Red Dragon Championship

A fast paced final table gameplay landed on today's felt with the newest Red Dragon Main Event champion crowned in just three hours of play. China's Zhang Mai patiently waited for the correct spots, and allowed chip leader Nana Nakamura run table captain throughout the early rounds. It wasn't until Zhang delivered two eliminations - Kozo Yamada and Saito Go, in 3rd and 4th place respectively, did the Chinese runner overtake his opponent. By heads up play, all it took was one massive pot to ship him the advantage and eventually secure the win. Zhang takes with him KRW 392,403,000 in winnings, the RDPT Main Event trophy, and an exclusive RDPT Main Event Winner's Jacket.

Conratulations to all the winners!

Dates: July 30 – August 4, 2024

Buy in: KRW 2,200,000 (~USD 1,620)

Guarantee: KRW 1,680,000,000 (~USD 1,236,390)

Prize pool: KRW 2,567,843,000 (~USD 1,875,480)

Entries: 1,337

ITM: 201 places

Day 1A: 332 entries / 103 qualified

Day 1B: 395 entries / 138 qualified

Day 1C: 421 entries / 144 qualified

Day 1D: 190 entries / 74 qualified

Day 2: 456 players / 60 qualified

Day 3: 60 players

Zhang Mai shoved all-in and saw Nana Nakamura snap call for her last 8,700,000. Slightly behind, Zhang quickly turned the tables as the flop 5♥ 6♥ 9♦ 9♠ J♣ paired up his six to eventually finish off his opponent.

A limp pot rolled flop K♠ 6♦ 2♣ . Action was checked to turn 9♠ where Nana Nakamura check called for her tournament life with a pair of nines. Nana is ahead against Zhang's flush draw and held up through river J♥ for the win.

Zhang Mai opened for 1,200,000 and called 1,300,000 more after Nana Nakamura put in a raise. On board A♦ K♥ J♦ 2♠ A♠ , Nana triple barreled - 1,200,000, 5,100,000 and a final all-in for Zhang's 26,000,000 behind with Zhang calling down each street. Nakamura reveals a busted flush draw, shipping Zhang the massive 152 BB pot with trip aces.

Nana Nakamura defended her open and called a 2,500,000 three bet from Zhang Mai. On flop 9♣ 6♠ 8♣ , Zhang check called for 1,300,000 yet folded after Nakamura continued for another 4,000,000 on turn 3♠ .

The Red Dragon Championship Event is down to its final two players! The fight remains close with both contenders stacking just slightly above the 33,000,000 mark.

Remaining payouts:

1st - KRW 392,403,000 (~USD 287,400)

2nd - KRW 263,200,000 (~USD 192,770)

Kozo Yamada shoved all-in for 5,800,000 and was called by Zhang Mai right behind. In for a race, Yamada exited shortly after completely missing the board J♥ A♠ 4♠ 3♠ 9♦ .

Nana Nakamura defended her open and called a 2,400,000 three bet from Zhang Mai. On flop 6♦ 6♣ 3♣ , Zhang check raised all-in after Nakamura bet 2,000,000. Nakamura folds and Zhang picks up the 11 BB boost.

Zhang Mai opened to 700,000 and saw both opponents join in on flop 8♥ T♦ Q♦ . All three checked it through to turn T♥ where Kozo Yamada led for 450,000. Zhang puts in a raise to 2,000,000, cold called by Nana Nakamura. Yamada gets out of the way, revealing river 3♠ . Zhang fires another 4,000,000 and Nakamura folds.

Saito Go shoved for his last 4,400,000 and saw Zhang Mai put in the call. A huge underdog, Saito failed to catch up on board T♥ 3♣ 4♥ Q♥ 8♠ , busting him out of the Final Table games.

Chen Chuan Shu shoved 3,600,000 in and saw Kozo Yamada push likewise. Dominated, Chen was crushed right on the flop, with Yamada improving to a full house by the river A♦ 5♠ 5♦ 2♣ A♣ .

Zhang Mai opened to 800,000 and snap called Liu Xiao's 4,300,000 shove right behind. Drawing slim, Liu Xiao bowed out after finding no help on board 7♥ 4♣ 8♦ K♥ J♠ .

Faced with another raise from Nana Nakamura, Liu Jun shoved all-in for 5,000,000 total and saw the chip leader snap call with pocket kings. Liu crushed, headed for the exit shortly after the board A♥ 4♠ A♣ 6♣ Q♠ sealed his fate.

Chen Chuan Shu opened to 650,000 and saw Nana Nakamura come along on flop J♦ J♠ Q♥ . Chen continued for 400,000 and proceeded to check turn 4♥ through. On river 6♠ , Nakamura led for 1,000,000 and Chen tank calls. Nakamura ships the pot once again with two pair queens and jacks.

Liu Jun open shoved his 2,600,000 stack and was called by Nana Nakamura. Slightly behind, Liu quickly caught up as the board ran 2♠ J♣ 7♥ 9♦ 4♠ , giving him top pair.

Nana Nakamura opened and called off Chi Qiao's 4,700,000 for a flip. At risk, Chi was left in pieces shortly after an ace high board 5♦ 6♠ A♠ 2♦ 3♣ rolled on the felt.

Chen Chuan Shu defended his open and called a 1,200,000 three bet from Nana Nakamura. On flop 7♣ 3♠ 6♦ , Chen called a 575,000 from his opponent and got to showdown after turn J♦ and river 2♥ were checked through.

Nana Nakamura opened to 600, called by two other players. Zhang Mai decided to three bet to 2,000,000 yet folded after Nakamura moved all-in.

Ma Haoyun pushed all-in for 3,900,000 and was called by big stacked Nana Nakamura. In for a race, Nakamura delivered the elimination after spiking two pair on board J♦ 3♦ A♦ 9♣ 6♣ .

Nana Nakamura opened to 600,000, called behind by Kozo Yamada. On board J♥ 3♣ 4♠ 4♥ , Nakamura sent out two barrels - 700,000, and 1,500,000. Yamada called a flop cbet but laid it down after faced with another bet.

Utg+1 Zhang Mai opened to 600,000 with A♦ A♥ and saw chip leader Nana Nakamura put in a raise to 1,700,000 with K♥ J♥ . Zhang jams his entire 12,000,000 stack and Nakamura quickly folds.

Mp Zhang Mai opened to 550,000, joined by big blind Liu Jun on flop T♥ 9♠ 6♣ . Zhang continued for 325,000 and went on to check turn 5♦ through . On river 8♠ , Liu led for 550,000, called by Zhang with a straight.

Cards in the air, good luck to all the players!

Having coursed through nine days of thrilling action at Landing Casino, Jeju Shinhwa World, South Korea, the Red Dragon Poker Tour festival is winding down to its final day of games this Sunday, August 4th, with its headlining Championship Event close to crowning its newest champion. The biggest event held this year in Jeju drew in an astonishing 1,337 entries across four flights, and saw its prize pool soar way past the guarantee, listing KRW 2,567,843,000 (~USD 1,875,480) in total prizes. Japan’s Nana Nakamura currently leads the remaining nine into the Final Day after securing the largest bag by the end of Day 3, and stands to be in the best position to secure the KRW 392,403,000 (~USD 287,400) top prize.

Dates: July 30 – August 4, 2024

Buy in: KRW 2,200,000 (~USD 1,620)

Guarantee: KRW 1,680,000,000 (~USD 1,236,390)

Prize pool: KRW 2,567,843,000 (~USD 1,875,480)

Entries: 1,337

ITM: 201 places

Day 1A: 332 entries / 103 qualified

Day 1B: 395 entries / 138 qualified

Day 1C: 421 entries / 144 qualified

Day 1D: 190 entries / 74 qualified

Day 2: 456 players / 60 qualified

Day 3: 60 players

Final Day: Sunday, August 4

Don't forget to also catch Red Dragon Poker Tour's final table livestream via the following channels:

https://www.youtube.com/@reddragonpokertour

https://www.twitch.tv/playreddragon