Red Dragon Championship (2,000,000 KRW)

The Red Dragon Championship games has whittled down to its last three tables with USA's Joseph Cheong on top of the ranks. Cheong was down to 11 big blinds just before dinner break hit and smashed the last four levels to end with a commanding chip count of 3,605,000 (90 BB) onto Day 3. Cheong delivered at least five eliminations at the last hour of play, ending the day in style with his aces crushing Xiaoyun Li entirely to cap the action. The heavily decorated pro stands to be the sole runner above the 3 million mark, with second in rank Chao Li over a million behind.

Each remaining contender is now guaranteed an KRW 8,000,000 (~USD 5,725) payday along with a fighting chance to claim the KRW 243,800,000 (~USD 174,470) top prize. Action resumes tomorrow, November 30th at 12 noon where the 24 survivors will battle for a spot into the Final Day's eight.

Red Dragon Championship

Dates: November 27 – December 1, 2024

Buy-in: KRW 2,000,000 (~USD 1,435)

Guarantee: KRW 1,380,000,000 (~USD 990,995)

Entries: 642 (285 unique)

Prize pool: KRW 1,380,000,000 (~USD 990,995)

ITM: 119 places

Day 1A: 184 entries, 38 qualified

Day 1B: 104 entries, 31 qualified

Day 1C: 214 entries, 47 qualified

Day 1D: 140 entries, 31 qualified

Day 2: 147 players, 24 qualified

Day 3: Saturday, November 30

Day 4 /Final: Sunday, December 1

Another preflop all-in clash was seen on the other table with Xiaoyun Li in danger for his last ten big blinds against Joseph Cheong's pocket aces. Board 6♠ 7♥ 8♠ 7♦ J♦ delivered no bad beats, ending Li's run completely.

A blind vs blind battle landed both stacks in the middle, Valery Li being at risk for his last 205,000 against Lei Yu. Li managed to outflop his opponent on 9♣ 3♣ 4♦ , but was entirely crushed as the runout A♥ 4♠ landed Yu a boat to turn it back in his favor.

Yi Ma shoved his last 295,000 and was challenged by Xiaqing Ji for a flip. The pocket pair won it this time around, knocking Ma out shortly after missing to pair up on board K♥ 8♣ 6♠ Q♣ T♦ .

A preflop back and forth between Chao Li and big blind Zan Chen saw the latter call off for his nearly 30 BB stack for a flip. Li instantly landed the advantage, having paired up his queen right on the flop 3♦ Q♦ K♣ , with no help on either turn T♦ or river 2♣ arriving for Chen. Li raked in the 2.3 million pot, propelling him to the lead.

Xudong Jin raised 300,000, leaving himself with 70,000 behind. Jianting Cai on the big blind, put him all-in and Jin chucked in the remaining.

Jin at risk, dodged elimination having spiked a ten on board 6♣ 3♣ 5♥ T♦ 5♣ for the win.

Qidong He opened to 80,000 on the cutoff and put in the call after Yongbin Wang behind moved all-in for 265,000 total. A huge favorite, Wang easily scooped the double up with his better ace holding on board 2♥ 9♦ Q♠ J♦ 7♠ .

Kang Gao open shoved 300,000 in and was snap called by Bing An on the big blind. A classic flip, the overcards won it this time, just as board ran K♦ T♦ 7♦ 6♣ J♣ .

Young Wook Lee on the big blind, risked his last 360,000 with K♦ Q♦ and got it in good against Joseph Cheong's K♣ J♣ . The board 2♥ J♥ 7♣ 2♠ 3♦ however, landed top pair for his opponent, sending Lee out in 31st place.

A three way all-in preflop clash saw Yi Ma on the big blind, make the final call covering both Liu Yin's 115,000 and Xiaqing Ji's 445,000 stacks.

Board Q♦ 6♣ 3♦ A♦ 7♦ ran four diamonds, landing Ji the nut flush to scoop it all.

The Red Dragon Championship games is down to its last four tables with only 32 players remaining in contention for the title. Today's action will close once the field is down to 24 runners.

Top Chip Counts

Valery Li opened on the button and called a 200,000 three bet from big blind Ye Li. On flop A♣ 4♣ 6♥ , Ye Li bet 150,000, and followed with an all-in for 240,000 on turn 9♥ . Valery Li called one street but gave it up after Ye Li proceeded with aggression.

Henzan Kyota open shoved his remaining 370,000 utg, and was called right behind by Joseph Cheong. In search of an ace, the board 3♣ 2♦ 5♦ 3♥ K♠ felted none, knocking Kyota out of the running.

Two back to back all-in preflop situations between Bayar Saran and Chuanshu Chen was seen on the inner table. Chen firstly, doubled up Saran with his Q♠ J♠ losing to the Mongolian's A♥ K♠ for over half his stack.

On the next hand, Chen got it again behind with K♣ Q♣ against Saran's A♠ Q♥ but shipped the win after flopping trip kings on board K♠ K♦ 8♥ J♦ 6♠ .

Ming Yang risked his last 16 BBs with A♣ 8♥ and was called by initial raiser Yu Lei with 9♥ 9♠ . In danger, Yang exited the Main Event floor just as board 4♠ T♣ T♦ T♥ 9♣ landed on the table.

Joseph Cheong opened utg+1 and called off David Tai's 305,000 all-in right behind. A favorite to win, Tai was left with no worries as he cruised to victory on board 7♥ 8♦ A♦ T♣ K♠ .

A preflop back and forth saw Valery Li make the final call for his entire 450,000 against Xiaqing Ji. Dominated, Ji handed nearly half his stack as board 3♠ 9♣ Q♥ T♠ 9♥ rolled on the felt.

Zhihao Chen opened on the cutoff and called Young Wook Lee's 260,000 all-in. In for a flip, Lee instantly landed the advantage on board 7♦ 9♦ 6♠ 7♠ 4♥ to earn a full double up.

Ye Na opened on the button and called off Yipeng Yang's 165,000 all-in. Dominated, Yang was in luck to find two pair on flop 6♣ K♥ T♠ , further improving to a boat on runout K♣ A♥ for the win.

Chiayun Wu opened and called off Chuanshu Chen's all-in for 315,000 and was in for a flip for a third of his stack. Flop quickly saw two aces on board A♠ A♣ 8♣ , with the runout 3♥ 3♣ further sealing the win for Chen.

An all-in preflop situation saw Huang Yong risk his last 305,000 with A♣ J♣ and ran smack into Zehao Li's K♦ K♣ . Gunning for an ace, the flop K♠ K♥ 6♣ instantly crushed Yong's hopes, leaving him drawing dead straight away.

A three way all-in saw Xiaoyun Li put in the chips from the big blind against two short stacks - Beng Ker and Wei Hong. Board ran 5♠ 2♣ 9♥ 7♣ 2♠ , leaving Li's ladies good for the take down.

Joseph Cheong defended his big blind against Jianting Cai's hijack open, and went on to check jam 305,000 on flop T♠ J♦ 4♠ . Cai snap called with top pair A♣ J♣ and was up against Cheong's straight draw Q♠ 9♣ for the pot. The turn 8♣ sealed the win for Cheong with his nut straight earning him a double up.

Jianwei Lin opened on the hijack, joined by Chiayun Wu on the small blind. Action on flop K♠ 4♠ A♥ was checked round to turn 5♥ , where Wu led 75,000. Lin raised to 200,000, and Wu completed, revealing river 8♥ . Wu led once more, for 150,000, called by Lin, who mucked as Wu showed K♥ Q♥ for a backdoor flush.

Red Dragon Championship Day 2 players have been sent off for a 60-minute dinner break, with action resuming at 7:50 pm local time. 43 runners remain in contention for the title, each already guaranteed KRW 5,950,000 (~USD 4,255) in winnings. Today's action will close once the field is down to 24 players or by the end of Level 24, whichever comes first.

Top Chip Counts

Ngoc Ha Nguyen opened utg, called by David Tai behind. Joseph Cheong on the small blind moved all-in for 260,000 and picked up the pot uncontested.

Wei Hong opened and called off Ye Na's 300,000 jam right behind for a flip. Board 8♠ K♣ 6♥ 4♠ J♣ missed to pair up Hong, earning Na the double up.

Chuang Hao opened utg+1, followed by a three bet to 90,000. Xudong Jin cold called on the big blind, and went on to call off Hao's all-in for 425,000 total.

Drawing slim, Jin instantly spiked a jack on flop 3♣ J♦ Q♦ and sealed the win as turn A♦ and river 4♣ completed the board.

Chao Li fired a 120,000 three bet against Yongbin Wang's early open and saw the latter complete, revealing flop Q♥ 7♦ J♠ . Li bet 55,000 and took it down after Wang failed to continue.

With 160,000 in the middle across board 2♠ 9♠ Q♦ 7♣ , Liu Yin on the button bet 75,000, check called by Joseph Cheong on the big blind. On river 5♣ , Cheong check called a final 190,000 and mucked as Yin revealed two pair Q♠ 5♠ .

A preflop back and forth between Xiaoyun Li and Cheng Chao Ting saw the latter make the final call for his entire 430,000.

Dominated, Li managed to outflop Cheng on 9♣ T♣ Q♦ but failed to hold for the win as the runout 4♥ K♦ brought Cheng a better pair.

Tom Verbruggen opened utg and was met with a 100,000 three bet from Chuanshu Chen. Verbruggen jammed 705,000 and picked up the pot uncontested.

A blind vs blind battle saw 75,000 in the middle on flop K♦ A♥ 3♠ . Kong Qingtao led 30,000, and continued to barrel another 55,000 on turn 5♠ , along with a final 145,000 on river J♣ . Jianting Cai called down all three streets, and shipped the pot with two pair K♥ J♥ after Kong showed A♦ 8♦ .

Cheng Chen opened utg+1 and went on to jam 260,000 in against a raise from Zan Chen behind. Zan Chen snap called with T♦ T♣ , and remained behind against Cheng Chen's Q♦ Q♣ all the way through board 9♦ 2♥ 2♦ 8♠ J♦ .

Di Wu opened 45,000 on the small blind, called behind by Chi Jen Chen. Action on flop 3♠ K♥ 2♦ was checked through to turn Q♥ , where Wu check raised 120,000. Chen answered with an all-in, leaving Wu to tank fold for his 160,000 behind.

Huang Yong opened utg and was met with a 90,000 three bet from Chuanshu Chen on the button. Yong made it 160,000 to go, called by Chen. On flop 4♣ A♦ Q♣ , Yong led 70,000, yet folded shortly after Chen demanded for 100,000 more.

Jieming Xu opened on the hijack, raised by Xianglai Li to 80,000 behind. Zan Chen on the button, pushed all-in for 375,000, and saw Xu push likewise for a slightly larger 400,000. Li tank folded pocket nines, leaving the two to showdown.

A crucial flip, the board 8♣ T♣ T♦ Q♣ A♠ landed in favor of Chen's overcards, leaving Xu down to two big blinds.

Up against a late position open and a call, Chao Li on the small blind bumped it up to 115,000, and saw Xudong Zhang on the button continue to flop K♦ 6♦ A♥ . Li bet 80,000, enough to get Zhang off the pot.

Facing an open and a call, Beng Ker on the button fired a raise to 110,000. Initial raiser Ming Yang shoved for 260,000 total, leaving Ker priced in to call.

Dominated, Ker booked the loss after missing to improve on board 2♦ 8♥ 3♦ T♥ 9♣ .

Cheng Chao Ting called from the small blind against a cutoff open from Meng Guo, and check raised 80,000 on flop 8♦ T♦ 3♣ . Guo continued to turn A♦ , but snap folded after Cheng fired another 80,000.

Jianwei Lin opened utg+1 and was met with a 120,000 three bet from Tom Verbruggen on the small blind. Lin tank raised all-in, convincing Verbruggen to get out of the way. Lin revealed Q♦ Q♠ as he raked in the pot.

Heng Qiao opened to 30,000 on the small blind and called 45,000 more following a raise from Dmitrii Gnusaev right behind. On flop 2♥ T♦ Q♦ , Qiao check called 42,000, peeling turn 9♦ . Both checked it through to river K♥ , where Qiao led 88,000. Gnusaev tanked and eventually decided to let it go, allowing Qiao to show T♣ 8♣ as he raked in the pot.

A button vs blind battle saw Zhu Fang Zhou risk his 142,000 left with A♦ K♦ and faced Xianglai Li's dominated A♠ 9♠ . In great shape, Zhu was crushed to see an all spade flop K♠ 8♠ 3♠ Q♥ 4♠ land on board, sending him out at an instant.

Facing an early open, Cheng Chao Ting stuffed his entire 212,000 and saw Chen Long behind, push likewise for a lesser 92,000. Initial raiser opted out, leaving the two to showdown.

Gunning for overcards, Cheng instantly found one on flop Q♦ A♦ 6♣ , with the runout A♥ 7♥ further improving him to a boat for the bust.

Yuchun Chen opened utg+1 and called off a 186,000 all-in from Yipeng Yang. At risk, Yang locked in the double up shortly after board T♣ 6♥ 5♣ 8♥ Q♣ steered clear of Chen's overcards.

A fourway raised pot dealt flop 7♠ 5♠ 2♣ . Chuang Hao on the big blind, led all-in for 137,000 and was called by both Xianglai Li and Qidong He behind. Both Li and He checked turn 7♥ and river A♥ to showdown, revealing Hao's A♠ 9♠ , good for the triple up.

Li 8♦ 8♠

He K♠ Q♠

A blind vs blind battle landed 95,000 in the middle before flop 8♦ A♠ Q♦ rolled on the felt. Lei Yu led for 65,000, and gunned for another 80,000 on turn A♦ , with Ye Li behind calling him down on both streets. On river J♦ , Yu tank folded after Li moved all-in for his last 94,000.

Valeriy Pak opened utg+1 and called a 75,000 three bet from Xudong Zhang on the button. On flop 7♥ 7♦ J♥ , Pak check called 55,000, revealing turn 6♥ . Zhang barreled another 150,000, leaving Pak to take a minute. Pak found a fold with Q♥ Q♣ , and Zhang returned the favor, showing A♥ A♠ .

Chao Li defended his big blind against Valeriy Pak, and check called two streets on board 9♦ 4♦ A♠ 5♥ T♣ . Both checked river to showdown, revealing Li's A♥ 7♦ for the pot.

Tao Zhang committed his remaining 107,000 with A♦ J♥ and was looked up by Jiayu Ruan with K♥ Q♥ . In for a race, Zhang was close to capturing the win up until the river 6♦ 8♦ 4♥ 8♣ K♣ paired up his opponent to bust him out.

Adrien Favre opened utg and called off Xian Xiao's 135,000 jam for a flip. Board 4♦ 8♦ J♥ K♦ 5♠ landed Xiao a set, leaving his opponent instantly drawing dead by the turn.

Young Wook Lee defended his button open and called a 65,000 three bet from Xianglai Li on the big blind. Li continued for 35,000 on flop 5♠ 3♣ 9♣ , followed by an all-in on turn 5♦ . Lee called the cbet, yet surrendered after Li demanded for the rest.

Gao Lei fired a 58,000 three bet on the button against a late position open and saw Jiayu Ruan raise all-in on the big blind. Lei snap called for his 101,000 behind with the rockets and secured the double up just as board ran 2♣ 8♦ 7♦ J♥ K♣ .

Qidong He opened to 20,000 on the cutoff, raised by Changyang Liu a seat after to 55,000. He clapped back with another raise to 130,000, and left Liu unable to continue.

Zhihao Chen opened on the button and was met with a 75,000 three bet from Tao Zhang. Chen answered with an all-in for 319,000 total, convincing Zhang to lay it down.

Min Tse Lee defended his big blind and went on to risk his remaining 157,000 with top pair on flop 7♦ Q♥ 5♠ . Unfortunately for him, Pak had him crushed with A♠ A♣ , sending him out just as the turn T♦ and river 5♥ completed the board.

A three way raised pot saw Dmitrii Gnusaev lead 27,000 on flop 4♦ Q♥ 7♦ . Ming Yang on the button called, revealing turn 9♦ . Both checked it through to river 7♥ , where Gnusaev fired 75,000. Yang made the call, and mucked as Gnusaev flipped over A♥ Q♦ .

Facing an open and a call, Qingbo Gao shoved 59,000 on the button and was challenged by initial raiser Meng Guo. Dominated, Gao escaped elimination, having flopped top pair on board 4♣ 7♦ J♥ Q♣ Q♥ .

With a board of J♦ Q♣ 6♦ 9♣ 2♠ spread out on the felt, Zuyou Wang on the big blind fell short right on bubble time with his top pair Q♥ T♣ unable to get through Jianting Cai's flopped two pair Q♦ J♥ for his last 106,000. Wang walked away empty handed, leaving the rest of the 119 players guaranteed a mincash.

A blind vs blind battle saw Nguyen Thanh Tung commit his last 83,000 with K♠ T♣ against Zehao Li's A♣ 3♠ right on bubble time. Slightly behind, Nguyen failed to catch up on board 5♠ 8♥ 5♦ 9♠ 7♠ , sending him out two spots short of the money.

Right at hand for hand play, Zhaoxi Ma found himself at risk with A♦ 6♥ up against Xiaqing Ji's A♠ K♣ . Lucky for Ma, the board Q♠ A♥ Q♥ Q♣ 5♥ ran a split pot, sparing him from elimination.

William Teoh defended his open and called a 50,000 three bet from Beng Ker right behind. On flop 7♥ Q♠ 9♥ , Teoh quickly laid it down after being faced with another 22,000.

Aghayev Farhad opened to 16,000, joined by both players on the blinds on flop 2♦ 3♠ 6♥ . Farhad continued for 24,000, check called by Song Yun. Both checked turn Q♦ through to river 9♣ , where Farhad bet all-in. Yun tanked and eventually let it go with the money bubble fast approaching.

Another all-in preflop situation saw Qin Shi Xiao commit his last 105,000 with A♦ K♥ up against Rong Xia's T♠ T♣ . Board Q♠ Q♦ A♣ J♣ J♠ instantly landed in favor of the overcards, securing Qin the double up.

Zhu Fang Zhou open shoved his last 67,000 in and was called by Changyang Liu on the big blind. In for a flip, Zhu's pocket pair held on board 5♠ J♠ Q♦ 6♥ T♥ to survive through.

Zhaoxi Ma opened on the cutoff and was met with a 47,000 three bet from Yu Lei on the big blind. Ma answered with an all-in, snap called by Yu for his 150,000 behind.

With a nutted pair, Yu cruised to victory on board 4♦ K♣ 5♠ 4♥ Q♠ , earning him the double up with a better two pair.

Zhengshan Hao opened utg and called a 24,000 three bet from Yongbin Wang right behind. On flop 7♦ A♦ 9♥ , Hao check called a 20,000 cbet from his opponent, and went on to check raise 80,000 on turn Q♥ . Wang answered with an all-in, called by Hao for his remaining 128,000.

Wang 9♠ 9♣

Hao A♣ Q♦

Crushed against Wang's set, Hao headed out shortly after river 3♥ offered no help to his demise.

A fourway raised pot led by Xixiang Luo dealt flop 5♥ 6♠ 7♣ . Luo continued for 22,000 on flop 5♥ 6♠ 7♣ , called by both Chiayun Wu and Tom Verbruggen on the big blind. Turn K♦ was checked round to river 2♠ , where Verbruggen led 17,000. Luo tank called and mucked after Verbruggen revealed top pair K♠ 8♠ .

Up against a late position open and a call, Jinquan Wang fired a 40,000 three bet on the small blind, and saw initial raiser Yunchao Yu complete. Board 4♠ 8♠ A♠ A♥ 7♥ was checked down to the river, where Yu bet 75,000. Wang check called, yet mucked as Yu revealed a rivered boat 7♦ 7♠ .

Tao Zhang limp called a 21,000 raise from Guo Wei behind, and check called a 17,000 cbet on flop 5♥ 8♣ 6♠ . On turn 9♥ , Zhang led 40,000, and Wei instantly let it go.

Yipeng Yang defended his big blind vs a utg open from Joseph Cheong, and went on to check call two streets on board Q♥ 9♠ 2♣ 6♥ 9♦ . Cheong bet a final all-in on the river and shipped the pot after Yang quicky surrendered.

Facing an early open and a three bet, Junlin Feng on the big blind moved all-in for 220,000 total. Initial raiser Thijs Hilberts pushed likewise, tabling a premium pair battle.

Hilberts, a huge favorite, remained ahead all the way through 8♦ 9♠ J♦ K♣ , up until the river landed Q♥ to turn the tables.

Xiao Liu opened utg+1 and faced a 33,000 three bet from Xiaobin Gu on the small blind. Liu answered with another raise to 78,000, called by Gu. Action on flop 6♣ A♣ 2♥ checked round to turn J♠ , where Gu led 35,000. Liu put in the call, and went on to barrel all-in for 65,000 on river 6♦ . Gu tanked and eventually paid the price with T♥ T♦ , only to shoot down as Liu revealed boat A♦ A♠ .

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

Three more days of play are penned on the Jeju Poker Festival calendar with the Red Dragon Poker Tour festivities right on its halfway point. Series headliner, Red Dragon Championship, has wrapped up its qualifying rounds with its final numbers bringing a combined 642 entries, upholding KRW 1,380,000,000 (~USD 990,995) its guarantee also as its prize pool.

A combined 147 runners are set to return to the scene for the Red Dragon Championship Day 2 battle, having survived the first fourteen levels of play across the four scheduled flights. Day 1A chip leader Yong Li continues to reign with a 645,000 (108 BB) stack to start the today's games. Payouts have been unveiled with the champion set to bring home a juicy KRW 243,800,000 (~USD 174,470) top prize. Twenty eight players will walk away empty handed across the next stage with ITM set at 119 places for a mincash of KRW 4,150,000 (~USD 2,970).

Red Dragon Championship

Dates: November 27 – December 1, 2024

Buy-in: KRW 2,000,000 (~USD 1,435)

Guarantee: KRW 1,380,000,000 (~USD 990,995)

Entries: 642

Prize pool: KRW 1,380,000,000 (~USD 990,995)

ITM: 119 places

Day 1A: 184 entries, 38 qualified

Day 1B: 104 entries, 31 qualified

Day 1C: 214 entries, 47 qualified

Day 1D: 140 entries, 31 qualified

Day 2: 147 players

Day 3: Saturday, November 30

Day 4 /Final: Sunday, December 1