Shi Chen Seeks Final Table Dream at LAPC

By Sean Chaffin

With four WPT Champions Club members left in the final 11 of the L.A. Poker Classic, Shi Chen (pictured)  knows he’ll have his work cut out for him. This recreational player entered Day 5 action eighth in chips but plans on working hard to snag a trip to play for a title in Las Vegas at HyperX Esports Arena Las Vegas. 

“It’s a great experience,” he says. “Obviously they are all professional. They’re tough, but I like poker a lot and just enjoy playing the game period. I’m definitely excited. I’ve really got to play some poker and try to make it to six players.”

Originally from China, he attended junior high, high school, and college in Chicago. He lived for 10 years in the San Francisco Bay area and has lived in L.A. For more than 20 years, Chen has worked in the high-tech industry, much of that with graphics cards chips for Nvidia. He now works as a consultant when not playing poker, and the new role has given him more time to play poker. He especially enjoys playing at Commerce.

Chen may not be a full-time player, but has a few poker skins on the wall. This is his second WPT cash after finishing 20th at the WPT Gardens Poker Festival this season for $16,150. His career earnings total just over $110,000 and he notched two small cashes the last two years in the World Series of Poker. He now has an opportunity to add significantly to those lifetime earnings.

When not playing cards, Chen enjoys playing golf and traveling to Asia. He’s spent quite a bit of time visiting Hong Kong and Macau. He’s now hoping for another upcoming trip – this time to Las Vegas for a final table appearance.

“I’ve never been to a final table in a tournament,” he says. “I’m really excited.”

Sean Chaffin is a freelance writer in Crandall, Texas, and his work appears in numerous websites and publications. Follow him on Twitter @PokerTraditions.