WPT Prime Korea (1,500,000 KRW)

The first of three flights for the WPT Prime Korea Main Event ended in dramatic fashion, with two players knocked out across three simultaneous all ins. From a total of 122 entries, only 16 players remain, all securing a spot in the money and advancing to Day 2 on November 3rd at 12 p.m. local time.

After nearly 10 hours of play and 18 levels, Zengxiang Chen bagged the top stack of 775,000 (77 BB). Chen surged ahead after doubling through early chip leader Kwan Chun Kit and continued building momentum as the tournament entered hand for hand play.

One of the defining moments came when Chen made a remarkable hero call against Tony Ren Lin, calling a massive river bet with just bottom pair of threes. The hand earned Chen a smile and applause from Lin, acknowledging the bold call. Chen then extended his lead even further by eliminating Junxian Du on the bubble, spiking a miracle ace on the river.

Trailing behind Chen is Tony Ren Lin, who ended the day with 325,000 (33 BB), nearly half Chen’s stack. Lin managed to score some revenge earlier when, dominated preflop by Chen, he hit a three outer on the river to stay alive.

The action continues tomorrow with two more Day 1 flights. Day 1B begins at 12:00 p.m. local time with 40 minute levels, while Day 1C (Turbo) kicks off at 6:00 p.m. featuring 20 minute levels.

All three tables saw all-ins and calls as the bubble loomed.

Table 25:

Zengxiang Chen opened and called the 3-bet shove from Junxian Du for 142,000.

Junxian Du: 8♠ 8♣

Zengxiang Chen: A♥ K♦

The flop Q♠ 3♥ 2♥ was safe for Du, but the turn T♥ gave Chen additional outs with a flush draw. The river A♦ brought the ace, giving Chen the win and eliminating Du.

Table 24:

Baicun Li’s ace-high held against Erdun Xu’s big blind defense, securing Li the pot.

Table 23:

A three-way all-in preflop saw Chenxu Zhang open-shove for 50,000, Tom Verbruggen call from the small blind for 39,000, and Chuan Shu Chen call from the big blind for 50,000.

Tom Verbruggen: A♥ Q♣

Chenxu Zhang: 7♣ 7♠

Chuan Shu Chen: 9♠ 8♣

Zhang hit top set on the flop 7♦ 5♥ 3♦ and held through the turn 4♣ and river 5♣ to double up, and in the process, eliminated Verbruggen as today’s bubble.

Another big showdown between Tony Ren Lin and Zengxiang Chen. From the cutoff, Lin moved all in for 151,000, and Chen quickly reshoved.

Tony Ren Lin: J♦ T♠

Zengxiang Chen: A♣ J♣

Dominated by Chen, Lin needed to pair his ten to stay alive but missed on the flop 8♥ 6♥ 6♠ . The turn T♦ , however, delivered one of his three outs, giving Lin the lead. The river 5♦ blanked, and Lin scored a crucial double-up to stay in the game.

On Hand #4, with around 100,000 already in the middle 6♠ 7♣ 7♥ 5♣ , Tony Ren Lin fired a 25,000 bet and Zengxiang Chen made the call.

On the river 9♦ , Lin overbet 200,000, putting maximum pressure on Chen. After using three time banks, Chen eventually made the call.

Tony Ren Lin: A♦ T♥

Zengxiang Chen: 3♣ 3♥

Lin showed the bluff, while Chen revealed bottom pair to scoop a 550,000 pot, extending his chip lead on Day 1A of the WPT Prime Korea Main Event.

Only two players remain before the money, and the floor has announced that play will now proceed hand-for-hand until the bubble bursts. Tension is high as everyone looks to secure a spot in the money and advance to Day 2.

From the hijack, Jingxuan Zhu shoved for 121,000, and from the cutoff, Tingjia Cao called all in for 68,000. On the button, Akihide Shimizu briefly showed his cards A♥ K♦ to me before folding.

Tingjia Cao: 8♦ 8♣

Jingxuan Zhu: 9♦ 9♠

The board A♦ T♦ 2♣ 3♠ 6♣ ran clean for Zhu, eliminating Cao from the tournament. After the hand, Shimizu mentioned that if he had called, he would have busted both players, but he chose to fold, saying he “wanted to see them battle it out” and wasn’t feeling confident with his hand.

Only three players remain before the field reaches the money. Those who survive to Day 2 will secure a guaranteed payout, as the tournament plays down to the money bubble before bagging up for the night.

From UTG+1, Andrew Kelsall open-shoved for 85,000. In the big blind, Jia Xiao woke up with kings and snap-called.

Andrew Kelsall: A♦ K♦

Jia Xiao: K♥ K♣

It was a monster showdown, but Xiao’s kings held firm through the board 3♣ 9♦ T♥ J♠ 4♦ to claim the pot and eliminate Kelsall.

Zengxiang Chen snatched the chip lead from Kwan Chun Kit after doubling through him, then added even more chips by eliminating Bouyuan Xue. Chen now sits comfortably at the top of the leaderboard with 506,000 in chips.

The cards were tabled, and the dealer was already counting Zhihua Yang’s chips after a stunning runner-runner quads finish.

Zhihua Yang: Q♦ Q♠

Yuan Qin: A♣ K♣

It was a classic flip. Qin hit top pair on the flop K♥ J♠ 2♣ , but the turn Q♣ delivered one of Yang’s two outs. The river Q♥ brought yet another queen, completing an incredible sequence and giving Yang quads to scoop the massive pot.

With a massive pot of 112,000 already in the middle K♠ J♥ 8♦ 8♠ 3♥ , Ryu Ikuta checked, and Kwan Chun Kit moved all in. Ikuta went deep into the tank before calling for his remaining 135,000.

Ryu Ikuta: K♣ 4♠

Kwan Chun Kit: 9♥ 8♥

Ikuta saw the bad news as Kit revealed trips. Despite Ikuta showing two pair, it wasn’t enough. Kit scooped the huge pot and moved to the top of the chip counts.

Facing a raise on the button, Tony Ren Lin 3-bet shoved for 84,000. In the big blind, Qidong He woke up with kings and reshoved. The initial raiser quickly folded.

Tony Ren Lin: A♠ Q♠

Qidong He: K♠ K♣

Lin needed an ace to survive, but the flop J♥ 7♣ 5♦ and turn 9♦ favored He. Down to his last card, the river A♦ delivered the miracle ace, giving Lin the three-outer he needed for a much-needed double-up.

All in preflop between Meng Ling Lin and Tom Verbruggen.

Tom Verbruggen: K♣ K♦

Meng Ling Lin: A♣ 5♥

Verbruggen’s kings held strong, dodging any aces on the board K♠ Q♠ 2♠ Q♦ T♦ to secure the pot.

On the very next hand, Verbruggen 3-bet shoved once again but this time, everyone folded, and he picked up the blinds uncontested.

Players are now on a 15-minute break. A chip race of the 500-denomination chips will take place during the break.

From UTG, Yizhou Nie opened, and Weiwai Huang called from the big blind.

On the flop T♥ 3♥ 3♠ , Huang checked, and Nie fired a 6,500 continuation bet. Huang raised to 17,000, prompting a snap all-in from Nie. Huang called off his remaining 54,000.

Weiwai Huang: 10s 7♥

Yizhou Nie: A♣ Q♥

Nie’s bluff attempt failed as the turn 6♥ and river 2♠ ran out clean for Huang, who secured a full double-up.

Jia Xiao opened to 6,000, and on his left, Chunnuan Xu 3-bet shoved for 56,000.

Chunnuan Xu: A♠ Q♠

Jia Xiao: 3♥ 3♣

It was a classic flip. Xiao hit a set on the flop 3♠ J♥ 8♦ , while Xu picked up a gutshot on the turn 9♥ but couldn’t connect on the river J♠ . Xiao scooped the pot, sending Xu to the rail.

After just one hand, Chuan Shu Chen added another 60,000 to his stack.

Action began when Tao Li opened and Ying Song called. Chen then 3-bet to 17,000, prompting a big 4-bet from the big blind, Ryu Ikuta, to 46,000. Li and Song both folded, and Chen quickly moved all in.

Ikuta went deep into the tank before ultimately laying it down, as Chen raked in yet another sizable pot.

Action folded to the button, where Xiuwei Zhang shoved all in for 29,000. In the big blind, Chuan Shu Chen made the call.

Xiuwei Zhang: A♥ 5♣

Chuan Shu Chen: K♥ J♠

Chen connected with the board 4♠ 9♣ Q♥ J♦ T♥ and completed a one-card straight on the river to eliminate Zhang from the tournament.

After a raise, Haohui Ma moved all in, and from the big blind, Liang Tien Min went into the tank before committing his stack of 27,000. The initial raiser folded, and the two went heads-up.

Liang Tien Min: A♥ Q♥

Haohui Ma: 8♥ 8♠

It was another classic flip. The flop K♠ 5♥ 4♥ brought danger for Liang as he missed completely, but the turn Q♠ delivered top pair to put him ahead. The river 5♣ was no help for Ma, and Liang scored the double-up.

From the small blind, Yizhou Nie 3-bet shoved for 20,000, and in the big blind, Daichi Miyata re-jammed for 23,000. The initial raiser folded, leaving the two players heads-up.

Yizhou Nie: Q♥ Q♠

Daichi Miyata: A♦ K♠

Nie smashed the flop Q♦ T♣ 8♦ with top set, while Miyata picked up a gutshot draw. The turn 8♠ sealed the deal for Nie as he improved to a full house, and the river 9♥ was just a formality.

Facing a raise, Zhihua Yang 3-bet to 8,000 and called the all-in shove from Fabian Rolli.

Fabian Rolli: A♣ Q♦

Zhihua Yang: 8♥ 8♠

It was a classic flip, and Rolli found help on the board K♠ Q♥ 7♥ T♦ T♣ to secure the double-up through the chip leader, Yang.

Registration is now officially closed with a total of 122 entries. The top 16 players will make the money, and play will continue today until the field reaches the money. Once the final 16 are decided, players will bag their chips for the Day 2 on November 3rd.

Players are now on their third 15-minute break. Registration will close when play resumes.

Action folded to the hijack, where Meng Ling Lin opened to 3,000. Haozhao Wang defended his small blind.

Both players checked the flop J♠ J♦ 9♥ , and on the turnAc Lin bet 5,000, which Wang calmly check-called. On the river 4♦ , Wang took the lead, firing 7,000. Lin couldn’t continue and folded, giving Wang the pot with a well-timed river lead.

UTG limped, and from the hijack Andrew Kelsall raised to 3,500. The cutoff called, and on the button Yifan Cao 4-bet shoved for 15,000. Kelsall reshoved for 46,500, and Zhihua Yang made the call.

Yifan Cao: 8♥ 8♣

Andrew Kelsall: A♠ J♣

Zhihua Yang: A♣ Q♣

All three players were all in, with Yang looking to score a double knockout after flopping Q♠ J♠ 3♠ top pair. However, Kelsall came roaring back on the turn 2♠ , hitting the one-card nut flush to secure the lead. The river Q♥ gave Yang trips, but it wasn’t enough. Kelsall doubled up and sent Cao to the rail.

Action folded to the hijack, where Xin Zhang opened to 2,000. On the button, Yilu Yuan raised to 6,000, and Zhang made the call.

Yuan fired 4,000 on the flop A♠ 6♣ 4♦ and another 13,000 on the turn 4♣ , both of which Zhang calmly check-called.

On the river A♥ , Zhang shifted gears, leading out with an overbet of 25,000. After being the aggressor throughout the hand, Yuan tanked and ultimately laid it down, conceding the pot to Zhang’s well-timed river aggression.

All in pre flop against Tom Verbruggen and Hao Chen.

Tom Verbruggen: Q♦ Q♠

Hao Chen: 3♣ 3♦

Verbruggen was ahead and already looking to double up after the flop Q♥ 3♠ 2♣ . Both players hit sets, but Chen was left with only one out. The miracle turn 3♥ came, giving Chen his one out and improving him to quads. Verbruggen failed to find his last queen on the river 2♠ and exited the game.

Second break for the field! Three more levels to go before registration closes at the end of Level 9.

With around 65,000 in the middle, Ryan Plant checked the board J♠ 9♥ 9♠ 7♦ 6♦ as Chuan Shu Chen moved all in for 11,000. Plant snap-called.

Chuan Shu Chen: K♦ 9♦

Ryan Plant: A♦ J♦

The flop brought trips for Chen, holding strong against Plant’s top two pair. Chen scored a big double-up, climbing toward the top of the counts.

A big pot had already developed in the middle when the board K♥ Q♠ 4♥ 8♣ T♠ was complete. Erdun Xu checked, then called after Kwan Chun Kit fired a bet of 16,000. Kit revealed his hand A♥ K♠ and it was good as Xu mucked, surrendering the pot.

Taiwan’s Meng Ling Lin, better known as “Candy”, has joined the field here at the WPT Prime Korea Main Event. A familiar face in Jeju, Candy has already collected multiple trophies on this island, including her biggest score earlier this year at KPC 2025, where she captured the $25,000 No Limit Hold’em Single Day Super High Roller title for an impressive $479,300. Now, she’s back in action, focused and ready to chase yet another trophy for her growing collection.

Yayun Liu opened from UTG to 1,200, and Zixuan Zhou called from the cutoff. The two went heads-up to the flop 9♣ 6♣ 2♥ , where Liu fired a 1,500 continuation bet. Zhou raised to 6,600, but quickly folded after Liu snap-shoved all in.

The board 8♠ 6♥ K♦ 7♦ 2♣ was already built up with around 7,000 in the middle when Fen Mai led out for 4,500. Kwan Chun Kit went into the tank before shoving all in, and after a moment of thought, Mai folded, giving the pot to Kwan.

Yi-Chang Ho limped from UTG, and Fengxiang Hu raised to 2,500 from the button. The small blind, Jikai Tian, called, and Ho came along as well. On the flop K♦ J♠ J♣ , Hu fired a 2,000 continuation bet; Tian check-called, while Ho folded. Both players checked the turn 9♣ and went to the river Q♥ , where Tian led out for 6,600. Hu thought it over but eventually laid it down, giving the pot to Tian.

Players are now on their first 15-minute break.

Another pot developed on the flop K♥ K♠ 5♦ with 11,300 in the middle. From the small blind, Martin Sedlak led out with a 1,600 bet, and Weihong Shi made the call. Both players checked through the turn 9♣ to the river 2♠ , where Sedlak fired again for 3,200. Shi called, but Sedlak revealed the winning hand and scooped the pot as Shi mucked.

The flop Q♥ 9♠ 5♠ was out with 7,600 in the middle when the dealer revealed the turn J♥ . Junxian Du led out with a 5,000 bet, and Jianfeng Sun went into the tank before making the call. On the river K♥ , Du moved all in for 15,000, sending Sun back into the tank for about three minutes before finally folding his hand.

The board 3♥ T♦ 5♠ T♠ K♥ was already built up with 1,900 in the middle when Bo Yang fired a 1,200 bet. Chen Chuan Shu made the call, and the cards went to showdown. Bo Yang revealed K♣ Q♥ a paired river, which was good enough to take down the pot as Shu mucked his hand.

1st Hand

Fabian Rolli opened from UTG to 600, and the button made the call. From the small blind, Daniel Lei 3-bet to 3,300. Fabian called while the button folded. On the flop A♥ Q♣ T♥ , Lei continued for 1,900, prompting Rolli to fold and concede the pot.

2nd Hand

Yuan Qin opened to 600, and Fabian Rolli defended his big blind. After the flop A♠ 6♥ 5♠ , Qin fired a 500 continuation bet, and Rolli folded.

3rd Hand

Daniel Lei opened from the cutoff to 600, but found no callers and took down the blinds uncontested.

4th Hand

Lei opened once again to 600, and Yita Choong 3-bet to 2,100. From the button, Fabian Rolli raised it up to 6,000, forcing folds from both opponents.

The field is already packed with notable players, including Martin Sedlak from the United States and Tom Verbruggen from the Netherlands. Standing out among them is Yita Choong from Australia, who captured the Red Dragon Super High Roller title at the last Jeju Poker Festival for KRW 177,750,000 (~US$127,017). Choong is no stranger to Jeju’s poker scene. His recent cashes at both Triton One and the APT, held right here at Les A Casino, prove he’s comfortable and confident on this stage.

The WPT Prime Korea Main Event Day 1A kicks off at Jeju Poker Festival 2025!

The Jeju Poker Festival 2025 is off to an exciting start, and today marks the beginning of the first of three main events! Taking center stage is the WPT Prime Korea Main Event, with Day 1A officially kicking off today. The event features a KRW 350,000,000 (~US$ 250,000) guarantee and an initial buy-in of KRW 1,500,000 (~US$1,070). Day 1A will start at 5:00 p.m. local time, with registration closing at the end of Level 9 or at 10:15 p.m. local time. Play will continue until the field reaches the money, which is 12.5% of total entries.

Miao Chenxiang claimed the WPT Prime Korea Main Event title at the Jeju Poker Festival, setting a high bar for this year’s field.

The action is just getting started, with two more WPT Prime Korea Main Event flights scheduled for tomorrow. Day 1B will begin at 12:00 p.m. local time and feature 40-minute blind levels, while Day 1C (Turbo) gets underway at 6:00 p.m. local time with 20-minute levels.

Event starts 17:00 local time..