A man in China has been put to death for fatally poisoning a billionaire gaming magnate in a disagreement linked to the Netflix adaptation of ‘3 Body Problem’. Xu Yao was executed by Chinese authorities following his conviction of using extremely harmful substances to kill Lin Qi, the gaming tycoon, in a professional clash as per local reports on Tuesday.
Lin Qi, the creator of Yoozoo Games based in Shanghai, possesses the movie adaptation rights for the popular science fiction trilogy named after its first book, ‘The Three-Body Problem’. Authored by Chinese writer Liu Cixin, the sci-fi trilogy has been translated into over 40 languages and transformed into TV and gaming productions, including Netflix’s well-received ‘3 Body Problem’ series launched in 2024.
Xu, previously a senior figure at a Yoozoo Games subsidiary, poisoned Lin in December 2020 due to feeling sidelined by the founder shortly after assisting him in securing the Netflix deal, local sources revealed. He was found guilty of the murder in 2024, leading to his execution by the Chinese government on May 21. Lin’s company confirmed the execution on Tuesday through a statement on the Chinese social media platform Weibo.
The statement expressed gratitude for the delivery of justice, stating, “Recently, the case regarding Mr. Lin Qi, the founder of Three-Body Universe, has reached its conclusion, and justice has been served. We appreciate the upholding of justice.”
Reports from local media indicated that Xu spent a significant amount of money to purchase highly toxic substances online, including alpha-amanitin, a deadly compound present in certain poisonous mushrooms. He concealed the poison in probiotic pills and also mixed it in coffee capsules, water containers, and whisky bottles, which he then shared with Lin and other company employees.
Lin was hospitalized after falling ill in December 2020 but unfortunately passed away a few days later at the age of 39. Some others also fell ill but recovered, according to local press reports.
‘The Three-Body Problem’ series has gained immense popularity both in China and internationally. Liu, the author, became the first Chinese writer to win the prestigious Hugo Award, the most significant prize in the genre. Domestically, the series has driven the expansion of a sci-fi industry encompassing movies, video games, books, magazines, and exhibitions.