Main Event

Korea Poker Cup Main Event Day 1A ran through twelve levels of play, and saw its 195-entry field whittle down to 45 players remaining. Australia's Yita Choong capped off the lead across the initial flight with a final chip count of 401,000, having ran hot across the last level of play. Choong firstly shaved some off Jin Boxin, and used this newly gained advantage to the fullest, scooping up Hongji Chen's entire 72 BB stack with pocket aces moments later. Joining him at the pinnacle is USA's Peter Park with 304,000, followed by China's Nan Zhang with 257,000, to round up the top three counts.

Korea Poker Cup Main Event

Dates: November 22-26, 2024

Buy-in: KRW 1,600,000 (~USD 1,145)

Guarantee: KRW 1,000,000,000 (~USD 718,110)

Day 1A: 195 entries, 45 qualified

Day 1B: Saturday, November 23

Day 1C Turbo: Saturday, November 23

Day 2: Sunday, November 24

Day 3: Monday, November 25

Day 4 /Final: Tuesday, November 26

Following his third place finish at today's WPT Main Event games, Dong Li jumped in the Pot Limit Omaha side event and closed out the win across fourteen levels of play, ending his day with a trophy in hand. While a smaller feat, Li's victory over the 20-entry field did not go unrewarded, earning him an additional KRW 8,730,000 (~USD 6,210) in winnings, along with the first KPC hardware to be awarded across the series.

Pot Limit Omaha

Date/s: November 22, 2024

Buy-in: KRW 1,000,000 (~USD 710)

Entries: 20 (18 unique)

Prize pool: KRW 17,460,000 (~USD 12,420)

ITM: 3 places

Full Payouts

1st Dong Li - KRW 8,730,000

2nd Erdun Xu - KRW 5,238,000

3rd Joris Michl - KRW 3,492,000

A preflop back and forth between Yita Choong and Hongji Chen saw the latter risk his entire 180,000 stack with pocket queens. Unfortunately for Chen, Choong had the best of it with pocket aces, and easily captured the massive 146 BB pot, propelling him to the lead.

Peter Park opened 5,500 utg, called behind by Yi Qin and Xixiang Luo on the big blind. Action on flop 8♣ K♣ 2♦ checked round to turn Q♦ , where Luo led 7,000. Park put in a raise to 27,000, called only by Qin. Park fired a final 25,000 on river A♣ , and Qin quickly laid it down.

Vying for a pot of 79,000 across board Q♣ 9♣ 5♥ J♠ 7♠ , Yita Choong led 68,500 on the river and was called behind by Jin Boxin. Choong tabled straight T♣ 8♠ , leaving Boxin to muck.

Lei Zhang opened to 5,000 on the cutoff, and proceeded to four bet jam his entire 82,000 after being met with a raise from Nan Zhang behind. Nan Zhang happily obliged, and delivered the elimination shortly as board K♣ 7♣ 4♣ 2♥ 7♠ landed on the felt.

With 32,500 in the middle on flop 2♣ K♣ 3♠ , initial raiser Hang Zhou check raised all-in for 44,000 and was called behind by Jie Zheng.

Zhou 7♣ 6♣

Zheng J♠ J♣

In search of a club, the turn 8♣ completed Zhou's flush, with the river T♦ sealing his win.

Facing an open and a three bet, Yipeng Yang lodged a cold fourbet to 32,000, and went on to call off Ning Zhang's five bet jam for 97,000 total. Crushed against the rockets, Yang booked the loss as board ran 4♥ 5♦ 9♠ K♠ T♠ , shipping Zhang the 101 BB pot.

Xixiang Luo opened utg, and was met wit an 11,000 three bet right behind from Yong Li. Luo answered with another raise to 32,000, called by Li. On board 3♠ 9♠ 5♦ 7♥ , Luo double barreled - 25,000 and 35,500, leaving Li unable to continue by the second bet.

Ka Fai Wong opened utg, and went on to fourbet jam 49,500 vs Wei Chen Lin's 13,000 three bet behind. Lin made the call with A♥ K♣ , and locked in the win against Wong's A♣ Q♦ as board A♠ T♥ 8♠ 9♦ 5♣ delivered no bad beats.

A three way all-in saw Hongji Chen take out two players - Xiaoyun Li and Siu Wai Hon, simultaneously. Chen's rockets held up on dry board 8♥ 4♥ 3♠ 6♠ 7♣ , and scooped up two stacks in quick fashion.

Stephen Lai open shoved 30,000 in and faced Shiina Okamoto's overcards behind. At risk, Lai luckily found none of his opponent's overcards on board Q♦ 3♣ 9♠ 2♠ 2♥ , sparing him from elimination.

Facing a late position open, Jun Li pushed his 26,000 stack in and saw Hang Zhou behind shove likewise. In for a flip, board Q♥ J♦ 9♦ 2♠ K♦ instantly ran in favor of the overcards, leaving Li crippled following the loss.

Yi Qin opened utg+1, followed by an all-in from Yongbin Wang for 16,000. Pao Fan Chen on the big blind put in the call, as well as Qin, for a three way pot. On flop A♦ 7♣ 5♠ , Chen led 15,000, and Qin decided to fold.

Wang A♣ K♣

Chen A♠ J♣

A top pair battle, Wang's kicker ran in play as turn 8♣ and river 7♦ completed the board, earning him the triple up.

A preflop back and forth saw Zihao Wang make the final call for his entire 41,500 against initial raiser Ying Song. Drawing slim, Song found no hope as Wang shipped the full double up across jack-high board J♥ 9♠ 2♠ 8♣ 3♣ .

With 9,000 in the middle on flop T♣ J♠ Q♦ , action was checked by both Wei Chen Lin on the big blind and Shiina Okamoto on the button. On turn 6♦ , Okamoto bet 7,500, and gunned for a final 8,000 on river A♠ . Lin called all the way down, yet mucked as Okamoto revealed bottom pair 7♠ 6♣ .

Changyang Liu opened to 3,000 utg+1 and saw both players on the blinds come along on flop J♠ 4♠ Q♥ . Liu continued for 4,000, and called 5,000 more following a check raise from Xian Xiao. On turn 9♠ , Xiao bet all-in, called by Liu for his remaining 22,000.

Xiao K♣ Q♦

Liu A♣ K♠

River 7♦ bricked for Liu, leaving him with ace high for his elimination.

Heng Qiao opened 3,000 on the cutoff, called by Xiaqing Ji on the button along with the big blind. On board Q♣ 9♣ 8♣ K♠ , Qiao fired both streets - 3,500 and 10,000, and saw Ji put him all-in by the turn. Qiao called off for his 13,500 behind with K♣ J♣ , and met his fate as Ji's two pair K♥ Q♠ held for the win through river 6♥ .

Korea Poker Cup Main Event players are off to a 30-minute break, with registration deemed to close right before the start of Level 10. Netherlands' Thijs Hilberts currently holds down the lead, being the sole runner to crack the 200K mark across the remaining 87-player field.

Day 1A is set to close following three more levels, with action wrapping up by the end of Level 12.

Top Chip Counts

Valeriy Pak shoved his last 11,100 on the button, and was called by Jiaqi Teng on the big blind. In for a race, Pak remained ahead on flop 6♣ J♥ 5♦ , up until the runout 9♦ K♥ gave his two pair to take him out.

With a late position open and a three bet in front of him, Shizi Xiao on the big blind pulled a squeeze to 13,000. Initial raiser Zan Chen moved all-in for 14,100 more, and Xiao put in the call. A pocket pair battle, Chen's nutted hand cruised to victory on board 2♣ 4♣ 4♥ 2♠ K♣ , earning him the full double up.

Yuchun Chen defended his big blind against Jianwei Lin's utg open, and went on to check raise 12,000 on flop 7♥ 5♦ 4♥ . Lin answered with an all-in, called by Chen for his remaining 26,000.

Lin A♣ 7♣

Chen 6♥ 5♥

With a ton of outs, Chen locked in the win as turn J♥ completed his flush, sealing Lin's elimination.

Ka Fai Wong fired a 6,000 three bet against Valery Li's open and saw the latter continue to flop A♦ 6♣ 5♣ . Wong bet 5,500, and a following 15,000 on turn 3♦ , both of which was check called by Li. On river 8♦ , Wong decided to check it back, leaving him to muck shortly after Li flipped over two pair 6♥ 5♥ .

Five players headed to flop A♣ 6♣ J♥ , where action checked to Beng Hong Ker on the cutoff. Ker bet 4,000, check called only by utg raiser Valeriy Pak. Turn 9♦ and river 3♦ welcomed no more bets, revealing Pak's king-high K♥ Q♣ , no good against Ker's pair of jacks K♣ J♠ .

Facing an open and a call, Xiaochun Gu moved all-in for 17,200, and was called by initial raiser Siu Wai Hon with a monster pair. In rough shape, Gu found no help on board 3♦ 6♥ T♥ 9♣ 6♣ , knocking him out from the running.

Patrik Demus opened 2,000 on the cutoff and called a 12,000 jam from Qing Zhao behind. Drawing slim, Zhao headed out shortly as board ran 4♥ Q♦ 6♠ T♥ J♦ .

Zhaoxi Ma opened 1,600 on the hijack, raised by Shanghao Xie behind to 4,600. William Teoh on the button, bumped it up further to 15,000, and shipped the pot as both opponents folded.

Action folded to Haonan Tian on the button, prompting him to open shove 29,000 in. Sinuo Xiao was up to the challenge, risking half his stack for the call. In for a flip, board 8♠ 6♦ 5♥ K♣ 2♦ ran in favor of the overcards, winning the pot for Xiao with top pair.

Jiang Pu opened from utg+1, joined by both players on the blinds. On board T♠ 3♠ 4♥ J♣ J♥ , Pu barreled all three streets - 1,900, 4,000, and a final all-in for 14,500, with Shanghao Xie check calling the first two bets. Xie gave it up on the river after Pu pulled the trigger, shipping his opponent the pot.

Zhaoxi Ma opened to 1,600 utg, called by the hijack. Jiang Pu behind, put in a raise to 5,200, and was met with an all-in from Ma for 20,100 total. Both players folded, earning Ma the dead money.

With 4,800 in the pot on flop 9♦ 9♣ 7♥ , small blind Yi Qin led for 2,500, raised by Pao Fan Chen behind to 6,000. Qin bumped it up further to 21,000, and went on to barrel all-in on turn 2♣ . Chen called down for his entire 52,900 with J♣ 9♠ , and left Qin's 4♦ 2♦ drawing dead straight away.

A pot of 6,300 was centered around board 7♠ T♦ J♠ K♦ . Initial raiser Jun Zang led 4,000, and called for his 5,200 behind after Valeriy Pak moved all-in. Pak revealed two pair K♥ J♣ ahead of Zang's A♠ A♥ , up until the river 7♥ landed in Zang's favor, saving him from elimination.

Hanmin Wang shoved his last 6,900 against a utg open, and saw Jiaqi He behind put in a raise to 12,000. Initial raiser folded and the two headed to showdown for an ace high battle. He's better kicker ran in play on board A♠ 8♥ 6♦ T♦ 8♦ , eliminating Wang from the Main Event games.

Valery Li sent out a 4,000 three bet vs Chzhen Evgenii's utg open and saw the latter complete, revealing flop 9♣ 8♥ 7♥ . Both checked it through to turn A♦ , where Li bet 5,000. Evgenii called, and arrived at showdown not long after Li checked back river 6♥ . Evgenii showed J♠ J♥ , no good against Li's turned top pair A♣ Q♦ .

Jun Li opened utg and was called by Xian Xiao behind along with the big blind. Action on flop K♣ J♠ 6♠ was checked to Xiao, who bet 1,300. Li check raised to 4,000, called by Xiao to turn A♣ . Li led all-in, and ushered a fold shortly after from his opponent for the boost.

Erdun Xu fired a 3,500 three bet against an early open and found Haoran Hu cold call behind. On flop Q♠ 9♥ 7♥ , Xu continued for 3,000, yet folded after Hu check raised all-in.

With 21,300 in the middle across board Q♣ 2♦ 7♦ T♦ K♣ , action was seen on Jieming Xu with an overbet all-in for 30,900. Xian Xiao behind, made the call with A♥ A♦ , and was left in pieces as Xu turned over J♦ 4♦ for a flush.

Changyang Liu opened to 1,000 on the button and called off for his 17,300 stack following an all-in from Yipeng Yang. Up for a flip, Yang instantly landed a set on flop T♦ Q♠ 8♥ , with the runout A♠ Q♦ missing to fill up Liu's straight draw for his elimination.

Facing an open and a call, Shiina Okamoto sent out a 3,600 three bet on the button. Ming Jiang behind, lodged a cold four bet to 9,700, and picked up the pot uncontested.

A preflop back and forth saw Xiaoyun Li fourbet jam his remaining 9,600, snap called by Xiao Liu with a monster pair. In search of an ace, the board 6♣ 7♥ 2♠ K♣ T♥ felted none, knocking Li out entirely.

Zhengshan Hao opened utg, called by two opponents behind, revealing flop Q♦ 3♠ 4♣ . Hao continued for 1,500, called by Qingbo Gao. On turn 8♦ , Hao barreled another 2,500, and saw Gao put in the call once more. Hao finally checked the river 7♦ , and tank folded after Gao pushed a final bet of 12,000.

With 9,900 in the middle on flop K♠ T♠ 8♣ , Changyang Liu sent out a bet of 1,500, and folded after initial raiser Yi Qin check raised all-in.

With already 10,800 in the pot on board 6♣ Q♠ 9♦ 4♠ , action was caught on Jieming Xu sending out a bet of 8,000. Dawei Lu behind put in the call, and eventually called off his last 16,500 on river 8♥ after Xu moved all-in. Xu tabled two pair Q♣ 9♥ , crushing Lu's 7♦ 7♣ all the way through.

Facing an open and a call, Valeriy Pak on the small blind fired a three bet to 2,200, and was followed with another raise right behind from Chang Liang Sun to 8,000. Xinyu Shen reshoved 21,200 in, called by Sun, putting him at risk.

Shen A♦ K♥

Sun A♠ Q♠

A great spot for Shen, the board Q♥ 5♥ 4♦ 7♣ 8♦ unfortunately landed queen high, shipping Sun a huge boost to start his second bullet run.

Aleksei Sei opened utg to 600, called by Patrik Demus behind along with the big blind. Sei continued for 800 on flop T♥ 9♦ 2♣ , and barreled another 2,100 on turn 4♠ . Demus called the initial street but gave it up shortly after Sei proceeded with aggression.

With a pot of 3,300 centered around board 2♣ 7♥ T♣ 6♠ , action was caught on utg raiser Xiao Liu firing a bet of 2,400. Xixiang Luo on the big blind, check raised to 6,700, and bagged the boost as Liu laid it down.

Jianwei Lin opened utg, and put in a 4,000 fourbet shortly after being met with a raise from Bohao Huang. Huang continued to flop A♣ 3♠ 9♥ , and called a 2,500 cbet from his opponent. On turn 8♠ , Huang called another 4,500, and arrived at river 8♣ . Lin checked to Huang, and folded after his opponent demanded a final 17,300.

Jinwoo Kim defended his cutoff open and called a 2,400 three bet from small blind Chang Liang Sun. On flop T♦ 2♥ J♣ , Kim called another 2,000, revealing turn T♥ . Sun this time, check raised to 9,500, which didn't deter Kim from continuing to river 7♣ . Sun bet all-in for 13,500, and received a call shortly from Kim with Q♠ Q♦ . Sun's busted draw K♥ 9♥ gets exposed, leaving him to exit the arena.

Vying for a pot of 2,200 on board 5♣ J♥ 9♥ J♦ , action was caught on Yi Qin on the small blind with a bet of 1,100. Jianwei Lin bumped it up to 4,400, yet folded after Qin pulled another raise to 14,100. Qin showed pure air 4♣ 3♦ as he raked in the pot.

With 2,800 in the pot three way across flop 9♣ 9♥ 7♠ , action was checked to the button, who fired 1,000. Gang Zhao check raised to 2,900, and saw initial raiser Shizi Xiao put in the call. On turn A♠ , Zhao sent out another 4,500, and finished with a hefty 22,000 all-in on river 3♦ . Xiao called him down with A♦ 7♦ , and delivered Zhao's bust as he showed a busted straight draw T♦ 8♦ .

A three way raised pot dealt flop A♥ K♣ 6♣ . Yongbin Wang on the small blind, led 500, called by both opponents to turn J♣ . Action was checked round to river 8♥ , where big blind Chang Liang Sun fired 1,800. Wang check called, and mucked as Sun flipped over a flush 9♣ 7♣ .

With 1,800 in the middle on board Q♦ 5♣ A♥ 8♠, action was caught on Chang Liang Sun with a bet of 700. Jianqiang Yu on the big blind, check raised to 1,700, called by Sun. On turn 3♠ , Yu check folded after being faced with a 2,000 bet, and showed A♦ 4♦ .

Jianwei Lin opened on the cutoff and was met with a 1,300 three bet from Zhang Lei on the small blind. Lin clapped back with a raise to 3,000, and Lei stuck around. On flop K♠ J♠ 8♣ , Lei check folded after Lin sent out a 2,000 cbet.

Patrik Demus opened utg and was joined by both players on the blinds to flop J♦ T♠ 4♠ . Demus continued for 500, called by both to turn 6♣ . Demus fired another 1,800, weeding one out as only Valeriy Pak moved on to river 6♥ . Demus went for a final 3,500, and finally convinced Pak to lay it down.

Shuffle up & deal, good luck to all the players!

Today marks the opening of the Korea Poker Cup games, with Day 1 seeing its KPC Main Event initial flight on schedule. A guaranteed KRW 1,000,000,000 (~USD 718,110) prize pool stands on the line, where its inaugural champion is set to claim the first of its kind KPC Main Event trophy in addition to a hefty payday. Two more flights are set in following, both of which are due to hit the felt, tomorrow, November 23rd.

KPC Main Event

Dates: November 22-26, 2024

Buy-in: KRW 1,600,000 (~USD 1,145)

Guarantee: KRW 1,000,000,000 (~USD 718,110)

Day 1A: Friday, November 22

Day 1B: Saturday, November 23

Day 1C Turbo: Saturday, November 23

Day 2: Sunday, November 24

Day 3: Monday, November 25

Day 4 /Final: Tuesday, November 26