Murder in the tech industry: China executes killer of gaming billionaire

Shanghai – It was one of the most spectacular criminal cases in the Chinese tech world: On December 25, 2020, gaming billionaire Lin Qi († 39) was the victim of a cowardly murder attempt. Now the death sentence imposed on the killer in 2024 has been carried out. As Chinese media report, Xu Yao (43) was executed on May 21, 2026. The trained lawyer and ex-partner of the victim is behind the meticulously planned poisoning that made headlines around the world.

Lin Qi was one of the most famous Chinese entrepreneurs Gamingindustry, he earned billions with his company Yoozoo Games (including Game of Thrones: Winter Is Coming). He also caused a stir internationally because he secured the rights to the successful sci-fi series “The Three Suns” (“3 Body Problem”), which was later made into a film by Netflix.

„Breaking Bad“ als Inspiration

But behind the scenes at the Chinese tech giant there was apparently a fierce power struggle. Xu Yao temporarily headed the subsidiary “Three-Body Universe”, which was responsible for marketing the series ‘The Three Suns’. According to investigators, he and the Yoozoo boss argued massively over influence, business decisions and money. But Xu Yao was already secretly working on his perfidious plan. According to media reports, he set up his own laboratory in which he experimented with various toxic substances. Investigators later linked this to his apparent fascination with the US series “Breaking Bad,” in which a chemistry teacher uses his knowledge to produce dangerous substances.

In December 2020 the Manager his boss ends up with several toxic substances hidden in food and drinks. Lin Qi was initially hospitalized with severe symptoms of poisoning. Days later the billionaire died despite intensive treatment of organ failure. A short time later, Xu was arrested.

According to the court, four other people from the company’s environment were poisoned. They survived the attacks. Now the sentence has been carried out. Chinese authorities did not provide any information about where or how the execution was carried out. Become in China Death sentences Today it is usually carried out by lethal injection.