Lei Yu Triumphs in the Final Coronation at King Poker Cup for $485,500

The Final Coronation concluded in spectacular fashion at the glorious venue LES A Casino, capping off the King Poker Cup 2026 on a high note. China’s Lei Yu etched his name into KPC history books by outlasting a 68-entry field, generating an impressive USD 1,909,500 prize pool.

Facing a final table stacked with proven winners, including WSOP bracelet holder Mike Takayama , high-earning pro Ye Wang , and Abraham Ceesvin , Yu stood his ground against some of the game’s toughest competition. In the end, the Chinese pro claimed the biggest share of the prize pool, taking home the USD 485,500 top prize and lifting the final trophy. With this victory, Yu etched his name into the King Poker Cup champion list and closed out the festival in a sensational way.

Lei Yu is has established himself as a significant force on the international circuit. Based in Tianjin, China, he has amassed over $3.7 million in total live tournament earnings. A breakthrough moment in his career occurred in late 2024 at WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas, where he won his first WSOP gold bracelet in the $5,000 No Limit Hold’em event, earning $293,050 after mounting an impressive comeback from a short stack at the final table.

Winner’s Reaction

“I feel quite happy to win still,” Yu shared when asked about his emotions. “I’ve been playing poker for over ten years and have gone through many ups and downs, so I don’t show too much emotion anymore. Just a few days ago, I was even the bubble boy in another event. Maybe today I’m just lucky,” Yu said with a laugh.

Yu noted that this win means a lot to him. “This victory is important for my career because the buy-in is high, and the players who can enter this event are all world-class. Everyone here is very strong, so I think luck played a big part for me today.” Speaking about the competition, Yu added, “There are many skilled players here, and most of them are familiar faces from around the world. I’ve played with them many times, and they are all tough opponents with different styles. In the end, it comes down to who can play better on the day and who runs better. Today, I was the luckier one.”

Yu also shared his other results from the series. “I finished 15th in the USD 15,000 King’s Main Event and eighth in the USD 13,000 Crown Hunt. Overall, I’m quite satisfied with my performance throughout the whole festival.”

When asked about the difference between live-stream tables and live tournaments, Yu explained, “They are two completely different games. I’m more used to live tournaments, as that’s what I’ve focused on over the past ten years. I still play live-stream games from time to time, but they require a different approach.” Looking ahead, Yu said, “I try my best in every game and aim to keep my performance at a good level while playing as many tournaments as I can. As for results, I prefer to leave them to fate. I’ve always believed in this approach, and it has worked well for me.”

Yu also praised the festival, saying, “In my view, the King Poker Cup is one of the best high buy-in events in Asia. I hope it continues to grow and becomes even bigger in the future.”

Finally, Yu offered advice to other players. “Choose events that suit you and focus on enjoying the experience. Try to improve a little each time and play better than you did before. Don’t overthink the game, just do your best and leave the rest to fate.”

Final Day Highlights

The day’s action kicked off with 35 players in the field. When the number was whittled down to 13, soft bubble time began. Vietnam’s Huu Dung Nguyen carried the minefield into the stone bubble as his pocket fours were cracked by Wang’s rivered pair of kings.

Soon after Nguyen’s exit, Tsz Kin Heung found himself at risk against Mike Takayama. Heung’s big slick found no help from the board and was beaten by Takayama’s rivered full house. Just like that, Heung hit the rail with the day’s most unwanted title, Bubble Boy, and left empty-handed.

After the money bubble burst, the final table bubble followed. Bao Qiang Ho called Thixoa Nguyen’s shove with his short stack. Ho’s king-seven was ahead of Nguyen’s nine-five, but Nguyen paired her five on the turn, sending Ho out one spot shy of the final table.

Yu’s Journey to the Title

Lei Yu carried the second-shortest stack into the final table, but he played steadily for more than 15 hands and rebuilt his stack, working his way back into the game. His first setback came against Ceesvin, who doubled through Yu after calling Yu’s bluff shove from the small blind. Yu’s eight-high was beaten by Ceesvin’s rivered two pair.

Yu stayed composed and waited for the right moment. That moment came when he moved all in and joined a three-way pot, facing shoves from both tablemates. Yu’s cowboys held up , earning him a monster pot and another elimination.

The next player to fall to Yu was the lone female at the final table, Thixoa Nguyen. She three-bet shoved on the flop with an open-ended straight draw, but Yu called with flopped two pair. The runout brought no help for Nguyen, and she hit the rail in fourth place.

A few hands later, Wayne Heung put himself at risk. He shoved with pocket jacks and ran straight into Yu’s pocket queens. With no help from the board, Heung hit the rail, and Yu added more ammunition to his stack.

Heads-Up

Yu held a commanding chip lead of nearly 4:1, bringing 26,400,000 in chips into the final heads-up against Wang’s 7,600,000. The two players eventually made a deal, closing out the day with Yu taking home the trophy and USD 485,500, while Wang finished runner-up for USD 450,000.

Tsz Kin Heung Triumphs to Take the Big Bounty Title

Hong Kong’s Tsz Kin Heung emerged victorious in the $15,000 Big Bounty event, taking home the $28,100 top prize. The win not only secured Heung the cash but also the prestige of being crowned the Big Bounty Champion. Throughout the event, his skill and resilience were on full display, leaving a lasting impression at the King Poker Cup.

Emerging as the survivors on the final day, Yu and Heung left a strong impression on the poker elites at this premier event, securing their place in King Poker Cup history as the final champions of the series.