WPT Korea Main Event draws 758 for ₩2.2 Billion prize pool; Ma Yanjun tops Day 1C; 283 return for Day 2

SMP EditorEditor-in-Chief

Updated: 2026.10.02

It was an ambitious goal and in the aftermath, the World Poker Tour (WPT) exceeded its KR₩ 2 billion WPT Korea Main Event guarantee. With Day 1C seeing another 274 pony up the KR₩ 3,400,000 (~USD 2,680) buy in, the prize pool grew to a richer KR₩ 2,246,947,400 (~USD 1,770,200). In total, 758 filled up host venue Jeju Shinhwa World Landing Casino overthree starting days with 283 players moving on to Day 2.

Buy in:KR₩ 3,400,000 (~USD 2,680)

Guarantee: KR₩ 2,000,000,000 (~USD 1,575,600)

Entries: 758

Prize pool: KR₩ 2,246,947,400 (~USD 1,770,200)

Day 2: 283 players

ITM: 95 places

Place	Payout in KR₩
1	405,188,000
2	266,500,000
3	192,500,000
4	146,500,000
5	110,300,000
6	82,000,000
7	64,930,000
8	50,300,000
9-10	39,710,000
11-12	31,470,000
13-14	25,430,000
15-16	20,800,000
17-20	17,230,000
21-24	14,450,000
25-32	12,270,000
33-40	10,550,000
41-48	9,200,000
49-56	8,160,000
57-64	7,320,000
65-72	6,670,000
73-80	6,160,000
81-88	5,780,000
89-95	5,470,000

Day 1 results

Day 1A: 252 entries / 98 advanced

Day 1B: 232 entries / 83 advanced

Day 1C: 274 entries / 102 advanced

Top 10 entering Day 2

Player	Flag	Stack	BB
Zhao Yong	China	582,000	233
Gu Hui Dong	China	381,000	152
Pak Valeriy	Russia	371,500	149
Zhang Zeyu	China	332,500	133
Ma Yanjun	China	326,500	131
Cangsheng Ni	China	313,000	125
Tsoy Dmitriy V	Uzbekistan	308,000	123
Yan David	New Zealand	300,500	120
Wang Yujia	China	300,000	120
Jin Xu Dong	China	296,000	118

For the complete Day 2 list,WPT Korea Main Event – Chip Counts

The Day 1C flight opened with WPT and Landing Casino delivering a welcome speech. From there, the race heated up with players taking advantage of the last sign up day. Among them were actor Arden Cho, Chen-An Lin Cheng Chao-Ting, Joseph Talamayan, Paul Hong, and Ting-Yi Tsai, all of them pulling through. By the end of the scheduled ten rounds of play, 102 remained with China’s Ma Yanjun baggingthe largest of 131 bb.

You can watch some of the daily action via the livestream by Sharehand broadcasted in the WPT YouTube page with Tony Dunst, Matt Savage, Scott Baumstein, Bryan Paris, Henry Kilbane, Chris Soto, Jamie Kerstetter,andAJ Rudolphalternating on the commentary. You can also read up on the action via the Live Updates.

For the livestream,WPT Korea – Livestream

For hand for hand action,WPT Korea Main Event – Live Updates

All of the Day 1 survivors return on Thursday, July 20, 2023 to chase down the money and a spot at the final table. Only 95 players are guaranteed a piece of the pot. Minimum cash is KR₩ 5,470,000 (~USD 4,310) while awaiting the champion is a handsome KR₩ 405,188,000 (~USD 319,210).

WPT Korea – Schedule and Structures

Side Event results

Mengdian Peng wins the Hyper Turbo NLH

China’s Mengdian Peng lifted his first ever WPT win at the Hyper Turbo NLH and scored a payout of KR₩ 13,837,000 (~USD 10,900). He outlasted the 153-entry field, denying Fukui Ryoma at heads up. Peng was the second player from China to win at the ongoing festival.

Date: July 19, 2023
Buy in: KR₩ 425,000 (~USD 335)
Entries: 153
Prize pool: KR₩ 56,767,000 (~USD 44,720)
ITM: 20 places

Place	Player	Flag	Payouts in KR₩
1	Mengdian Peng	China	13,837,000
2	Fukui Ryoma	Japan	9,230,000
3	Pan Yu Wen	China	6,580,000
4	Taniguchi Itsuki	Japan	4,790,000
5	Koizumi Shinya	Japan	3,560,000
6	Haobo Zhu	China	2,700,000
7	Chunnuan Xu	China	2,100,000
8	Lu Fan	China	1,670,000
9	Yin Tao	China	1,350,000

For the full results: WPT Korea – Festival Results

Other Key Events

Following the main is theWPT Alpha8 One Drop Koreacharity event which features a buy-in of KR₩ 170,000,000 (~USD 133,930). A portion of the buy-in goes to theOne Dropfoundation to help bring access to water to communities in need of clean water.

Cards for a Cause: WPT Alpha8 for One Drop in Jeju Island, Korea from July 21 to 22

To complete the key three is theWPT Korea High Rollerwith a buy in of KRW 17,000,000 (~USD 13,400). Expect elite players from the region to populate the tables.

Getting to Jeju Shinhwa Landing Resort

For arriving players, getting to the venue couldn’t be any easier. Just look for the WPT Korea banner with the bus schedule and hop in once it arrives. It takes approximately one hour to get to the venue. The bus runs daily on a two hour schedule starting at 6am. The last bus to the venue is at 10pm.

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About the Editor

SMP EditorEditor-in-Chief

The SMP Editor covers international poker and iGaming for SoMuchPoker, providing news, tournament coverage, and industry insights. With a focus on accuracy, clarity, and relevance, the editor helps readers stay informed about developments across the global poker community.