The numbers are in for the APT Jeju 2026 Main Event, with players from 35 countries and regions coming together at LES A Casino to create one of the most diverse fields seen on the Asian Poker Tour. The KRW 2.7 million flagship event attracted 1,375 entries from 696 unique players, generating a prize pool of KRW 3,207,600,000 (~USD 2,393,730).
The massive international turnout further solidifies LES A Casino in Jeju’s place on the global poker map and showcases the Asian Poker Tour’s growing worldwide appeal. Players travelled from across Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Africa and Oceania to compete, with representatives from countries and regions including China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, the United States, Singapore, Germany, the Netherlands, Brazil, Morocco, Ethiopia, Peru and Vanuatu all taking part.
Main Event Field by Country
China led the way with 684 entries, accounting for nearly half of the field. Japan followed with 121 entries, ahead of Hong Kong (101), Taiwan (81), Vietnam (58), Thailand (46), the United States (46) and Singapore (37).
The Main Event continued a run of strong attendance figures in Jeju, becoming the fourth consecutive APT Main Event in Korea to generate a prize pool exceeding KRW 2 billion and awarding a first-place prize of KRW 556,340,000 (~USD 415,180) to the eventual champion.
Main Event by the Numbers
- Entries: 1,375
- Unique Players: 696
- Countries and Regions Represented: 35
- Prize Pool: KRW 3,207,600,000 (~USD 2,393,730)
- First-Place Prize: KRW 556,340,000 (~USD 415,180)
- Min-cash: KRW 4,180,000 (~USD 3,120)
The APT Jeju Main Event has continued to establish itself as one of the premier tournaments on the Asian Poker Tour calendar. Since 2025, each edition has generated a prize pool exceeding KRW 3 billion, with the event consistently attracting large international fields and some of the biggest names in the game.
Historic APT Jeju Main Event Prize Pools
While APT Jeju 2025 and APT Jeju Classic 2026 set new benchmarks for field size and prize pool, the 2026 Main Event once again delivered a massive KRW 3,207,600,000 (~USD 2,393,730) prize pool.
Giving the figures some historical context, the APT Jeju 2026 Main Event ranks as the ninth-largest New Era Main Event by entries and the sixth-richest by prize pool since the launch of the New Era in April 2023.
Among the seven Korean-based New Era Main Events staged to date, the tournament stands as the second-richest, trailing only the record-setting APT Jeju 2025 edition. Its field of 1,375 entries also ranks as the fourth-largest Korean Main Event of the New Era, behind APT Jeju Classic 2026, APT Jeju 2025 and APT Incheon 2026.
The event attracted 696 unique players, placing it 11th among all 18 New Era Main Events and fifth among Korean-based Main Events. Meanwhile, the eventual champion will take home KRW 556,340,000 (~USD 415,180), making it the fifth-richest first-place prize awarded in a non-Championship APT Main Event and the second-largest top prize ever awarded in a Korean-based non-Championship Main Event, behind only APT Jeju 2025.
Looking beyond the New Era and across the Tour's full history dating back to 2006, this years KRW 3,207,600,000 prize pool (~USD 2,393,730) ranks as the eighth-richest Main Event prize pool ever generated by the Asian Poker Tour, including APT Championship events.
While the Main Event continued to demonstrate the international reach of the festival, the series' headline record came in one of its most prestigious tournaments.
Richest Superstar Challenge in APT History
The APT Superstar Challenge High Roller delivered one of the standout moments of the festival, attracting a record-breaking field of 51 entries making it the richest Superstar Challenge in APT history generating a prize pool of KRW 1,785,127,500 (~USD 1.33 million).
Nevan Chang Superstar Challenge Champion, APT Jeju 2026
After two days of high-stakes action, Natural8 ambassador Nevan Chang emerged victorious to claim the title, securing KRW 451,777,500 (~USD 337,150), the exclusive Black Lion Silhouette Trophy, and an APT Championship Main Event ticket worth approximately USD 10,000.
The victory marked the largest live tournament score of Chang's career and continued an impressive run of success in Jeju. The Taiwanese star overcame a field packed with elite professionals before defeating Rudy Edenata heads-up to secure the title.
The full results and official payouts can be found HERE
A Final Table Reflecting APT's International Reach
Superstar Challenge High Roller Final Table
(TOP left to right) Fabian Gumz, Johan Pedersen, Renji Mao, Rudy Edenata, Rob Hollink, (BOTTOM left to right) Nevan Chang, Nang Quang Nguyen, Yoko Sasaki, Chih Wei Fan
Just as the Main Event showcased the worldwide appeal of APT Jeju, the Superstar Challenge final table offered a snapshot of the Tour's increasingly international player base.
The 11 players that secured a payout, represented 10 different nations, featuring competitors from Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Netherlands, China, Denmark, Japan, Germany, the United States and the Philippines.
Superstar Challenge High Roller Final Results
*Includes an APT Championship Main Event ticket worth approximately USD 10,000.
To recall how the action unfolded in the record-breaking Superstar Challenge event, you can head back to read the hand-for-hand updates posted on the APT blog HERE
From the 35 countries and regions represented in the Main Event alone, to the diverse final table of the festival's record-setting high roller, APT Jeju 2026 once again demonstrated the Asian Poker Tour's ability to attract players from every corner of the poker world.
With the Main Event action still in full swing, you can follow all the bad beats, chip counts, and key hands as the flagship tournament unfolds via our APT Media Coverage on the Blog and through the YouTube Live Streams.