Later this month, the Asian Poker Tour returns to Korea to host the next leg in their event calendar. APT Korea Seoul 2019 takes place from May 29 to June 9 at Grand Walkerhill Paradise Casino. This will be the tour’s second visit to the bustling metropolis and it promises to be very exciting with twelve days of nonstop games and ₩360 Million (~US$300,000) in guaranteed prizes.
Highlighting the festival are the tour’s signature attractions, the ₩1,320,000 (US$1,100) buy-in Main Event and the ₩1,980,000 (US$1,700) buy-in Championships Event. Each one comes with a guarantee of ₩180 Million (US$150,000). Running alongside are a wide array of side events ranging from ₩220,000 (US$185) to ₩5,300,000 (US$4,500). Seven of those are high rollers events.
There are several new things taking place at this festival. For the first time, the APT will apply the Shot Clock to all of the events. Another is the Ante Big Blind format. This format was first introduced in Incheon last year and has since become a standard for all APT events.
Asia’s online betting giant, Dafabet, will also come in as a major partner. They will sponsor the Head Hunter event taking place on May 30 and the Players Party on June 6. The party will not only be open to all the players but also to the locals unable to attend the festival due to the country’s restriction on Koreans entering casinos.
Main Event – ₩180 Million guaranteed
Getting a more detailed look at the Main Event, this is the tour’s most highly revered tournament. It runs a total of five days from May 31 to June 4. Buy-in is ₩1,320,000 (US$1,100). There are two starting days offered with registration closing as late as the first hour of Day 2.
Schedule breakdown:
Day 1A: Friday, May 31
Day 1B: Saturday, June 1
Day 2: Sunday, June 2
Day 3: Monday, June 3
Final 8: Tuesday, June 4
Championships Event – ₩180 Million guaranteed
The Championships Event runs back-to-back with the main. It runs from June 5 to 9. Buy-in is slightly higher at ₩1,980,000 (US$1,700). This tends to bring in a tighter field littered with high ranking pros. Two starting days are also offered with registration closing at the end of the first hour in Day 2.
Schedule breakdown:
Day 1A: Wednesday, June 5
Day 1B: Thursday, June 6
Day 2: Friday, June 7
Day 3: Saturday, June 8
Final 8: Sunday, June 9
High Rollers
As mentioned above, there are 7 events for hard-hitting high rollers. Buy-ins range from ₩2,150,000 (~US$ 1,800) to ₩5,300,000 (~US$ 4,500). Schedule below:
May 29 – 30: High Rollers #1 – ₩3,200,000 (~US$ 2,700)
May 31: High Rollers Single Day #1 – ₩2,150,000 (~US$ 1,800)
June 3 – 4: Super High Rollers – ₩5,300,000 (~US$ 4,500)
June 4: Short Deck High Rollers Single Day – ₩2,150,000 (~US$ 1,800)
June 7: High Rollers Single Day #2 – ₩2,150,000 (~US$ 1,800)
June 8 – 9: High Rollers #2 – ₩3,200,000 (~US$ 2,700)
June 9: High Rollers Single Day #3 – ₩2,150,000 (~US$ 1,800)
Side Events
All of the usual APT side events such as NLH, Turbos, and Short Deck will be offered including one of two Monster Stack events opening the festival. For Pot Limit Omaha enthusiasts, there are also two of its kind lined up.
More: APT Korea – Seoul Full Schedule
Louis Hartwell
Graduated in Media Communication at the University of Lausanne, Louis Hartman is a co-founder of somuchpoker.com. He began his career in Cambodia as freelance journalist. In same time he was making his living by playing poker every night at that time. Intense learner, he read dozens of poker strategy books to improve his skills during many years. With a strong interest about poker "behind the scene" in Asia and his communication skills, Louis launched Somuchpoker in 2014.
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