Poker Dream Jeju 12: Tan Xuan Wins First Poker Dream Title At $30,000 NLH

China’s Tan Xuan was all smiles after closing out one of the most exciting events on the Poker Dream Jeju 12 menu. “I feel very good” shared the champ after defeating Winfred Yu at heads up. A notable pro himself, Xuan is no stranger to winning against fellow high rollers however, this was his first ever Poker Dream victory making it a very special moment. Xuan won the silver dragon trophy and pocketed the top prize of ₩913,600,000 (~US$ 692,865)

Costing a thumping $30,000 to enter, the two-day event ran from September 29 to 30, 2024 at the Jeju Shinhwa Landing Casino. With elite players already at the festival since opening day, this event was one of the most sought after with 88 entries building a prize pool of ₩3,440,976,000 (~US$ 2,609,600).

Leading up to his victory, one of the toughest calls Xuan had to make was at four-handed against Paulius Plausinaitis. On a board showing K♥3♦3♠4♣Q♠ and Plausinaitis aggressive throughout raising preflop, c-betting the flop, and pushing on the river. After tanking, Xuan found the courage to call for his tournament life with Q♦8♥ that in turn exposed Plausiniatis’s bluff J♣7♣. When asked about this hand, Xuan explained,

“I called because he overbet. If he had the Ace or King or Three, he would want to keep me in the hand with a smaller bet, but he overbet so it made me think my hand was best. Even at the flop when I called his bet with just queen high, he checked the turn so I am thinking he doesn’t have anything. Maybe my queen is good.”

Indeed it was.

From there, Xuan landed another big pot. This one was on the luckier side of the coin with a runner runner full house that burned then-chip leader James Chen’s flopped trips. To close it out, Xuan denied Yu’s two pair on the turn with a straight on the river.

Read up on the detailed action via the Day 5 – Daily Updates.

• Date: September 29 to 30, 2024
• Buy in: $30,000
• Entries: 88
• Prize pool: ₩3,440,976,000 (~US$ 2,609,600)
• ITM: 13 places

Payouts

1st Tan Xuan – ₩913,600,000 (~US$ 692,865)
2nd Winfred Yu – ₩634,876,000 (~US$ 481,485)|
3rd James Chen – ₩419,800,000 (~US$ 318,373)
4th Paulius Plausinaitis – ₩328,600,000 (~US$ 249,207)
5th Jun Yap – ₩265,000,000 (~US$ 200,974)
6th Wai Kin Yong – ₩206,500,000 (~US$ 156,609)
7th Yan Jingyao – ₩163,400,000 (~US$ 123,921)
8th Zuo Wang – ₩127,300,000 (~US$ 96,543)
9th Wai Kiat Lee – ₩96,300,000 (~US$ 73,033)
10th Yu Lei – ₩74,000,000 (~US$ 56,121)
11th Daniel Tang – ₩74,000,000 (~US$ 56,121)
12th John Juanda – ₩68,80,000 (~US$ 52,177)
13th Cao Rui – ₩68,80,000 (~US$ 52,177)