Main Event (1,600,000 KRW)

Rong Long opened utg+1, called by Valeriy Pak behind. Big blind Wan Lo moved all-in for 38,000, and saw Long push likewise. Pak tanked, and eventually put in the call for his 192,000 stack.

Board A♥ K♦ T♠ 8♠ 2♠ quickly landed Lo the advantage, while Pak's kicker ran in play for the side pot, keeping him in the Main Event games.

Joris Michl fired a 25,000 three bet against Valeriy Pak's button open, and saw the latter complete, revealing flop K♠ 2♠ Q♥ . Michl gunned 17,000, called behind by his opponent. Michl checked turn 3♦ to Pak, who bet 49,000. Michl raised all-in shortly after, and left Pak to tank fold, opting to save his 23 BB behind.

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

Valeriy Pak defended his big blind vs Yikai Fang's button open, and went on to check call another 6,000 on flop J♠ 9♦ 3♦ . Both checked turn Q♦ through to river 4♥ , where Pak led 13,000. Fang made the call, and mucked as Pak revealed straight K♣ T♦ .

An all-in preflop situation saw Xin Jiang risk his 20,000 stack with A♣ A♠ up against Valeriy Pak's K♥ Q♣ . A favorite to win, Jiang instead headed out shortly after board A♥ T♣ 2♦ J♥ 5♣ landed Pak a broadway straight.

A three way three bet pot led by Cheng Chen saw the aggressor continue for 1,200 on flop A♦ Q♥ 8♣ . Initial raiser Valeriy Pak check called one street, yet laid it down as Chen barreled another 2,300 on turn K♣ .

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.

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♠ .

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.

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.

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.