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Chinese Executive Executed for Cold-Blooded Murder of Billionaire Gaming Tycoon

Xu Yao paid the ultimate price for his 'despicable' plot to poison Yoozoo Games founder Lin Qi over a corporate power struggle.

Foreign PolicyPublished May 26, 2026 at 8:55 AMProcessed May 26, 2026 at 4:53 PM
Xu Yao in a white jacket in court, surrounded by guards

Justice has been served in the case of Lin Qi, the billionaire founder of Yoozoo Games, who was murdered in a calculated plot by his own associate. Xu Yao, who had been tasked with managing the Three-Body Universe subsidiary, was executed on May 21 after being convicted of poisoning Lin in 2020.

The motive was as petty as it was lethal: Xu felt sidelined after Lin moved to replace him in key business operations. In a display of extreme malice, Xu disguised deadly substances as probiotic pills, administering them to Lin and causing his death just nine days later at the age of 39.

The court rightfully labeled the plot 'extremely despicable,' noting that Xu’s actions also sickened several others.

While the gaming industry mourns the loss of a visionary who secured the rights to the global hit '3 Body Problem,' the swift conclusion of this judicial process serves as a stark reminder of the consequences for those who choose violence to settle professional grievances.

Yoozoo Games confirmed the execution, expressing gratitude for the impartiality of the judicial system that brought a murderer to justice.

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