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 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.

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 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.

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

Chip Counts

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.

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.

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.

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

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 Valeriy Fokin opened the action, called by big blind Ma Li. On flop Q♦ 7♥ 2♠ , Ma check raised to 800,000 and collected the pot after Valeriy threw in the fold.

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

Top Chip Counts

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♣ .

Button Ma Li opened to 50,000 and saw small blind Tanigawa Shuji bump it up to 225,000. Ma risks her 725,000 stack with T♥ T♣ and is behind Tanigawa’s A♥ A♠ . Ma in luck, quickly landed a set on T♠ J♠ 4♣ 7♥ Q♣ to bag the win.

Action began on Kakiuchi Yusuke who shoved his 276,000 stack in with A♦ K♣ , followed by another all-in from Ma Li Q♦ Q♠ for 289,000. Huang Chi Lun puts in the call with A♥ K♠ , covering both stacks and the three run the board 3♠ 8♦ 6♥ 4♠ 3♥ . Pocket pair holds for Ma, earning her a hefty boost.

Utg Daniel Yang defended his open and called cutoff Ma Li’s three bet to 15,000. Flop came T♣ K♥ T♥ and Ma continued for 15,000, check called by Yang. Ma barreled another 65,000 on turn 3♥ , leaving Yang unable to get to showdown.

Facing an open and a call, hijack Park Joon Hee bumped it up to 2,000 and was followed by a cold four bet to 5,500 from cutoff Ma Li. Only Park continues, revealing flop A♦ 9♦ 8♠ . Ma fires a 5,500 cbet and Park folds.