Main Event

Coming into the final table with the smallest stack of 15 big blinds, Hungary’s Hanusi Mate emerged as this year’s WPT Korea Championship Event winner, having outlasted the 1,065 entry field and besting the final nine from behind. Hanusi patiently waited for the right spots and overtook the lead only by the heads up battle against China’s Ma Li. It took nearly seven hours of final table play before Hanusi secured the overall victory with a final flip to knock his last opponent out and claim the KRW 434,936,000 (~USD 323,500) top prize, WPT Korea Main Event trophy, along with the inaugural WPT Korea Main Event Ring.

Final Table Results

Button Hanusi Mate limped in with 8♥ 8♣ and saw big blind Ma Li raise to 11,000,000 with A♦ 9♠ . Hanusi moved all-in for 26,300,000 and Ma called off for her remaining chips. Flipping for the victory, the board J♦ 5♠ Q♦ K♥ 4♣ ran in favor of the pocket pair, earning Hanusi the WPT Korea 2024 Championship Event title.

Button Ma Li limped in with T♥ 5♥ , checked by big blind Hanusi Mate with 6♣ 4♥ . Both players checked flop 8♠ 3♣ J♥ through, revealing turn 7♠ . Hanusi this time, led for 1,200,000, called by Ma. On river 3♠ , Hanusi check folded after Ma pushed out a 4,000,000 bet.

The Main Event is down to its final two players!

Button Ma Li opened to 2,400,000 with A♦ Q♣ and called off small blind Zhang Chi’s 18,000,000 all-in. Zhang shows J♦ J♥ and is at risk for his tournament life. The board ran K♠ 4♣ 3♥ 2♠ A♣ with Ma spiking the river for the win.

Three players remain in battle for the Main Event glory with China’s Ma Li in the forefront.

Chip Counts

Remaining Payouts

Small blind Zhang Chi limped in with 9♦ 6♣ , followed by a check back from big blind Hanusi Mate with 9♥ 8♠ . Flop came 9♣ 3♥ 8♣ and saw Hanusi bet 1,000,000. Zhang check raised to 3,000,000 and Hanusi moved all-in for 11,000,000 total. Zhang gives it up and throws his hand in the muck.

Small blind Ma Li limped A♥ 4♦ and found big blind Zhang Chi put in a raise to 2,000,000 with 9♠ 5♣ . Ma answered with a three bet to 6,600,000 and Zhang folds.

Button Ma Li opened to 1,300,000 with 9♥ 6♥ and was called by small blind Zhang Chi with Q♦ T♣ . Flop came J♦ 4♦ K♥ and saw Zhang check call another 1,300,000. Turn 4♥ was checked through, revealing river 6♠ . Zhang led for 2,000,000, Ma with a call for the win.

Utg Hanusi Mate opened to 1,300,000 with A♥ K♦ , called by big blind Zhang Chi with 8♣ 6♠ . On flop 7♣ A♦ 8♠ , Zhang check called for 1,300,000 and headed to turn Q♥ . Action went check check and proceeded to river Q♥ . Hanusi fired 3,000,000, Zhang with a check fold.

Button Zhang Chi open shoved his big stack in with 2♠ 2♣ and saw big blind Dai Linghui call off with T♥ T♣ for his remaining 7,400,000. At a huge advantage, Dai was left in pieces after the flop 7♥ 8♠ 2♥ K♣ 7♣ quickly landed his opponent a set to eventually knock him out.

Button Hanusi Mate shoved in his 4,400,000 stack with A♣ Q♣ and was called by small blind Dai Linghui with A♦ 3♦ . In great shape, Hasuni secured the double up after landing a better two pair on the turn 3♥ A♠ 4♦ Q♦ J♣ .

Button Dai Linghui opened to 1,100,000 with 7♠ 9♠ , joined by big blind Zhang Chi with Q♦ J♥ . On flop 2♦ 6♦ 3♦ , Dai continued for 600,000, check called by Zhang. Turn T♠ went check check, revealing river 8♠ . Zhang leads for 1,100,000, called by Dai. Dai with a straight, takes the boost and is back to 18 BB.

Folded to small blind Dai Linghui, he shoved all-in with A♥ 4♠ , called by Ma Li for her reamaining 7,400,000 with K♣ J♣ . At risk, Ma earned the pot after the board 2♥ 9♣ J♥ 8♥ 5♣ landed her top pair.

Utg Dai Linghui opened to 1,000,000 with A♥ 3♥ and found big blind Hanusi Mate completing with T♣ 8♠ . On flop 8♣ 6♦ Q♣ , Hanusi check jammed 7,000,000 and Dai folds.

Zhang Chi defended his J♣ 9♦ on the big blind vs utg Hanusi Mate‘s 1,100,000 open and saw flop 9♣ 6♠ K♣ . Zhang check called another 1,100,000, revealing turn 2♠ . Both players checked it through and headed to river K♥ . Zhang this time, led for 2,400,000, Hanusi with a fold.

Button Zhang Chi opened to 1,100,000 with Q♥ Q♠ and saw big blind Dai Linghui fire a three bet to 2,600,000 with 7♣ 8♥ . Zhang answered with an all-in, leaving Dai no choice but to give it up.

Utg Ma Li open shoved her 5,700,000 in with A♣ Q♥ and was called by big blind Dai Linghui with A♦ J♦ . Ma quickly landed two pair on the flop Q♣ 5♥ A♥ 7♣ 5♣ and cruised to a double up.

Folded to small blind Fang Po Wen, he shoved his 4,100,000 stack in with K♣ 3♣ and was called by big blind Dai Linghui with Q♦ 9♦ . In for a race, the board 8♦ J♣ 3♦ 4♦ Q♣ , unfortunately for Fang, landed a flush for Dai to take it down.

Five players remain in the running for the Main Event title.

Chip Counts

Small blind Zhang Chi opened to 900,000 with Q♥ 6♦ , called by big blind Hanusi Mate with 8♦ 7♣ . Flop came 6♥ K♣ 8♠ and Zhang continued for 400,000. Hanusi bumped it up to 1,600,000 with Zhang calling behind. However on turn 9♠ , Zhang check folded after Hasuni moved all-in for 7,300,000.

Hijack Hanusi Mate opened to 875,000 with 7♦ 7♣ and saw big blind Ma Li complete with K♦ Q♥ . On flop 9♦ 3♥ 5♥ , Ma led for 800,000 yet shortly folded after Hanusi pushed a raise to 2,300,000.

Cutoff Hanusi Mate opened to 875,000 with A♣ Q♠ , joined by big blind Dai Linghui with 7♣ 5♦ on flop 8♦ 5♥ 2♠ . Hanusi continued for 800,000, check called by Dai. On turn 4♥ , Hanusi over bet jammed 4,700,000 in and picked up the pot after Dai check folded.

Cutoff Zhang Chi opened to 800,000 with 5♥ 5♣ and called off big blind Aghayev Farhad’s 2,900,000 all-in. Aghayev shows A♦ 7♦ and is in for a flip for his tournament life. The board K♦ 8♣ 4♠ 3♣ Q♣ turned up on the felt with Zhang’s pocket pair holding up all the way.

Utg Ding Yayun open shoved 6,800,000 in with A♣ J♣ and was called by button Zhang Chi with A♥ K♦ . Dominated, Ding headed for the exit after the board 2♦ 6♠ 9♦ 2♠ Q♠ sealed her fate.

Small blind Ma Li opened to 2,000,000 with Q♥ T♦ and folded shortly after Zhang Chi stuffed his 4,600,000 stack with 6♠ 4♦ . Zhang picks up the 8 BB boost.

Hijack Ma Li open shoved her 3,800,000 in with A♥ J♠ and was called by big blind Ding Yayun with K♥ Q♦ . In for a race, the board 4♠ 3♣ 3♥ 2♦ 7♥ missed to pair either player with Ma’s ace high good for the taking.

Utg Hanusi Mate opened to 650,000 with K♦ K♣ and called cutoff Fokin Valeriy‘s 2,000,000 jam. Fokin shows A♦ T♦ and headed for the exit after the board 3♣ 4♦ 9♥ Q♣ 8♦ spared no aces.

Folded to small blind Ma Li, she shoved once more with A♥ 7♥ and was called by big blind Zhang Chi with A♣ 8♠ . A potential chop, Zhang locked in the double after the board Q♣ 2♦ 4♥ T♠ K♣ ran on the felt.

Folded to small blind Dai Linghui, he shoved all-in with 5♥ 3♦ and saw big blind Ma Li call off for her 2,200,000 stack with A♦ 8♥ . The board ran 4♥ 8♦ T♠ A♥ K♠ , earning Ma the much needed double up.

Utg+2 Dai Linghui opened to 625,000 with A♦ A♣ and saw big blind Ding Yayun complete with 2♣ 3♣ . Action on flop 8♥ 8♣ 5♠ was checked through, revealing turn 3♠ . Ding led out for 525,000 and a final 900,000 on river J♠ with Dai calling both streets. Ding wins the pot with two pair aces and eights.

Button Dai Linghui open shoved his 6,800,000 stack in with A♦ J♥ and saw big blind Nguyen Duy call off his 3,400,000 with A♣ 7♠ . Dominated, Nguyen was drawing dead by the turn 3♥ K♥ T♦ Q♠ T♣ , leaving him to exit in 9th place.

Hijack Fang Po Wen defended his open with A♥ Q♣ against a 1,200,000 three bet from Ding Yayun and saw flop 3♠ 8♣ 5♠ . Fang proceeded to check call 800,000 and another 925,000 on turn 9♣ . River T♦ went check check, revealing Ding’s A♦ T♠ for the win.

Button Mate Hanusi opened to 525,000 with Q♦ 9♣ , called by big blind Ding Yayun with Q♥ 7♠ . On flop 6♣ K♣ 7♦ , Ding check called for 700,000 and got to showdown after the turn 9♥ and river A♥ were checked through. Hanusi picks up the pot with his pair of nines.

Utg Ding Yayun opened to 525,000 with 6♠ 7♠ and called off small blind Mate Hanusi‘s 2,500,000 jam. Hanusi shows J♠ J♦ , earning a double up with a full house on board 3♥ 6♦ 3♠ A♦ J♣ .

Folded to small blind Ding Yayun, she opened for 525,000 with Q♠ Q♣ and called big blind Aghayev Farhad’s 3,500,000 all-in. Aghayev shows A♣ 3♠ and was at risk up until the board landed 5♠ 4♥ 2♦ 6♠ 3♥ for a split pot.

Main Event Final Table action begins, good luck to the final nine!