Korea Poker Cup 2 Highlights And Chung Tang Lin As Record Breaking Main Event Champion

One of the fastest rising brands in the Asian circuit, Korea Poker Cup, continues to raise the bar at each outing. At only its second standalone festival, held at the Landing Casino in Jeju Island, South Korea from June 17 to 23, 2025, the brand outdid itself - shattering its advertised Main Event guarantee and crossing over a million in US dollars. Check out the results down below.

Korea Poker Cup 2 - By The Numbers

• Total festival prize pool: KR₩ 5,247,079,440 (~USD 3.8 Million)

• Total entries: 4,057

• Total winners: 26

• Main Event winner and payout: Chung Tang Lin KR₩ 183,990,000
  

• Main Event prize pool: KR₩ 1,616,799,600 (~USD 1.1 Million)

• SHR winner and payout: Winfred Yu - USD 285,300

• Biggest festival earner: Winfred Yu - USD 285,300

• Biggest side event: Mega Stack Closer: 218 entries | KR₩ 210.3 Million 

Chung Tang Lin Wins Record Breaking Korea Poker Cup 2 Main Event

The Korea Poker Cup came out with a bold KR₩ 880 Million Main Event guarantee which was up ten percent from its inaugural run. Like previous, the proposed figure was but a suggestion as 1,432 turned up across six flights for a smashing prize pool of KR₩ 1,616,799,600 (~USD 1,178,400). This set a new KPC Main Event record. 

Among the attendees were many notables that included defending champion Chun Lung Wong who finished in 145th place, Peng Sen Wu, Zong Chi He, Chung Yi Ho, Tae Hoon Han, Joseph Kim, Xiaosheng Zheng, Tianhao Zheng, Vietnamese  Trung Quan Nguyen, and Malaysian Juns Leong. While all of them cashed, in the end, it was a KPC newcomer / poker vlogger who reached the top.

Taiwan's Chung Tang Lin overcame a deficit at heads up against fellow countryman Cheng Huang  for his first ever live title and career high payout of KR₩ 183,990,000 (~USD 132,527). 

I’m so so happy! I’m happy to say there is finally a champion photo in which I’m not in the back (as one of the champion’s friends). It’s my first main event trophy. I’m so grateful that I didn’t have to wait like three to five years to have the first main event trophy, like other players on average. The trophy looks so nice, so I will figure out a way to put it on a display shelf in my room.

Event Recap

The KPC 2 Main Event attracted 1,432 entries across six flights. With a special bonus promo in place, seven players collected KR₩ 4 Million for qualifying twice and Zheng Guang was paid the highest worth KR₩ 11,500,000 for qualifying three times. Guang added another KR₩ 3,150,000 for finishing in 136th place. 

As Day 2 progressed, 11 levels of 60 minutes each were completed, trimming the field from 173 players to just 13 in the running. Xiaqing Ji was at the helm and maintained course to enter the final table second in chips. Up top was the eventual runner-up, Cheng Huang, with a substantial advantage.

It only took 59 hands to reach the heads up stage with Huang ahead 100 bb to Lin's 43 bb. After an ICM deal, Lin quickly tightened the gap to just a 10 bb difference and continued his winning spree to jump ahead. Despite Huang's attempts, Lin only surged to a 65 bb advantage.

After just 21 heads up hands, victory was sealed. Lin's {ah}{jh} dominated Huang's {10c}{5c} on a board of {7s}{ac}{qc}{10h}{qh}. Lin secured his first ever major title and is looking forward to returning.

Will we see you more often on the Asian poker circuit now?

Of course! I like Jeju and I will definitely come here again.

How did you hear about the event and how do you like the series and the Landing Casino?

I have a bunch of friends who are also from Taiwan. They have played KPC before. It’s my first KPC and I just love it!

Read up on the Main Event action via the SMP Live Updates.

Other Highlights

In addition to the Main Event, a long roster of champions was also crowned throughout the weeklong festival. Below is a list of the biggest winners.

Korea Poker Cup 2 - Results