Red Dragon Championship

The Red Dragon Championship has officially crowned its newest champion with China's Jianting Cai emerging triumphant over the 642-entry field. Cai entered the final rounds with the lead and closed out the victory in just under five hours of play. Cai cleared out half of the returning eight players across the final day games and stood to be a dominant force from start to finish. None of his opponents were able to get past the Chinese runner's aggression and good run, earning Cai a career best cash of KRW 243,800,000 (~USD 174,470) to commemorate his maiden win.

Red Dragon Championship Review

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

Final Table Results

Jianting Cai limp called a 600,000 raise from Zehao Li, and battled on board J♥ 6♠ 4♣ 6♥ 5♠ . Li bet all three streets - 500,000, 1,300,000, including a final all-in for his remaining 6,200,000 behind, with K♥ K♣ , only to be called down by Cai by trip sixes 9♣ 6♣ .

Li exited in 2nd place following the quick heads up battle and settled for the lesser payout of KRW 162,150,000 (~USD 116,040) for his efforts.

The Red Dragon Championship games is down to heads up play, with China's Jianting Cai holding down nearly a 3:1 advantage against his final opponent, Zehao Li.

Jianting Cai opened utg and called off Chi Jen Chen's all-in for 3,500,000. Flipping for his tournament life, Chen's pocket pair was instantly crushed as the board 7♦ 2♣ Q♥ A♠ 4♠ landed in favor of the overcards.

Jianting Cai opened on the button, joined by both players on the blinds on flop 2♦ Q♠ K♠ . Cai continued for 850,000, check called by Zehao Li. Both checked turn J♦ through to river 2♠ , where Li led 1,800,000. Cai put in the call with trip deuces 7♣ 2♣ , and shipped the pot after Li showed top two pair K♦ Q♦ .

Chi Jen Chen defended his big blind against Jianting Cai's button open, and went on to check call two streets on board Q♣ K♥ A♦ 3♣ . On river 6♠ , Cai gunned for a final 1,500,000, and Chen let it go.

Action folded to Ye Li on the small blind, who open shoved his entire 3,700,000 in, called behind by Jianting Cai.

In rough shape, Li found no help on board 3♦ 6♠ 4♦ 3♥ 2♦ , knocking him out of the Main Event running.

Kyosuke Nagami open shoved 1,500,000 (10BB) on the button, called by Joseph Cheong. Jianting Cai on the big blind, reshoved his big stack, and got Cheong out of the way.

Crushed against a premium pair, Nagami headed out shortly after board 2♣ 7♣ 6♦ T♠ 4♣ ran on the felt.

Jianting Cai opened utg+1, called by Zehao Li behind. Ye Li on the small blind, fired a three bet to 875,000, and saw both continue to flop 8♥ Q♦ T♥ . Ye Li open jammed 2,400,000 with top pair and picked up the pot uncontested.

Kyosuke Nagami defended his cutoff open and called a 625,000 three bet from Jianting Cai. On flop Q♦ 8♣ 9♣ , Cai checked to Nagami, who bet 450,000. Cai raised to 1,500,000, leaving Nagami to tank with top pair. Nagami eventually decided to lay it down, shipping Cai yet another boost.

Joseph Cheong opened 225,000 utg, called behind by Jianting Cai. Action on flop A♥ 6♠ A♦ was checked round to turn J♥ , where Cheong led 225,000. Cai called, and paid another 275,000 on river 9♦ , only to muck as Cheong tabled trip aces A♠ 8♠ .

Cai K♠ K♦

The inaugural Jeju Poker Festival is down to its final day of play with its last headliner on schedule, Red Dragon Championship, close to crowning its newest champion. The Day 3 games wrapped up with the final eight out of its 642 entry field in place, led by China’s Jianting Cai. Cai stormed up the ranks right at the last deal, and bagged a chart-topping stack of nearly six million to lead the final rounds. An eye-catching KRW 243,800,000 (~USD 174,470) top prize remains at stake, where one will rise to victory over today's battle.

Each of the eight contenders is now guaranteed KRW 23,450,000 (~USD 16,780) in winnings, and a step closer to clinching the Red Dragon title.

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: 24 players, 8 qualified

Day 4 /Final: Sunday, December 1

Final Table Chip Counts

Remaining Payouts

Today's Red Dragon Championship Day 3 action has officially wrapped up following just four hours on the floor with the final eight players advancing onto the last stage. Only 24 runners made their way back to the scene, each looking to secure a spot into the final table. China's Jianting Cai, who started the day bottom of the ranks, was off to a great start, having caught a double up right on the first hand, to eventually stack the lead over the remaining eight. Cai delivered the final blow with his pocket kings crushing Cheng Chen just a few deals into the final round. The crucial boost propelled Cai right up the top, ending the day with 5,905,000 (74 BB), joined by fellow Chinese runner Zehao Li with 5,375,000 (67 BB) at the summit of the leaderboard.

Action resumes tomorrow, December 1st, 12 noon, where a winner will lay claim to the KRW 243,800,000 (~USD 174,470) top prize at stake.

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: 24 players, 8 qualified

Day 4 /Final: Sunday, December 1

Final Table Chip Counts

Remaining Payouts

A preflop back and forth between Jianting Cai and Cheng Chen saw the latter five bet jam his entire 2,500,000, snap called by Cai with his premium pocket pair.

Cai delivered a crushing win on board 8♠ 7♥ 5♠ Q♦ 8♥ , cutting's Chen final table run short.

The Red Dragon Championship games is down to its final nine players with China's Zehao Li holding down the lead with over five million in chips to start the final rounds. One more elimination is due before the day closes, leaving eight players standing onto the Final Day.

Catch the final table action LIVE via Red Dragon Poker Tour's YouTube channel!

Final Table Chip Counts

A blind vs blind clash saw Jianting Cai all-in for 955,000 against Lei Yu right behind. Yu in rough shape, found no help on board 6♦ 8♦ J♦ 3♠ 3♥ , shooting him down to six big blinds.

A preflop back and forth saw utg raiser Jianting Cai fourbet 1,000,000 in against Zehao Li on the big blind. Li answered with an all-in for 1,020,000 more, and successfully convinced Cai to lay it down.

A raised pot saw Jianting Cai bet 225,000 on turn J♦ 7♣ 8♦ 5♦ , check called by Yongbin Wang on the big blind. On river 9♣ , Cai gunned for a final 350,000, leaving Wang to use up two time banks. Wang eventually paid the price, only to muck as Cai revealed a bottom straight A♥ 6♦ .

Jianting Cai opened utg and called off Cheng Chen's all-in for 435,000. A favorite to win, Chen secured the double up as board 2♣ 4♠ 5♠ 2♠ 5♦ ran safe for his pocket pair.

Tom Verbruggen raised all-in on the small blind against Jianting Cai's cutoff open, and saw his opponent tank call off his entire 1,240,000 behind.

In rough shape, Cai was in luck to find his two outer on board Q♠ 6♠ 5♦ K♦ 4♠ to survive through.

Jianting Cai open shoved 530,000 on the small blind and was challenged behind by Gao Lei for a race. Slightly ahead, Cai booked the win as board ran 2♥ 5♣ 4♣ J♣ 2♣ , earning him a huge boost to start the day.

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.

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.

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

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♦ .

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.

Jianting Cai opened to 8,000 from middle position and faced a 27,000 three bet from Hui Wang. Cai clapped back with another to 58,000, and shipped the boost shortly after Wang laid it down.

Jianting Cai opened to 2,000 utg and called 3,400 more following a raise from Xiaobo Zhou right behind. Action on flop 8♥ J♣ 5♣ was checked round to turn 2♥ , where Cai led 3,500. Zhou made the call and paid another 4,000 on river 5♠ , only to muck as Cai flipped over T♠ T♥ for the pot.