The World Poker Tour (WPT) crowned its first WPT Korea Main Event champion after China’s Tao Yin emerged victorious for his first WPT title and largest career score. Over at the side events, Jin Xu Dong and Zhao Wei walked away with trophies. More events up ahead including the WPT High Roller which runs from July 23 to 24 at the Jeju Shinhwa World Landing Casino.
WPT Korea: Schedule and Structures
Tao Yin wins the WPT Korea Main Event for KR₩ 295,000,000 (~USD 229,370)
Big win for China’s Tao Yin who entered the WPT Korea Main Event final table as chip leader and was able to fend off the more decorated players to clinch the title and career high ICM payout deal of KR₩ 295,000,000 (~USD 229,370).
In an interview with the champ, he expressed,
“I’ve always known of WPT and heard they were coming to Jeju so I came to play. Winning the Main Event is a fantastic feeling. It’s not easy to win the Main Event so this is very special for me. The players were so good and tough, especially the second and third placers. I felt I got lucky. One time I won with pocket Aces and beat pocket Queens. I also pushed all in preflop with 
and my opponent Chao Ting Cheng had 
, I won the hand (board 
).”
Dates: July 17 to 22, 2023
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)
ITM: 95 places
| Place | Player | Flag | Payout in KR₩ |
| 1 | Yin Tao | China | 295,000,000* |
| 2 | Pak Valeriy | Russia | 250,187,000* |
| 3 | Cheng Chao Ting | Taiwan | 319,000,000* |
| 4 | Jianguo Shu | China | 146,500,000 |
| 5 | Chunhao Zhang | China | 110,300,000 |
| 6 | Sawada Toshihide | Japan | 82,000,000 |
| 7 | Liu Li Jiang | China | 64,930,000 |
| 8 | Hong Zhu | China | 50,300,000 |
*Full list of payouts in WPT Korea – Festival Results
You can catch the action via the livestream by Sharehand broadcasted in the WPT YouTube page with Matt Savage and Jamie Kerstetter on the commentary. You can also read up on the action via the Live Updates.
WPT Korea – Livestream
WPT Korea Main Event – Live Updates
Final 8 recap
The Main Event attracted 758 entries over three starting days to generate a prize pool of KR₩ 2,246,947,400 (~USD 1,770,200). The top 95 players claimed a cut with the final 8 battling for the biggest piece and the coveted title.
China’s Tao Yin entered as chip leader, Taiwan’s Chao-Ting Cheng trailed not too far behind. At seven-handed, Tao soared to a massive advantage with 
eliminating Liu Li Jiang 
. Cheng tightened the gap by booting Sawada Toshihide (6th) then overtook by four-handed.
After Valeriy Pak railed Jianguo Shu in 4th place with 
outdrawing Shu’s 
on a board 
, the final three struck an ICM deal then played for the trophy.
ICM deal payout:
Chao Ting Cheng – KR₩ 319,000,000 (~USD 248,000)
Tao Yin – KR₩ 295,000,000 (~USD 229,370)
Valeriy Pak – KR₩ 250,187,000 (~USD 194,520)
Tao nearly fell first with his King-Nine shove improving to two pair to double up through Cheng’s pocket Aces. Cheng was unable to recover for the final battle battle to be between Pak and Tao. Several exchanges in, Pak risked his entire stack on a gutshot and missed to finish in 2nd place and Tao to be crowned the champion.
Side Event results
Jin Xu Dong stays tough to win Mini Main Event
The two-day Mini Main Event also wrapped up with China’s Jin Xu Dong impressive throughout. Jin topped the 26 Day 1 survivors out of 208 total entries. He maintained his big stack for a majority of Day 2 to claim his first known live tournament title and a career high payout of KR₩ 71,103,000 (~USD 55,285). Notables at the final table were Taiwanese players Chen-An Lin and Ting-Yi Tsai.
Date: July 21 to 22, 2023
Buy in: KR₩ 1,700,000 (~USD 1,340)
Entries: 208
Prize pool: KR₩ 308,693,000 (~USD 240,000)
ITM: 26 places
| Place | Player | Flag | Payout in KR₩ |
| 1 | Jin Xu Dong | China | 71,103,000 |
| 2 | Wang Jizhong | China | 47,230,000 |
| 3 | Lin Chen-An | Taiwan | 34,310,000 |
| 4 | Guo Meng | China | 25,260,000 |
| 5 | Tan Win Meng | Malaysia | 18,860,000 |
| 6 | Guodong Sun | China | 14,270,000 |
| 7 | Tsai Ting Yi | China | 10,980,000 |
| 8 | Liu Tianyou | China | 8,560,000 |
| 9 | Lam Wai Lun William | China | 6,760,000 |
*Full list of payouts in WPT Korea – Festival Results
Zhao Wei takes down the Single Day High Roller
Rarely seen on the live felt, online grinder Zhao Wei proved his virtual prowess translated seamlessly to the real world. His fierce and aggressive playing style led to his victory at the Single Day High Roller, thus breaking a six year live victory drought. Zhao topped a field of 39 runners to pocket a live tournament career high payout of KR₩ 109,713,000 (~USD 85,300). This was his fourth side event cash.
Leading up to his win, Zhao eliminated Michael Wang on the bubble with dominating 
. Jieming Xu polished off the next three players to bring about heads up. On the final hand, Zhao was slightly up in chips. Both were all in preflop with Zhao’s 
top pair defeating Xu’s 
on a board 
.
Date: July 22, 2023
Buy in: KR₩ 8,500,000 (~USD 6,610)
Entries: 39
Prize pool: KR₩ 292,383,000 (~USD 227,335)
ITM: 5 places
| Place | Player | Flag | Payout in KR₩ |
| 1 | Zhao Wei | China | 109,713,000 |
| 2 | Jieming Xu | China | 73,150,000 |
| 3 | Lin Wenguo | China | 48,760,000 |
| 4 | Sun Guo Dong | China | 34,580,000 |
| 5 | Yang Chongxian | China | 26,180,000 |
Mystery Bounty Day 1 results
Date: July 22 to 23, 2023
Buy in: KR₩ 850,000 (~USD 660)
Day 1A: 111 entries
Day 1B: 62 entries
Entries: 173
Prize pool: TBA
ITM: 22 players
| Rank | Player | Flag | Stack |
| 1 | Kataoka Toshio | Japan | 614,000 |
| 2 | Yuzhou Yin | China | 611,000 |
| 3 | Chen Shaoyi | China | 472,000 |
| 4 | Yunfeng Sun | China | 425,000 |
| 5 | Luo Chuan | China | 413,000 |
| 6 | Lam Wai Lun William | China | 378,000 |
| 7 | Song Li | China | 333,000 |
| 8 | Sakuma Akihiko | Japan | 253,000 |
| 9 | Tamalayan Karen | USA | 224,000 |
| 10 | Liu Yin | China | 201,000 |
| 11 | Hongxu Zhang | China | 164,000 |
| 12 | Ding Yu Jia | China | 157,000 |
| 13 | Zheng Zhan Hui | China | 138,000 |
| 14 | Wang Xiaoyu | China | 121,000 |
| 15 | Lin Hao | China | 111,000 |
| 16 | Okada Takeya | Japan | 106,000 |
| 17 | Kun Wang | China | 104,000 |
| 18 | Shih King Lun | China | 93,000 |
| 19 | Chauve Vincent | France | 77,000 |
| 20 | Lei Xiang | China | 77,000 |
| 21 | Ji Yu Shun | China | 69,000 |
| 22 | Zhang Lei | China | 47,000 |
Update: WPT Alpha8 for One Drop
The WPT Alpha8 for One Drop event went on as planned however it was held behind closed doors. We will have the results for you once it has been made available. The event ran from July 21 to 22 to raise funds for the One Drop Foundation whose mission it is to provide sustainable solutions and support to communities in need of clean water.
This was the second Alpha8 for One Drop collaboration between WPT and One Drop with the first one held earlier in the month at Wynn Las Vegas. The events are a lead-up to the return of the Big One for One Drop taking place at the WPT World Championship on December 18 to 20, 2023.
Up next: WPT Korea High Roller
Up next is the final key event of the festival, the WPT Korea High Roller which features a buy in of KR₩ 17,000,000 (~USD 13,400). Elite players have already been seen since the opener. You can expect more to make their way for this final key event. Event runs July 23 to 24, 2023.
WPT Global
Did you know that WPT brand launched WPT Global? WPT Global is one of the fastest growing rooms, has a soft field, and offers action in every limit.
Read our WPT Global review or register here:
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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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