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

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

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.

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

With slightly over a million in the middle, action was seen on big blind Luo Jianming betting 300,000 on 3♦ 3♠ 9♣ Q♠ . Small blind Fang Po Wen raised it up to 1,000,000, called by Luo. On river 5♦ , Fang put Luo all-in and Luo called off for his 3,000,000 behind with 3♥ 8♦ . Fang shows 3♣ 5♠ for a full house to scoop it up.

Hijack Qi Xuming open shoved his last 2,050,000 with Q♥ Q♣ and was called by big blind Fang Po Wen with J♦ J♠ . A huge underdog, Fang turned the tables after the board 4♠ 8♥ 2♠ J♣ A♦ landed him a set to bust his opponent.

Button Fang Po Wen opened to 400,000, called by short stacked Luo Jianming in the small blind. On flop T♦ Q♦ 2♣ , Luo shoved for 475,000 and Fang folds.

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

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.

Utg+2 Fang Po Wen defended his open and called a 365,000 three bet from button Lin Yan. On flop 2♦ T♣ 7♦ , Fang check folded after Lin sent out 210,000.

Chen Chuan Shu opened the action and called a three bet from Fang Po Wen. With 840,000 in the middle on flop 6♥ J♥ T♥ , Chen moved all-in for his remaining chips with 8♠ 8♣ and was called by Fang with K♦ Q♥ . The turn 4♦ and river 3♥ , landed Fang the flush to take it down.

Utg Zhang Lei stuffed in his remaining 360,000, called by Fang Po Wen. Button Tai Hsing Hsiung reshoved for 735,000 total with Fang completing for a three way all-in.

Zhang Q♦ 9♥ Tai A♠ K♥ Fang A♥ T♠

The board ran A♠ K♦ J♦ 3♠ 3♦ , earning Tai the hefty boost.

Cutoff Chen Chuan Shu opened to 120,000, called behind by button Fang Po Wen. On flop K♠ Q♠ J♠ , Chen check jammed 1,100,000 in, called by Fang with Q♦ J♦ . Chen reveals Q♣ J♣ and chops it up after the turn A♣ and river 2♦ completed the board.

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

Top Chip Counts

An all-in preflop situation saw Fang Po Wen commit his last 660,000 with A♦ 7♥ and faced Chen Chuan Shu’s 3♥ 5♥ for a race. The board K♠ 6♥ 2♣ A♠ T♣ ran in favor of Fang, earning him the full double up.

With over 320,000 in the middle on board 7♥ J♠ 3♦ J♣ , action was seen on Fang Po Wen firing a nearly pot size bet. Ma Li clicked back to 640,000, called by Fang. On river 8♣ , Ma shoved her remaining 600,000, Fang with a final call. Ma shows J♦ 5♦ , crushing Fang’s 5♥ 5♣ .

Utg+2 opened, called by Fang Po Wen behind. Small blind Zhang Lei squeezed all-in for 470,000 and was called by Fang with A♣ Q♥ . Zhang at risk with 4♦ 4♥ headed for the exit after the board ran 8♦ J♠ 8♥ T♠ K♦ .

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

Utg+2 Fang Po Wen defended his open and called a 150,000 three bet from Wang Weinan. On flop 8♣ 3♥ 5♥ , Fang check called for 78,000, continuing to turn 5♦ . Wang fired another 175,000 and Fang check raised all-in for 534,000 total. Wang goes in the tank and folds after using up two time banks.

Tian Kaile shoved his last 71,000 in from early position and was called by button Fang Po Wen with T♥ T♦ . Tian in danger with 7♥ 8♥ headed for the exit after the board 3♠ K♦ 6♣ Q♦ 2♣ offered no help for his suited connectors.

Utg Fang Po Wen opened to 8,000 and called an 18,000 three bet from cutoff Chen Zhifeng. On flop 2♥ 2♣ T♠ , Chen continued for 24,000, check called by Fang, and another 45,000 on turn 5♣ . Fang tank folds and Chen scoops up the pot.

Utg+1 opened to 6,000, followed by a three bet to 17,000. Fang Po Wen fired a cold four bet to 41,000 and picked up the dead money after both players folded.