APT Jeju Classic 2026 Ends With Record Numbers, Historic Wins, and New Lion Trophy Champions

Every time an Asian Poker Tour festival rolls around, there’s a sense that something special is about to happen, and APT Jeju Classic 2026 was no exception. Over ten days at LES A Casino inside Jeju Shinhwa World, the tour delivered one of the strongest festival performances in its two-decade history, combining record participation, massive prize pools, and breakthrough storylines.

A total of 1,292 unique players from 44 countries and regions generated 12,031 entries across 99 trophy events and three satellites, competing for a combined KRW 19.57 billion (~USD 13.36M) in prize money. The festival eclipsed the numbers posted during APT Jeju 2025 and marked the fifth consecutive APT stop to set new benchmarks.

Headlining the series was a historic Main Event alongside standout performances from high-stakes regulars and rising newcomers, including a landmark breakthrough for Indonesia. Across the festival, five tour records fell, reinforcing Jeju’s growing reputation as one of the strongest stops on the APT calendar.

William Li Claims Record-Breaking Main Event Title

The biggest headline of APT Jeju Classic 2026 belonged to William Li , who conquered a historic 1,718-entry Main Event, officially the largest poker tournament ever staged in Korea . The flagship event generated a massive KRW 3,414,009,600 (~USD 2.3M) prize pool, ranking among the richest Main Events in APT history.

Li’s win not only marked a breakthrough result for the Canadian player, but also became one of the defining moments of the Jeju stop. The record-setting field underlined how strongly the Main Event continues to grow, with Jeju once again proving itself as one of the APT’s most reliable destinations for big numbers and competitive international lineups.

Following the win, Li spoke highly of the organization and professionalism behind the event.

“Overall, I think the experience was very good. The APT dealers are professionally trained, the equipment is solid, and the floor staff and referees are all very professional. The tournament structure is also excellent. In my opinion, within Asia, APT is probably one of the best-run series.”

Ren Lin Dominates Jeju with Back-to-Back Lion Trophy Wins

Few players defined the narrative of the festival more than Tony Ren Lin , whose remarkable run included victories in both the Superstar Challenge and the APT Super High Roller. Across those two marquee titles, Lin earned more than KRW 861.5 million (~USD 598K), marking one of the most dominant festival performances seen on the APT in recent years.

Both events ranked among the largest prize pools of the series, helping drive the overall numbers that pushed APT Jeju Classic 2026 into record territory. His success also highlighted the strength of the tour’s high-roller scene, which continues to grow with each stop.

Lin emphasized what winning on the APT stage meant to him personally.

“APT is the biggest tournament series in Asia, so being able to win two of the biggest events here in Asia makes me extremely happy and excited.”

He also praised the iconic lion trophies that have become a defining symbol of the brand.

“I think the Golden Lion trophy is definitely the best in the world.”

Reflecting on the overall festival experience, Ren Lin noted the continued evolution of the tour.

“As for the event experience, it’s been amazing. APT just keeps getting better every year.”

His back-to-back titles added another layer to an already record-setting festival and reinforced the prestige surrounding APT’s flagship lion trophy events.

Rudy Edenata Breaks New Ground for Indonesia in APT High Roller

The final flagship tournament of the series produced another historic moment as Rudy Edenata captured the APT High Roller Rose Gold Mega Lion, becoming the first Indonesian player ever to win an APT Mega Lion title.

The event attracted 259 entries and generated a KRW 1,118,880,000 (~USD 763,740) prize pool, placing it among the largest tournaments of the festival. Edenata secured KRW 233,530,000 (~USD 159,400) along with a seat to the APT Championship Main Event , while his victory propelled him from 10th to 6th on Indonesia’s All-Time Money List despite only beginning tournament poker in August 2025.

His breakthrough result added a new nation to the list of Mega Lion champions and showcased the growing diversity of the APT player base.

Speaking about the experience, Edenata highlighted the scale of the festival and the challenge of facing top professionals.

“I heard about APT from my friend Jimmy. He told me it’s a very big tournament…the impression is very good. The crowd is big, with so many players. I like it.”

“It’s more challenging for me to play with pro players because I’m just a newbie in poker.”

The victory not only marked a career-defining moment for Edenata but also symbolized the expansion of Southeast Asian representation at the highest levels of APT competition.

A Record-Setting Festival by the Numbers

Beyond individual winners, the APT Jeju Classic 2026 established itself as the tour’s richest poker festival ever held in Korea. The Main Event led the way, but several other tournaments contributed seven-figure USD prize pools, including the Superstar Challenge and the APT Super High Roller.

The Zodiac Classic and High Roller Ultra Stack also set new tour country records, while massive field sizes in events like the Mystery Bounty Hunter and Mini Main Event highlighted the strong turnout across mid-stakes offerings.

Across the board, total entries rose by approximately 1.7%, while prize money increased by roughly 6% compared to the previous Jeju stop. The numbers continued a trend that has seen every APT festival since 2025 push new boundaries.

Looking Ahead to Taipei

Following the success of Jeju, the tour now shifts its focus to APT Taipei , scheduled for April 22 to May 3 at Asia Poker Arena and Red Space . Taipei has become synonymous with record-breaking attendance on the APT calendar, regularly producing some of the largest fields and prize pools in the region.

The city has hosted multiple milestone events for the tour, including the APT Championship in late 2025, and continues to serve as one of the most important hubs for Asian poker. With Jeju setting the tone for the anniversary season, expectations will be high as the APT prepares for another major stop that could once again push the numbers even higher.

With Jeju setting the tone for the APT 20-year Anniversary season, the momentum clearly isn’t slowing down. If recent stops are any indication, when the APT heads to Taipei next, the expectation isn’t just another festival, it’s another chapter where the numbers keep climbing and the stories keep getting bigger.

All quotes, images, facts, and figures courtesy of Asian Poker Tour.