APL Jeju 2026 | Jun 19 - Jun 28 | LES A Casino, South Korea

The prestigious regional tour made a spectacular stop from June 19 to June 28, 2026, at the world-class LES A Casino on the beautiful island of Jeju, South Korea. To explore more about the local regulations and the growing gaming scene, feel free to read our comprehensive South Korea poker guide. Below, we look back at the record-breaking attendance fields, substantial prize pools, and prominent winners who claimed titles during this milestone tenth-anniversary run.

Recap of APL Jeju 2026

The thrilling live poker festival delivered high-intensity competitive action from June 19 to June 28, 2026, drawing an enthusiastic crowd of regional veterans and international contenders to the premium tournament floor of LES A Casino in Jeju, South Korea. The action-packed festival established massive engagement throughout its multi-day schedule, crushing expectations across its guaranteed events to boast an overall series guarantee of 1,580,000,000 KRW. The absolute headliner of the schedule was the prestigious APL Jeju Main Event, which carried a 1,500,000 KRW buy-in and blew past its initial 1,200,000,000 KRW guarantee by drawing a highly competitive field of 980 entries. This stellar player turnout successfully built an enormous standalone prize pool of ₩1,556,300,000 (approx. $1,019,145). Outlasting the fierce field in a memorable final table performance, Taiwan's standout player Pao Hsuan Hsu captured ultimate glory while holding a king-heart and a ten-heart. For his historic victory, he claimed the magnificent marquee trophy alongside a monumental first-place prize payout of $152,580 (approx. ₩233,000,000) after defeating his final opponents in heads-up play.

The series also witnessed record-shattering fields and intense prize pool expansion across its preliminary highlights. The opening weekend kicked off with heavy player fields in APL Jeju Kick-off, which surpassed its ₩80,000,000 guarantee to build a ₩109,800,000 prize pool with 219 entries, ending in a spectacular final-table victory for Hao Lin. This momentum continued into GGPK Zodiac Mystery Bounty, where 423 entries generated a massive prize pool of ₩380,700,000 against its initial ₩200,000,000 benchmark, culminating in a title win for Jieming Xu. Furthermore, the action-packed closing weekend was highlighted heavily by Event Mini Main Event, where a highly competitive field of 311 entries battled for a piece of the ₩100,000,000 guaranteed prize pool, ending with a superb victory for Wang Yi.

For the complete payout structures and full player standings of all events, visit the official APL Jeju 2026 full schedule and results page.

Champions

The showcase of strategy in Jeju brought forth exceptional plays across both major structures and high-octane side events. Here are the prominent trophy winners from the recently concluded series who outlasted the competition at LES A Casino:

Poker and Travel Guide

Jeju, often referred to as the "Hawaii of Korea," is a special autonomous province that offers visa-free entry to most international travelers, making it a premier hub for Asian poker. The LES A Casino (formerly Landing Casino), located within the Jeju Shinhwa World resort in Seogwipo, provides a state-of-the-art poker room. Beyond the tables, players can explore the volcanic landscapes of Jeju, including the iconic Hallasan mountain.

Official Poker Guide

All tournaments follow the international APL ruleset. Most major events, including the Main Event, utilize the Big Blind Ante format to ensure smooth gameplay. The Main Event features a starting stack of 30,000 chips and level durations ranging from 40 to 60 minutes, providing ample space for deep-stack strategy.

Registration and Buy-in Information

The registration desk is located at the main entrance of LES A Casino and opens one hour before the first event of the day. A valid passport is mandatory for all foreign players to register and enter the casino floor.

All transactions, including buy-ins and payouts, are conducted in South Korean Won (KRW). While currency exchange services and ATMs are available on-site, players are encouraged to prepare local currency in advance for faster processing.

Destination and Attractions

As a UNESCO World Heritage site, Jeju offers breathtaking scenery. Highlights include the Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak) and the Manjanggul lava tubes. Visitors to Seogwipo should not miss the local markets to try the famous Jeju black pork, a local culinary staple.

Travel Logistics

Jeju International Airport (CJU) serves direct flights from major cities including Seoul, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Taipei.

• Airport Transfer: LES A Casino is approximately 45-60 minutes away by taxi or airport limousine bus.

• Transportation: The KakaoTaxi app is highly recommended for reliable and transparent transport across the island.

Previous Results and Champions

The APL has consistently broken attendance records across Asia, and the Jeju stops are known for attracting a highly competitive international field. The growth of the tour reflects the increasing popularity of poker in the region.

Previous Festival Highlights

The most recent stop, the APL Taipei 2026, was a landmark event for the tour. Held in Taipei, the Main Event alone distributed over $2.2 million USD in prizes, with a total series prize pool exceeding $6.5 million USD. The Mystery Bounty event saw massive participation, proving the format's popularity among Asian players. Following these successes, the Jeju stop is expected to maintain this stronhttps://somuchpoker.com/events-calendar/apl/2026/apg momentum with a high turnout from the international community.

Previous Winners

Here is the list of recent champions from the Taiwan stop:

The Venue: LES A Casino

LES A Casino is part of the Jeju Shinhwa World integrated resort, one of the largest gaming complexes in South Korea. The poker room offers 24-hour operation during the festival, featuring professional staff and premium amenities for players.