China executes man for killing billionaire gaming tycoon

Chinese authorities have executed Xu Yao, the former executive convicted of poisoning billionaire gaming tycoon Lin Qi, nearly four years after the Yoozoo Games founder died in Shanghai following a dispute linked to the popular science fiction franchise 3 Body Problem.

 

Local media reported that Xu, who was executed on 21 May, poisoned Lin in 2020 after becoming disgruntled over being sidelined shortly after helping secure a Netflix deal tied to the adaptation of the science fiction trilogy.

 

His execution was confirmed on Tuesday by his company in a statement. “justice has ultimately been served”.

 

“We deeply mourn Mr. Lin and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family,” the statement said.

 

“As colleagues who fought alongside him, all members of the company are grateful for the impartiality of the judicial process.”

 

Lin’s company, Yoozoo Games, holds the film adaptation rights for Chinese author Liu Cixin’s Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy, which Netflix adapted into the hit series 3 Body Problem in 2024.

 

The trilogy, first published in Chinese and later translated into nearly 30 languages, inspired several adaptations worldwide.

 

The Netflix version became one of the platform’s most-watched shows shortly after its release, with Lin posthumously credited as one of its executive producers.

 

Xu was convicted in 2024, with the court describing his poisoning scheme as “extremely despicable”.

 

Lin founded Shanghai-based Yoozoo Games, known internationally for the strategy game Game of Thrones: Winter Is Coming.

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In 2018, he appointed Xu to head Three-Body Universe, a subsidiary created to oversee projects connected to the science fiction franchise.

 

However, local reports said tensions grew in 2020 after Lin reassigned business operations to other executives.

Following the fallout, Xu allegedly disguised toxic substances as probiotic pills and gave them to Lin.

 

In December 2020, Lin was hospitalised after falling ill and died nine days later at the age of 39.

 

At the time of his death, Lin was estimated to have a net worth of 6.8 billion yuan (£745m; $941m), according to the Hurun China Rich List.

 

Police arrested Xu days after Lin was admitted to hospital. Reports said several other people also became ill as a result of the poisoning scheme.

 

Chinese newspaper Economic Observer reported on Tuesday that one of Xu’s victims wrote on social media: “Justice comes in the end, even if it’s late”.