The Demise of Professional Poker Player Susie Zhao
The body of professional poker player Susie Zhao was found in a Michigan park. She was 33 years old.
The police in Michigan are working with the FBI to determine who killed and left her charred remains in the parking lot of the recreation area. Her body was reportedly badly burned and discovered at 8:05 am on July 13. Police are asking anyone who might have seen Zhao between July 11 and 13 to contact the White Lake Township Police Department.
They are investigating whether her profession as a poker player had to do anything with her death, or it was a result of meeting someone in the area when she returned recently. She had recently moved back to Michigan from Los Angeles to be with her family and deal with matters in her personal life.
Friends Mourn Her Death
Friends of Susie Zhao are heartbroken over her death and could not understand how she wound up dead. Her friend Yuval Bronshtein said that it is hard to imagine her being killed because “it’s hard to picture her having enemies.”
The news deeply saddened her childhood friend Meredith Rogowski. Intelligent, charisma, loyal, and supportive were all words that Rogowski used to describe her friend Zhao. She said that Zhao had an adventurous spirit and fearlessly pursued anything she wanted in this world.
It was hard to believe her death as she was always agreeable. She also praised Zhao’s boldness and the carefree way she lived her life.
Some of her fellow players and opponents addressed the demise of Zhao through social media. Clayton Fletcher said, “She was one of the bubbliest and most vivacious opponents I’ve ever had. She was a very strong player who also liked to have fun at the table. She is just one of those people who made a really strong impression.”
Another fellow competitor and friend, Bart Hanson, was heartbroken and confused. “She really was an excellent player. One of the best in LA at the level we played at the Commerce Casino, and it is the biggest poker room in the world. I never would have thought anyone would’ve wanted to do anything to her,” he said.
Susie Zhao’s Career Highlights
Zhao had moderate success throughout her career as a poker player. She has raked over $210,000 over the span of her career.
She had won more than $152,000 in six World Series of Poker events in the past several years and won another $34,589 on the circuit. In 2012, she was one of the five female players to make it into the top 150 at the World Series of Poker Main Event. Zhao finished 90th in the event and took home $74,000, her largest pot from a single event.
The last time she entered a tournament was on September 13, 2017, when she played in The Commerce Poker Series Main Event – $1,100 No-Limit Hold’em and came 81st, winning $2,000 worth of prize.
