Red Dragon Championship (2,500,000 KRW)

After 10 intense levels of play and more than 12 hours of action, Day 2 of the Red Dragon Championship has officially come to an end. From a starting field of 304 players, only 36 remain and will return tomorrow at 12 p.m. to battle for a seat at the final table.

This year’s Red Dragon Championship drew a massive 1,108 entries, creating a KRW 2,393,280,000 (~US$1,646,000) prize pool, far surpassing its initial KRW 1,650,000,000 (~US$1,135,000) guarantee. Only 304 players returned for Day 2, but just 167 made the money after a dramatic bubble burst.

The bubble popped four hours into play when Wenjie Sun’s pocket aces were cracked by Yang Yang’s ace-three offsuit. Yang hit the nut flush draw on the flop and completed it on the river, sending Sun out as the sole bubble.

Throughout the day, eliminations came quickly, and after six hours, the field had been trimmed to 36 players. Ivan Karatayeu emerged as the chip leader with an impressive 4,435,000 (111 BB). Starting the day with just 257,000, the Belarusian steadily climbed the counts and surged ahead in the final two levels, holding his lead until bagging time.

Yamada Kozo, who began Day 2 as the chip leader, experienced a roller coaster day but managed to bag 765,000 (19 BB). The legendary John Juanda, who began with just 20,000 chips, mounted a remarkable comeback, peaking at nearly one million before bowing out in 51st place when his king-queen couldn’t connect against Xiangyu Yu’s ace-ten.

Czech pro Roman Hrabec also advances with 1,075,000 (27 BB). One of his highlights came when he pulled off a huge bluff against Thi My Phuong Nguyen, turning a missed straight draw into a bold move that left the table stunned. Nguyen would later exit in 43rd place.

Vietnam’s poker influencer Quach Ngoc “Gemmy” Nguyen also secured a seat for Day 3, bagging 380,000 (10 BB), looking to climb her way back into contention.

All 36 remaining players are now guaranteed KRW 9,330,000 (~US$6,410), but all eyes are on the KRW 378,510,000 (~US$259,980) top prize and the coveted Red Dragon trophy.

Somuchpoker is live on site at Les A Casino, bringing you all the coverage, stories, and action from the Red Dragon Championship.

Full chip counts will be posted when available.

Ding Biao got the last of his 550,000-chip stack in (saving one 5,000 chip) against Roman Hrabec.

Both checked the J♥ 8♣ K♠ flop, with Biao asking Hrabec to “check slower,” aware of the looming pay jump for the next elimination.

Hrabec didn't oblige, checking quickly on the 9♦ turn, while Biao took his time before checking back.

The 5♦ completed the board, and after some table talk about their pairs, both ran down the clock before checking once more and showing down:

Ding Biao: A♦ J♦

Roman Hrabec: 6♥ 6♠

Biao’s jack on the flop kept him alive, earning a crucial double heading into Day 3.

With 15 minutes left on the clock, the tournament director has stopped play and announced the last four hands of the night before players bag their chips for Day 3, which resumes tomorrow at 12 p.m.

Cutoff Feng Xiao opens to 60,000, nearly stealing the blinds, but big blind Xiangyu Yu shoves all in for 420,000. Xiao thinks for about ten seconds before making the call.

Xiangyu Yu: A♥ 7♠

Feng Xiao: Q♣ T♣

Yu hits top pair right on the flop A♣ 9♦ 3♦ while Xiao picks up a flush draw, but the turn 7♥ and river 9♦ bring no clubs. Yu holds to double up and stay alive in the tournament.

Hijack Zehao Li raised to 65,000 and Xiaoyun Li in the cutoff shoved his remaining 120,000-chip stack. It folded back to Zehao, who made the call:

Xiaoyun Li: A♥ J♣

Zehao Li: A♠ 7♥

Xiaoyun looked good for a double as play moved into the final minutes of the day, but disaster struck on the 4♦ 7♦ 6♥ flop, where Zehao paired his seven.

The 8♥ brought an opportunity for a chop, but the 3♦ failed to bring it, ending Xiaoyun’s run just before the close of play.

Yamada Kozo and Florian Duta build up a pot of around 200,000 and see the flop 7♠ 5♥ 2♣ before Kozo check-raises to 185,000 after Duta bets 80,000, which Duta calls.

On the turn 3♠ , Kozo uses a time bank before announcing all in, putting Duta to the test for his remaining 515,000. Duta snap calls and tables his hand.

Florian Duta: Q♥ Q♣

Yamada Kozo: Q♦ 8♦

Kozo’s bluff attempt is quickly exposed as Duta’s queens have him nearly drawing dead. The river K♥ changes nothing, and Duta scores a full double up, climbing back into contention while Kozo takes a hit to his stack.

Players are now entering the last level of play before bagging their chips for Day 3.

I came to Roman Hrabec’s table, and he excitedly shared the details of his bold bluff against Thi My Phuong Nguyen. From UTG, Hrabec opens, and Nguyen calls from the cutoff to see the flop T♣ 9♠ 5♠ .

Hrabec fires a 50,000 continuation bet, which Nguyen calls. On the turn 3♥ , Hrabec ups the pressure with a pot-sized 200,000 bet, only for Nguyen to raise to 420,000. Hrabec makes the call, setting up a massive pot heading to the river.

When the river T♣ lands, Hrabec shoves for 580,000. Nguyen goes deep into the tank, using all her time banks before reluctantly folding. Hrabec, with a grin, proudly flips over his hand Q♣ J♣ for a complete bluff, leaving the entire table in stunned silence and admiration.

Hung-Chen Chen raised to 55,000 from middle position and was three-bet to 125,000 by Chen Chen in the next seat. Hung-Chen came back with a four-bet to 350,000, and after asking for a count, Chen made the call.

The dealer spread 7♣ Q♥ 3♥ on the flop, and Hung-Chen continued for 175,000. Chen swiftly moved all in, prompting an equally quick fold from Hung-Chen, who lost about half his stack in the exchange.

Down to his last 190,000, Fen Mai open shoves, and in the big blind, Ivan Karatayeu wakes up with queens and snap calls.

Fen Mai: A♣ Q♣

Ivan Karatayeu: Q♥ Q♠

Mai finds hope on the flop K♠ 5♣ 3♣ with a nut flush draw, but the turn 2♠ and river 9♦ fail to bring a club. His run comes to an end as Karatayeu’s pocket queens hold strong to score the knockout.

In the first hand at Table 4, cutoff Hon Cheong Lee raised to 30,000 and then folded when small blind Han Xiao three-bet to 200,000.

In the next hand, button Xiao raised it to 50,000 and only big blind Xiaoyun Li came along for the ride.

Action checked through the 4♠ Q♦ 8♥ 5♦ flop and turn, taking them to the 9♥ river where Li led out for 200,000. Xiao thought on it for a few seconds, tossing in a seemingly reluctant call and confirming his suspicions as Li tabled J♥ T♣ for a rivered straight.

Cutoff Xiangyu Yu opens to 50,000, then John Juanda snap shoves all in from the small blind for 455,000. Yu quickly calls, and the cards go on their backs.

John Juanda: K♥ Q♥

Xiangyu Yu: A♣ T♣

The flop 8♣ 3♣ J♦ gives Yu a flush draw, reducing Juanda’s outs to just four. The turn A♦ brings a pair for Yu, leaving Juanda with only a gutshot straight draw. The river K♠ pairs Juanda, but it isn’t enough to overcome Yu’s stronger hand.

Juanda’s deep run comes to an end in Day 2 of the Red Dragon Championship. The poker legend began the day with just 20,000 in chips, climbing back with determination and precision before bowing out just shy of Day 3.

Hand 1

Jinlin Shi raised to 40,000 from middle position and was called by blinds Huan Li and John Juanda.

Both blinds check-called Shi’s 35,000 bet following the A♦ J♦ 6♠ flop.

Action checked through the 2♥ 7♣ turn and river. Li flicked over 8♦ 7♦ for a pair on the river, which was enough to take down the pot.

Hand 2

UTG Feng Xiao raised to 40,000, with cutoff Thi My Phuong Nguyen and big blind Erdun Xu making the call.

Xiao and Xu check-folded when Nguyen fired 55,000 into the middle following the 6♣ 5♥ 8♣ flop.

Hand 3

Cutoff Li limped, small blind Xu completed, and big blind Xiao checked.

Xu check-folded after Xiao check-raised Li’s 20,000 bet up to 50,000 following the Q♣ 3♠ 6♠ flop, which Li eventually folded to.

Hand 4

Big blind Shi got a walk.

Hand 5

Button Xiao raised to 40,000 and received a call from big blind Lingui Dai.

Dai check-folded on the K♦ 5♦ 3♣ flop when Xiao stuck 30,000 into the middle.

Hand 6

Nguyen raised to 40,000 from under the gun, and hijack Xu responded with a three-bet to 145,000.

Nguyen then four-bet shoved, and Xu called instantly to put himself at risk:

Erdun Xu: A♠ K♣

Thi My Phuong Nguyen: A♣ Q♠

Xu’s Big Slick held on the J♠ 3♦ 8♥ 4♦ 3♣ runout, giving him a healthy double through Nguyen.

Hand 7

Hijack Xiao raised to 40,000, then folded when button Dai moved all in.

Hand 8

Nguyen completed in the small blind and Li checked his option in the big.

The dealer fanned the Q♣ T♦ 7♦ flop and Nguyen flicked 25,000 in. Li raised to 50,000, then folded when Nguyen re-raised to 125,000.

Down to his last 170,000, Gustavo Silva Campos shoves from the button, and on his left, Roman Hrabec makes the call to put him at risk.

Gustavo Silva Campos: Q♣ 9♣

Roman Hrabec: A♠ T♥

Campos finds hope on the flop T♠ 7♣ 2♣ with a flush draw, but the turn K♥ and river 2♠ fail to bring any clubs. His run in the Red Dragon Championship Day 2 comes to an end as Hrabec drags the pot.

Cutoff Pu Zhang opens to 60,000, and big blind Jin Wang 3-bets to 200,000. Without hesitation, Zhang snap shoves all in for 315,000, and Wang instantly calls.

Pu Zhang: T♣ T♠

Jin Wang: K♣ K♦

Zhang is dominated with only two outs to survive, but the board A♥ 9♥ 4♥ A♣ J♦ runs clean. Wang’s kings hold strong, sending Zhang out of the tournament.

UTG Weiran Pu raised to 30,000 and only big blind Haozhao Wang came along for the ride.

On the 5♣ Q♥ K♥ flop, both players checked. Action continued with check-check on the 2♦ turn, to see the 7♦ river where Wang led out for 40,000. Pu couldn't find the call and Wang scooped up the modest pot.

A few hands later, on a flop showing 4♠ 3♣ T♥, blinds Ding Biao and Chuer Ni both check-called Chen Chen's 30,000 bet.

Biao and Ni checked the 7♥ turn, and Chen fired 55,000, and Biao folded swiftly. Ni then carefully counted out a bet of 150,000, and slid it into the middle. Chen mulled it over for a while before letting the hand go.

Cutoff Yujun Yang opens, and Chien Chih Weng calls from the button to see the flop 4♥ 3♦ 2♣ . Both players check it down to the turn 5♠ , where Weng bets 40,000. Yang responds with a check-raise to 115,000, and Weng makes the call.

On the river T♠ , Yang fires a big 350,000 bet. Weng goes deep into the tank before announcing all in for 765,000 total. After a long pause, Yang decides to fold.

However, in a moment of confusion, Yujun Yang mistakenly took back 85,000 from the pot. Tournament Director Jeffrey Hwang immediately stepped in, reviewed the situation, and correctly awarded the chips to Chien Chih Weng, ensuring fair play was maintained at the table.

After surviving the bubble in a key hand a number of hours ago, Hang Xu found himself in the small blind and moved all in for 450,000. Big blind and short stack Xiaoyun Li called, and they tabled their cards:

Xiaoyun Li: A♣ Q♠

Hang Xu: A♦ 9♠

Disaster for Xu, who was dominated by Li going into the battle. The K♦ 6♣ 2♣ flop provided no help, with only Li holding a club. The 7♠ bricked the turn and the J♠ completed the board, keeping Li’s hand ahead and giving him a full double through Xu, who was now left short.

UTG +1 Linghui Dai opens to 30,000, and from the hijack, Joseph Cheong 3-bet shoves his remaining 50,000. The big blind makes the call, but after Dai 4-bets to 150,000, the big blind quickly folds, leaving the two players heads-up for Cheong’s tournament life.

Joseph Cheong: K♥ Q♠

Linghui Dai: A♥ 2♥

Cheong is behind but still live, needing to connect with the board to stay in contention. The flop 3♠ 3♥ 7♠ comes clean for Dai, and the turn 2♣ offers no help. Down to his final card, Cheong hopes for a king or queen to survive, but the river J♦ bricks out.

The American pro’s run comes to an end as Dai’s ace-high holds strong. Cheong exits gracefully, leaving behind another deep run in the Red Dragon Championship.

Beginning the day with only 20,000 in chips, John Juanda has surged to nearly 1,000,000, making a serious move up the leaderboard.

Joseph Cheong was seen leaving the table shortly after, having busted.

Facing a raise, Roman Hrabec 3-bets to 80,000, and on the button, Haogen Huang 4-bet shoves for 225,000. The initial raiser folds, and Hrabec snap calls.

Haogen Huang: 9♥ 9♠

Roman Hrabec: K♥ K♠

Huang finds a lifeline as the board A♠ Q♠ J♠ 6♥ 6♠ runs out giving him a flush, but Hrabec’s king-high flush reigns supreme, sending Huang out of the tournament.

Play has resumed — shuffle up and deal! The remaining 76 players will battle through the last four levels before bagging up for Day 3.

Players are now on their scheduled 60-minute dinner break. Play will resume shortly.

Bon appétit, players!

With around 295,000 already in the middle on a board showing 5♦ 6♥ T♥ 9♣, big blind Chien-Chih Weng was raised by early position Zhaoxi Ma to 95,000. Weng eventually made the call.

Action checked through the T♣ river, and Weng tabled A♥ Q♥ for ace-high and a busted flush draw, which was still enough to take the pot as Ma mucked his hand.

UTG Trung Hieu Nguyen opens to 20,000, and hijack Song Li 3-bets to 55,000. Action returns to Nguyen, who fires a 4-bet to 150,000, and Li makes the call.

On the flop T♣ 6♣ 5♠ , Nguyen checks, and Li bets 85,000. After a brief pause, Nguyen folds, conceding the pot to Li’s well-timed aggression.

UTG +1 Zehao Li opens to 20,000, and on his left, Feng Xiao 3-bets to 50,000. Action folds to the big blind Tao Li, who 4-bets to 140,000. Back to Zehao, who fearlessly announces a 5-bet to 320,000. Xiao quickly folds, and Tao snap folds as well.

Tao flashes his hand Q♦ Q♣ , and Zehao returns the favor by showing his own A♠ A♦ . It proves to be a good laydown for Tao, as Zehao dominates him, leaving him with just two outs had he called.

After being relocated to Table 2, Song Li wasted no time getting involved and making an impression among his new tablemates.

Cutoff Trung Hieu Nguyen opened to 20,000, which was called by small blind Chao Li. From the big blind,

Song Li raised it to 75,000, with both Nguyen and Chao making the call.

On the 9♥ 3♦ A♣ flop, both opponents folded when Song Li fired 60,000 into the middle.

In another hand at the table, Binbin Wu raised to 20,000 from early position and found two callers, small blind Chung-Tang Lin and Chao Li in the big.

Both blinds check-called the 6♠ 2♠ J♦ flop when Wu continued for 10,000.

All three checked the 5♥ turn to see the 7♦ river, where both blinds folded to Wu’s 30,000 bet.

Folds to the small blind where Yasuyuki Tsuji shoves for 105,000, and on his left, Qiangqiang Lyu makes the call.

Yasuyuki Tsuji: 9♦ 9♣

Qiangqiang Lyu: A♦ 6♥

Tsuji is ahead and looking to double up after the flop Q♠ 3♠ 3♥ and turn 4♣ fall safely, but the brutal river A♠ delivers one of Lyu’s three outs, sending Tsuji to the rail.

Current chip leader Trung Hieu Nguyen opens to 20,000, and on his left, Feng Xiao calls from the button. Both players go heads-up to the flop T♦ 9♦ 9♥ , where Xiao bets 20,000 and Nguyen check-calls. Both players check the turn T♣ and proceed to the river 4♥ .

Nguyen leads out for 75,000, only for Xiao to raise to 155,000. After a long tank, Nguyen decides to fold, and Xiao successfully halts the aggression of the chip leader.

Bo Jin moved all in from the hijack, leaving behind a single 5,000 chip (technically a raise to 155,000.)

Jin checked each street right as the 30-second shot clock expired, clearly mindful of the KRW 300,000

pay jump awaiting the next elimination.

The board ran out Q♣ J♣ 8♠ Q♦ 4♠, and with no one else left in the hand, the cards were revealed. Wang showed A♦ A♥ for pocket aces, but Jin had found a set with his J♦ J♥ to take the pot.

UTG Thi My Phuong Nguyen opens to 20,000 then 4-bet shoves for 330,000 after UTG +2 Wanhao Zhao 3-bets to 55,000. Zhao, going nowhere, calls for 290,000 total.

Wanhao Zhao: Q♠ Q♣

Thi My Phuong Nguyen: A♣ Q♦

Zhao leaves Nguyen with only three outs after the flop 8♣ 5♥ 5♣ , but the turn A♥ spikes an ace for Nguyen, flipping the hand and leaving Zhao down to one out. The river T♥ brings no help, and Zhao goes straight to the cashier.

Zhihui Lin moved all in for his last 30,000 from middle position and received a call from hijack Zhan Li. Big blind Han Xiao then three-bet shoved for 160,000, and Li called again.

Zhihui Lin: Q♥ 9♠

Han Xiao: A♠ T♥

Zhan Li: J♥ J♣

Both Lin and Xiao out-paired Li on the 2♣ Q♣ A♦ flop, but it was Xiao who stayed ahead on the 2♦ 8♥ runout, knocking Lin out while doubling through Li.

Button Chien-Chih Weng opened to 20,000, and everyone folded.

Next hand, Peng Zhou raised to 20,000 from middle position but folded when small blind Zhaoxi Ma three-bet to 65,000.

In the following hand, button Ma opened to 20,000, only to fold when Dong Chen three-bet to 90,000.

Finally, cutoff Ma made it 20,000 to go, and Ang Li called to see a flop.

The dealer spread A♥ A♦ 5♣, and Li check-called Ma’s 10,000 continuation-bet.

Both players checked the Q♥ turn, and on the 6♥ river Li led out for 10,000. Ma called and saw Li table K-T for king-high. Ma revealed 8♠ 6♠ for a rivered pair to take the pot.

UTG +1 Song Li opens to 20,000, and hijack Yixin Zhang 3bets to 55,000. In the big blind, Qiwen Zheng 4bet shoves for 75,000. Action returns to Li, who fires a 5bet to 175,000, and Zhang responds with a 6bet jam for 330,000. Li snap calls, setting up a massive three-way showdown.

Qiwen Zheng: J♥ J♠

Yixin Zhang: Q♥ Q♠

Song Li: A♦ A♥

Three monsters collide, and after the flop 8♦ 7♦ 4♣ and turn 2♣ , Li looks poised to eliminate both opponents. But the river J♦ delivers a jack, giving Zheng top set and a triple up, while Li still takes down the side pot to eliminate Zhang.

Players are now on their second scheduled 15-minute break. During this break, a chip race of the 1,000-denomination chips will be conducted before play resumes.

Xianglai Li limped in, then called next-to-act Ivan Karatayeu’s raise to 21,000.

Li check-called Karatayeu’s 35,000 continuation-bet on the 7♥ 3♣ 6♠ flop.

The Q♠ landed on the turn, and Li checked again. Karatayeu slid out 43,000, prompting Li to burn a couple of timebanks before eventually folding.

On a board showing 4♠ 5♠ 4♣ 7♠, Thi My Phuong Nguyen moved all in, and Jin Wang snap-called with the shorter stack:

Jin Wang: A♠ J♠

Thi My Phuong Nguyen: Q♠ 9♣

Wang’s ace-high flush had Nguyen drawing dead, and the 7♥ river sealed a full double for him.

Yi Sha Chen raised to 16,000 from early position, and big blind Shuang Bao made the call.

Both players checked the T♦ 3♠ 5♥ flop to see the 7♣ turn, where Bao check-called Chen’s 11,000 bet.

The T♣ completed the board, and Bao led out for 27,000. Chen took her time before eventually folding, conceding the pot.

Bao gave the felt a quick tap as he pulled in the chips.

A massive four-way all in erupts before the flop. The shortest stack Ying Li is all in for 79,000, followed by Yu Hsien Lin for 130,000, and Ren Jun Yang for 221,000, with Huan Li covering them all.

Ying Li: 5♦ 5♣

Yu Hsien Lin: A♣ Q♣

Ren Jun Yang: Q♠ Q♥

Huan Li: K♦ K♣

Huan Li wakes up with kings and eliminates both Lin and Yang after the board 2♦ 4♦ 7♦ 6♣ 8♥ runs out clean for him. But it’s Ying Li who survives and quadruples up after spiking a straight, turning disaster into a remarkable comeback.

Hijack Wenjie Sun open shoves for 46,000, and big blind Yang Yang makes the call.

Wenjie Sun: A♣ A♥

Yang Yang: A♠ 3♥

Sun wakes up with the dream hand, looking for a much-needed double up, but the flop 9♠ 8♠ 3♠ brings a nightmare as Yang picks up the nut flush draw along with bottom pair. The turn 7♥ is safe for Sun, yet the river Q♠ delivers the spade, completing Yang’s flush. Sun is eliminated as the bubble boy, a heartbreaking end holding the strongest preflop hand in poker.

Folds to the button where Jinlin Shi raises, and big blind Zong Chi He, already all in for 5,000, makes the call.

Zong Chi He: Q♥ T♦

Jinlin Shi: 9♠ 9♣

It’s a flip for He’s tournament life, but the board A♠ 7♠ 2♦ A♦ K♥ runs dry, ending his run just two spots away from the money. With his elimination, the tournament is officially on the bubble.