China puts Xu Yao to death for the poison murder of Yoozoo Games founder Lin Qi

Chinese authorities have executed a man convicted of poisoning and killing a billionaire gaming tycoon with ties to the Netflix adaptation of The Three-Body Problem, following a dispute over professional recognition, local media reported on Tuesday.

Xu Yao was found guilty of the murder of Lin Qi, founder of the Shanghai-based games company Yoozoo Games, which holds the film and television adaptation rights to the acclaimed science-fiction trilogy named after its first instalment, The Three-Body Problem.

The science-fiction trilogy, written by Chinese author Liu Cixin, has been translated into more than 40 languages and adapted into various television and gaming productions, most notably Netflix's widely watched 3 Body Problem series, which was released in 2024.

Xu, who had served as the head of a Yoozoo Games subsidiary, poisoned Lin in 2020 after being marginalised by the company's founder — a decision Lin made shortly after Xu had helped him secure the Netflix adaptation deal.

Xu was convicted in 2024. Shanghai business publication Yicai Global and several other outlets subsequently reported that he was executed on 21 May. Lin's company confirmed the execution in an official statement published on Tuesday via the Weibo social media platform.

"Recently, the case concerning Mr. Lin Qi, the founder of Three-Body Universe, has finally reached its conclusion, and justice has ultimately been served," the statement read.

"All of us at the company are deeply grateful for the upholding of justice," it continued.

According to local media reports, Xu purchased highly toxic substances online at a cost of hundreds of thousands of yuan — equivalent to tens of thousands of dollars. These included alpha-amanitin, a lethal compound found in certain species of poisonous mushrooms.

He concealed the poisons inside probiotic pill capsules and also introduced them into coffee capsules, water containers, and whiskey bottles, which he then shared with Lin and other members of staff.

The Hollywood Reporter, citing local media, reported at the time that Lin was allegedly made ill after consuming a cup of poisoned tea.

Lin Qi died in December 2020, aged 39

Lin was admitted to the hospital in December 2020 and died several days later at the age of 39. Several other employees who were exposed to the substances fell ill but subsequently recovered.

The Three-Body Problem series has achieved considerable success both within China and internationally. Liu Cixin became the first Chinese author to receive the prestigious Hugo Award, the most distinguished prize in science fiction literature.

Within China, the works helped to catalyse the growth of a broader science-fiction industry spanning films, video games, books, magazines, and exhibitions.

At the time of his death, Lin ranked 870th among China's wealthiest individuals, with a net worth of 6.8 billion yuan, equivalent to approximately one billion US dollars, according to the Hurun Report, which tracks the country's affluent.

Following Lin's passing, the BBC reported that his company published a heartfelt message on its official Weibo account.

"Goodbye youth," it said, adding, "We will be together, continue to be kind, continue to believe in goodness, and continue the fight against all that is bad."