Red Dragon Championship (2,000,000 KRW)

Joseph Cheong open shoved for 1,800,000 utg and was challenged by Ngoc Ha Nguyen on the small blind.

Dominated, Cheong managed to flop a flush draw on 8♥ 5♠ 5♥ , but exited shortly after the runout A♣ 9♦ bricked .

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.

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♦

A three way raised pot led by Joseph Cheong dealt flop 8♦ T♥ 6♣ . Action was checked round to turn 4♠ , where Ngoc Ha Nguyen led out 250,000. Cheong put in the call, yet gave it up as Nguyen sent out a final 400,000 on river T♠ .

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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♠ .

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.

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.

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♠ .

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.

Joseph Cheong defended his early open and called a 7,000 three bet from Xianglai Li behind. On flop 3♠ 5♣ 8♥ , Cheong check raised 13,000 and shipped the pot after Li was unable to get his 5,000 cbet through.