Single Day High Roller

USA's Calvin Lee booked a fiery start at this season's Jeju Poker Festival with a smashing victory right on opening day. Lee bested a modest field of 16 entries at the Single Day High Roller games, and earned KRW 38,410,000 (~USD 27,440) in winnings following an eleven hour grind. In addition to his top prize, Lee takes with him the coveted WPT trophy, along with the first WPT Ring of the Season for his unremarkable performance.

Date/s: November 15, 2024

Buy-in: KRW 5,000,000 (~USD 3,570)

Entries: 16 (10 unique)

Prize pool: KRW 69,840,000 (~USD 49,900)

ITM: 3 places

Single Day High Roller Full Payouts

Calvin Lee raised all-in on the button and saw final opponent Kyungmin Lee call off for his last 280,000 (14 BB) with a pocket pair. Calvin Lee flopped a ton of outs on 9♦ 2♦ Q♥ A♦ 8♣ and delivered the bust just as the turn filled up his flush to leave Kyungmin Lee drawing dead.

The final side event across the opening day lineup, Hyper Turbo Bounty, drew in a total of 36 entries and ran through four hours on the floor before Dong Su landed the overall victory. Six places banked a share of the KRW 18,856,800 (~USD 13,470) prize pool, with Su taking the largest cut at KRW 4,147,000 (~USD 2,960).

Hyper Turbo Bounty

Date/s: November 15, 2024

Buy-in: KRW 600,000 (~USD 425)

Entries: 36 (32 unique)

Prize pool: KRW 18,856,800 (~USD 13,470)

ITM: 6 places

Full Payouts

1st Dong Su - KRW 4,147,000

2nd Kwai Fun Ying - KRW 2,760,000

3rd Jianfeng Sun - KRW 1,840,000

4th Sanduisuren Nadmid - KRW 1,280,000

5th Tsz Kin Heung - KRW 930,000

6th Eng Chuan 'Tommy' Goh - KRW 700,000

*Excluding bounty prizes

Lei Yu open shoved his entire 380,000 on the button and was called by chip leader Calvin Lee. A favorite to win, Yu was left instantly crushed as an ace high flop A♦ K♦ 5♦ landed on the felt. No fourth diamond came on either turn Q♥ or river K♠ , sealing his run in 3rd place finish.

Kyungmin Lee this time, shoved his remaining 115,000, and was called by Lei Yu. In for a race, board 5♣ 4♥ T♥ Q♥ 5♠ missed to pair either, leaving Lee's ace high good for the take down.

Action folded to Lei Yu on the button, who shoved for 250,000, challenged by Kyungmin Lee. A huge underdog, Yu remained in contention, having spiked top pair on board Q♠ T♠ 5♦ 2♠ 3♦ .

Down short right at the big blind, Zhiyuan Zhang went with A♦ 5♦ for his four big blind stack (65,000) and was called by button raiser Calvin Lee. Attempting to crawl in the money, Zhang missed the cut by one after his opponent landed top pair on Q♥ 2♦ 7♣ 6♠ 4♥ to knock him out.

Today's Single Day High Roller highlight is on bubble time with one more bust to go before the money trickles in.

Full Payouts:

Bin Leng stuffed his 166,000 stack in from utg and saw Kyungmin Lee push likewise. Dominated, Leng found no help on board J♠ 8♣ 6♥ J♣ T♠ , sealing his elimination two spots short of the money.

Lei Yu defended his big blind against a 26,000 utg open from Calvin Lee. On board 3♥ K♥ 4♣ 8♦ 2♥ , Yu check called all three streets including a final all-in from Lee by the river. Lee reveals two pair K♦ 8♠ , sending Yu's disguised A♥ A♦ unfortunately, towards the muck.

Two spots to the money, Calvin Lee risked his tournament life (159,000) with A♥ Q♣ and was up against Zhiyuan Zhang's 9♠ 9♥ for a crucial flip. Zhang instantly landed the favor on flop 5♦ 9♣ J♣ , yet shot down as runout K♠ T♦ ran a runner runner straight for his opponent.

Having lost a chunk of his stack previously, Dawei Lu stuffed his remaining 93,000 on the button and was called by Zhiyuan Zhang. Outpipped by one, Lu failed to catch up on board Q♠ 4♥ J♥ 2♣ 8♦ , leaving not even a chop to save him from his demise.

Kyungmin Lee went with A♠ K♠ for his last 91,000 and was up against Dawei Lu's Q♣ J♥ . Board 5♠ 6♣ 3♦ 9♦ 7♦ ran dry for both, earning Lee the pot with ace-high.

Bin Leng defended his utg open after being faced with a 66,000 three bet from Lei Yu on the small blind. On board Q♦ 7♠ 6♣ T♣ , Yu check called two streets against Leng, with the river 3♠ checked down by both. Yu tables J♦ J♣ and Leng mucks.

Lei Yu opened the action from the cutoff, called by Dawei Lu on the button along with the big blind. Flop 2♦ 2♠ 4♣ was checked to Lu who bet 35,000. Yu check raised to 79,000 and barreled another 68,000 on turn Q♥ after Lu completed. Lu eventually gives it up and folds.

Bin Leng defended his big blind against Calvin Lee's 16,000 cutoff open, and check called for another 9,000 on flop K♥ 8♥ 4♥ . On turn 5♣ , Leng led for 20,000, followed by a final 28,000 on river 3♦ . Lee opts out and throws in the fold.

Pete Chen opened with half his stack and flicked in the remaining 22,000 against big blind Dawei Lu's all-in. In search of a double up, Chen instead headed towards the door as a jack high board J♠ 4♣ 8♣ 7♣ 9♠ rolled on the felt.

Bin Leng opened from early position, and saw Zhiyuan Zhang and big blind Dawei Lu come along on flop 2♣ J♥ 2♦ . Action was checked to Zhang, who bet 13,000. Both opponents continued to turn 6♣ , checked once more to Zhang.

Another 22,000 bet headed their way, firstly called by Lu. Leng decided to bump it up to 77,000, which didn't stop either player from continuing to river 7♥ . Leng bet a final 85,000, paid only by Lu with J♦ 6♠ , crushed all the way against Leng's flopped trip deuces A♥ 2♥ .

That's it for the WPT Opener qualifying rounds with the final flight recording an additional 51 entries onto the tally, bumping up the total count to 106 entries. Only 14 players are set to return for tomorrow's games where the second series WPT Ring will be awarded!

Final prize pool and payouts to be posted once available.

WPT Opener

Date/s: November 15-16, 2024

Buy-in: KRW 5,000,000 (~USD 3,570)

Day 1A: 55 entries, 7 qualified

Day 1B: 51 entries, 7 qualified

Day 2 / Final: Saturday, November 16

Watch WPT Opener's feature table action LIVE, broadcasted via Shangzhibo TV.

Hui Chen open shoved 81,000 in, and ran right into Bin Leng's nutted pocket pair on the big blind. Drawing slim, Chen exited shortly as no nines were seen on board K♦ 4♠ J♦ 7♦ 7♠ .

Pete Chen opened from utg+1 and called a 40,000 three bet from Zhiyuan Zhang behind. On flop Q♦ J♦ 8♦ , Zhang got his remaining 76,000 in and was tank called by his Taiwanese opponent with A♥ J♥ . Zhang is ahead with K♣ K♥ , and continued that way through turn T♣ and river A♣ for a full double up.

Bin Leng opened to 10,000, called by short stacked Zhiyuan Zhang behind. On flop A♦ 9♦ 6♥ , Zhang called for another 13,000, revealing turn K♦ . Leng this time checked, and folded after Zhang pulled the trigger for 59,000.

Pete Chen opened to 10,000 on the hijack and was joined by Zhiyuan Zhang behind, along with the big blind on flop 9♦ 7♣ 4♣ . Checked to Zhang, he bet 13,000, check called only by Chen onto turn J♣ . Both checked it through to river 7♦ where Chen led for 30,000.

Zhang made the call, only to muck as Chen tabled Q♥ 7♥ for rivered trip sevens.

Vying for 81,000 in the middle on board A♦ 2♣ 6♠ 8♥ , action on was seen on Mengchao Yi with a 35,000 bet against Hui Chen on the big blind. Chen put in the call and surrendered shortly after Yi pushed all-in for 70,000 on river A♣ .

A blind vs blind confrontation saw Lei Yu risk his remaining 77,000 against Mengchao Yi's pocket pair. Running a flip, Yu was this time spared from elimination as board K♦ 7♥ 3♣ Q♣ 2♦ paired up his overcards to survive through.

A five way raised pot saw flop J♥ 5♠ 4♦ . Action was checked to Zhiyuan Zhang who bet 15,000, called only by Hui Chen one seat behind. Turn T♦ and river 9♦ welcomed no more bets, with Chen raking in the boost with 8♦ 8♠ against Zhang's 7♦ 7♠ .

Mengchao Yi defended his utg+1 open and called a 21,000 three bet from Hui Chen on the small blind. Chen gunned for another 25,000 on flop 7♣ 8♠ 3♥ with Yi continuing to turn 8♦ . Both checked it through to river J♠ where Chen led for 40,000. Yi hero called and claimed the pot with flopped bottom pair K♦ 3♣ as Chen revealed 2♣ 2♥ .

With 30,000 in the pot on board 9♣ 5♦ A♥ 6♦ 4♠ , action was seen on Calvin Lee with a final bet of 25,000. Chip leader Dawei Lu check called, yet mucked as Lee turned over A♦ T♣ for top pair.

Dawei Lu opened to 9,000 from utg and was called behind by second in command, Zhiyuan Zhang. On board 5♦ 6♥ 3♣ K♠ 7♠ , Lu fired three streets - 13,000, 20,000, and 50,000, all of which were called down by Zhang. Lu revealed A♥ A♦ and shipped the pot just as Zhang mucked.

The first WPT Ring Event on schedule is officially closed for registration with a final 16 entries recorded across eight levels. Nine players are left currently seated which simply means that the final table is already set. China's Dawei Lu stands in the lead, trailed closely by fellow countryman Zhiyuan Zhang just five big blinds behind. Only three runners will cut a payday off of the KRW 69,840,000 (~USD 49,900) prize pool, with the champion set to bank KRW 38,410,000 (~USD 27,440) in prizes, and a golden WPT High Roller Ring in addition.

Single Day High Roller

Date/s: November 15, 2024

Buy-in: KRW 5,000,000 (~USD 3,570)

Entries: 16 (10 unique)

Prize pool: KRW 69,840,000 (~USD 49,900)

ITM: 3 places

Full Payouts

1st - KRW 38,410,000

2nd - KRW 20,950,000

3rd - KRW 10,480,000

WPT Opener Day 1A

Level 14: 3,000 / 5,000 ante 5,000

Action folded to Joseph Cheong in the small blind, who shoved his last 37,000 in with A♣ 3♥ , and was called behind by Seiya Shoji with K♦ 5♣ . At risk right on bubble time, Cheong failed to find a bag as board revealed 5♦ 4♣ Q♥ 3♠ 4♥ two pair for his opponent.

Cheong's exit leaves the remaining 7 players onto Day 2, with Shoji in the lead with 381,000 in chips.

Mengchao Yi opened from utg and called off a 52,000 jam from Lei Yu behind. Yu in a great spot to double up instead headed for the exit once more after board Q♦ 7♠ 7♥ 4♦ 5♥ paired his opponent for the win.

Utg limped, followed with a raise to 9,000 from Hui Chen on the hijack. Kyungmin Lee right behind fired a three bet to 21,500 and saw the latter make the call, peeling flop 4♦ 2♦ 8♠ .

Chen led 16,000, and gunned for another 32,000 on turn 4♣ after Lee made the call. Lee this time, demanded for the rest of Chen's chips, to which he risked with A♦ J♦ . Lee is ahead with A♠ Q♦ , but chopped the pot as river 2♠ completed the board.

Zhiyuan Zhang once again opened to 6,000, to which Dawei Lu defended his big blind. On flop 2♣ 5♦ 8♠ , Lu check called for 11,000, and faced another 16,000 on turn 3♦ . Lu opted to put in a raise for 20,000 more, called by Zhang. River went check check, revealing Lu's A♦ 6♦ no good against Zhang's J♠ J♦ .

Zhiyuan Zhang on the button opened to 5,000, called by both players on the blinds. On board 3♥ 3♣ K♦ Q♠ , Zhang barreled 6,000, followed by another 8,000, enough to weed one opponent out after the other for the pot.

A three way raised pot led by Bin Leng saw flop 4♥ 2♠ 9♣ . Action was checked to last-to-act Hui Chen, who bet 11,500. Both opponents threw in the call, and called for another 25,000 on turn 3♣ . This didn't slow down Chen as he churned out a final 54,000 on river 6♥ . Both decided to give it up, earning Chen the sizable pot.

Facing an utg open from Bin Leng, Koichi Chiba shoved his last 32,500 in and was called by the raiser for another showdown battle. In rough shape, Chiba headed out shortly after his opponent landed a broadway straight on J♣ T♥ 4♦ 7♣ Q♣ .

A preflop back and forth between button Pete Chen and big blind Zhiyuan Zhang led to both stacks in the middle, with Chen left at risk for his tournament life (87,000). Board K♥ 3♥ 7♣ 5♠ 4♦ quickly landed in favor of Zhang's overcards, earning him a significant boost to his already healthy stack.

Lei Yu opened to 3,500 from utg and was joined by Bin Leng and big blind Koichi Chiba on flop 9♣ 6♥ 5♦ . Yu fired a 3,000 cbet, with both opponents continuing to turn T♥ . Action was this time, checked to Leng who bet 8,000. Only Chiba moved on to river 2♠ , but was left unable to get to showdown after Leng sent out a final 31,000.

Mengchao Yi open shoved his last 11,000 and was called by Dawei Lu on the big blind. In for a race, the board 3♠ 7♠ Q♣ 4♠ 8♣ landed Lu a pair of fours, enough to deliver the elimination.

Having busted out earlier, Lei Yu re-entered the games yet was left in pieces once more after running his remaining 51,000, smack into Zhiyuan Zhang's rockets. Board K♠ 3♠ 4♠ 8♥ 2♠ sent no help for Yu, leaving him headed for the rails a second time.

Mengchao Yi opened to 3,500 from utg and saw Zhiyuan Zhang call behind. On board 9♠ 5♦ 7♥ K♣ , Yi fired two streets - 6,000, and 4,500, with Zhang putting in a raise to 12,000 by the second barrel. Yi answered with an all-in, snap called by Zhang for his entire 69,500.

Yi reveals set 5♠ 5♥ , ultimately crushed by Zhang's higher set 9♥ 9♣ all the way through river A♠ . Yi takes the loss and shoots down to 7 BB.

Kyungmin Lee opened to 3,000 from the cutoff and saw Pete Chen come along a seat behind on flop 3♦ K♦ 6♣ . Both checked it through to turn Q♦ where Lee fired 4,500. Chen put in the chips and went on to send out a final 10,000 on river 8♦ , to which Lee was unable to call.

In just under four hours of play, Chenxiang Miao emerged victorious over today's Pot Limit Omaha side event, having bested the one table field of nine players. Miao takes with him KRW 5,107,000 in winnings to jumpstart his Jeju Poker Festival run, leaving Yiguang Xu to settle for a runner up finish, along with the second of two payouts on the list.

Pot Limit Omaha

Date/s: November 15, 2024

Buy-in: KRW 1,000,000 (~USD 710)

Entries: 9

Prize pool: KRW 7,857,000 (~USD 5,610)

ITM: 2 places

Full Payouts

1st Chenxiang Miao - KRW 5,107,000

2nd Yiguang Xu - KRW 2,750,000

The second and final flight for the opening key event, WPT Opener, is currently in play with registration open through the first eight levels. Players are welcome to jump in with two more hours on the clock before time runs out!

WPT Opener

Date/s: November 15-16, 2024

Buy-in: KRW 5,000,000 (~USD 3,570)

Day 1A: 55 entries, 7 qualified

Watch WPT Opener's feature table action LIVE, broadcasted via Shangzhibo TV.

Actively in play Dawei Lu defended his big blind against a button open from Kyungmin Lee, and led 5,000 on flop J♣ 4♣ 2♦ . On turn 8♦ , Lu check called for a similar bet from Lee and arrived at showdown after river 9♥ was checked through. Lu shows 7♣ 5♠ , no good against Lee's A♣ K♠ .

A five way raised pot led by Dawei Lu rolled flop Q♣ 9♣ 6♥ . Checked to Lu, he bet 12,000, followed by a raise to 30,000 from Hui Chen a seat behind. All others fold, leaving Lu to stuff all-in.

Chen calls off for his remaining 64,000 with top pair Q♠ J♦ , and bowed out shortly as Lu's A♣ T♣ flush filled up on runout 8♥ 3♣ .

Dawei Lu opened to 2,800 from the hijack and saw Lei Yu complete on the big blind, revealing flop 8♥ 5♠ J♠ . Lu continued for 3,000, check called by his opponent. On turn 6♠ , Yu led for 7,500, and went for a final 24,000 on river 5♦ . Lu tank called with J♣ T♥ and shipped the pot as Yu revealed a lower two pair 6♣ 4♠ .

A blind vs blind battle erupted with Dawei Lu opening the action for 1,800. Mengchao Yi behind, sent out a larger 5,800 with his opponent calling to see flop A♠ A♦ 9♠ . Yi continued for 3,000, followed by another 11,000 on turn Q♥ , leaving Lu to give it up by the second barrel.

With 21,000 in the middle on board K♠ A♠ T♣ 5♣ , action was seen on big blind Dawei Lu with a bet of 15,000. Lei Yu on the button made the call, and tank called off the rest of his chips (55,000) on river 6♣ as Lu pushed all-in.

Lu shows nut straight Q♥ J♣ for Yu's elimination just as he tabled top pair A♥ Q♣ .

The first flight of the opening highlight, WPT Opener is officially closed with 55 total entries locked in across eight levels of registration. Play will conclude once the field is down to 7 players (ITM).

No worries for those who missed the cut for the Ring Event's Day 1A, with Day 1B set to take the stage in a few minutes.

WPT Opener

Date/s: November 15-16, 2024

Buy-in: KRW 5,000,000 (~USD 3,570)

Day 1A: 55 entries, 7 qualified

Watch WPT Opener's feature table action LIVE, broadcasted via Shangzhibo TV.

Lei Yu completed his big blind following an open from Koichi Chiba, and went on to check raise for 6,600 on flop A♣ K♣ K♠ . Chiba answered with a heftier 18,000 raise, and took down the pot after Yu folded.

Lei Yu defended his utg open and called a 4,000 three bet from Dawei Lu on the small blind. Flop J♥ T♥ 5♦ saw Lu send out another 4,000, Yu again with a call. Both turn T♣ and river Q♦ were checked down, revealing Lu's K♥ K♣ good for the win.

Action folded to Zhiyuan Zhang on the small blind, who raised to 1,400. Lei Yu put in the call behind to see flop 4♥ 6♥ 3♠ . Checked to Yu, he bet 1,600, followed by another 3,500 on turn 9♥ . Zhang check called one street yet folded after Yu continued with aggression.

Dawei Lu opened to 1,500 from utg and was met with a 4,500 three bet from Zhiyuan Zhang on the button. Lu clapped back with another raise to 12,000, which didn't stop Zhang from firing a heftier 26,000. Lu finally pushed all-in and successfully convinced Zhang to give it up.

Koichi Chiba opened from utg to 1,200, and was joined by both Zhiyuan Zhang on the button along with small blind Lei Yu. Action on flop T♦ 2♠ 3♣ was checked to Zhang, who bet 3,000. Yu put in a raise to 7,500, and once again surrendered after Zhang bumped it up further to 16,000.

Shorthanded, Dawei Lu defended his big blind against a 1,200 button open from Lei Yu, and check called a 900 continuation bet on flop 3♠ 8♣ A♥ . On turn 9♣ , Lu led for 4,000 and went on to barrel a final 13,000 on river K♠ . Yu surrenders, shipping Lu the early boost.

Shuffle up & deal, good luck to all the players!

A total of 37 entries have since joined the WPT Opener's first flight with registration remaining open through Level 8 @16:30. Day 1B will run just in following, beginning at 17:00 for faster paced twenty minute blind levels.

WPT Opener

Date/s: November 15-16, 2024

Buy-in: KRW 5,000,000 (~USD 3,570)

Starting stack: 25,000

Roll out the red carpet as today marks the start of the grand Jeju Poker Festival at Landing Casino, Jeju Shinhwa World. Seventeen days of nonstop action await players, with WPT Korea opening the anticipated games! Four events take charge of the first day action, highlighted by the KRW 5 Million buy-in Single Day High Roller.

Also underway is the first flight of the WPT Opener, followed by another run at 17:00 local time. Side events Pot Limit Omaha and Hyper Turbo Bounty will likewise play down to a winner, making it three trophies to be awarded across the opening day festivities. Players on the hunt for the coveted WPT Rings can look no further with both the Single Day High Roller, and WPT Opener being two of the six Ring Events.