Main Event (1,600,000 KRW)

The fourth Main Event flight across the Poker Dream 16 lineup attracted 49 entries across registration, each posting a lighter buy-in of KRW 1,600,000 (~USD 1,103). Action played down to 10% of the field, with only five players finding a bag by the end of the night.

China's Yang Zhang topped the counts with a stack of 357,000, followed by compatriot Jieming Xu with 207,000. Zhang delivered a number of eliminations after the final break to catch the lead, of which included Mok Seng's exit as the day's bubble by the fifteenth level of play.

All five Day 1D survivors are now guaranteed at least KRW 3,800,000 (~USD 2,630) off the prize pool, earning them a 2x profit on their buy-in straight away as they make their way to Day 2. Those who wish to chase after a Dream Bonus can still jump in the remaining seven qualifiers, and attempt to bump up their winnings or catch a bigger stack for the next round.

Day 2 will play down on Wednesday, February 19, with all combined Day 1 survivors continuing the hunt for this season's Poker Dream Main Event title.

Poker Dream 16 Main Event Day 1D

Date: February 16, 2025

Buy-in: KRW 1,600,000 (~USD 1,103)

Entries: 49

ITM: 5 players

Mok Seng open shoved 73,000 (15 BB) on the cutoff and saw Yang Zhang right behind rise to the challenge.

Seng dominated, fell one spot shy of the money as board 9♠ 8♠ 6♣ 9♦ 5♥ failed to save him from his demise.

Ben Miller flicked in his last 24,000 (6 BB) against an early open and saw Yang Zhang on the big blind push likewise. Initial raiser opted out, leaving the two to showdown.

Zhang's pocket pair held through on board 6♠ K♠ T♦ T♥ 9♣ , sending Miller to the rails.

Yang Zhang opened utg+1, called by a player behind along with Maxim Fana on the big blind.

On flop 4♥ 6♠ 3♠ , Fana led all-in for his last 20,000 and was called by Zhang for a showdown.

Fana 5♠ 5♣

Zhang J♠ J♣

Fana drawing slim, found no fives on either turn K♠ or river 4♠ , knocking him out of the Day 1D running.

Maxim Fana sent out an 18,000 three bet on the button, and saw Yang Zhang on the big blind, four bet jam for 68,000 (22 BB) total. Initial raiser opted out and Fana happily obliged.

Zhang in search of an ace, quickly found one on board T♠ A♦ 2♣ 8♥ 5♥ , sparing him from elimination. Fana survived the damage but is down to ten big blinds.

Yang Zhang opened utg and called Ben Miller's all-in on the small blind for 31,000 (12 BB).

In for a flip, Miller took this one down as board 8♥ 2♥ K♥ 7♠ 9♠ paired up his overcards to send Zhang's pocket pair flying towards the muck.