KPC Main Event (1,300,000 KRW)

The first opening flight of the KRW 1,300,000 KPC Main Event has officially wrapped up at LES A Casino (formerly Landing Casino).

Drawing a total of 282 entries, Day 1A captured plenty of attention from both local and international contenders. Out of those, 43 players reached the money, and by the end of the night, only 36 survivors managed to bag up their chips and keep their Main Event dreams alive.

After nearly 14 hours of intense play, it was China’s Jinze Zhang who capped off the night as the chip leader, bagging 540,000. However, the floor wasn't sure if the count was correct, so the tournament staff will verify his exact count before Day 2 begins.

Switzerland’s Fabian Rolli secured the runner-up spot with an impressive 502,000, putting himself in a strong position heading into Day 2. China’s Ben Fan (483,000) rounded out the top three after a late-night surge that catapulted him up the leaderboard.

The player who left the day with the most regret was Zihao Zhang, who put his tournament life on the line in back-to-back hands against Ben Fan. In the first hand, Zhang shoved with pocket tens, running straight into Fan’s flopped set of queens, the beginning of his downfall.

In the very next hand, Zhang called off his remaining chips with turned two pair holding four-three, only to face Fan’s stronger turned two pair with five-three. Just like that, Zhang’s Main Event dream came to an end as he walked out as the bubble boy of Day 1A.

The spotlight now shifts to Day 1B and Day 1C, offering fallen contenders another shot at redemption. Following the same structure, Day 1B kicks off at 12:00, with Day 1C scheduled to begin at 20:00 local time.

Stay tuned as Somuchpoker continues to bring you all the live action and tense moments straight from the felt.

Soon after Huang walked to the cash desk, Pin Yuan Chen was also eliminated at another table, leaving 36 players remaining in the field.

The 36 survivors are now bagging up their chips for the day. A recap of today's action will follow shortly.

Haogen Huang opened to 60,000 from early position, only to be jammed by Jishui Hao for 108,000 from middle position. Huang called off his last 1,000, putting his tournament life on the line.

Haogen Huang: A♠ T♠

Jishui Hao: A♦ K♣

Hao picked up the lead with his stronger kicker king and extended his dominance on the 4♥ 6♥ K♦ flop, giving him top pair of kings.

The 8♦ hit on the turn, leaving Huang drawing dead already. The A♣ river came to complete the board and sent Huang to the rail.

With roughly 28,000 chips in the middle, a flop came 2♦ 6♣ 7♦, where Xiaqing Ji checked from the big blind. Patrik Demus then led out for 10,000 in the cutoff. Ji stuck around.

Action went check-check on the Q♥ turn before the river brought an 8♦. Ji bet 18,000 and Demus snap-called.

After seeing Ji tabled a rivered flush with Q♦ 9♦, Demus mucked his cards and relinquished the pot.

With Zhang’s exit, the remaining 43 players are now in the money. After the break, they will battle for a spot in Day 2 until only 36 players remain, concluding Day 1A.

On the direct bubble, Zihao Zhang found himself on the line against Ben Fan and eventually went out as the bubble boy of the day.

With around 187,000 chips in the pot, the flop came Q♥ K♠ 4♠. Ben Fan checked from the big blind and then called a shove from Zhang for 225,000, putting himself at risk with roughly 110,000 behind.

Zihao Zhang: T♠ T♥

Ben Fan: Q♠ Q♣

Zhang’s tens ran straight into Fan’s set of queens. The 5♦ on the turn left Zhang with no outs. The 8♦ river completed the board and gave Fan a double-up.

In the very next hand, Fan went all in on the turn from the small blind. with a board of 4♠ 9♦ 5♣ 3♣ and 27,000 chips in the pot. Zhang called off his last 90,000 from under the gun, putting his tournament life at risk.

Zihao Zhang: 3♦ 4♥

Ben Fan: 3♥ 5♥

Both players made two pair, but Fan held the lead. The 7♠ on the river sealed Zhang’s fate, sending him to the rail and out of the event empty-handed.

Zhaoxi Ma opened the hijack to 10,000 and Fangzhou Zhu three-bet the cutoff to 75,000, only to face a shove for 108,500 from Dawei Liu on the button. Ma stepped aside, and Zhu called off his last 2,000.

Fangzhou Zhu: J♠ J♥

Dawei Liu: A♥ A♦

Zhu's pocket jacks ran straight into Liu's pocket aces and didn't receive help from the dealer on the 5♦ T♠ 5♥ flop.

The turn brought a 3♠, leaving Zhu drawing dead. The 3♣ river came to send Zhu to the rail officially.

Jinze Zhang raised from early position to 10,000 and Haonan Tian three-bet the button to 25,000. Xiaqing Ji burned two time bank cards before announcing a shove for 118,000. Zhang also committed all 86,500. Tian folded, leaving Zhang at risk against Ji.

Xiaqing Ji: K♥ Q♥

Jinze Zhang: A♦ A♣

Zhang was well ahead with pocket aces and maintained his dominance on the J♠ J♦ 3♠ flop.

The dealer revealed an 8♣ on the turn, leaving Ji drawing dead already.

The 2♦ river came as a formality to ship a double-up for Zhang.

Zihao Zhang from middle position and Jiabao Cai from the small blind called. Yuxi Huang checked from the big blnd.

The trio checked to the river on the K♠ 5♥ 6♦ A♠ 9♠ board, where the blinds checked to Zhang, who bet 5,000. Only Cai made the call.

Zhang tabled K♦ J♦ for a flopped pair of kings, while Cai also revealed K♥ J♣, maing it a chop pot.

Yuxi Huang raised to 8,000 from early position and Dicky Tsang three-bet the cutoff to 23,000. Huang made the call.

On the 6♥ 2♠ 9♦ flop, Huang check-called after Tsang made a continuation-bet of 20,000.

Action went check-check on the 5♥ turn. The river then brought a 7♠, and Huang shoved for roughly 160,000. Tsang tossed his cards into the muck.

Chuan Shu Chen limped in from the small blind and Yao Fang checked in the big blind.

Chen led out for 3,000 on the Q♣ 4♦ T♣ flop and Fang stuck around to see the 2♠ turn, where action went check-check.

When a 3♣ rolled off on the river, Chen checked to Fang, who then bet 8,000. Chen laid it down.

Yuxi Huang opened the button to 6,000 and received calls from the blind: Zongjin Sui, and Jishui Hao.

The blinds checked through to Huang on the T♠ 5♥ A♦ flop, who continued for 5,500. Sui then check-raised to 17,000, forcing both opponents to fold.

Before mucking, Sui revealed A♣ A♠, showing there was no bluff behind her aggression.

Fabian Rolli raised to 6,000 from under the gun and Xiaoling Huang defended her big blind.

The dealer spread a T♦ 8♠ 8♦ flop, and Huang check-called after Rolli continued for 5,000.

When the turn brought an A♦, Huang bet 5,000, to which Rolli cranked it up to 22,000. It took a while for Huang to respond with a call.

The 6♣ landed on the river, and Huang checked. Rolli sent his third barrel of 37,000. Huang made the call.

Seeing Rolli reveal a turned pair of aces with A♥ K♠, Huang tossed her cards into the muck.

Players are on another 15-minute break.

Pan Guo from under the gun, Shiji Jin on the button, and Xiaqing Ji from the small blind limped in. Tao Guo then raised to 17,500 in the big blind, which only Xiaqing Ji stuck around.

On the J♠ K♦ Q♠ flop, Ji checked to Tao Guo, who continued for 12,500. Ji made the call.

When a Q♦ fell on the turn, Ji checked again, only to face a shove for 40,500 from Tao Guo, sending Ji into the tank. After thinking for a long time, Ji eventually laid it down.

Quanzhen Fang opened the button to 6,000 and Chen An Lin defended his big blind.

Lin checked over the 7♣ K♦ 2♦ flop to Fang, who continued for 2,500. Lin raised to 9,000, only to face a shove for roughly 23,000 from Fang. Lin snap-called to put his tablemate at risk.

Quanzhen Fang: A♦ J♦

Chen An Lin: A♠ A♣

Fang's ace-high ran straight into Lin's pocket aces, but he still had many outs to stay alive with a straight draw.

The dealer revealed the 4♥ on the turn, leaving Fang still looking for a diamond on the next card.

Unfortunately, the river came an A♥, giving Lin a set and ending Fang's tournament run.

Chuan Shu Chen opened the button to 5,500 and Florian Duta defended his big blind.

Duta checked on the 6♠ 8♦ Q♥ flop to Chen, who continued with a 5,000 bet. Duta then raised to 11,500, which Chen cranked it up to 40,000. Duta then shoved all in and Chen snap-called.

Chuan Shu Chen: J♥ 8♣

Florian Dutta: Q♣ J♦

Both players picked up a flopped pair, but Dutta held the command with his queens. However, the 8♠ turn flipped the script for Chen, improving his pair to trip eights and leaving Dutta drawing thin.

The river bricked out a 2♥, showing Dutta the way out.

Fabian Rolli opened to 4,000 from under the gun and Xiaoling Huang defended her big blind.

Huang led out for 5,000 on the 8♥ 3♥ Q♣ flop, and Rolli made the call to see a board-pairing 8♦ turn, where Huang sent another barrel of 10,000. Rolli stuck around.

When a 2♥ filled out the board, Huang checked to Rolli, who fired out 50,000, giving his opponent a tough situation. After a few seconds, Huang eventually let go of her cards.

With a pile of chips in the pot, Zongjin Sui shoved all in from the big blind for roughly 67,000 and Michael Uguccioni called off around 30,000 in the cutoff.

Michael Uguccioni: A♣ T♠

Zongjin Sui: A♠ K♠

Uguccioni trailed with his ace-ten and didn't receive much help from the dealer on the 4♥ 5♠ 9♦ flop. The turn showed a 6♦, leaving Uguccioni drawing to a ten.

Unfortunately for the Italian player, the deck sealed his fate with a 7♦ river, sending him to the rail.

Haonan Tian opened to 4,000 from middle position and Yi Chang Ho called from the cutoff, as did Xueying Zhao on the button.

The trio knuckled it back on the 5♦ Q♣ 4♥ flop to see a T♣ fall ont the turn, where Tian bet 7,000. Only Zhao came along for the ride.

When the board-pairing T♠ filled out the board, Tian fired another hefty barrel of 17,000, promoting a fold from Zhao.

Zihao Zhang opened the cutoff to 2,000, and Darius Neagoe defended his big blind.

On the 3♥ 2♠ 8♦ flop, Neagoe checked to Zhang, who continued for 2,000. Neagoe then check-raised to 8,000, which Zhang cranked it up to 16,000. Neagoe stuck around.

It went check-check on the 2♣ turn before the river brought an A♦. Neagoe then fired out a chunky bet of 37,000 and Zhang called to take it to a showdown.

Neagoe tabled T♠ 7♠ for a bluff, while Zhang tabled K♠ K♥ and scooped the pot.

With registration now closed, Day 1A drew a field of 282 entries. A total of 43 players will make the money, and play will conclude once the field is whittled down to 36 survivors advancing to Day 2.

Youfan Zhang open-shoved for 26,000 in the cutoff and was put at risk by Dylan Foster from the big blind.

Youfan Zhang: T♣ 9♠

Dylan Foster: Q♦ Q♣

Foster took the command with his pocket queens and extended his dominance on the T♠ Q♠ 3♣ flop, improving him to a set.

The turn carried out a J♣, giving Foster a sweat as Zhang picked up an open-ended straight draw.

Unfortunately for Zhang, the river didn't cooperate and bricked out the 5♦, sending him out of the field.

With around 20,000 chips in the middle, a board ran out 5♠ Q♣ T♦ 4♥ 5♣. Zihao Zhang checked from under the gun and Qun Dang fired 26,000 in the cutoff. Zhang immediately made the call.

Dang tabled J♥ 9♥ for jack-high, and it was no match for Zhang's bullets with A♦ A♠.

With 104 players remaining in the field, a 60-minute dinner break is underway. Registration will officially close for Day 1A once play resumes.

Darius Neagoe raised to 2,500 from under the gun and Zihao Zhang called in the small blind, only to face a shove for 19,700 from Qidong He in the big blind. Neagoe stepped aside and Zhang made the call to put his tablemate at risk.

Zihao Zhang: J♠ T♥

Qidong He: A♦ 6♣

Zhang's jack-high ran straight into He's ace-high, but got improved to a pair of tens on the 2♠ 3♠ T♦ flop.

Much to Zhang's dismay, the dealer revealed bad news to him with a runout of 6♦ A♠, giving He two pair to stay alive.

Yao Fang raised from middle position to 2,500 and Zhenfang Huang called on the button. Xiaqing Ji then three-bet to 3,500 in the big blind. Both Fang and Huang stuck around.

The trio knocked the table on the 2♦ 8♥ K♣ flop to see a 4♦ fall on the turn, where Ji checked to Fang, who bet 2,500. It was good for the pot as his two tablemates laid it down.

In the next hand, Ze Yun raised to 2,500 from middle position and Pete Chen called from the cutoff.

Yun continued for 2,200 on the 4♠ 2♠ 3♣ flop and Chen dropped in the call.

When the turn brought a T♠, Yun checked to Chen, who fired a chunky bet of 5,300. Yun let to of his cards.

Jiabao Cai opened the button to 2,500, only to face a shove for roughly 60,000 from Tianwei Zhang in the big blind. Cai called for around 35,000.

Jaibao Cai: 8♦ 6♣

Tianwei Zhang: A♠ K♦

Zhang held the dominance with ace-high, but Cai took it over on the 2♦ J♥ 8♠ flop, improving him to a pair of eights.

The dealer sent a Q♦ on the turn, giving Zhang a straight draw.

Asked, you should receive. The river came to complete Zhang a runner-runner straight with a T♦, sending Cai to the rial.

Xiaqing Ji opened the cutoff to 2,400 and Wenchao Liu defended his big blind.

On the 5♣ T♥ 8♦ flop, Liu checked to Ji, who continued for 2,000. Liu check-raised to 5,500, prompting a snap-fold from Ji.

In the next hand, Yingmu Zou limped in from the cutoff, as did Liu from the small blind. Yunchao Yu checked over in the big blind.

The blinds checked over the 9♦ 8♠ Q♠ flop to Zou, who led out for 2,600. It was good for the pot as his two opponents folded.

Dicky Tsang opened to 2,000 from under the gun, only to face a shove for 26,900 from Zuyi Wen in middle position. Zongjin Sui also committed all her chips for around 30,000 on the button. Tsang called for 7,200.

Zuyi Wen: A♦ K♠

Zongjin Sui: 8♣ 8♦

Dicky Tsang: K♣ K♦

Tsang took the command with his pockeet kings and held control on teh 4♥ A♥ 3♣ flop. The dealer sent a Q♦ on the turn, leaving Wen and Sui drawing thin.

The deck then turned the tide for Sui with an 8♥ river, pushing the sizable pot her way and adding two victims on her knockout list.

The action was picked up on the turn with around 16,000 chips in the middle and a board reading 8♦ A♦ 5♣ J♦. Jiachen Ma bet 5,000 from under the gun and Haohen Huang called from the cutoff.

The 9♠ rolled off on the river, and Ma fired again, this time for 10,000. Huang then cranked it up to 30,000.

Mistaking the action for a call, Ma revealed A♠ 7♠ to a flopped pair of aces. The hand was officially a fold, allowing Huang to take the pot unchallenged.

When the action was picked up, there were chips in the middle and Aorigele Fng shoved all in from the small blind for around 140,000. Pan Gao snap-called off his last few chips from the hijack.

Aorigele Fng: K♣ 9♣

Pan Gao: A♣ T♥

Gao took the command with ace-high against Fng's King-high and maintained his dominance on the 6♣ J♦ T♠ flop, while Fng picked up a gutshot.

The dealer revealed an A♠ on the turn, improving Gao to top pair and leaving Fng drawing to a queen.

Fortunately for Gao, the river came for his favor with another A♥, blooming his pair to trip aces. Fng paid for Gao's double-up.

Jiangpu Jin opened the button to 2,2000 and Angwei Li called from the small blind, as did Ben Fan from the big blind.

The trio tapped the table on the T♦ T♥ 9♥ flop to see the J♣ turn, where the blinds checked to Jin, who led out for 3,500. Only Li stuck around.

An 8♣ rolled off on the river, and Li check-called after Jin fired 7,500.

Li tabled queen-high with Q♣ 6♣, and it was good enough for the pot as Jin folded.

Youfan Zhang opened to 1,600 from under the gun and Chen Rui Wong called on the button. Tingjia Cao then three-bet the big blind to 6,700. Zhang called. Wong then shoved for 34,600. After thinking for a while, Cal also committed his all chips for around 36,500. Zhang called off his 15,500.

Youfan Zhang: A♦ T♦

Cheng Rui Wong: 8♥ 8♦

Tingjia Cao: Q♥ Q♦

Cao picked up the lead with his pocket queens and held control on the 5♦ K♠ 9♥ flop. The dealer sent a 6♦ on the turn, giving Wong a gutshot.

Fortunately for Wong, the river came an 8♣, improving him to a set and earning him a sizable pot, and another knockout to his credit as well.

Lei Wen opened to 1,800 from middle position and Yi Sha Chen called from the hijack, as did Jun Li from the big blind.

On teh A♦ 6♠ A♥ flop, Li checked to Wen, who continued for 2,000. Only Chen came along for the ride.

The turn showed a 6♣, and Wen check-called after Chen bet 3,600.

When the 3♣ rolled off on the river, it went check-check. Wen tabled A♣ K♣ for an invincible full house, leaving Chen no choice but to fold.

With around 10,500 chips in the pot, a board ran out 3♠ 2♦ T♦ 4♠ K♠. Jianfeng Sun shoved for around 15,000 in the cutoff and Pete Chen called on the button.

Sun tabled K♥ T♣ for two pair and Chen mucked his cards.

In the next hand, Sun raised the hijack to 1,600 and Dawei Lu called on the button, as did Zihao Zhang from the big blind.

A flop came T♣ 2♦ 6♦, and the trio knuckled it back to see an 8♥ turn, where Zhang checked to Sun, who led out for 6,400. Lu cranked it up to 16,000. Both Zhang and Sun folded instantly.

Long Li raised to 1,200 in the cutoff and Ci Hong Chen defended his big blind.

Chen check-called on the A♣ 3♣ 4♠ flop after Li continued for 600. Action then went check-check on the 2♥ turn.

When a board-pairing 2♦ rolled off on the river, it was another check round.

Chen tabled 8♥ 3♥ for a flopped pair of threes, but it was no match for the top pair of aces from Li's A♦ 8♦.

Haoyu Xiong opened the hijack to 2,200 and Yong Li called on the button. Chun Shu Chen then three-bet to 7,200 from the small blind. Both Xiong and Li stuck around.

On the 3♦ A♠ 4♦ flop, it checked to Li, who led out for 6,500. Chen then check-raised to 16,000. Only Li dropped in the call this time.

When a 2♣ landed on the turn, Chen shoved for around 37,500. Li snap-called off his last 15,000.

Yong Li: A♦ 8♦

Chuan Shu Chen: A♥ T♣

Both players flopped a pair of aces, but Chen held the command with a stronger kicker ten. Soon after, the deck sealed Li's fate with a 2♣ river, showing him the exit.

Aorigele Fng raised from middle position to 1,500 and Yu Ho Wong called in the cutoff.

On the 7♥ T♠ 4♠ flop, Fng checked to Wong, who led out for 800. Fng then raised to 4,500, prompting a snap-fold from Wong.

Fng flipped over A♠ A♣ with a hint of pity.

In the next hand, Fng opened to 1,500 from under the gun and got himself three callers: Zihao Zhang from early position, Jianfeng Sun in the cutoff, and Dawei Lu from the big blind.

The dealer revealed an A♣ 8♠ 6♥ flop, Lu checked to Fng, who continued with a 3,000 bet and was followed by a string of folds from his tablemates.

Fng, once again, turned over A♦ A♣, drawing more pity from the table.

Xiaoling Huang raised the hijack to 1,300, only to face a shove for 20,100 from Youkan Li in the small blind. After thinking for a while, Huang called.

Youkan Li: K♦ T♦

Xiaoling Huang: 8♣ 8♠

Li trailed with his king-high against Huang's pocket eights. The dealer revealed little help to Li with the 5♥ 3♦ 5♠ flop.

The Q♠ landed on the turn, while Li still needed a king or ten to stay alive.

Unfortunately for Li, the river bricked out a 4♦, sending him to the rail and shipping the pot Huang's way.

Junyu Huang raised the hijack to 1,200 and Yifan Cao called on the button.

Huang continued with a 1,500 bet on the A♣ 7♦ 9♠ flop, and Cao cranked it up to 3,500. Huang stuck around.

Huang then check-called on the K♠ turn after Cao sent another barrel of 5,500.

The river brought a T♦, and Huang check to Cao again, who fired his third hefty barrel of 15,000. Huang instantly laid it down.

Before returning his cards to the dealer, Cao showed two pair with A♠ K♣, showing there was no bluff behind his aggression.

Jinguo Tao opened from under the gun to 1,000, and Jianting Cai called on the button, as did Xiao Yang from the big blind.

Yang checked over the K♣ 2♠ 2♥ flop to Tao, who continued for 1,000. Only Cai dropped in the call.

It went check-check on the T♦ turn, and the river brought the J♠. Yang fired 3,000. Cai stuck around.

Yang tabled a bluff with 8♦ 6♦, while Cai flipped over the top pair of kings with A♠ K♦ to rake in the pot.

The action was picked up on the turn with around 7,500 chips in the pot and the board reading A♥ K♠ 7♠ 2♣. Xiao Yang led out for 3,500 from the big blind and Tom Verbruggen called in the cutoff.

The K♥ landed on the river, where Yang fired again, this time for 10,000. It forced a snap-fold from Verbruggen.

Shengyong Wang opened to 900 from under the gun and Heng Wang called in the cutoff, as did Xing Gao from the small blind.

On the T♠ 2♣ T♣ flop, it checked to Heng Wang, who led out for 1,700. Both Gao and Shengyong Wang stuck around.

The turn brought a 4♠, and Gao bet 3,200. Only Heng Wang made the call this time.

An 8♠ rolled off on the river, and Gao check-called after Heng Wang fired out 12,000. Heng Wang tabled a rivered flush with K♠ 9♠, leaving Gao no choice but to fold.

Tianyu Chen raised to 1,000 from early position and got himself three callers: Yingmu Zou in the cutoff, Pei Jui Kao on the button, and Florian Duta from the big blind.

On the A♦ 3♥ 8♠ flop, it checked to Zou, who led out for 1,600, prompting a string of folds from his opponents.

In the next hand, Zou limped in from the hijack, and Kao raised the cutoff to 2,000. Shuang Qiu three-bet to 7,000 in the big blind. Only Kao came along for the ride.

The dealer revealed a 4♠ K♥ 7♦ flop, and Qiu continued with a 4,500 bet, sending Kao into the tank. After around 2 minutes, Kao eventually laid it down.

Tek Lon Tam opened the hijack to 900 and Tem Verbruggen defended his big blind.

The duet checked through the board of T♠ J♣ 3♠ T♥ 2♥ and took to a free showdown.

After seeing Tam reveal ace-high with A♣ Q♥, Verbruggen folded.

Guichuan Dong opened the small blind to 800, and Jikai Tian raised to 2,500 from the big blind. Dong called.

On the A♦ 6♣ A♠ flop, Tian continued for 2,000, prompting a snap-fold from Dong.

In the next hand, Dong opened the button to 800 and Yangping Lu defended his big blind.

Lu check-called on the Q♠ 6♦ T♠ after Dong continued with a 1,000 bet.

The turn brought an A♦, and Lu checked to Dong, who fired 2,100 this time. Lu let go of his cards.

Daichi Miyata opened to 800 from under the gun, and Jie Lin called from middle position, as did Evgenii Volkov in the big blind.

The trio tapped the table on the 5♥ 4♣ 4♠ flop to the 7♦ turn, where Volkov bet 1,100. Only Lin dropped in the call.

When a 5♠ rolled off on the river, it went check-check.

Volkov tabled a turned pair of sevens with 9♥ 7♣ and dragged in the pot as Lin tossed his cards into the muck.

With around 20,000 chips in the middle, a broad ran out 8♦ 4♥ 4♠ T♥ 3♥ when Youkan Li checked from under the gun. Liangqiang Pang led out for 8,000 on the button, and Li called.

Liangqiang Pang flipped a rivered pair of threes with A♣ 3♣, and it was good for the pot as Li folded.

Heng Wang opened to 500 from under the gun and got himself four callers: Yifan Cao in the hijack, Qun Dang on the button, Kouichi Baba from the small blind, and Tsuyoshi Ikeda in the big blind.

Action checked to Dang, who led out for 2,000 on the 9♦ 9♥ Q♦ flop. Baba then put in a raise to 4,000. After a string of folds, the action went back to Dang. He cranked it up to 15,000. Baba stuck around.

When an 8♣ hit on the turn, Baba checked, only to face a shove for around 18,000. Baba called off the remaining 13,600.

Qun Dang: A♥ 5♣

Kouichi Baba: J♥ J♦

Baba picked up the lead with pocket jacks against Dang's ace-high and extended the dominance on the T♥ river, completing him a straight for the pot and leaving Dang on the brink of elimination.

Yi Chang Ho limped in from the cutoff, then Yi Chang Ho on the button, and Evgenii Volkov in the small blind also called. Pan Guo checked over in the big blind.

Four players tapped the table throughout the 9♥ 8♣ K♦ T♣ 4♦ board and took it to a free showdown.

Volkov tabled a flopped pair of nines with Q♣ 9♣ and took down the pot as Guo revealed ace-high with A♦ 6♠, to which Ho and Zheng mucked.

Pin Yuan Chen opened the button to 500 and got himself two callers from the big blind: Tao Guo and Artem Utevskii.

Guo checked over the 5♦ 3♠ 6♦ flop to Utevskii, who led out for 1,000. Only Pin Yuan Chen came along for the ride.

Utevskii fired again on the board-pairing 3♣ turn, this time for 800. Chen stuck around.

When a 4♦ filled out the board, Utevskii sent his third barrel of 800 and Chen called.

Utevskii revealed A♠ 6♣ for a flopped pair of sixes, but it ran straight into Chen's rivered flush with K♦ 7♦. Chen dragged in the pot.

"Shuffle up and deal" has been announced, and Day 1A of the KPC Main Event starts.

Event starts 13:00 local time..

The long-awaited moment has finally arrived as the stage at LES A Casino (formerly Landing Casino) is set for one of the festival’s flagship highlights, the KRW 1,300,000 Korea Poker Cup (KPC) Main Event, featuring a massive KRW 880 million guaranteed prize pool.

Today, Day 1A officially kicks off the five-day showdown at 13:00 local time, inviting elite grinders from across the region to take their first shot at Main Event glory.

Just a few months ago, Taiwan’s Chung Tang Lin rose to poker glory by capturing the KPC Main Event title in the Korea Poker Cup Series 2. Lin triumphed over a record-breaking field of 1,432 entries, shattering the guarantee with a mammoth KRW 1,616,799,600 prize pool.

Showcasing both stamina and precision throughout the grueling days of play, Lin's remarkable performance not only earned him the prestigious trophy but also etched his name firmly into the KPC history books.

The victory marked a defining moment in Lin’s career, as he secured his largest-ever payout of KRW 183,990,000 (~$134,473). His triumph stands as a testament to the growing competitiveness of the Korean poker scene and serves as inspiration to the next wave of players hoping to follow in his footsteps at this year’s Main Event.

Nov 3 - 13:00 Main Event Day 1A

Nov 4 - 12:00 Main Event Day 1B

Nov 4 - 20:00 Main Event Day 1C

Nov 5 - 12:00 Main Event Day 1D

Nov 5 - 20:00 Main Event Day 1E

Nov 6 - 12:00 Main Event Day 2

Nov 7 - 12:00 Main Event Final Day

With 40-minute levels and a 30,000 starting stack, players will begin the blinds at the 100/200 and a 200 big blind ante.

The atmosphere inside the poker room is buzzing with excitement as the Jeju Poker Festival 2025 advances to Day 3, with one of the most prestigious events.

The sound of chips shuffling echoes across the tables as hopefuls prepare to navigate through a long five-day journey. Every pot won and every fold made brings them a step closer to that elusive Final Day seat.

Be sure to stay tuned right here as Somuchpoker brings you all the thrilling moments and nail-biting showdowns from the felt when the KRW 1,300,000 KPC Main Event starts writing its first page in JPF 2025.