21:32: Yu Lei bags the lead heading to Day 2
Level 11: 6,000 – 12,000 ante 12,000
Following over seven hours of play, China’s Yu Lei capped the day with the lead, having bagged 1,247,000 (83BB) in chips to top the field. Yu cruised through the games after nearly doubling his stack right before the day’s first break, and consistently chipped up to lock in the lead. Fellow countryman Li Boyao is right on his tail with 1,134,000 (76BB), having bagged a huge double up by the last hour. 15 players continue on through to tomorrow’s Day 2 with registration open until the end of Level 12.
Date: March 25-26, 2024
Buy-in: KR₩ 40,000,000 (~USD 29,750)
Entries: 24
Chip Counts
| Pos. | Player | Flag | Chip Count | BB |
| 1 | Yu Lei | China | 1,247,000 | 83 |
| 2 | Li Boyao | China | 1,134,000 | 76 |
| 3 | Kobayashi Hirokszu | Japan | 1,131,000 | 75 |
| 4 | Sturm Leon | Germany | 1,035,000 | 69 |
| 5 | Ivey Phil | United States | 951,000 | 63 |
| 6 | Ouyang Jiali | China | 907,000 | 60 |
| 7 | Park Christopher Young | United States | 887,000 | 59 |
| 8 | Toma Tsugunari | Japan | 823,000 | 55 |
| 9 | Chen Wei | China | 810,000 | 54 |
| 10 | Pak Valeriy | Uzbekistan | 806,000 | 54 |
| 11 | Lee Calvin Sungwon | United States | 770,000 | 51 |
| 12 | Tang Tiayuan | China | 614,000 | 41 |
| 13 | Boivin Thomas | Belgium | 575,000 | 38 |
| 14 | Jorstad Espen Uhlen | Norway | 373,000 | 25 |
| 15 | Li Keyi | China | 204,000 | 14 |
21:06: Runout bricks for Tang Tiayuan
Level 11: 6,000 – 12,000 ante 12,000
Utg Tang Tiayuan opened to 26,000, called by Toma Tsugunari behind along with the big blind. Flop came 
and saw Tang continue for 30,000. Toma churned out a raise to 100,000 and faced an all-in from Tang for his remaining 470,000. Toma makes the call with 
and is up against Tang’s 
. Both with a draw, the turn 
locked in a straight for Toma with the river 
denying his opponent’s flush completely.
Toma Tsugunari – 1,200,000
Tang Tiayuan – 350,000
20:57: Li Boyao bags a double up
Level 11: 6,000 – 12,000 ante 12,000
Utg Sturm Leon opened to 25,000, called by two other players behind. Action on big blind Li Boyao, he bumped it up to 90,000, called by Sturm and Phil Ivey on the button. Small blind Calvin Lee decided to squeeze for 400,000 total, pushing Li to go all-in for 476,000. Both players make the fold and the two run the board.
Li 
Lee 
A huge favorite, Li locked in the double up after no nines were spotted on 
.
Li Boyao – 1,130,000
Calvin Lee – 790,000
20:46: Ouyang Jiali bets over the top
Level 11: 6,000 – 12,000 ante 12,000
Utg+1 Calvin Lee opened to 27,000 and was met with a three bet to 60,000 from Ouyang Jiali. Lee completed and headed to flop 
. Checked to Ouyang, she fired a 40,000 bet, raised by Lee to 110,000 total. Ouyang answered back with a heftier 250,000 and Lee snap folds.
Ouyang Jiali – 950,000
Calvin Lee – 1,200,000
20:38: Blinds up!
Level 11: 6,000 – 12,000 ante 12,000
The last level of Day 1 SHR recorded a collective total of 24 entries for a KRW 866,400,000 prize pool. Registration continues through to Day 2 end of Level 12.
20:23: Midpair good for Ouyang Jiali
Level 10: 5,000 – 10,000 ante 10,000
Utg Sturm Leon defended his open vs Ouyang Jiali’s three bet to 57,000 and saw flop 
. Both players checked it through, moving on to turn 
. Sturm churned out a 35,000 bet, called by Ouyang. River 
went check check, showing down Sturm’s 
, no good agaisnt Ouyang’s 
.
Ouyang Jiali – 850,000
Sturm Leon – 1,050,000
20:15: Calvin Lee locks in a boost
Level 10: 5,000 – 10,000 ante 10,000
Calvin Lee opened from mp, called by Li Boyao behind along with the big blind. On flop 
, Lee continued for 22,000, raised to 58,000 by Li. BB folds and Lee completes to see turn . Action was checked down to the river with Lee tabling for the win.
Calvin Lee – 1,100,000
Li Boyao – 500,000
20:11: Phil Ivey cripples Yang Chongxian
Level 10: 5,000 – 10,000 ante 10,000
Utg+2 Phil Ivey opened to 20,000 and was met with a three bet to 90,000 from big blind Yang Chongxian. Ivey made the call and headed to flop 
. Yang fired a 65,000 cbet, called by his opponent. On turn 
, Yang moved all-in for Ivey’s 320,000 behind, leaving the latter to use up three time banks before calling off. Yang shows 
and is up against Ivey’s 
. Gunning for several outs, the river spared none, crippling Yang down to 4.5 BB.
Phil Ivey – 975,000
Yang Chongxian – 45,000
19:58: Blinds up!
Level 10: 5,000 – 10,000 ante 10,000
A total of 22 entries have been recorded so far, generating a KRW 830,300,000 prize pool.
19:35: Sturm Leon soars to the top
Level 9: 4,000 – 8,000 ante 8,000
Facing a 20,000 open, cutoff Sturm Leon bumped it up to 55,000 and was met with a cold four bet to 145,000 from small blind Stephen O’Dwyer. Original raiser got out of the way and Sturm put in the call. On flop 
, O’Dwyer continued for 33,000, called by his opponent. Turn was checked through, revealing river . O’Dwyer checked once more, yet shortly found himself calling for his tournament life (345,000 behind) after Sturm bet all-in. Sturm shows the rockets 
, crushing O’Dwyer’s 
all the way.
Sturm Leon – 1,200,000
Stephen O’Dwyer – Eliminated
19:18: Yang Chongxian heads for the rails
Level 9: 4,000 – 8,000 ante 8,000
Short stacked Yang Chongxian got his remaining 140,000 in with 
and was up against Calvin Lee’s 
. Flipping for his tournament life, the board 
left Yang eliminated from the table after Lee spiked a set to claim the win.
Calvin Lee – 1,000,000
Yang Chongxian – Eliminated
19:15: Tang Tiayuan spikes the river
Level 9: 4,000 – 8,000 ante 8,000
Button Tang Tiayuan opened to 20,000, joined by big blind Kobayashi Hirokszu on flop . Tang continued for 10,000, check called by Kobayashi. Turn went check check, heading to river 
. Checked to Tang once more, he fired 55,000, called by his opponent. Tang reveals 
and collects the pot with his runner runner two pair.
Tang Tiayuan – 690,000
Kobayashi Hirokszu – 300,000
19:04: Blinds up!
Level 9: 4,000 – 8,000 ante 8,000
A total of 19 entries have been recorded so far for Day 1 of the Super High Roller event. Prize pool currently stands at KRW 685,900,000.
18:40: Li Boyao collects from Phil Ivey
Level 8: 3,000 – 6,000 ante 6,000
A raised pot, three players went on to see flop 
. Big blind Kobayashi Hirokszu led out for 18,000, called by button Phil Ivey and small blind Li Boyao. Turn was checked to Ivey, who fired for 60,000. Kobayashi opts out and Li puts in the call. River completed the board and saw Li put half his stack in the middle (118,000), Ivey with a final call. Li reveals 
for a rivered straight and secures the pot.
Li Boyao – 540,000
Phil Ivey – 360,000
18:23: Zhou Quan doubles up
Level 8: 3,000 – 6,000 ante 6,000
Facing an open, Zhou Quan flicked in his 65,000 stack with and was called by raiser Thomas Boivin with . Up for a race, the board 
quickly paired up Zhou’s ace, earning him a double up to 25 BB.
Zhou Quan – 150,000
Thomas Boivin – 660,000
18:23: Blinds up!
Level 8: 3,000 – 6,000 ante 6,000
19 entries in for today’s SHR Day 1 with the average stack currently listed at 558,824.
18:18: Sturm Leon ships the pot
Level 7: 3,000 – 5,000 ante 5,000
Utg+2 Chen Wei opened to 12,000, called by button Sturm Leon along with the big blind. Flop 
saw Chen continue for 20,000, raised by Sturm to 70,000 total. Big blind folds and Chen completes to see turn 
. Sturm fired another 105,000, check called by his opponent, revealing river . Sturm pushed a final 265,000 bet which urged Chen to use up two time banks before making the fold.
Sturm Leon – 820,000
Chen Wei – 465,000
17:58: Stephen O’Dwyer bows out
Level 7: 3,000 – 5,000 ante 5,000
Up against an open and a three bet, button Stephen O’Dwyer shoved all-in for 170,000 total and was called by Park Christopher with . O’Dwyer at risk with , flopped top pair on 
but was eliminated after his opponent turned a higher one for the win.
Park Christopher – 700,000
Stephen O’Dwyer – Eliminated
17:52: Espen Jorstad fights another day
Level 7: 3,000 – 5,000 ante 5,000
Facing a button open, small blind Chen Wei fired a three bet to 40,000 and was met with another raise behind by big blind Espen Jorstad. Chen clapped back with a bigger 165,000 and left Jorstad to tank fold.
Chen Wei – 600,000
Espen Jorstad – 305,000
17:43: Kobayashi Hirokszu survives flip
Level 7: 3,000 – 5,000 ante 5,000
Thomas Boivin opened from early position and called button Kobayashi Hirokszu’s all-in for 122,000 total.
Kobayashi
Boivin
At risk, Kobayashi was spared from elimination after the board ran in favor of his overcards.
Kobayashi Hirokszu – 254,000
Thomas Boivin – 750,000
17:43: Blinds up!
Level 7: 3,000 – 5,000 ante 5,000
16 entries in so far for today’s SHR Day 1 with registration open through Day 2 end of Level 12.
17:28: Calvin Lee outflops Kobayashi Hirokszu
Level 6: 2,000 – 4,000 ante 4,000
Utg+1 Kobayashi Hirokszu opened to 9,000 and was met with a three bet to 26,000 right behind by Calvin Lee. Kobayashi clapped back with a raise to 56,000, Lee with a call. Action was checked through to turn where Kobayashi fired 30,000. Lee calls, heading to river 
. Kobayashi sent out another 65,000 and called Lee’s all-in for 225,000 not long after. Lee tables for a boat, crushing Kobayashi’s .
Calvin Lee – 630,000
Kobayashi Hirokszu – 130,000
17:14: Valeriy Pak continues to slip
Level 6: 2,000 – 4,000 ante 4,000
Valeriy Pak defended his big blind against Stephen O’Dwyer’s button open and saw flop 
. O’Dwyer continued for 14,000, check called by Pak. On turn , Pak led out a 16,000 bet, and a heftier 38,000 on river . O’Dwyer called down both streets, exposing Pak’s missed straight draw . O’Dwyer shows and piles in the boost.
Stephen O’Dwyer – 340,000
Valeriy Pak – 105,000
16:52: Yu Lei shows down pocket kings
Level 6: 2,000 – 4,000 ante 4,000
A three bet pot, 80,000 was already in the middle on flop . Big blind Yu Lei check called 22,000 from opponent Thomas Boivin, and another 33,000 on turn . River was checked by both players, Yu revealing to take it down.
Yu Lei – 1,050,000
Thomas Boivin – 880,000
16:48: Blinds up!
Level 6: 2,000 – 4,000 ante 4,000
15 entries in for today’s SHR Day 1 with the pot currently listed at KRW 541,500,000.
16:46: Li Keyi puts on the pressure
Level 5: 1,500 – 3,000 ante 3,000
Utg+1 Zhou Quan opened to 7,000 and called Li Keyi’s three bet to 27,000 behind. Flop came 
and saw Zhou check call 18,000, and another 100,000 on turn . By the river however, Zhou was unable to continue after Li put him all-in for his remaining 150,000. Li takes the pot and climbs to a 233 BB stack.
Li Keyi – 700,000
Zhou Quan – 150,000
16:38: Yu Lei with a four bet
Level 5: 1,500 – 3,000 ante 3,000
Utg+1 Yu Lei bumped it up to 6,500 and was met with a raise by Zhou Quan behind to 19,500. Yu answered with a four bet to 51,500, enough to convince Zhou to throw in the towel.
Yu Lei – 870,000
Zhou Quan – 290,000
16:35: Set wins it for Tang Tiayuan
Level 5: 1,500 – 3,000 ante 3,000
Utg Tang Tiayuan opened to 6,500, called behind by Valeriy Pak. Flop came and saw Tang pull a check raise to 31,000 after Pak sent out a 12,000 bet. Pak completes, moving on to turn . Tang this time, leads for 55,000, Pak with a call. River merited no more bets with Tang revealing for the pot.
Tang Tiayuan – 580,000
Valeriy Pak – 185,000
16:10: Blinds up!
Level 5: 1,500 – 3,000 ante 3,000
11 entries in for today’s SHR Day 1 with action set to play through eleven blind levels.
16:08: Stephen O’Dwyer pays off Thomas Boivin
Level 4: 1,500 – 2,500 ante 2,500
Stephen O’Dwyer opened to 6,500 and was joined by both players on the blinds on flop . Checked to O’Dwyer, he fired a 5,500 cbet and was met with a raise to 17,500 from big blind Thomas Boivin. O’Dwyer makes the call and heads to turn . Boivin pulls another check raise, this time to 50,000. O’Dwyer continues, with the river completing the board. Boivin leads for 110,000, O’Dwyer with a final call. Boivin shows down a full house and scoops up the pot.
Thomas Boivin – 770,000
Stephen O’Dwyer – 210,000
15:51: Calvin Lee takes it down
Level 4: 1,500 – 2,500 ante 2,500
Utg Li Keyi opened to 5,500, called by Phil Ivey behind along with big blind Calvin Lee. Flop was checked down, revealing turn . Li sent out a 16,500 bet, Ivey with a call, and Lee with a check raise to 70,000. Both players give it up and throw in the fold.
Calvin Lee – 520,000
Phil Ivey – 440,000
Li Keyi – 550,000
15:37: Yu Lei ahead all the way
Level 4: 1,500 – 2,500 ante 2,500
Yu Lei opened on the button and was joined by both players on the blinds on flop . Checked to Yu, he continued for 2,500, raised by small blind Zhou Quan to 10,000. Big blind opts out and Yu makes the call. On turn , Zhou check called a 47,000 bet from Yu and another 235,000 on river . Yu reveals top set and packs in the win.
Yu Lei – 900,000
Zhou Quan – 270,000
15:30: Trip tens for both Li Boyao and Thomas Boivin
Level 4: 1,500 – 2,500 ante 2,500
With 40,000 in the middle on board , action was seen on Thomas Boivin who fired a pot size bet. Opponent Li Boyao made the call and revealed both players tabling trip tens – Li with a higher kicker Jx against Boivin’s .
Li Boyao – 350,000
Thomas Boivin – 600,000
15:28: Blinds up!
Level 4: 1,500 – 2,500 ante 2,500
Ten players in for the SHR games with registration open through Day 2 end of Level 12.
15:15: Li Boyao faces huge bet
Level 3: 1,000 – 2,000 ante 2,000
Thomas Boivin defended his big blind against button Li Boyao and saw flop . Boivin led for 5,000, called by Li. On turn , Boivin threw a hefty 38,000, called once more by his opponent. On river however, Li eventually gave it up after Boivin sent out a final 101,000.
Thomas Boivin – 685,000
Li Boyao – 315,000
14:56: Thomas Boivin throws in the fold
Level 3: 1,000 – 2,000 ante 2,000
Action on board saw 13,000 in the middle with raiser Thomas Boivin firing an 8,500 bet by the river. Big blind Stephen O’Dwyer put in a check raise to 25,500 to which Boivin folded.
Stephen O’Dwyer – 522,000
Thomas Boivin – 600,000
14:33: Blinds up!
Level 3: 1,000 – 2,000 ante 2,000
Two tables currently running for the SHR games, each short-handed for a collective 9 entries in.
14:31: Set good for Zhou Quan
Level 2: 1,000 – 1,500 ante 1,500
Hijack Zhou Quan opened to 3,500 and saw both players on the blinds complete. On flop 
, Zhou continued for 6,000, called by small blind Valeriy Pak. Zhou fired a heftier 16,500 on turn and called Pak’s raise to 38,000 not long after. On river , Pak sent out a final 77,000 bet, called by his opponent. Pak shows , no good against Zhou’s set .
Zhou Quan – 610,000
Valeriy Pak – 210,000
13:58: Valeriy Pak gives it up
Level 2: 1,000 – 1,500 ante 1,500
Button Yu Lei opened to 4,000 and was met with a three bet to 16,000 from big blind Valeriy Pak. Yu completes and heads to flop . Pak continues for 25,000, called by Yu. Turn went check check, peeling river . Yu fires a final 36,000, Pak with a check fold.
Yu Lei – 620,000
Valeriy Pak – 338,000
13:55: Blinds up!
Level 2: 1,000 – 1,500 ante 1,500
Single table running for SHR Day 1 with six entries in so far. Registration remains open through tomorrow Day 2 end of Level 12.
13:52: Bottom pair good for Li Keyi
Level 1: 500 – 1,000 ante 1,000
Button Li Keyi opened to 3,000, joined by big blind Yu Lei on flop . Action was checked through, revealing turn . Yu fired 4,500, called by the raiser. River saw Yu pull a bigger 17,000, called by Li with bottom pair . Li wins the pot with his pair good against Yu’s ace high.
Li Keyi – 645,000
Yu Lei – 570,000
13:29: Li Keyi gets value on the river
Level 1: 500 – 1,000 ante 1,000
Folded to small blind Valeriy Pak, he opened to 3,500, called by big blind Li Keyi. Flop came and saw Pak continue for 3,000. Li bumped it up to 9,500 and was met with a click back to 18,500. Li makes the call and sees turn . Pak sends out an 18,500 bet, called by Li through to river . Checked by Pak, Li threw in a 50,000 bet and was called by his opponent. Li reveals for two pair and claims the win.
Li Keyi – 604,000
Valeriy Pak – 396,000
13:20: Phil Ivey runs into aces
Level 1: 500 – 1,000 ante 1,000
Phil Ivey defended his big blind vs utg Yu Lei’s 3,000 open and saw flop . Action was checked through to turn where Yu fired a 6,000 delayed cbet, called by Ivey. River saw Yu bet out another 11,000, Ivey with a final call. Yu shows and takes down the pot.
Yu Lei – 520,000
Phil Ivey – 480,000
13:16: Cards in the air!
Level 1: 500 – 1,000 ante 1,000
Action begins, good luck to all the players!
WPT Korea at Landing Casino, Jeju Shinhwa World, South Korea, is starting its 2024 season with a bang, offering its most premium buy-in tournament, Event #2: Super High Roller, right on opening day. The two-day event charges a KR₩ 40,000,000 (~USD 29,750) price tag, sure to entice the fiercest contenders across the region. Each player starts off with a massive 500,000 stack, equal to 500 BB. Those intending to jump in the action on Day 2 can expect a playable 33 BB stack for a chance to win the first of four WPT High Roller Rings up for grabs.
Action starts at noon with registration open through Day 2 end of Level 12.
Date: March 25-26, 2024
Buy-in: KR₩ 40,000,000 (~USD 29,750)
Day 1: March 25, 2024
Day 2: March 26, 2024
Tricia David
Tricia David has long experience as a recreational poker player and has been covering poker events since 2010 for numerous outfits in Asia. She spent one year working part time with Poker Portal Asia then became editor and lead writer for all event coverage of the Philippine Poker Tour (PPT). Under the PPT, she overlooked content for their website, and produced live updates on all their events. In addition, she served as the live and online events website content writer for the Asian Poker Tour. Currently, she does live events reporting in Asia for online news site Somuchpoker and is also one of their news contributors.
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