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

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.

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.

After a grueling nine hours of play, the 45 runner pack drew down to its final nine players led by China’s Fang Po Wen. Fang stormed to the lead by the last level after a blind vs blind confrontation with Luo Jianming earned him a massive pot. Fang bagged a mighty 12,350,000 (61 BB) with Ding Yayun right on his tail with 12,175,000 (60 BB). All returning players are guaranteed a KRW 43,500,000 payout and a chance to claim the KR₩ 434,936,000 (~USD 323,500) top prize at stake.

Chip Counts

Remaining Payouts

Utg Aghayev Farhad limped and saw flop 8♣ T♦ 4♣ together with both players on the blinds. Checked to Aghayev, he fired a 250,000 bet, raised by small blind Dai Linghui. Aghayev shoved all-in for 2,075,000 total, called by Dai.

Aghayev Q♠ T♠ Dai Q♣ 9♣

Up against a combo draw, the turn 9♥ and river A♦ bricked for Dai, earning Aghayev the pot.

Utg+1 Aghayev Farhad opened and saw big blind Dai Linghui complete to see flop 3♣ 3♠ 3♦ . Dai check called a 200,000 continuation bet from Aghayev and proceeded to turn 5♣ . Aghayev fired another 500,000 and Dai check raised to 1,100,000. Aghayev moved all-in and Dai snap called for his 2,200,000 behind with Q♥ 3♥ . Aghayev shows T♠ J♣ and is drawing dead against quads.

13 players remain in contention for the Main Event title and KRW 434,936,000 top prize.

Chip Counts

Total chips in play: 53,250,000

Cutoff Aghayev Farhad opened to 200,000, joined by both players on the blinds on flop 7♠ 8♣ Q♥ . Checked to Aghayev, he continued for 150,000, called by Lu Yingjun. Big blind Dai Linghui raised it up to 450,000 and found both oppponents with a complete. On turn 5♥ , Dai barreled a hefty 1,500,000 and took the pot down after none made the call.

Hijack Lu Yingjun opened to 150,000 and called a 400,000 three bet from small blind Aghayev Farhad. Flop came Q♠ J♣ 6♥ and saw Aghayev shove all-in for 1,100,000. Lu tank calls with K♦ 6♦ , crushed against Aghayev’s A♣ J♥ . The turn 4♦ and river 4♠ complete the board, earning Aghayev the double up.

Hijack Aghayev Farhad opened to 125,000, called by Fang Po Wen behind along with the big blind. Aghayev continued on flop A♣ 8♦ A♥ with a 1 BB bet, Fang with a call. Turn 2♦ saw Aghayev fire a heftier 350,000, convincing Fang to give it up.

Button Ding Yayun opened to 125,000, joined by big blind Aghayev Farhad on flop Q♠ 9♠ 5♥ . Both players checked it through, revealing turn 7♠ . Ding bet 125,000, and another 225,000 on river 4♠ and was followed with a fold from Aghayev by the last bet.

31 players remain in contention for the Main Event title, each guaranteed KRW 13,150,000 in winnings.

Top Chip Counts

Tanigawa Shuji defended his big blind vs cutoff Aghayev Farhad’s open and saw flop 6♦ 6♥ 9♣ . Action went check check and moved on to turn 2♣ . Tanigawa led for 65,000 and a final 100,000 on river K♠ with Aghayev calling behind both streets. Tanigawa shows K♦ Q♣ and takes it down.

Utg Aghayev Farhad opened to 50,000, called by two players behind. Big blind Long Xiaohan squeezed all-in for 445,000 total and saw two stacks rush in - Aghayev Farhad and Desimoni Bruno (975,000).

Long K♥ T♦ Desimoni Q♥ Q♦ Aghayev A♥ J♥

The board ran 3♥ 4♣ 7♦ 3♦ A♠ with Aghayev spiking the river to rise to the lead.

The 1,065 entry field is down to 73 players remaining with China’s Lin Yan still in the forefront.

Top Chip Counts

Average stack: 729,452 Total chips in play: 53,250,000

Button Aghayev Farhad opened the action and was joined by both players on the blinds on flop T♣ Q♥ Q♣ . Aghayev continued for 1,500 and called small blind Cheng Ping’s raise to 3,500. Turn 4♥ saw Cheng bet 6,300 then jam the river 8♥ . Aghayev snap calls with his remaining 14,000 and shows J♣ 9♠ for a straight, crushing Cheng’s Q♠ J♠ .

Xu Jiyue opened to 5,500 and was met with a three bet to 13,000 from Aghayev Farhad. Xu bumped it up to 30,000 and collected a fold from his opponent not long after.