The Asian Poker Tour (APT) has set a new record for becoming biggest ever event in Korea, with the APT Jeju 2024 KRW 2.5M Main Event making history as the largest international poker event ever in the country. The event had already surpassed the APT’s largest-ever Korean Main Event guarantee of KRW 2 billion on the last of the four starting flights. A further 46 players entered the action before the start of Day 2, taking the field to 1,089 entries and generating a KRW 2,376,742,500 (~USD 1,726,125) prize pool.
These 46 late entrants joined the 412 survivors from the four flights and the total field reached an impressive 458 players who fought it out for a spot in the paying positions. Japan’s Junichi Nakagiri and Kenichi Takarabe busted simultaneously on the stone bubble to chop a KRW 3,970,000 min-cash.
Taiwan’s Ya Ke Lien ended up Day 2, bagging up 1,484,000 chips, and he is followed by Singapore Jun Hao Wu who sits seconds in the counts, concluding play with a stack of 1,441,000. Here top 10 chip counts:
Main Event Top 5 Stacks For Day 3
| 1 | Ya Ke Lien | 1,484,000 |
| 2 | Jun Hao Wu | 1,441,000 |
| 3 | Xixiang Luo | 1,359,000 |
| 4 | Sergei Kim | 1,285,000 |
| 5 | Yuhan Liu | 1,135,000 |
Others still in contention are the USA’s Christian Harder (795,000), Natural8 Ambassadors Kannapong Thanarattrakul (597,000), & Yu-Chung Chang (241,000), reigning Incheon APT High Roller champion Thanisorn Saelor (437,000), Hong Kong’s Jeffrey Lo (330,000), and former Main Event champion Dicky Tsang (292,000).
Day 3 begins 11:15am local time on Friday, May 3. The winner of the event will walk away with a sizable KRW 429,292,500 (~USD 311,735) and the 24K Gold Lion APT Main Event Trophy.
APT Jeju 2024 Festival Day 7 Side Event Highlights:
Several winners were crowned on Day 7 of the ongoing series, including Taiwan’s TaoWei Chang who scored his second APT Title in Event #56: PL Omaha High – Lazy Rivers. Here is a quick recap!
TaoWei Chang Wins Second APT Title in Event #56: PL Omaha High – Lazy Rivers
Taking place on May 2, the KRW 600,000 Event #56: PL Omaha High – Lazy Rivers drew 63 entries for a KRW 32,999,400 (~USD 24,000) prize pool. Taiwan’s TaoWei Chang emerged victorious, defeating the UK’s Craig Cooper heads-up to claim a KRW 9,619,400 (~USD 7,050) top prize and his second APT title.
Cooper collected KRW 6,930,000 (~USD 5,080) for his fifth final table of the series. Japan’s Daiki Aoki – also making an impressive fifth final table – earned KRW 4,500,000 (~USD 3,300) for third place.
China’s Jiageng Zhang Takes Down APT Title With Event #57: NL Hold’em – Freezeout
The KRW 800,000 Event #57: NL Hold’em – Freezeout saw a 201-strong field and generated a KRW 140,378,400 (~USD 102,080) prize pool. It was China’s Jiageng Zhang who came out on top, defeating compatriot Kun Wang heads-up to claim his maiden APT title and the KRW 31,108,400 (~USD 22,830) top prize. Wang earned KRW 20,990,000 (~USD 15,400) for his runner-up finish, with Singapore’s Kim Wah Chi rounding out the podium finishes and taking KRW 14,440,000 (~USD 10,600) for third place.
Former Main Event champions Feng Zhao of Singapore (15th for KRW 2,110,000), and Yohn Paredes of Peru (25th for KRW 1,540,000) were among the notables among the 27 players who made money.
China’s Juncai Han Takes Down Event #60: Tick Tock BOOM!
The KRW 500,000 Event #60: Tick Tock BOOM! (Levels Decrease Every Hour 15/10/5/2) saw a 55 entry field and collected KRW 23,740,750 (~USD 17,345) in prize pool. China’s Juncai Han won the title after beating Canada’s Yuanfu Zhang heads-up to claim his maiden APT title and the KRW 7,120,750 (~USD 5,225) top prize. Zhang walked away with KRW 5,150,000 (~USD 3,780) for his runner-up finish. Thailand’s Rannara Thanaboonpamorn finished third, taking home KRW 3,320,000 (~USD 2,440).
Canada’s Julian Cheung Wins Event #61: Hyper Turbo – NL R-O-S-E
The KRW 300,000 Event #61: Hyper Turbo – NL R-O-S-E (Razz, Omaha Hi-Lo, Stud, Stud Hi-Lo) saw 27 entries (22 unique) battle it out for a share of the KRW 6,914,160 (~USD 5,050) prize pool. Canada’s Julian Cheung emerged victorious, defeating China’s Zhong Zheng heads-up to collect the KRW 2,904,160 (~USD 2,130) top prize and claim his maiden APT title. Zheng banked KRW 1,940,000 (~USD 1,420) for his runner-up finish, with Taiwan’s Yu Tang Wang finishing third for KRW 1,240,000).
China’s Qing Bo Gao Takes Down Event #62: Super Hyper Turbo – Crazy Pineapple
The KRW 300,000 Event #62: Super Hyper Turbo – Crazy Pineapple saw 40 entries and generated a KRW 10,243,200 (~USD 7,485) prize pool.It was China’s Qing Bo Gao who bested compatriot Yiguang Xu heads-up to take the KRW 3,473,200 (~USD 2,550) top prize and claim his maiden live title.
Just three more days are left for the APT Jeju 2024 to wrap up. Keep following PokerProNews for the latest updates!
Image Credit: APT
