Song Ying Leads Final 16 Of The Inaugural Poker Dream Jeju Main Event; Winfred Yu, Martin Nielsen Win Dragons

It took twelve 50-minute levels of Day 2 play for the inaugural Poker Dream Jeju Main Event to trim down the 179-player field to the final 16. Two players closed the day just 1 bb apart. At the helm was Song Ying with 5,905,000 (74 bb) and Zhou Yang with 5,800,000 (73 bb). Over at the side events, the poker world's biggest names hoisted Poker Dream dragon trophies, Winfred Yu and Martin Nielsen. Here are the highlights.

Poker Dream Jeju 12 - Main Event Live Updates
Main Event – Day 2 Chip Counts
Main Event – Payouts

Poker Dream Jeju Main Event - Day 2

The Poker Dream Jeju Main Event kicked off on September 30 with eleven flights spread across five days. Featuring an ambitious guarantee of ₩2.8 Billion / US$2 Million, the largest ever by the brand, a big crowd was seen at Day 1H with 350 entries. In total, 1,656 signed up - mostly from China and from Malaysia - to just spill over for a closing prize pool of ₩2,835,154,800 / ~US$ 2,140,100).

Entering Day 2, only 181 advanced, each one guaranteed a cash return. With many short stacks in the field, it was action packed from the start resulting in a stunning 42 dropouts in the first level. Among the first to go were notables Xixiang Luo (160th), Ling Tien Loon (156th), Kosei Ichinose (151st), Julian Warhurst (126th), Wai Kiat Lee (125th), and Dream Player of the Year winner You Jun Hong (107th).

As the day wore on, Super High Roller 3rd placer Anton Lu was stopped in 22nd place while runner up Steve Yea and 6th placer Teng Kah Yew held on to secure a final 16 berth. The day's entering chip leader Soriano Ramos also survived the day's challenges.

Song Ying Steals The Chip Lead

At 20 remaining, Song Ying won a three-way pot that sent her stack catapulting to second in chips. She proceeded to eliminate Ge Zhigang in 18th place to steal the top spot from Zhou Yang. Day 2 wrapped up at the elimination of Zou Haichao in 17th place with pocket Fours losing the flip against Xue Song's Ace-King.

Main Event - Review

Date: September 30 to October 6, 2024
Buy in: ₩1,200,000 / ₩1,600,000 / ₩2,400,000
Guarantee: ₩2.8 Billion / US$2 Million
Entries: 1,656
Prize pool: ₩2,835,154,800 / ~US$ 2,140,100)
ITM: 181 players

Final 16 players

The final stage to the top of the podium kicks off at 1pm on October 6. Everyone is guaranteed ₩22,500,000 (~US$ 16,985) while awaiting the eventual champion is a jaw dropping ₩453,400,000 (~US$ 342,248).

Remaining Payouts

Poker Dream Jeju 12 Side Events Update

Winfred Yu Wins Short Deck Ante Only

Prior to the Short Deck Ante Only, Hong Kong pro Winfred Yu was seen at the $30,000 NLH final table where he fell one spot short of the title against Tan Xuan. Well, not the case tonight with Yu coming from behind to defeat fellow pro Danny Tang in a grueling heads up match that took a few hours to complete. Yu locked up the title and his third Poker Dream high roller dragon.

Date: October 4, 2024
Buy in: ₩7,000,000 (~US$ 5,130)
Entries: 25
Prize pool: ₩156,170,000 (~US$ 117,885)
ITM: 5 places

Payouts

1st Winfred Yu - ₩57,800,000 (~US$ 43,800)
2nd Danny Tang - ₩39,870,000 (~US$ 30,215)
3rd Sean Ooi - ₩25,400,000 (~US$ 19,250)
4th Xu Jieming - ₩18,300,000 (~US$ 13,865)
5th Ling Tien Loon - ₩14,800,000 (~US$ 11,215)

Martin Nielsen Wins Single Day High Roller

First Poker Dream victory for Martin Nielsen to hoist a silver dragon to add to his WSOP bracelet. Nielsen crushed the Single Day High Roller, amassing a monstrous stack well before the final table and never relinquished.

Date: October 3, 2024
Buy in: ₩6,000,000 (~US$ 4,397)
Entries: 110
Prize pool: ₩588,984,000 (~US$ 446,360)
ITM: 15 places

Links:

Poker Dream Jeju 12 - Festival Results
Poker Dream Jeju 12 - Schedule