Final wrap: WPT Korea pays out over $5.9M; Daniel Merrilees, Vincent Chauve among final winners; up next WPT Prime Taiwan -August 8 to 21

The World Poker Tour (WPT) concluded a fun-filled series in Jeju, Korea with games hosted at the world-class Jeju Shinhwa World Landing Casino. The festival ran from July 15 to 24, 2023, attracting players from all over including a large contingent from China. Over the ten-day event, 18 tournaments generated a combined prize pool of KR₩ 7,611,741,050 equivalent to ~USD 5.9+ Million. With the dust now settled, here are the final highlights and final winners.

The brand takes a short break then returns to Asia for WPT Prime Taiwan from August 8 to 21, 2023. With a massive USD 1 Million guarantee and a lineup of 46 trophy events, it will be the biggest festival ever put forth by the brand in the region. Event takes place at the Asia Poker Arena in Taipei City.

Festival highlights

Dates: July 15 to 24, 2023
Location: Jeju Shinhwa World, Landing Casino, Jeju Island, Korea
Festival prize pool:KR₩ 7,611,741,050 (~USD 5,918,330)
Events: 18
Entries: 2,567
Main Event prize pool: KR₩ 2,246,947,400 (~USD 1,770,200)
Main Event champion: Yin Tao – China – KR₩ 295,000,000 (~USD 229,370)
Alpha8 for One Drop funds raised: KR₩ 144,000,0000 (~USD 111,960)
Biggest single event payout: Steve O’Dwyer – KR₩ 1,294,256 (~USD 1,006,300)
Multi-winner: Liu Yin – 2 events
Most final tables: Shimizu Masafumi – 4
Trophy by Flag: China – 10, Canada – 1, France – 1, Irealand – 1, Japan – 1, Philippines – 1`, Russia – 1, Taiwan – 1, UK – 1.

WPT Korea – Festival Results
WPT Korea – Livestream
WPT Korea Main Event – Live Updates

Main Event

The WPT Korea Main Event ran from July 17 to 22 featuring a KR₩ 2 Million guarantee and a buy in of KR₩ 3,400,000 (~USD 2,680). This was the largest Main Event buy in and guarantee in Asia for a non-high roller series. Players hailing from China poured in to dominate the 758 turnout. 95 players earned a piece of the boosted KR₩ 2,246,947,400 (~USD 1,770,200) prize pool. China’s Yin Tao came out victorious to pocket a payout deal of KR₩ 295,000,000 (~USD 229,370).

Multi-winner: Liu Yin

China’s Liu Yin was the only player two win to events. Liu topped the NLH Survivor Bounty by outlasting the 153 entry field for a KR₩ 14,984,000 (~USD 11,650) payout plus 8 bounties amounting to KR₩ 1.360,000 (~USD 1.060). Two days later, Liu championed the Superstack NLH Turbo for KR₩ 9,281,000 (~USD 7,215).

Most final tables – Shimizu Masafumi

Numerous players ran deep with two and three final table cashes but only one player, Japan’s Shimizu Masafumi, had four final table cashes.

3rd – Event 2: Deepstack NLH

8th – Event 5: NLH Turbo

7th – Event 7: NLH Single Day

4th – Event 16: Superstack NLH Turbo

Final Day winners

Daniel Merrilees wins maiden live title at WPT Korea High Roller

UK’s Daniel Merrilees captured his first Asia title at the WPT Korea High Roller event. Merrilees topped the 47-entry field to pocket a career high KR₩ 264,459,000 (~USD 205,620) payout.

“This is my first live tournament win so it’s really nice. I’ve been trying to win a live tournament for a long time and always came up a bit short. I was actually in Seoul, relaxing on holiday and I saw that the WPT was here so I couldn’t resist. I wanted to get that South Korean flag. It was a cool tournament, nice field, and nice to win it.”

On final table play, “I didn’t really have a strategy coming in, I just played the cards and went from there. I did have a tough spot with pocket Jacks against Ace-King. I knew the guy had a big hand so I had to find the call.”

Two spots before the bubble, Michael Wang three-bet shoved pre-flop with , Merrilees called and doubled up with on a board .

Leading up to the win, hot running Russian player Valeriy Pak delivered the bubble, China’s Ran Bi then bulldozed four players that included Pak in 3rd place to bring about heads up. Impressively, this was Pak’s third final table payout. The final hand was Merrilees , Ran , the board . No clubs for either player for a winning set and first live victory for the Englishman.

Date: July 23 to 24, 2023

Buy in: KR₩ 17,000,000 (~USD 13,220)

Entries: 47

Prize pool: KR₩ 743,869,000 (~USD 578,380)

ITM: 6 places

Vincent Chauve wins Superstack NLH for KR₩ 26,270,000 (~USD 20,425)

Date: July 23 to 24, 2023

Buy in: KR₩ 1,360,000 (~USD 1,060)

Entries: 70

Prize pool: KR₩ 83,110,000 (~USD 64,620)

ITM: 9 places

Duncan Son wins WPT Megastack Closer

Date: July 24, 2023

Buy in: KR₩ 680,000 (~USD 530)

Entries: 44

Prize pool: KR₩ 26,121,000 (~USD 20,310)

ITM: 6 places

Chuang Hao wins Superstack Closer Turbo

Date: July 24, 2023

Buy in: KR₩ 1,700,000 (~USD 1,320)

Entries: 22

Prize pool: KR₩ 32,651,000 (~USD 25,390)

ITM: 3 places

Up next: WPT Prime Taiwan

World Poker Tour Prime Taiwan: A Million Reasons – August 8 to 21 @Asia Poker Arena

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