Main Event (1,600,000 KRW)

The final table kicked off with exciting action from the very first hand with the two huge stacks going at it.

Joris Michl raised to 185,000 from early position and chip leader Cheng Lo defended his big blind.

Both players saw a flop of A♣ Q♣ 6♠ which both checked to see a freebie 4♠ on the turn.

Lo check called Michl's bet of 225,000 to see a 5♠ on the river. Both players then slowed down to show their cards. Michl flashed J♣ T♣ which wasn't enough against the K♣ 5♣ of Lo, who took down the pot.

Michl was a bit relieved a club didn't come in the river, or it could've spelled a big disaster for his Main Event hopes.

Cheng Lo, meanwhile, extended his chip lead.

The Main Event of the Korean Poker Cup is down to its final table. 530 started this adventure three days ago with the top 87 players earning their spot in the payout circle. Now, only 8 remain. While each are guaranteed a loot bag of KRW 20,700,000 (~USD 14,860), all eyes are on the top prize of with the KRW 190,000,000 (~USD 136,410) plus a gorgeous trophy to go along with the title Main Event Champion.

Leading the final table is Taiwan's Cheng Lo with 4,130,000 chips. Lo has made nearly USD 60,000 in tournament winnings and this final table appearance will be his biggest career cash. He's made three final table appearances last October 2024 at various events, but still needs to finally book that win. Maybe today is the day he stays on course for the championship.

Joris Michl of the Netherlands sits with the second largest stack of 3,110,000 chips. This final table payout will surely boost Michl's career winnings to over USD 200,000, but a championship win will catapult his earnings to pass the USD 300,000 milestone. Michl's last win was back in September 2024 when he took down the NLH Mini High Roller event at USOP Hai Phong.

Wei Chen Lin of Taiwan rounds up the top three with a stack of 2,900,000. Lin's biggest live cash was for over USD 47,000 way back in 2023, finishing third in a main event tournament at the 2023 CSPG in Cangshan, China. At least a third place finish will break Lin's personal best.

Jianfeng Sun of China has the fourth spot in the chip counts with 1,760,000. Sun has nearly USD 700,000 in total live earnings. A championship here will bring him closer to the USD 1 million milestone.

China's Jianwei Lin is ranked fifth with 1,200,000 chips. Lin recently topped the NLH - Six Handed event in the European Poker Tour (EPT) at Cyprus last month. In September 2024, he made his largest earning for over $200,000 with an 8th place finish at the Main Event of the EPT Barcelona.

Yi Ma of China holds the sixth rank with 745,000 chips. Ma has over USD 400,000 in total live earnings and a championship win will push him past the half-million milestone.

Changyang Liu of China is second to the bottom rank with just 505,000 chips. Liu will need to win a few flips to get away from the bottom and improve his payout in order to boost his earnings over the USD 250,000 mark.

At the bottom of the leaderboard is China's Xiao Liu. Liu made his biggest cash earlier this July with a 6th place finish in the Red Dragon Poker Tour here at Jeju. Liu bagged over USD 52,000 and will need a third place finish to beat that mark.

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)

Entries: 530 (247 unique)

Prize pool: KRW 1,000,000,000 (~USD 718,110)

ITM: 87 places

Final Table Payouts

1st - KRW 190,000,000 (~USD 136,410)

2nd - KRW 117,500,000 (~USD 84,360)

3rd - KRW 83,900,000 (~USD 60,240)

4th - KRW 65,000,000 (~USD 46,670)

5th - KRW 51,000,000 (~USD 36,615)

6th - KRW 40,000,000 (~USD 28,720)

7th - KRW 30,000,000 (~USD 21,540)

8th - KRW 20,700,000 (~USD 14,860)

One more bust to go before Day 3 wraps up with the final eight players set to advance to the Final Day. Taiwan's Cheng Yen Lo has since taken the lead with a chip count of 4,100,000, followed by day chip leader Wei Chen Lin, 27 big blinds behind.

Chip Counts

Another bust was seen on the feature table, with Cheng Lo taking up the challenge for Yongbin Wang's 370,000 stack. In for a flip, board 6♠ 9♣ 9♦ 7♦ 8♠ felted none of Wang's overcards, leaving him to exit just minutes before the break.

Facing an open and a call, Yi Ma on the big blind, fired a 150,000 three bet, and was called by Cheng Yen Lo on the button. Ma continued for 100,000 on flop K♠ 9♦ 6♣ , and followed with another 130,000 on turn 7♣ . Lo raised all-in by the second bet, and ushered a fold from his opponent shortly after, for the pot.

Wei Chen Lin defended his big blind against a 36,000 button open from Cheng Yen Lo. Both checked flop 2♥ 7♣ J♣ through to turn 7♥ , where Lin led 35,000. Lo called behind, and faced another 63,000 on river K♣ . This time, Lo raised to 175,000, yet booked the loss as Lin found the call with A♦ J♠ , exposing his bluff Q♣ 8♥ .

KPC Main Event players have been sent off for a 60-minute dinner break, with action set to resume at 6:48 pm local time. Only 32 runners remain in contention for the title and KRW 190,000,000 (~USD 136,410) top prize, with Taiwan's Cheng Yen Lo remaining in the lead. All contenders are now guaranteed KRW 4,600,000 (~USD 3,300) in cashes.

Day 2 action will wrap up by the end of Level 20.

Top Chip Counts

Xian Xiao pushed all-in for 116,000, called behind by Cheng Yen Lo. Joris Michl on the button, raised to 330,000, yet tank folded after Lo moved all-in for 968,000.

Lo delivered the bust shortly after his ladies held on board 8♦ 8♠ 3♥ 7♣ T♠ .

Button opened, called by Cheng Lo on the small blind. Xudong Zhang on the big blind, raised to 36,000, and saw only Lo continue to flop 4♠ 8♠ T♠ . Both checked it through to turn 4♣ , where Lo led 35,000. Zhang called behind, and paid another 40,000 on river 2♠ , only to muck as Lo revealed nut flush A♠ J♠ .

Erdun Xu shoved all-in for 53,000 against an early open, and found Cheng Yen Lo push behind likewise. Initial raiser opted out, and the two ran board K♣ 7♠ 3♦ 8♦ J♥ . Lo landed top pair for the win, sending Xu bound for the exit.

Four more eliminations are left on the table before the money trickles in. 87 players are due to cut a payday off of the KRW 1 million prize pool, with mincash set at KRW 3,200,000 (~USD 2,295).

Top Chip Counts

All three KPC Main Event starting flights have played through the first twelve levels, with 135 players out of its 530-entry field surviving the Day 1 battle. The money is expected to trickle in over today's Day 2 games, where 87 runners are deemed to cut a share of the KRW 1 million (~USD 718,110) prize pool. Mincash is set at KRW 3,200,000 (~USD 2,275), with the KRW 190 million (~USD 135,085) top prize remaining on the horizon.

Action will close following nine hours of play, by the end of Level 19.

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)

Entries: 530 (247 unique)

Prize pool: KRW 1,000,000,000 (~USD 718,110)

ITM: 87 places

Day 1A: 195 entries, 45 qualified

Day 1B: 210 entries, 48 qualified

Day 1C Turbo: 125 entries, 42 qualified

Day 2: 135 players

Day 3: Monday, November 25

Day 4 /Final: Tuesday, November 26

Top Ten Chip Counts

Cheng Yen Lo opened to 5,000 on the hijack, followed by a 15,000 three bet from Kyungmin Lee behind. Charles Pansoy on the big blind, and Lo came along on flop 3♦ 7♦ 6♥ , where Lee bet 25,000. Both continued to turn K♦ , checked by all three. Action on river 6♠ was checked to Lee once more, who bet 38,500. Pansoy folded, but Lo raised all-in for 191,000. Lee put in the call with A♣ A♥ , and booked the loss as Lo flipped over the nut flush A♦ J♦ .

Lee survived the damaged but is crippled down to 2 BB, while Lo shot up to the lead with a towering 500K chip stack.

Vying for 54,000 in the middle on flop J♦ 2♦ 5♥ , Cheng Yen Lo bet 15,000 on the button, and was met with a check raise to 40,000 from Xu Chen. Lo answered with an all-in for 132,500, and took down the pot as Chen folded.

A three way three bet pot led by Xiao Liu rolled flop A♠ T♦ 6♦ . Liu led 3,000, called by both Tsz Hin Cheung and Cheng Yen Lo behind. All three checked turn T♣ through to river T♠ . Action checked to Lo, who bet all-in for 20,700. Liu folded, but Cheung happily put in the call, exposing Lo's bluff Q♣ J♣ . Cheung tabled full house A♦ 5♦ , and delivered the bust.

Bohao Huang opened 500 on the hijack, called behind by Cheng Yen Lo along with big blind Aghayev Farhad. Action on flop Q♥ 9♥ 9♦ was checked round to turn 5♦ . Farhad led 1,500, called by Huang. Lo bumped it up to 4,500, and saw both continue to river T♠ . Led all-in for 17,100, and shipped the pot as both threw in the fold.

Three players vied for 9,600 in the middle across board 5♦ T♠ 2♠ 4♥ . Cheng Yen Lo led 7,000 out of the small blind, called by Jieming Xu behind. Bohao Huang on the button reshoved for 25,700 total and was challenged by Xu.

Huang 8♦ 6♦

Xu 9♦ 9♥

A gutsy shove with only an inside straight draw, Huang's aggression paid off as the river 7♠ completed his straight, earning him the full double up.