APT’s Largest & Richest South Korean Poker Series Concludes on a High with Natural8 Ambassador Eric "Six Poker" Tsai Claiming APT High Roller Title

Series Draws 8,626 Entries & Awards KRW 12.3 Billion (~USD 9M) in Prize Money

Ben Wilson / 6 May 2024

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APT’s Largest & Richest South Korean Poker Series Concludes on a High with Natural8 Ambassador Eric "Six Poker" Tsai Claiming APT High Roller Title

APT JEJU 2024 SCHEDULE | OFFICIAL RESULTS | IMAGES | WINNERS | PLAYER LISTS

JEJU, SOUTH KOREA, May 5, 2024 – The APT Jeju 2024 has earned its place in the record books as the largest and richest South Korean poker festival in the tour's 18-year history.

Playing out at the tournament tables of the world-class Landing Hotel & Casino, located in the luxurious Jeju Shinhwa Resort, the ten-day series saw 954 unique players from 32 combined countries & regions generate 8,626 total entries over 93 events, competing for a staggering KRW 12,331,911,624 (~USD 9,098,270) in prize money.

In addition to making South Korean poker history by drawing the largest international tournament field ever assembled in the country, the festival broke multiple APT country records.

APT Jeju 2024 By The Numbers

APTJEJU_N_ME_F-2.jpg China's Xixiang Luo claimed a career-best score in the APT Jeju Main Event

The KRW 2.5M Main Event was the festival's highlight, its four-figure 1,089-strong field the largest ever to play out in South Korea.

This saw China's Xixiang Luo tame the award-winning APT Gold Lion Main Event trophy, claiming the lion's share of the KRW 2,376,742,500 (~USD 1,726,125) prize pool – the richest the tour has ever generated in the country.

For APT Main Event Breakdown by Country & Region please CLICK HERE and view as graphic HERE.

The tour's two other signature events, the APT Super High Roller and APT High Roller also set new records, both generating the largest prize pools the tour has ever awarded in the country for each event.

Outside of the Main Event – which accounted for close to 20 percent of the total festival prize money – the largest tournaments in terms of prize pools were the Mystery Bounty Hunter - Sponsored by Natural8 (9.8%) and the Double Stack (8.2%), which both set new APT country prize pool records.

The Sunday Super Stack set a new APT prize pool record for the richest-ever for the tournament, also drawing the tour's largest Korean-based field.

The Korea National Cup and the Mini Main Event were the next largest in terms of both field size and prize pool, with the former setting a new tour country record for both, accounting for a further 6.7% of the total prize money awarded.

For a breakdown of prize money, player numbers, and records set during the festival you can view the APT Jeju 2024 Festival Breakdown by Prize Pool HERE – note the two tabs – and view as a graphic HERE

Natural8 Ambassador Eric "Six Poker" Tsai Wins Tour's Richest South Korean APT High Roller

APTJEJU(S)_#76_APT_HR_FD-13.jpg Natural8 Ambassador Eric Tsai becomes the first player from Taiwan to claim the APT Bronze Lion

The KRW 7M Event #76: APT High Roller - KRW 650,000,000 GTD ended the festival on a high, 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 players out of 191 entries (122 unique) return to compete for a share of the KRW 1,204,255,000 (~USD 886,500) prize pool.

The Taiwanese player returned 17th in the counts but piloted his short stack successfully through the field to make the final table, albeit as the second shortest stack.

A timely double-up on the first hand played saw Tsai begin his run, with the Taiwanese native busting four out of the nine finalists on his journey to the title.

Tsai cemented his position after eliminating final table front-runner Tsolmon-Erdene Ochir, sending the Mongolian to the rail in sixth on the 50th hand played.

However, the crucial pot that shot him to the top of the counts occurred on hand 72, with Tsai scoring a stunning double-elimination by backdooring a flush to bust China's Kai Yu and Hong Kong's Hon Cheong Lee.

Tsai did not take a backwards step following that fortuitous runout, bringing over a 2-to-1 chip lead he would not relinquish into the heads-up match against China's Yisha Chen.

While Chen put up a valiant struggle, Tsai would not accept anything but victory, claiming the KRW 266,735,000 (~USD 196,255) top prize after his A♣ 8♦ held up against Chen's A♥ 4♣.

"“Of course, every win feels good!" Tsai stated immediately after hoisting the trophy.

"Last year I lost heads-up in the WSOPE Main Event so to win this heads-up is a very important milestone for me.”

APT HIGH ROLLER FINAL TABLE RESULTS

PlaceNameCountryPrize
1Eric TsaiTaiwanKRW 266,735,000
2Yisha ChenChinaKRW 180,040,000
3Chongxian YangChinaKRW 123,920,000
4Hon Cheong LeeHong KongKRW 101,040,000
5Kai YuChinaKRW 80,560,000
6Tsolmon-Erdene OchirMongoliaKRW 61,900,000
7Jingjun XiaChinaKRW 45,040,000
8Leo PangHong KongKRW 32,640,000
9Dicky TsangHong KongKRW 26,980,000

For APT High Roller Results please CLICK HERE

You can read about all the APT High Roller Final Day action as it happened via the APT Blog.

You can also watch the Final Day action as it unfolded via the following APT social media channels:

All tournament information can be found on the APT High Roller Final Day tournament page.

China's Yuchao Huang Wins Mini Main Event for KRW 49M (~USD 36K)

Event #74_ Mini Main Event champion Yuchao Huang.jpg Yuchao Huang claimed his maiden live tournament title in Event #74 Mini Main Event

China's Yuchao Huang has become the latest player to pop his tournament cherry, claiming his maiden live tournament title in the KRW 800,000 Event #74: Mini Main Event - KRW 250,000,000 GTD.

The two-day tournament saw a field of 327 entries (201 unique) duke it out over the two starting flights.

The 46 returning survivors were already guaranteed a KRW 1,433,000 (~USD 1,060) share of the KRW 250,000,000 (~USD 184,340) prize pool, and the day began with the battle for the KRW 49,008,000 (~USD 36,150) top prize.

It was Huang who claimed the accolades, defeating Tom Verbruggen heads-up to claim the silver lion silhouette trophy and title, with his Dutch opponent taking KRW 31,127,000 (~USD 22,960) for his runner-up finish.

China's Dajia Chen claimed the last of the podium places, earning KRW 23,333,000 (~USD 17,215) for third place.

APT Taipei 2024 Zodiac Classic champion Jun Li of the UK also made a final table appearance – his fifth of the series – banking KRW 6,135,000 for eighth place.

Double series champion Phuong Ngoc Nguyen of Vietnam was another to make a showing in the final nine, collecting KRW 5,029,000 for ninth place, with the final table paying out as follows:

MINI MAIN EVENT FINAL TABLE RESULTS

PlaceNameCountryPrize
1Yuchao HuangChinaKRW 49,008,000
2Tom VerbruggenNetherlandsKRW 31,127,000
3Dajia ChenChinaKRW 23,333,000
4Neo Zhi HanSingaporeKRW 18,883,000
5Hsiao Yun YangTaiwanKRW 14,885,000
6Chika MaetaJapanKRW 11,365,000
7Li MaChinaKRW 8,348,000
8Jun LiUnited KingdomKRW 6,135,000
9Phuong Ngoc NguyenVietnamKRW 5,029,000

Start-of-day chip leader Kittipong Charoenvijitchai narrowly missed out on the final table, earning KRW 4,224,000 for tenth.

Other notables to cash included Taiwan's Pete Chen (11th), Singapore's Feng Zhao (12th), and Vincent Wong (15th), China's Kun Wang (38th), and Hong Kong's Sparrow Cheung (41st).

For Mini Main Event Results please CLICK HERE

All tournament information can be found on the Mini Main Event Final Day tournament page

France's Alexandre Viard Claims Maiden APT Title in Micro Main Event

Event #83_ Micro Main Event champion Alexandre Viard 2.jpg France's Alexandre Viard can now add an APT title to his list of accolades

Just like its Mini Main Event counterpart, the KRW 400,000 Event #83: Micro Main Event - KRW 50,000,000 GTD boasts almost the exact same structure as the Main Event, only coming at a fraction of the cost and with a juicy guarantee.

This drew 124 (98 unique) entries who fought it out at the felt over twenty-eight 20-minute levels, all looking to score a piece of the KRW 50,000,000 (~USD 36,890) prize pool.

It was France's Alexandre Viard the man to claw his way to the tournament top spot, defeating Taiwan's Hao-Shan Huang heads-up to take the KRW 12,530,000 (~USD 9,250) top prize.

Viard, who boasts multiple cashes and close to USD 750,000 in live tournament winnings on his poker resume can now add an APT title to his list of accolades.

Huang, who also finished runner-up in Event #1 Korea National Cup, was once again denied his maiden APT title, and had to settle for the KRW 8,500,000 (~USD 6,270) on offer for second.

China's Hao Chen rounded out the winner's podium, taking KRW 5,530,000 for his third place finish, with 17 players making the money and the final table paying out as follows:

MICRO MAIN EVENT FINAL TABLE RESULTS

PlaceNameCountryPrize
1Alexandre ViardFranceKRW 12,530,000
2Hao-Shan HuangTaiwanKRW 8,500,000
3Hao ChenChinaKRW 5,530,000
4Jongyeol LeeParaguayKRW 4,580,000
5Cheuk Him TsangHong KongKRW 3,690,000
6Ya Ke LienTaiwanKRW 2,910,000
7Munkhdavaa NatsagdorjMongoliaKRW 2,230,000
8Wei Jia LuoTaiwanKRW 1,680,000
9Yang FengChinaKRW 1,250,000

For Micro Main Event Player List please CLICK HERE

For Micro Main Event Results please CLICK HERE

All tournament information can be found on the Micro Main Event tournament page

China's Kun Wang Seizes Opportunity in Event #85: Last Chance High Roller

Event #85_ Last Chance High Roller champion Kun Wang 2.jpg China's Kun Wang seized the chance to claim his maiden APT title

Just like the tournament name suggests, the KRW 3M Event #85: Last Chance High Roller represents the last chance for the high rolling contingent to score some silverware.

The tournament attracted 97 entries (84 unique) all looking to take their chances and earn a piece of the KRW 254,043,000 (~USD 187,450) prize pool, with the action playing out over twenty-nine 20-minute levels.

It was China's Kun Wang who seized opportunity by the scruff of the neck, overcoming compatriot Youkan Li heads-up to claim the KRW 66,693,000 (~USD 49,204) top prize and maiden APT title.

Li locked up KRW 46,740,000 (~USD 34,480) for his runner-up finish, with Jeju APT Super High Roller champion rounding out the winner's podium and taking KRW 30,870,000 (~USD 22,775) for third place.

Germany's Manig Loeser made his second final showing of the series, his third cash of the festival netting him KRW 7,110,000, with 13 players making the money and the tournament paying out as follows:

LAST CHANCE RESULTS

PlaceNameCountryPrize
1Kun WangChinaKRW 66,693,000
2Youkan LiChinaKRW 46,740,000
3Peng ChenChinaKRW 30,870,000
4Chi Jen ChuTaiwanKRW 24,260,000
5Terry NguyenVietnamKRW 19,560,000
6Xiang Yu YuChinaKRW 15,240,000
7Chen LiuChinaKRW 12,070,000
8Zeyu SunChinaKRW 9,400,000
9Manig LoeserGermanyKRW 7,110,000
10Cezar QuiambaoPhilippinesKRW 5,840,000
11Wen LuoChinaKRW 5,840,000
12Kenichi TakarabeJapanKRW 5,210,000
13Weidong WangChinaKRW 5,210,000

For Event #85: Last Chance High Roller Player List please CLICK HERE

For Event #85: Last Chance High Roller Results please CLICK HERE

All tournament information can be found on the Last Chance High Roller tournament page

SIDE EVENT ACTION

All side event action from the festival can be viewed on the APT Jeju 2024 News Section with results from Day 9 and Day 10 of the series both up on the APT website.

For further information, please contact Press@APT.Poker or visit www.APT.Poker.

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