Lloyd Fontillas: The Visionary Behind Gods of Poker’s Player-First Revolution

With more than fifteen years shaping the Asian poker scene, Lloyd Fontillas isn’t just a tournament director — he’s a player at heart, a champion of bringing fun back into the game, and someone who has witnessed every stage of the region’s poker boom. 

Now, as Founder, General Manager, and Executive Tournament Director of Gods of Poker (GOP), Fontillas has built the brand from the ground up together with CEO Ray Chiu and powerhouse supporters — Chinese Texas Hold’em Poker Club, Japan Poker Player Services, Hong Kong Poker Players Association, and iPoker. Together, they’ve created a tour that blends the evolution of today’s game with community spirit at its core. 

In this Q&A, Fontillas opens up about GOP’s core values and long-term vision, giving players a clear sense of what lies ahead. 

What makes the GOP structure unique?

Fontillas: At the heart of GOP is our signature Cronus Structure, named after the God of Time. I believe the traditional tournament structure is flawed and needs to be updated for the modern poker era. With the rise of GTO, solvers, and new playing styles, the old system no longer fits how players actually approach tournaments. In fact, with long late registration periods, it can even be +EV for pros to enter late, skipping hours of play while still sitting with a playable stack close to the money. 

The Cronus Structure was designed purely on real tournament data from around the world. Close to 70% of players don’t even start at Levels 1–3, so why force meaningless early levels that hardly anyone plays? Instead, I’ve built a system that gives the masses what they actually want, while also making it better for the recreational players who still love to start on time. 

For example, in the Main Event, players start with 120 big blinds. Level 2 is 60 big blinds, and registration closes at the end of that level — meaning the maximum late registration stack is 30 big blinds. Because of this 30 big blind adjustment, we believe the Cronus Structure is the best tournament format on the market today. 

Other events may vary slightly — some are designed to close registration with a maximum late entry of 40 or 50 big blinds — but the principle is always the same: fair, deep, and meaningful competition without wasted time. Every hand matters. Players get more poker in less time, and more freedom to enjoy life off the tables. 

Why close registration at 30 big blinds?

Fontillas: To protect the integrity of the game. Closing at 30 big blinds hinders pros from exploiting shallow late entries near the bubble. If you want to play, you need to be ready from the start. We’ve embraced late registration, but we’ve made it fair. No shortcuts. No loopholes. 

Won’t limiting re-entries reduce the field size?

Fontillas: As a business, I understand that’s a concern, but I believe that once players experience and understand the Cronus Structure, they’ll see the value — and we’ll actually get more players registering on time. That should make up for any loss in re-entries. On top of that, our schedule is built with variety in mind. We run multiple events each day, and we’ve kept the buy-ins fairly close together. So if a player busts after registration closes, there’s always another event to jump into. In the end, it’s all about the experience. As a player, I would rather play multiple different events than just fire multiple bullets into the same one — and I’m pretty sure most players are in the same boat. 

How are GOP final tables different?

Fontillas: At GOP, final tables aren’t decided by the clock, instead they’re decided by a fixed number of hands per level. That way, stalling and tanking don’t pay off, keeping the game flowing, while making sure skill decides the champion. 

What’s the vibe of a GOP festival?

Fontillas: Poker should be competitive, but also fun. That’s why we balance our schedule — play runs from about 12:30 PM to 1:00 AM, giving players time to rest, socialize, and enjoy the destination. Our festivals have a unique vibe: mythology-inspired branding, elegant trophies, perks like hotel stays for High Rollers, and an atmosphere that feels more like a community than just another poker series. And unlike other tours where management hides in the back office, you’ll see both Ray and myself right there on the floor. We’ll be talking with players, sharing laughs, even taking selfies — because we want to bring back that feeling of poker being a community, not just a competition. I want players to grind, but also to live, connect, and leave with memories. 

How can players qualify?

Fontillas: We’ve made it accessible. You can qualify online through iPoker satellites, live qualifiers at partner clubs across Asia, or through regional promotions with seat giveaways and travel packages. Whatever your level, you’ll have a fair shot at being part of the GOP journey. 

Why announce three stops right away?

Fontillas: Because I wanted to show players we’re serious. Landing Casino in Jeju, Asia Poker Area with CTP in Taipei, and NagaWorld in Phnom Penh are confirmed as flagship destinations. I’m especially stoked to have NagaWorld on the list — it’s my first time in over 15 years running an event there, and I know the energy is going to be special. No other new brand has ever announced three stops from day one. And we’re not stopping there — before the end of this year, we’ll be announcing five more stops across Asia. The people behind those venues are more than just partners — they’re decision makers I’ve worked with for many years, and to me, they’re family. That foundation of trust is why GOP isn’t just an idea, it’s a real tour, with real backing, and it’s here to stay. 

What’s the long-term vision of GOP?

Fontillas: Ray said it best: to be the most fun and loved tour in Asia. But I’ll take it one step further — I believe Gods of Poker is positioned to be the most fun and loved tour in the world. I want GOP to stand for more than just great structures — it’s about building memories, friendships, and a community that feels like family. At the end of the day, poker is competition, but it’s also connection. That’s what I want GOP to bring back.