Jeju Poker Festival 2024: Zhiyuan Zhang Tops WPT Main Event Day 1A; Tomas Patka Celebrates Victory at WPT Opener

Jeju Poker Festival’s debut at Landing Casino, Jeju Shinhwa World, continues to run its course with the first week seeing its WPT Korea leg front and center. Day 2 of the series welcomed newcomers to the felt as more international players began to arrive, charging yet another strong representation from neighboring China. The day’s spotlight was on the initial flight of the esteemed KRW 1.68 Billion (~USD 1.2M) guaranteed WPT Main Event, where China’s Zhiyuan Zhang capped the day with the lead. 

Another WPT Ring was bestowed over the day’s WPT Opener Final Day games with Slovakia’s Tomas Patka capturing the hardware to go with KRW 37,977,000 (~USD 27,160) in winnings. Chinese runners Dong Li, Guo Xu, and Fang Chen, chimed in the celebratory mood with fresh victories at the side event lineup.

Stay tuned to SMP Live Updates as the games unfold, and catch the latest action directly off the floor.

Jeju Poker Festival 2024 – Player Guide
Jeju Poker Festival 2024 – Festival Results
Jeju Poker Festival 2024 – Live Updates

WPT Main Event Day 1A Recap

Following ten 60 minute levels, WPT Main Event Day 1A’s 120-entry field whittled down to a third, and wrapped up with China’s Zhiyuan Zhang stacking the lead over the 42-survivor pack. Zhang rose to the top spot by the last few hands after sending Tom Henricus to the rails with a backdoor flush against the latter’s turned straight. The chip leader pot earned Zhang a significant chunk of his 376,500 stack, leaving quite a distance from second in position Xixiang Luo’s 294,000. Fellow Chinese runner Jianglong Zheng trails just behind the two-time bracelet winner with 292,000, both just shy of reaching the 300K mark.

Other notables advancing through include New Zealand’s Tae Hoon Han (177,500), USA’s Kyungmin Lee (175,500), China’s Linghui Dai (168,500) and Jianfeng Sun (60,000), and UK’s Jun Li (123,500), to name a few.

Two more flights are set in following, with all survivors geared to make their return on Tuesday, November 19th, for another eight levels across Day 2.

WPT Main Event Review

• Dates: November 16-22, 2024
• Buy-in: KRW 2,500,000 (~USD 1,795)
• Guarantee: KRW 1,680,000,000 (~USD 1,206,430)

By The Numbers

• Day 1A: 120 entries, 42 qualified
• Day 1B: Sunday, November 17
• Day 1C: Monday, November 18
• Day 2: Tuesday, November 19
• Day 3: Wednesday, November 20
• Day 4: Thursday, November 21
• Day 5 /Final: Friday, November 22

WPT Main Event Day 1A Top Ten Survivors

Backtrack on the day’s action via SMP Live Updates

Tomas Patka Clinches WPT Opener Title

The WPT Opener Final Day welcomed only fourteen runners out of the 106-entry field back on the felt, each guaranteed a piece of the KRW 138,807,000 (~USD 99,275) prize pool. Down to two tables, it didn’t take long for the final table to be set with Taiwan’s Meng Ling Lin standing in the lead. 

Four more hours of battle ensued before the series’ opening event found its newest champion with Slovakia’s Tomas Patka reigning in all the glory along with KRW 37,977,000 (~USD 27,160) in winnings. Patka entered the final rounds middle of the pack and came out on top to bank the largest cut of the KRW 138,807,000 (~USD 99,275) prize pool. For his dominating run, Patka captured not only the worthy score, but also the coveted WPT Trophy and prestigious WPT Ring in celebration of his first live record in Asian soil.

• Date/s: November 15-16, 2024
• Buy-in: KRW 5,000,000 (~USD 3,570)
• Entries: 106 (70 unique)
• Prize pool: KRW 138,807,000 (~USD 99,275)
• ITM: 14 places

WPT Opener Final Table Results

Side Event Winners

Dong Li Triumphs Over Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo

Another WPT trophy was taken down on display with Dong Li shipping the victory across the Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo games. A small one table field of eight players vied for the title, six of which walked away empty-handed. In the final duel, Li finished off his last opponent, Xiaochuan Zhang to take the KRW 4,544,000 (~USD 3,250) top prize, leaving the latter to settle for the lesser KRW 2,440,000 (~USD 1,745) payday.

• Date/s: November 16, 2024
• Buy-in: KRW 1,000,000 (~USD 715)
• Entries: 8 (7 unique)
• Prize pool: KRW 6,984,000 (~USD 4,995)
• ITM: 2 places

Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo Full Payouts

Guo Xu Takes Down Single Day Mystery Bounty NLH

China’s Guo Xu shipped the final victory over the day’s Single Day Mystery Bounty NLH games, having bested the 40-entry field for the title. With seven places only paid, an ICM heads up deal was put in place which guaranteed Xu the largest cut of the KRW 52,380,000 (~USD 37,460) prize pool at KRW 9,700,000 (~USD 6,935), leaving only the WPT trophy to play for. The biggest winner however, was runner up Jianqiang Yu who bagged an additional KRW 13,500,000 (~USD 9,655) in bounty prizes, bumping up his total winnings to KRW 22,140,000 (~USD 15,830).

• Date/s: November 16, 2024
• Buy-in: KRW 1,500,000 (~USD 1,070)
• Entries: 40 (36 unique)
• Prize pool: KRW 52,380,000 (~USD 37,460)
• ITM: 7 places

Single Day Mystery Bounty NLH Full Payouts

*Denotes deal was made
**Excluding bounty prizes

Fang Chen Wins Hyper Turbo NLH

Fang Chen overcame a 27-entry field at the last side event on the day’s list, Hyper Turbo NLH, and clinched the trophy just before midnight struck. Another win saw the five golden-starred red flag held up high as Chen defeated Japan’s Naoki Yashiro in heads up play for the overall victory. For his triumph, Chen banked KRW 5,303,000 (~USD 3,790) in cash along with the coveted WPT trophy.

• Date/s: November 16, 2024
• Buy-in: KRW 600,000 (~USD 430)
• Entries: 27 (23 unique)
• Prize pool: KRW 14,143,000 (~USD 10,115)
• ITM: 5 places

Hyper Turbo NLH Full Payouts