Korea National Cup (850,000 KRW)

The largest opening event ever to happen in Korea has come to a close at the Landing Casino at the Jeju Shinhwa World resort. The APT National Cup, which attracted a total field of 760 entries, amassed an impressive total prize pool of 536,190,336 (~USD 382,990), more than double the guarantee.

After 8 gruelling hours of play, the APT National Cup found a new champion. Zhiyi Wang from China stood victorious, taking home his biggest career cash of KRW 92,004,336 (~USD 65,720). He outlasted 108 final-day qualifiers in a fast-paced, intense battle to reach the top. Yang then faced his countryman Chang Liu heads-up, who also secured his biggest career cash of KRW 72,210,000 (~USD 51,580) after an ICM deal was struck.

Reaching the final table was relatively slow, as players carefully picked their spots to secure a seat among the final nine. But once it was set, eliminations came quickly, with players dropping one after another. The first to fall was Weining Liang from China. Finding ace-high, Liang shoved all-in but ran into his compatriot Jie Zhu, who held pocket eights that held strong across all streets. Despite performing well throughout the day, Liang was felted in 9th place for KRW 7,725,000 ($5,520).

Following him soon after was Kevin Lam from Hong Kong. After getting squeezed out of a pot and leaving him with effectively nothing, Lam found himself in a desperate position where all he could do was go all-in on consecutive hands. He was eliminated when he placed all his chips in the middle holding six-two offsuit just to encounter a premium ace-king held by Jie Zheng from China. Lam was sent home with a goodie bag worth KRW 7,725,000 ($5,520) for his 8th place finish.

A♠ the championship drew closer, play slowed down, with contenders avoiding unnecessary all-in confrontations. With one of the best hands in the game, Yehan Lin from China put his tournament life on the line holding pocket kings. To his surprise and dismay, he ran into the champion’s aces, which held. Lin finished in 7th place and took home a significant KRW 14,316,000 (~$10,225) prize.

After getting crippled by Zheng, Linghui Dai from China was forced to go all-in in the small blind with nine-eight offsuit against Wang in the big blind with ace-seven suited, which caught two-pair. Dai claimed KRW 19,935,000 ($14,240) for his 6th place finish.

Zheng who was short stacked most of the day, made it all the way to the final table. The size of his stack, even on the final table, constantly fluctuated. He got eliminated when the runner-up Liu spiked a pair on the flop holding king-ten offsuit against Zheng’s king-jack offsuit. Although visiby disappointed, Zheng left the tournament in good spirits having claimed KRW 26,364,000 (~$18,830) for his 5th place finish.

San Chun Wong from Hong Kong found a good spot to go all-in after catching a pair on the flop holding jack-ten offsuit. Wang, dominated, held jack-deuce but scored an upset when he rivered a two-pair. Calmly taking the blow, Wong left the table quietly and headed off to the payout counter to claim his KRW 33,279,000 (~$23,770) cash prize for a 4th place finish.

Zhu followed shortly after, shoving all-in with king-four with only ten big blinds left. Unfortunately for him, his opponent Liu held ace-nine, and with neither connecting on the board, Zhu was sent to the rail in 3rd place, earning a take-home prize of KRW 44,084,000 (~USD 31,490).

And then there were two. Once play was down to Wang and Liu, the finalists took a break to discuss a deal. They agreed on an ICM split, leaving roughly KRW 4,000,000, along with the title and the trophy, still up for grabs.

Despite the deal, the battle for the prestige of the championship remained fierce. Starting with a 2.5:1 lead, Liu fought relentlessly until the stacks were nearly even. On a pivotal hand, however, Wang cunningly trapped Liu staying passive despite holding a flush with eight-five suited.

Liu struggled to win his chips back but finally fell on the final hand when he called an all-in from Wang after catching mid-pair with a gutshot straight draw with ten-eight offsuit against Wang’s top pair with queen-four suited. He took home KRW 72,210,000 (~USD 51,580) for runner-up.

And then one man was left standing – Zhiyi Wang stood victoriously amid the cheering of his beloved railbirds.

Congratulations to all the players!

Zhiyi Wang took 1st place in the APT National Cup Tournament for KRW 92,004,336 (~$65,720).

A full winners recap will be published shortly.

Chang Liu was slowly bleeding chips after Zhiyi Wang shifted the momentum in the final few hands of the night.

One key hand saw Wang open to 600,000 and Liu called.

The 6♥ 2♦ T♠ flop was checked by Liu and Wang bet 400,000. Liu called and the players went to the turn.

Both checked the 4♠ turn and were brought the Q♣ river. Liu checked, Wang bet and Liu folded.

A few hands later, Liu lost more chips after he limped the small blind and Wang checked the big blind.

Wang check-called after Liu bet 300,000 on the Q♣ 3♠ 9♦ flop.

Both checked the 6♦ turn to get to the 4♣ river, and Wang bet out 950,000. Liu took a moment before deciding to fold.

The final hand of the night saw Liu open to 600,000 and Wang call.

The T♣ 4♠ Q♦ flop was check-called by Wang after Liu bet 600,000.

Wang check-jammed the 9♦ turn, after Liu bet 1,600,000.

Liu put four time bank cards in front of him and the dealer took two before Liu moved a stack into the middle to call, putting himself at risk for his remaining 8,150,000 chips.

Chang Liu: T♥ 8♣

Zhiyi Wang: Q♥ 4♥

Wang turned over two pair and Liu was needing some help from the river to stay alive.

Wang secured the tournament win after the dealer placed the 6 river, and Liu was eliminated in second place for KRW 72,210,000 (~$51,580)

Action has slowed down with the chip stacks between Chang Liu and Zhiyi Wang almost equal. for numerous hands, blinds were just exchanging hands until a Wang was able to take the lead back from Liu.

Liu limped on the button and Wang checked his option taking both players to the flop. The dealer fanned out J♣ T♠ 2♠. Wang check-called Liu's bet of 300,000 to see the turn.

The same thing happened on the 6♠ turn when Liu bet another 600,000. Finally on the river 3♣, Liu fired 4,000,000 after action was passed to him for a third time. Wang calmly threw in one chip for a call.

Liu showed 5♣ 3♦ then Wang tabled 8♠ 5♠ for a turned flush.

Hand 1: Chang Liu limped from the small blind and Zhiyi Wang checked the big blind.

The 2♥ 2h A♦ flop saw Wang check, Liu bet 250,000 and Wang fold.

Hand 2: Wang opened to 500,000 and Liu folded the big blind.

Hand 3: Liu opened to 500,000 and Wang folded the big bind.

Hand 4: Wang limped from the small blind and Liu raised to 750,000. Wang called taking the players to the flop.

The 7♦ 8♥ K♣ flop was bet by Liu to 500,000 and Wang called.

Liu bet 1,500,000 after seeing the 3♥ turn, prompting Wang to fold.

Hand 5: Liu limped the small blind and Wang checked.

Both checked the T♠ 7♣ 6♠ flop to see the 2♦ turn.

Wang bet 300,000 and Lui called.

The 8♦ came on the river and Wang bet 900,000. Lui made the call and the players flipped their hands. Wang showed 4♣ 3♠ and Lui took the pot with a pair of deuces holding 5♦ 2♥

Hand 6: Wang opened to 500,000 and Lui moved all in, prompting a quick fold from Wang.

Lui had chipped away at Wang and the chips stacks had balanced out over the first few hands of heads up.

Liu Chang and Zhiyi Wang return from their break to resume play for the title.

The two remaining players are on a short comfort break and discuss an ICM deal.

Jie Zhu shoved all-in from the small blind for around 2,425,000 and Chang Liu, in the big blind, covered Zhu and didn't hesitate to make the call.

Jie Zhu: K♣ 4♦

Chang Liu: A♣ 9♦

Already in the lead, Liu strengthened his position when then flop dropped T♦ Q♦ 9♣. Zhu had hope with a gutshot straight draw but the turn Q♣ and the river 6♦ came not helping him at all.

With action left to the blinds, Zhiyi Wang in the small blind raised to 500,000 and big blind San Chun Wong made the call.

The dealer flopped 8♦ 7♥ J♣. Wang continued the pressure with a 400,000 bet prompting Wong to shove all-in for 2,875,000. Wang asked for a count and once done, he called putting Wong's tournament run at risk.

San Chun Wong: J♠ T♣

Zhiyi Wang: J♦ 2♦

Wong dominated Wang and maintained his lead on the 6♦ turn. The river 2♣ changed it all for Wong has Wang caught himself a two-pair. Wong shocked, left the table not expecting the turn of events.

Jie Zhu opened to 500,000 on the button, and Zhiyi Wang defended the big blind.

The Q♥ J♦ A♣ flop saw both players check to the 4♥ turn.

Wang bet out 500,000 and Zhu called.

The Q♦ saw Wang bet another 400,000 and Zhu made a final call.

Wang quickly showed Q♠ J♠ for a boat, and Zhu mucked his hand.

Wang was left to stack up even more chips, holding the chip lead with only five players remaining.

Jie Zheng bet 1,000,000 on the button and received an all-in reply from Chang Liu in the big blind. Zheng snap-called for his tournament life and brought both players to showdown.

Jie Zheng: K♠ J♥

Chang Liu: K♥ T♦

Zheng was ahead with a higher kicker and was looking at a possible double up. But Liu spiked a pair of ten on the flop of 6♥ T♠ 3♦.

Zheng got on his feet visibly frustrated. The runout 7♥ and 8♥ didn't help Zheng at all.

Liu added the pot to his stack as Zheng got his stuff and headed down to the payout counter for KRW 26,364,000 (~$18,830).

Jie Zheng opened to 400,000 from under the gun and got a single call from San Chun Wong in the big blind.

The J♦ K♠ Q♠ flop saw Wong move all in for 1,625,000.

Zheng used a time bank before deciding to fold, leaving Wong to pick up a stack.

Wong showed his strength, flashing a single K♦ , before collecting the pot.

Linghui Dai moved all in from the small blind for his remaining 185,000 and got called by Zhiyi Wang in the big blind who had over 9 million in chips behind.

Linghui Dai: 9♦ 8♣

Zhiyi Wang: A♠ 7♠

The 10h 10s 7♥ flop brought in an open-ended straight draw for Dai, but Wang also improved to two pair. The A♥ turn saw Wang keep the lead and Dai missed on the Q♥ river.

It was the end of the Day for Dai, and he was eliminated in 6th place.

Jie Zheng bet around 1,000,000 leaving around 30,000 behind. Linghui Dai announced all-in and Zheng threw in his remaining chips for his tournament life.

Jie Zheng: Q♣ Q♦

Linghui Dai: A♣ 8♣

The board ran 9♣ 4♣ 2♦ 2♠ J♥. A♠ the river dropped, Zheng cheered, as he was able to evade an ace falling on the board. He happily scooped the pot leaving Dai with a little bit more than a big blind behind.

Yehan Lin opened with 325,000 and got raised by Zhiyi Wang to 780,000. With action back to him, Lin shoved all-in for 2,200,000 and was snap-called by Wang, putting the other player at risk.

Yehan Lin: K♠ K♣

Zhiyi Wang: A♥ A♣

It was a classic hand that ended as expected. The players at the table groaned in sympathy when the hands were tabled. Lin, not looking so hopeful, watched the board run 4♣ 4♥ 5♣ 7♣ 9♠. When the board completed, Lin got up and quietly left the table finishing in 7th place.

Jie Zheng shoved all-in for 3,100,000 in cutoff just to be called by big blind Chang Liu, putting himself at risk.

Chang Liu: K♦ Q♦

Jie Zheng: 3♥ 3♣

The board ran A♦ 9♥ 5♦ A♠ 9♠. With the double pair on the board, Zheng's pockets were counterfiet prompting Zheng to groan in frustration. Liu scooped the pot for a much needed double up.

The remaining 5 players are on a short 15-minute break and will return to play at 17:43 p.m. local time (KST).

Zhiyi Wang raised on the button to 240,000 and got a caller in the big blind San Chun Wong. The flop came A♦ 6♣ 5♦. Wong check-raised Wang's bet of 150,000 to 450,000.

Unfazed, Wang called to see the turn. Wong check-called the 4♦ turn after Wang fired another 420,000 into the pot.

Finally on the river T♦, after action was once again passed to him, Wang checked how much Wong had behind before throwing in a time bank card. A♠ his time was about to end, Wang announced 2,000,000 which would effectively put Wong all-in.

Unable to take the pressure, Wong conceded both his hand and the huge pot to Wang.

After leaving himself with one 5,000 chip, Kevin Lam was under the gun and opened to 5,000.

Action folded around to Dai Linghui who raised the small blind and the pair went heads up.

Kevin Lam: A♠ 7♣

Dai Linghui: A♥ 4♥

The seven kicker was good enough to take the pot as the 4♦ 5♠ 3♥ 6♥ 6♣ runout gave him a straight and he climbed back up to 120,000.

In the next hand, he was forced all in from the big blind. His luck ran out as he ran into Jie Zheng's Ace-King from middle position.

Kevin Lam: 6♦ 2♥

Jie Zheng: A♦ K♦

The board came T♦ K♠ J♥ T♥ 5♥ with Zheng adding those last few chips to his towering stack.

Kevin Lam opened from an early position to 215,000, leaving just one 5,000 chip behind.

Jie Zheng re-raised to 550,000 from middle position and Chang Liu moved all in from the small blind for 1,100,000.

Lam folded, and Zheng called, leaving the players to go heads up to the runout.

Chang Liu: T♥ T♣

Jie Zheng: A♠ J♣

Liu held on the 7♥ 3♦ 9♠ flop, and the 8♣ turn and 6♥ river only made him stronger, ending on a straight, securing himself a double up.

Weining Liang moved all in for his remaining 1,150,000 on the button and Zhu Jie defended the big blind, with only a few more big blinds than Liang.

Weining Liang: A♥ 9♣

Zhu Jie: 8♦ 8♣

Liang was looking to pick up but missed the 3♠ 7♣ Q♥ flop.

No improvement came on the 5♣ turn or Q♣ river, and Liang was eliminated in 9th place, after just reaching the final table.

The Final Table has been reached. The final 9 players are taking a break to prepare for the final table.

San Chun Wong moved all in from the small blind, which comfortably covered Tao Zhang's shorter stack. Zhang made a quick call and the players placed their cards face up.

Tao Zhang: K♠ Q♣

San Chun Wong: A♣ 9♠

It was a standard flip with Zhang slightly behind.

Zhang had some hope on the: 6♣ 8♠ Q♦ flop, but it was quickly taken away by Wong who picked up a pair of aces on the A♦ turn.

The 6♠ river didn't change anything and Zhang was sent home in 10th place.

Action was picked up with Dilijiang A, all-in for around 300,000 and at risk in the big blind against Weining Liang.

Dilijiang A: T♣ 9♥

Weining Liang: A♣ J♦

Liang was ahead but A was able to spike a pair on a flop of: 5♠ 9♦ 6♠. His lead was very short-lived as the A♠ fell on the turn, giving the lead back to Liang. The river 4♦ didn't change the situation eliminating A out of the tournament.

Guanglei Zhou raised to 200,000 and got called by Linghui Dai. Chang Liu decided to shove all-in for 1,300,000 making Zhou fold. Dai made the call putting Liu at risk.

Chang Liu: T♥ T♦

Linghui Dai: 6♠ 6♣

The board ran 2♣ 4♣ 2♦ Q♦ J♥. With nothing to crack his tens, Liu scooped the pot for a much needed double up.

Liangquiang Pang open-shoved all-in for 435,000 on the button and got a caller in the big blind, Linghui Dai, taking both players to a showdown and putting Pang at risk.

Liangquiang Pang: Q♥ T♠

Linghui Dai: A♠ 5♠

Already in the lead, Dai caught top pair on the flop K♠ A♦ 3♠, but Pang still had hope of an upset with his gut-shot straight draw. The runout 2♣ and 8♥, however, didn't change the situation sending Pang to the payout counter to hopefully enter another tournament.

Linghui Dai opened from under the gun and Guanglei Zhou was in the big blind and moved in for his remaining ~200,000 stack. Zhou called, and the players flipped their hands.

Guanglei Zhou: 7♦ 2♠

Linghui Dai: A♣ 7♥

Zhou couldn't see a way out after both players missed on the J♣ 8♥ 3♠ 8♣ 9♠ runout.

Jie Zheng opened to 1,000,000 from the button to cover Wai Hong Choi's remaining ~450,000 stack, in the big blind.

Action folded to Choi, who made the call and the players flipped their hands.

Wai Hong Choi: J♣ 8♣

Jie Zheng: Q♦ T♣

The: K♥ A♦ 8♠ flop brought in Choi a pair, but Zheng had plenty of outs.

A Q♠ turn saw Zheng pick up a better pair, and Choi wasn't able to improve to stay alive on the 7♥ river.

Kevin Lam raised to 160,000 in early position and got an all-in shove from the player immediately to his left, Guo Liang, for 475,000. Lam didn't hesitate to make the call, putting Liang's tournament life at risk.

Guo Liang: A♠ 5♦

Kevin Lam: K♠ J♠

Liang was ahead with ace-high against Lam's king-high. His lead was strengthened when the flop came: 5♠ 4♦ 9♠. Lam's outs increased with a flush draw but Liang went ahead further when the A♣ fell on the turn, giving him two-pair.

An audible groan came from the whole table when a spade came on the river with a 8♠ completing Lam's flush draw. Liang quietly left the table as Lam scooped the pot.

In the first hand back after the break, Jaemoon Seok opened to 80,000 from under the gun. Action folded around to Zhiyi Wang in the big blind who jammed for 2,600,000, forcing Seok all in if he called.

Seok counted his remaining 1,300,000 stack and used a single time bank card before making the call.

Jaemoon Seok: A♥ 9♦

Zhiyi Wang: A♠ 4♣

Seok was ahead and the 7♦ Q♠ 5♣ flop didn't change much for him.

However, Wang scooped the pot after hitting a four on the 4♠ turn, and a player at the table let out "What the...". It was good enough to keep Wang ahead after the Q♥ completed the board.

Seok was Eliminated in 16th place for KRW 4,538,000 ($3,240).

The remaining 16 players take a short 15-minute break. Play will resume with two tables at 15:15 p.m. local time.

Jie Zheng opened with 120,000 under the gun and received an all-in reply from Renyi Wang for 705,000. Zheng made the call putting Wang at risk.

Renyi Wang: A♥ Q♠

Jie Zheng: A♠ K♣

Wang, seeing that his hand was dominated, got on his feet but continued to watch the deal. The dealer spread a board of T♣ 9♣ T♥ T♦ 2♥. With nothing to help him, Wang was eliminated from the tournament and left the table as Zheng fixed his massive stack.

Chang Liu under the gun and Jie Zhu in the big blind were engaged in a hand with a pot of around 400,000.

The flop came T♠ 8♣ 3♠ and Zheng checked while looking across the dealer anxiously waiting for Liu's action. Liu fired 180,000 in the pot which Zhu seemed to expect as he immediately picked up a whole stack worth 500,000 and pushed it to the middle of the table.

Liu, stoic, folded his hand and conceded the pot to Zhu.

Kevin Lam had pushed 425,000 into the middle, effectively open-jamming his entire stack, leaving one 5,000 chip behind. He was sat under the gun and action went to Dingxin Zhou who has to his direct left.

Zhou shoved for around 900,000 from the hijack and action folded back to Lam who tanked before moving in his remaining chip to call.

Kevin Lam: K♣ Q♥

Dingxin Zhou: K♠ 9♠

Lam was ahead of Zhou and things only improved for him when the flop came K♥ 6♣ 10h

There was no change and Zhou had very little to sweat on the A♦ turn and 5♦ river.

Action folded around to Denghao Chen who moved all in from the small blind, putting Tao Zhang under pressure in the big blind for his remaining 140,000. Zhang called off his stack and the players flipped their hands.

Tao Zhang: K♠ 4♦

Denghao Chen: 8♣ 7♥

Zhang was ahead but Chen picked up to pair on the 6♦ 7♣ 2♥ flop.

Zhang retook the lead after the K♦ was turned. Nothing changed on the 5♣ river and Zhang sat back with a more comfortable stack.

Chang Liu opened for 100,000 and got an all-in reply from big blind DanQui Chen for 280,000. Without hesitation Liu called putting Chen's life at risk.

DanQui Chen: A♣ 2♥

Chang Liu: K♠ J♣

Liu immediately caught a pair when the flop dropped 9♠ J♥ 5♥ putting Chen in a desperate situation. The A♥ fell on the turn prompting Chen to do a fist pump as he took the lead But his celebration was premature as the J♦ completed the board giving Liu trips which ended Chen's tournament life on the spot.

Wai Hong Choi raised the pot to 100,000 in middle position and got a caller in big blind Linghui Dai. The flop came 6♠ K♠ 9♠. Unfazed by the monotonal board, Choi continued with 75,000 after a check from Dai. Dai called to see the turn.

Dai checked the A♦ turn. Choi, keeping the pressure, fired 300,000 which was enough to make Dai fold.

Hao Wang open-shoved in cutoff for 400,000 and got a caller in Jianming Luo in the big blind putting his tournament life at risk.

Jianming Luo: A♣ A♦

Hao Wang: A♥

Wang was surprised and laughed when he ran into Wang's pocket aces. Wang good-heartedly waited for the deal, knowing that he was way behind. The flop came 4♥ Q♦ 7♦ giving Wang a pair, and seemed to tease Luo that he could crack the latter's aces. However that didn't happen as the runout 6♦ and 7♠ came with Luo's aces holding up. Wang could only sigh with a smile as he watched Luo scoop the pot for a double.

Action was picked up with Jun Liu, at risk, with his chips in the middle of the felt and the man to his immediate left, Tao Zhang, making the call for an all-in showdown.

Jun Liu: A♣ Q♣

Tao Zhang: A♠ K♦

Zhang had Liu dominated but the flop gave Liu a bit more hope of staying in the tournament when it dropped T♣ 6♠ 8♣ increasing his outs with a flush draw. The A♦ fell on the turn strengthening Zhang's lead. The river 2♠ didn't improve Liu's hand ending his tournament life.

Jianming Luo raised to 60,000 in early position and got a caller in Jie Zheng in the big blind. The dealer flopped 4♠ 9♠ 6♦ prompting Zheng to shove all-in for around 125,000. After a big sigh, Luo called.

Jie Zheng: Q♠ 9♦

Jianming Luo: A♣ K♦

Zheng hit a pair on the board while Luo was left to hope that one of his overcards would come in the next two streets. Zheng's railbird started cheering for him in their native language as the dealer dealt a runout of J♥ and 7♣.

With neither an ace or king in sight, Luo matched Zheng's chips who was happy to continue his tournament run.

Zhiyi Wang opened for 60,000 in early position. Action folded to small blind Michael Wang who went into deep thought before announcing all-in for around 620,000. Putting his tournament life at risk, Wang called.

Zhiyi Wang: 9♠ 9♣

Michael Wang: A♣ Q♥

Michael Wang was in the lead with his pocket nines on a flop of K♠ 7♦ 5♥. But Zhiyi Wang took that lead when the Q♣ dropped on the turn. The 2♥ completed the board without helping Michael Wang. Zhiyi Wang scooped the pot leaving Michael Wang with less than 3 big blinds behind.

The remaining 47 players are on a 15-minute break

With a huge stack, Yao Fang open-shoved all-in for 1,090,000 chips in cutoff sending button player Wang Hong Choi to the tank. After spending a time bank card, Choi, frustrated, threw in a chip to signify a call. The blinds folded which prompted Fang and Choi to table their hands.

Wang Hong Choi: A♥ Q♥

Yao Fang: K♦ Q♣

Choi looked relieved after seeing Fang's hand but waited patiently as the dealer displayed a board of 9♦ 6♥ J♠ 5♦ 8♣. With no king in sight, Choi doubled up with ace-high taking Fang's stack out of the million mark.

Action was picked up witn two players with their hands tabled and their chips in the middle of the table.

Haozhao Wang: 7♠ 7♦

Yao Fang: K♦ 5♦

Wang was looking at a possible double up with his pockets when the flop came 3♥ J♣ 6♣. With breath held, Wang watched the turn Q♥ drop. Sadly, the K♥ came on the river dashing any hope for Wang to continue his tournament run.

In early position and with only 44,000 behind, Masaru Fukuyama shoved all-in. Action folded around to the small blind Tae Hoon Han who went all-in as well for 67,000. Big Blind Wencheng Lin was placed on the spot to consider his options. He threw a time bank card in but ultimately made the call. All three players tabled their hands for a showdown.

Masaru Fukuyama: J♠ T♦

Tae Hoon Han: A♠ 6♣

Wencheng Lin: Q♠ 7♠

Fukuyama caught a pair on the flop of 2♥ 9♠ T♥ taking the lead from Han who had an ace-high pre-flop. The turn 8♣ gave Fukuyama further outs to strengthen his lead. Lin was also looking at winning the side pot to eliminate Han with a gut-shot straight draw.

The river 8♥ helped neither Han or Lin, giving the main pot of 182,000 to Fukuyama. Han won the side pot of 46,000.

Guangrui Meng open-shoved for around 200,000 on hijack and got an all-in reply from the player immediately to his left, Yirui Zhang. Action folded around taking the two players to showdown.

Guangrui Meng: A♣ 4♣

Yirui Zhang: A♠ K♦

Zhang had Meng's hand dominated when the flop dropped 7♥ T♣ 9♠ flop. The turn 7♣ gave a bit of hope for Meng to double up with a flush. But no club came on the river and, instead, an A♥ came cementing Zhang's victory and sending Meng to the rails.

With only 126,000 left behind, Rene von Reden open-shoved under the gun and got a 420,000 all-in reply from Michael Wang taking both players to showdown.

Rene von Reden: K♠ T♣

Michael Wang: A♠ K♥

The dealer flopped 5♦ 3♥ 8♠ keeping Wang's lead with ace-high. The runout 3♦ 7♥ didn't help von Reden at all. Von Reden pushed his chips towards Wang's direction and left the table soon after.

Rene von Reden opened to 32,000 in middle position and received an all-in shove from Chuangqi Yu in late position. Big blind Changliang Sun called and von Reden followed suit creating a side pot of about 12,000.

The dealer fanned out 5♦ 7♠ 9♦. Sun checked to von Reden who kept the heat up with a 25,000 bet. Sun called to see the next street.

The turn dropped a 2♠ which Sun checked once again. Von Reden continued the aggression with 55,000. Once again, Sun called.

On the river 6♦ Sun shoved all-in for around 350,000 which was enough to make von Reden surrender his hand and the side pot.

Sun showed T♦ 3♦ for a rivered flush disappointing Yu who tabled K♦ 8♠ as he stood to leave the table.

Cards are in the air. The final day and the hunt for the APT trophy has begun.

Day1 of the very first event of APT Jeju 2025, the APT National Cup, came to a close yesterday after three intense, fast-paced flights, all held on the tournament’s opening day. A total of 760 entries, came to the Landing Casino, Jeju Shinhwa World in South Korea, to play the turbo-structured event for a chance to take a piece of the total pize pool of KRW 536,000,000 (~USD 382,990), more than double the guaranteed prize pool.

At the end of the day, 108 players were able to qualify for the final day, all guaranteed a cash prize of KRW 1,351,000 (~USD 965). Sitting atop the chip pile was Dingxin Zhou, who had the largest stack in Day1A, bagging a 750,000 chips. Following him closely was Day1C chip leader Jie Zhu with 715,000 chips and coming in third was Yirui Zhang, Day1B chip leader with 686,000.

Although these three hold an advantage, with the top prize of KRW 102,032,336 (~USD 72,880) at stake, the competition remains wide open.

Former APT Champions Xiaohui Wang (296,000), Rene von Reden (238,000) and Pak Ho Ma (160,000) are still in the running, each aiming to add another golden lion on their mantelpiece.

Other notables still in contention are David “Spade” Erquiaga (450,000), Yunkyu Song (435,000), Michael Wang (350,000), and Guo Liang (327,000)

The Final Day will be kicking off today, September 27th at 11:15am local time. Stick around for live updates straight from the floor.