KPC Super High Roller Day ($30,000)

Day 1 of the KPC Super High Roller drew a total of 79 entries (59 unique), with 39 making it through to the end of play. Registration remains open until the end of Level 13 tomorrow, giving plenty of time for the $2,175,000 prize pool to swell further. The event has attracted some of the top talent from across the globe, living up to its reputation as one of the most prestigious stops on the calendar.

Leading the way is China’s Jian Cui, who bagged 3,055,000. He previously topped the Dragon Egg Mystery Bounty Day 1A here at Red Dragon Poker Tour (RDPT) Jeju earlier this year, and continued that form today. Cui built steadily throughout the day, winning small but key pots early on before taking control of the chip lead by Level 9. His stack grew further after a well-played hand against Zhu Juntao late in the session, where his top pair of kings left Juntao short, securing his spot at the top heading into Day 2.

Hot on the heels of Cui is America's Calvin Lee with 2,625,000. With over $5 million in live earnings and a best score of more than $1 million, Lee recently took the title in the KRW 35,000,000 SuperStar Challenge at APT Incheon. He impressed again today, steadily climbing the counts with composed, well-timed aggression and adding to his stack. He took a modest pot with a well-time turned bet against Romania's Iulian Blebea, and continued to build throughout the day.

Rounding out the top three and representing Europe is France's Hugues "Hugo" Girard, who bagged 2,165,000 for Day 2. Girard has featured at numerous final tables across the globe this year, with his best live cash coming in November last year at the WPT Prime Championship in Paris, earning nearly $200,000. With his experience, he could well make another deep run tomorrow.

Among the notable names advancing is Chenxu "Vanessa" Zhang, who bagged up 515,000 for Day 2. Though on the shorter side of the counts, her track record shows she’s no stranger to deep runs. This year alone she’s earned multiple podium finishes on the RDPT, including a Red Dragon Championship third-place worth over USD 120,000, and titles in both the Lady Dragon Championship and Bomb Pot Fun Game. With that kind of form, a comeback tomorrow wouldn’t be surprising.

An honourable mention goes to Hong Kong's Dong Chen, the winner of yesterday's KPC Single Day Super High Roller event, who bagged over $240,000 for his efforts. He finished the night with 1,215,000 and continued to demonstrate his skill on the felt today. In a three-way pot against Tao Li and Alp Lin, he secured a significant boost to his stack, flopping top pair and betting strategically through the streets to extract maximum value. Chen will certainly be looking to replicate his success to win two high SHR events back-to-back tomorrow.

That concludes Somuchpoker's coverage for Day 1 of the KPC Super High Roller event. Join us again tomorrow, when the action kicks off at 15:00 p.m. local time to see who will come out on top!

Play has wrapped up for Day 1 of the KPC Super High Roller. Stay tuned for a full recap of the day’s action, including chip counts and highlights from the closing levels.

During one of the final hands of Day 1, UTG Tao Li raised to 245,000 and called after button Lin Alp moved all in for around 700,000, putting Li at risk:

Tao Li: 5♥ 5♦

Lin Alp: K♣ K♦

Li looked frustrated when the hands were revealed, and the dealer spread the 4♠ T♣ 2♥ flop. The 3♠ turn offered some hope, which was realised when the A♣ landed on the river to complete Li’s straight and double him through Alp.

The floor has announced there will be six more hands dealt before the day concludes.

Button Ming Jaston raised to 26,000 and folded when big blind Martin Sedlak three-bet to 86,000.

In the following hand, Jaston opened to 26,000 once more and called after Sedlak moved all in for his remaining 125,000 chips.

Martin Sedlak: Q♦ T♦

Ming Jaston: A♣ K♠

Both players paired up on the T♣ K♣ 2♠ flop, but Jaston’s top pair improved to trips on the 2♥ K♥ runout, eliminating Sedlak during the final level of the day.

Shaoliang Luo raised to 25,000 and was called by button Xiushen Wei and big blind Yang Li.

Both Li and Luo checked the 7♦ 6♦ A♥ flop, Wei slid out 35,000 into the middle which prompted folds from both players.

Shortly after, short-stack Li was eliminated.

With 78 entries so far, including 59 unique players, the prize pool has already climbed past $2,100,000 and continues to grow. With three more levels of registration remaining between today and tomorrow, the KPC Super High Roller is set for a strong finish to Day 2.

Tsz Kin Heung got the last of his 240,000 stack in against Yi Liu, who made the call with the covering stack:

Tsz Kin Heung: Q♦ T♦

Yi Liu: A♣ Q♣

The 5♠ 7♠ 6♥ J♦ 3♦ runout offered no help to Heung, sending him to the rail and giving Liu a healthy boost to his stack.

After a previous elimination a short while ago, Joseph Cheong is now back at the tables.

With around 300,000 in the middle from preflop action, big blind Jian Cui and hijack Zhu Juntao were heads up. Juntao called Cui's 50,000 bet following the 5♣ 8♣ K♥ flop.

On the 2♦ turn, Cui fired again for 75,000, and Juntao stuck around with a call.

The 3♦ completed the board and Cui carefully counted out 80,000. Juntao burned a timebank before eventually calling, only to see Cui turn over A♣ K♦ for top pair, leaving him short-stacked.

UTG Lin Alp opened to 10,000 and was called by hijack Tao Li. Small blind Tang Wanlong then three-bet shoved for around 300,000, forcing quick folds from both opponents.

In the following hand, UTG Dong Chen raised to 20,000 and picked up calls from Li in the next seat and big blind Lin Alp.

Alp check-folded on the 7♥ K♠ Q♦ flop after Li bet 25,000 and Chen called. Both players checked the 3♥ turn, leading to the 4♠ river where Chen slid out 105,000. Li took a moment before making the call, only to see Chen reveal K♣ J♥ for top pair to take the pot.

In the next hand, small blind Alp raised to 20,000 and big blind Chen defended. Alp continued for 30,000 on the J♦ K♦ 5♠ flop, and this time Chen folded after a short pause.

Action was picked up on a board showing A♠ 9♦ 9♥, where cutoff Li Liu was deep in thought facing an 85,000 bet from small blind “Johnny.” After several moments and the use of four timebanks, two more than she realised, Liu made the call to see the turn.

The 6♦ landed, and Johnny wasted no time moving all in for his remaining 225,000. Liu instantly called.

Johnny: A♣ J♣

Li Liu: 6♣ 6♥

Liu’s turned full house held as the Q♠ river bricked, sending Johnny to the rail and adding another healthy pot to Liu’s growing stack.

Hijack Lei Yu opened to 17,000 and picked up a call from big blind Punnat Punsri.

Punsri check-called Yu’s 19,000 continuation bet on the 5♠ 4♣ T♦ flop.

When the J♦ hit the turn, Punsri checked again. Yu counted out a stack worth 89,000 and pushed it forward, forcing a quick fold from Punsri.

There are two levels remaining in Day 1 of the KPC Super High Roller, which will wrap up after Level 11. With registration open until the first break of Day 2 (after Level 13), there’s still plenty of time for more high rollers to jump in for a shot at the growing $1,700,000 prize pool.

Hand 1

Lee Kuan-Han opened to 12,000 and was called by button Yi Liu and small blind Roman Hrabec. Big blind Michel Hugues was still away from the table, and his hand was automatically mucked.

Hrabec check-folded to Kuan-Han’s 18,000 continuation bet on the 9♦ 8♣ K♣ flop, while Liu stuck around.

Liu called again when Kuan-Han fired 30,000 on the 6♠ turn.

On the T♥ river, Kuan-Han checked, and Liu seized the lead with a 75,000 bet. Kuan-Han gave it some thought before folding.

Hand 2

Kuan-Han raised to 25,000 from under the gun, and Hrabec three-bet to 42,000. Kuan-Han responded with a five-bet to 125,000, forcing Hrabec to fold.

Hand 3

Hijack Liu raised to 12,000 but quickly folded when Hrabec three-bet to 41,000.

Hand 4

Liu opened to 12,000 from middle position and was called by Ming Cai on the button.

Both checked through the 5♥ A♦ A♥ 3♥ 6♥ runout. Liu revealed K♦ T♠ to win the pot with king-high after Cai mucked before showdown.

Hand 5

Hrabec raised to 12,000 from early position and Tsz Kin Heung defended his big blind. Heung check-folded when Hrabec continued for 10,000 on the 2♦ K♦ 8♠ flop.

Hand 6

Kuan-Han raised to 25,000 from the cutoff before Ye Wang shoved for 66,000 on the button. Kuan-Han made the call, and they went to showdown:

Ye Wang: 4♠ 4♦

Lee Kuan-Han: A♠ K♣

Wang found a set on the 6♥ 4♥ K♥ Q♦ 7♥ board to score a double through Kuan-Han.

Hand 7

Wang opened to 12,000 in the cutoff and was called by Liu and Hrabec in the blinds.

Both blinds check-called Wang’s 15,000 bet on the 5♣ 6♣ J♥ flop. Liu folded on the K♠ turn after Wang fired 45,000, while Hrabec called once more.

Hrabec checked the Q♠ river, Wang moved all in, and Hrabec quickly folded.

Hijack Calvin Lee opened to 11,000 and picked up a call from big blind Iulian Blebea.

Blebea check-called a 6,000 continuation bet on the 6♥ A♣ K♦ flop.

The J♣ hit the turn and Blebea checked again. Lee reached for chips and put out a sizable 60,000 bet. After using a timebank to think it through, Blebea eventually folded, conceding the pot.

Meng Ling Lin limped from the small blind and called after big blind Jian Cui raised to 18,000.

Both checked the 9♣ 8♥ 5♠ flop, and Lin led for 25,000 on the T♦ turn. Cui called to see the 9♥ river, where the action went check-check. Lin tabled 8♣ 7♥ for a pair, good enough to take the pot as Cui mucked his hand.

Tony Ren Lin completed from the small blind, and Li Liu checked his option in the big.

Both players checked down the A♠ 6♦ 8♣ T♦ A♣ board, where Lin revealed Q♣ 7♥ to take it with queen-high.

In the following hand, Christian Harder opened to 8,000 before cutoff Wenjie Huang three-bet to 27,000. Big blind Denis Zhang then four-bet to 64,000, forcing Harder out. The action ended when Huang five-bet shoved for roughly 400,000, prompting Zhang to think briefly before folding.

Lei Yu opened to 4,000 from under the gun and received a call from Ding Bao next to act. Yang Li then moved all in for his remaining 27,500, and Quan Zhou called from the cutoff. Small blind Martin Sedlak pushed it further to 100,000, forcing Zhou out of the way as Li and Sedlak went heads-up to a showdown:

Yang Li: Q♦ T♥

Martin Sedlak: K♦ K♥

Li found a queen on the 7♥ Q♥ 4♦ flop, but Sedlak’s kings remained best through the 2♦ A♠ runout to send Li to the rail. Unfazed, Li re-entered moments later.

On a board showing J♥ T♠ 4♣ 2♠, Joseph Cheong fired 55,000 into the middle which was check-called by small blind Haohui Ma.

The 5♠ completed the board and Ma checked once more. Cheong took his time before sliding out a bet worth 125,000. Ma went deep into the tank, burning through a couple of timebanks before ultimately letting his hand go.

Cutoff Ya Qi Sun opened to 7,000 and called when button Jian Cui three-bet to 20,000.

Sun check-called a 15,000 continuation bet on the 2♥ J♥ 8♦ flop, and action repeated on the 4♠ turn when Cui fired 85,000.

Both players checked the A♦ river. Sun first revealed a single jack before showing the A♠ for two pair, enough to take the pot as Cui’s cards went into the muck.

A total of 39 players have now entered Day 1 of the KPC Super High Roller, tipping the prize pool over seven figures at $1,074,206. With the rest of the day’s play and a couple of levels of late registration still to come tomorrow, there’s plenty of time for that number to swell even further.

Cutoff and yesterday’s Super High Roller runner-up Yi Liu moved all in to put button Lei Yu at risk for his remaining ~50,000 chips, and the cards were tabled:

Lei Yu: T♦ T♣

Yi Liu: 6♣ 5♣

Yu looked set for a double with his pocket tens, but the board ran out J♠ 8♥ 4♥ J♥ 7♦ to complete Liu’s straight. The table burst into laughter as Yu hit the rail, though he was back in action shortly after with a fresh stack.

On a board of 5♦ 6♣ 3♥ 2♦ 4♠, Jinjiang Zhang bet 100,000 into a pot of roughly 70,000. From the cutoff, Haohui Ma raised to 300,000, and Zhang responded by moving all in for about 350,000 total. Ma called off his remaining 150,000.

Haohui Ma: K♥ T♥

Jinjiang Zhang: 7♠ 6♠

Zhang’s seven gave him the higher straight on the rivered board, earning him the pot and sending Ma to the rail, though he was spotted re-entering shortly after.

Action was picked up on a board of 4♠ 5♦ 6♦ K♦, where small blind Tony Ren Lin check-called cutoff Tang Wanlong’s 25,000 bet with around 150,000 already in the pot.

The 8♠ completed the board, and after a brief pause, Lin shoved for roughly 350,000. Wanlong tanked for a while before folding, his stack now heavily reduced.

In the following hand, cutoff Jian Zhu raised to 5,000 and received calls from button Lin and big blind Li Liu.

Liu check-folded to Zhu’s 10,000 continuation-bet on the 5♠ Q♣ 4♠ flop, while Lin called.

The 2♣ fell on the turn, prompting Zhu to fire again for 26,000, which Lin matched.

Both players checked the A♠ river, where Zhu showed J♣ 7♣ for a missed flush draw. Lin revealed K♦ Q♠ for second pair on the flop, securing another healthy pot to continue his surge.

Cutoff Xiushen Wei opened to 5,000 and big blind Fng Aorigele made the call. Aorigele check-folded when Wei continued for 10,000 on a 9♠ J♠ 6♣ flop.

In the very next hand, Yang Li raised to 4,000 from under the gun and picked up calls from cutoff Tang Wanlong and big blind Mingming Zhang.

The flop came 6♣ 5♥ 8♥. Zhang checked, Li led for 7,000, Wanlong folded, and Zhang called.

Zhang then took over on the T♠ turn, firing 17,000, which Li called. Both players checked the Q♣ river, and Zhang rolled over 9♥ 7♦ for a turned straight, to laughs from the table as he dragged in the pot.

Fng Aorigele raised to 3,000 from under the gun and picked up calls from Yi Liu one seat over and big blind Ye Wang, going three-ways to the flop.

The dealer spread T♥ 7♦ K♠, and after Wang check-folded to Aorigele’s 5,000 continuation bet, Liu made the call.

On the A♦ turn, Aorigele check-called a 15,000 bet before both players checked the 6♣ river. Aorigele revealed A♣ Q♦ for top pair, good enough for the pot as Liu mucked.

The KPC Super High Roller is back, this time stretching across two days with a USD 30,000 buy-in and a deep 500,000 starting stack. Levels are set at 40 minutes each, giving players plenty of room to navigate through the early stages. The blind structure opens at 1,000/1,500/1500, with breaks every three levels. Registration remains open through Level 12, during the early stages of Day 2.

Yesterday’s KPC Super High Roller Single Day Event nearly broke the seven-figure mark, generating a prize pool of USD 960,100 after drawing 107 entries. With a strong turnout and momentum carrying into today, another stacked field is expected as the cards get in the air for Day 1 of the two-day edition.

Event starts 15:00 local time..