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

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.

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+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.

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.

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

Folded to Chen Hao on the button, he shoved his last 675,000 with Q♠ 9♣ and was called by big blind Ding Yayun with K♦ J♥ . The board ran 8♥ Q♣ T♦ 9♠ 5♠ , giving Ding a straight for the win.

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

17 players remain in battle for the WPT Korea 2024 Main Event title with Ding Yayun towering over the field.

Top Chip Counts

22 players remain in battle for the KRW 434,936,000 top prize.

Top Chip Counts

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.

Utg Ding Yayun completed her open vs cutoff Ma Zhaoxi’s three bet to 175,000 and saw flop 6♠ 3♦ T♥ . Ma continued for 170,000 and Ding puts in the fold.

Mp Nishioka Tomoaki opened to 7,000, called by button Ding Yayun. On board 7♥ K♦ {1c} 8♦ 9♥ , Nishioki led all three streets with Ding calling behind each bet. Nishioki shows 7♠ 7♣ for a set, no good against Ding’s rivered straight J♥ T♥ .

That’s it for the Main Event with 385 entries in for today’s Day 1C flight putting up the total to a smashing 1,065! Prize pool is listed at a massive KRW 2,603,286,000.

Top Chip Counts

Average stack: 88,303 Total chips in play: 19,250,000

With only 11,000 in the middle, Ding Yayun was seen firing an overbet of 22,000 on flop 7♦ 9♣ 4♦ . Cai Jian Ting put in a massive raise to 84,000 and saw Ding shove all-in for 166,000 total. Cai makes the call with 4♥ 4♠ and is up against Ding’s A♦ 9♦ . The turn K♦ instantly filled up Ding’s flush with the river 8♥ sealing her win.