Following ten days of high-octane action at the Landing Casino inside of Jeju Shinhwa World, the 2024 Asian Poker Tour (APT) stop in Jeju concluded on May 5, 2024. It was once again a record-breaking edition for the tour in Asia, with the flagship Main Event setting a new record for field size in South Korea.
Key Highlights – Main Event, High Roller, Multiple Winners and Female Champions
The marquee main event had KRW 2.5 Million to enter (~USD 1,820) with a KRW 2 Billion (~USD 1.5 Million) guarantee. The tournament did well with a record 1,089 entries resulting in KRW 2,376,742,500 (~USD 1,726,125) and representing around 19% of the overall festival prize pool.
ALSO READ: China’s XIXIANG LUO WINS LARGEST APT Jeju MAIN EVENT
Another nine tournaments out of the 90 trophy events also went on to register either record fields or prize pools to showcase the grand success of the series. In total, the 2024 APT Jeju attracted 8,626 total entries (954 unique players) for a total prize pool of KRW 12,331,911,624 (~USD 9,098,270).
China’s Xixiang Luo Wins APT Jeju Main Event, The Biggest Event Of The Festival
The KRW 2.5M Main Event was the festival’s key highlight with a record-breaking 1,089 field in South Korea. China’s Xixiang Luo bested the field to claim the award-winning APT Gold Lion Main Event trophy and tour’s largest-ever South Korean top prize of KRW 429,292,500 (~USD 311,735).
From India, Deepak Vansil and Ish Agarwal cashed in the 2024 APT Jeju MainEvent. Vansil clinched the 109th spot, winning KRW 48.50 Million, while Agarwal finished 155th, taking home KRW 39.70 Million. On Day 8 of the series, Ish Agarwal made waves in the KRW 400,000 Event #70: Turbo PL Omaha High – 5 Card, finishing runner up to Japan’s Suguru Nogi and winning a KRW 3,170,000 prize.
Natural8 Ambassador Eric Tsai Wins Tour’s Richest South Korean APT High Roller
Among other highlights of the festival was the KRW 7M Event #76: APT High Roller (KRW 650,000,000 GTD), which concluded with Natural8 Ambassador Eric “Six Poker” Tsai claiming the lion’s share of the largest prize pool the tournament has ever awarded in South Korea. The second and final day saw 35 out of 191 entries return to battle for a share of the KRW 1,204,255,000 (~USD 886,500) prize pool. In the end, it was Eric Tsai who emerged victorious over China’s Yisha Chen, claiming KRW 266,735,000. Chen earned KRW 180,040,000, while Chongxian Yang banked Chongxian Yang for his third place finish.
Multiple Winners During the 2024 APT Jeju Series
Yang Lu from China was the only player to win three titles at the recent APT Jeju stop. He claimed three trophies with his first coming in Event #10 PLO Hi-Lo 5 Card. He followed that win with a victories in Event #38 Mix Game Masters 9 Game and Event #72 Hyper Turbo NL Single Draw Mix.
There were several players who won multiple titles at the recently-concluded series, including the Main Event champion Xixiang Luo, Eric Ting Yi Tsai and Edward Yam all winning two titles during the series.
Marc Rivera and Zejun Liu also won two titles each winning early in the series. In addition, Taiwan had two more two-time winners during the stop in Jeju: Yu Sheng Lin topped fields of 47 and 51 entries on consecutive days, and Teng Kuei Hsu went on to take down a title on April 28 and 29.
On May 3 and 4, Japan’s Suguru Nogi earned consecutive victories in Omaha tournaments. The victories came in Event #70 Turbo PLO 5 Card (36 entries, KRW4,601,520 top prize) and Event #75 PLO Omaha Hi-Lo 5 Card (28 entries, KRW5,436,400 top prize). Vietnam’s Phuong Ngoc Nguyen with victories in Event #53 and Event #71 earned more than KRW 18 Million. Lei Li also clinched two titles.
Several Female Players Conquer Poker Tables During APT Jeju 2024
The APT Jeju 2024 turned out to be a special treat for female players, with several females winning the titles, including Japan’s Yukako Hiroi, who won the richest South Korean APT Women’s Event.
China’s Qian Rong Shen Takes Down Event #88: Hyper Turbo
China’s Qian Rong Shen etched her name as the champion on the final day of the series. She took down KRW 400,000 Event #88: Hyper Turbo after besting a field of 39 entries to take the Baby Lion trophy and KRW 4,987,480 (~USD 3,680) top prize. She finally outlasted Malaysia’s Joshua Tan heads-up to bag her maiden APT title. Tan took KRW 3,430,000 (~USD 2,530) for his runner-up finish.
China’s Congya Zhang Takes Down Event #80: Hyper Turbo Double Stack
On Day 9 of the series, China’s Congya Zhang was crowned the winner of the KRW 600,000 Event #80: Hyper Turbo Double Stack where she defeated drew 61 entries generating a KRW 31,951,800 (~USD 23,560) prize pool. She was awarded the KRW 9,311,800 (~USD 6,870) top prize for defeating the Philippines Cezar Quiambao heads-up.
Japan’s Yukako Hiroi Wins Largest & Richest South Korean APT Women’s Event
The second of the series women’s events – the KRW 300,000 Event #50: Women’s Event – unfolded on Day 6 of the series and set a new APT country record for both field size and prize pool, with the tournament drawing 70 entries and generating a KRW 17,925,600 (~USD 12,930) prize pool. Japan’s Yukako Hiroi earned the accolades, defeating China’s Yimo Tian heads-up to claim a KRW 5,225,600 (~USD 3,800) top prize for her efforts. Tian took KRW 3,760,000 (~USD 2,730) for her runner-up finish.
China’s Xiaohui Tan Takes Down Event #51: Turbo Claiming First APT Title
Another lady who won the title on Day 6 of the series was China’s Xiaohui Tan who won the KRW 900,000 Event #51: Turbo after beating a field of 169 entries. She eventually defeated compatriot Jianfeng Jiao heads-up to claim her first APT title and the KRW 30,883,300 (~USD 22,450) top prize. Jiao, hunting for his first baby lion trophy, settled for KRW 20,910,000 (~USD 15,200) for second place.
Thailand’s Sananthachat Thanapatpisal Claims Hr First APT Title in Event #40: Women’s Event
The first of the festival’s two scheduled Women’s Events, the KRW 600,000 Event #40: Women’s Event, drew 51 entries, generating a KRW 26,713,800 (~USD 19,350) prize pool. Thailand’s Sananthachat Thanapatpisal topped the field, defeating China’s Di Lu heads-up to claim the KRW 8,413,800 (~USD 6,060) top prize. Lu pocketed KRW 6,080,000 (~USD 4,380) for her runner-up finish.
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Image Credit: APT & SMP
