WPT Cambodia 2026: Norberto Korn Wins Mystery Bounty HR; Erquiaga Leads WPT Prime Day 1A

The energy at NagaWorld reached a fever pitch today as the WPT Cambodia 2026 entered its most anticipated phase. Argentinian veteran Norberto Korn put on a masterclass in aggression to capture the $3K Mystery Bounty High Roller title, outlasting a competitive field and a tough heads-up battle against Mike Takayama. Meanwhile, the spotlight shifted to the $1,100 WPT Prime Cambodia, where a massive Day 1A field saw favorite David Erquiaga surge to the top of the counts.

Norberto Korn’s Victory in the Mystery Bounty High Roller

Norberto Korn delivered a dominant performance to win the $3K Mystery Bounty High Roller at WPT Cambodia 2026, defeating a 67-entry field at NagaWorld. The $3,000 buy-in event generated a total prize pool of $178,723, with $111,723 for the main prize pool and $67,000 designated for mystery bounties.

Day 2 saw 11 players return to the final table, each guaranteed a payout and chasing the $32,400 first-place prize. Korn established himself early as a primary threat, using precise aggression and well-timed all-ins to pressure his opponents and build a commanding chip stack.

Korn is a highly accomplished professional poker player from Argentina, currently ranked 5th on the Argentina All-Time Money List with over $4 million in total live earnings. A veteran of the international circuit, he is widely recognized for his versatility, holding a Global Poker Index (GPI) world ranking of 310th. Korn gained global prominence in 2017 when he won a World Series of Poker (WSOP) gold bracelet in the $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em event, securing his career-best cash of $618,285.

Beyond his success in No-Limit Hold'em, Korn is an elite mixed-games specialist with a record of victories across a wide range of formats, including 8-Game, 2-7 Triple Draw, Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo, and Badugi. His recent performance in the 2025 season highlights this range, with multiple first-place finishes at the Asia Series Poker Tour (ASPT) Korea and the Brazilian Series of Poker (BSOP) Millions. Whether competing in high-roller events in Uruguay or championship series in Cambodia and South Korea, Korn remains a formidable and consistent force at the final tables of the world's most prestigious tours.

Final Table Results

Korn Offers Aggressive Eliminations

The final table was marked by constant pressure from Korn, leading to several high-profile exits. Chip leader Ankit Ahuja was eliminated in ninth place after Korn rivered a set to crack his top pair. While Xiaosheng Zheng managed to claim the top $20,000 mystery bounty, bringing his total bounty winnings to $29,500, he eventually fell in fourth place, leaving Korn firmly in control.

The mid-stages featured dramatic flips and high-stakes all-ins that favored Korn. In a pivotal hand, Korn eliminated Yunsheng Sun in 3rd place after completing a flush on the turn and river. This victory provided Korn with an overwhelming chip lead heading into the final heads-up battle.

Heads-Up

The final duel pitted Korn against Mike Takayama, who attempted a brief comeback from a short stack. The tournament ended decisively when Takayama shoved his remaining chips and was called by Korn's pocket jacks. The board failed to help Takayama, and Korn's premium pair held to secure the championship.

Beyond the title, Korn’s success was defined by his proficiency in bounty hunting, collecting six bounties worth $30,500. Combined with the $32,400 top prize, Korn walked away with total winnings of $62,900, cementing his place in WPT Cambodia history through fearless and strategic play.

WPT Prime Cambodia: David Erquiaga Surges to the Lead in Day 1A

The highly anticipated WPT Prime Cambodia officially kicked off at NagaWorld, carrying a massive $750,000 guaranteed prize pool. The opening flight, Day 1A, attracted a robust field of 291 entries, setting a strong pace for the signature event. As the first of three starting flights, the high turnout ensures that the tournament is well on its way to smashing its ambitious guarantee as the action continues in Phnom Penh.

By the conclusion of the first flight, it was David Erquiaga from the Philippines who emerged as the overall chip leader, bagging a massive stack of 820,000 chips and leading the charge of 36 survivors. Erquiaga delivered a dominant performance throughout the later levels, positioning himself as the man to beat heading into the next stage of the competition.

Chasing behind Erquiaga on the leaderboard was Vietnam’s Hoa Thinh Nguyen, who secured the second-largest stack of the day with 635,000. Rounding out the top three is Daniel Charlton of the United Kingdom with also a hefty stack of 601,000 in chips.

Day 1A Top Ten Chip Counts

Other notable players successfully navigated the dense field to secure their seats for Day 2, including those who boast over seven figures in total live earnings. China’s Xiaosheng Zheng continued his strong run at the series by finishing the day with 581,000 chips, while Dmitrii Gromov from Russia also bagged a healthy stack of 526,000.

These 36 players have already secured spots in the Day 2 field and are now waiting for more challengers to join them as Day 1B gets underway tomorrow, January 31, at 11:30 local time, continuing their pursuit of the WPT Prime title and ultimate glory.

With Norberto Korn’s victory setting a high bar for WPT Cambodia 2026 and the series already smashing expectations, the stage is set for an exciting week of poker. As the survivors from Day 1A prepare for the next stage, attention now shifts to Day 1B, where another new wave of contenders will look to challenge David Erquiaga’s massive lead.