Player of the Series and 6th overall in the TMT 19 Player of the Series.