Zodiac Classic Champion Joseph Cheong

The Zodiac Classic in APT Jeju 2025 set new records for Korea when it kicked off at the Landing Casino at Jeju Shinwaworld Resort ,Jeju, Korea.

A total of 449 entries (326 unique) ponied up KRW 3,300,000 (~USD 2,300) for an opportunity to earn a share of the KRW 1,283,040,000 (~USD 916,460) prize pool that was generated.

The numbers made this edition of the Zodiac Classic - Sponsored by Natural8 the highest ever held on Korean soil and the second largest overall in APT History just behind APT Taipei 2025.

Emerging as the champion for this event was** Joseph Cheong** of the United States, who pocketed the top prize of KRW 244,598,800 (~USD 174,710), the APT Lion trophy and a seat valued at USD 10,000 for the APT Championship Main Event in Taipei to be held later this year.

This is the second time that Cheong has won the Zodiac Classic with his first Zodiac title coming at APT Manila 2024. Cheong is also a two-time APT Superstar Challenge champion and is the all-time leader on the APT money list.

The Road To The Championship

The 449-strong field on Day 1 was whittled down to 147 after thirteen forty-minute levels were completed. Bagging the chip lead was Ming Huang of China, who had the largest stack of 375,000.

The 147 survivors who returned for the final Day 2 had much work to do since only the top 63 places were paid.

The bubble burst on Weining Liang, whose pockets queens were cracked by the ace-five of Iulian Blebea. Blebea rivered a straight, awarding the remaining 63 players a min share of the payout pie.

It took another few hours before the final table was finally formed.

Entering the final table with the largest stack was Joseph Cheong with 5,180,000 followed by Peng Deng with 4,125,000.

The Final Table of The Zodiac Classic

Final Table Action

Napat Chokejindachai of Thailand became the first casualty of the final table. He risked the last of his chips with king-ten suited, but couldn't improve against the pocket sevens of China's Song Xue.

The Naing became the next victim when his pocket tens were outdrawn by the ace-queen suited of Joseph Cheong, who paired his queen to seal Naing's bust-out.

Daniel Lei fell in 7th place when his pocket fives ran into the ace-queen of Peng Deng. Deng made a broadway on the turn to end Lei's Zodiac journey.

Liu Xiang was the next to bust when his ace-ten ran into the pocket aces of Ledong Zhou.

Iulian Blebea

Iulian Blebea became the 5th place finisher when he risked his short-stack with queen-ten and couldn't improve against the ace-six of Peng Deng, who made two pair.

Song Xue busted in 4th place when his pocket fives ran into the pocket aces of Joseph Cheong.

Peng Deng was the chip leader at the final table at one point, but **Ledong Zhou ** took over when his flush got paid off by Deng, who thought his pocket queens were good enough.

Shortly after, Deng risked it all with king-ten only to be dominated by the ace-king of Cheong, sending him out in 3rd place.

Cheong had a nearly two-to-one chip lead against Zhou, but the tables quickly turned when Zhou's flush went against Cheong's straight to give him the chip lead.

Ledong Zhou

Cheong found a flush of his own to double up and then also made trips to eventually even out the stacks. Cheong timed his aggression well to regain the chip lead from Zhou.

In the final hand, Cheong cracked the pocket queens of Zhou, flopping a set with his pocket twos to secure his Zodiac Classic title.

These are the final table payouts:

*includes a Main Event seat valued at USD 10,000 to APT Championship in Taipei.

For the complete payouts, click HERE.

Ledong Zhou

In the final hand of the night, Joseph Cheong limped, and Ledong Zhou raised to 800,000.

Cheong responded by moving all in, and Zhou snap called.

Ledong Zhou: Q Q

Joseph Cheong: 2 2

Zhou was looking strong, but the T A 2 flop quickly put Cheong ahead.

The dealer peeled the J turn, which brought in more outs for Zhou with the straight draw.

Zhou missed on the 5 river and Cheong secured the win and another APT title.

Cheong said "I think I have you covered." as the dealer did the final chip count to end the tournament.

Joseph Cheong and Ledong Zhou continued to battle, and Cheong chipped away at Zhou to even out the chip counts.

In a recent hand, Zhou bet 400,000 and Cheong called.

They both checked the 2 3 7 flop to see the 8 turn. Zhou bet 300,000 and Cheong called.

A 8 fell on the river and action was checked down. Zhou showed A 4 , having missed the straight draw, and Cheong showed K 8 for trip eights.

Cheong raised the next two consecutive hands and one got to the flop and one to the turn before Zhou gave up his hand and passed around 1,500,000 chips Cheong's way.

Cheong kept hitting and getting paid by Zhou. One hand saw Cheong limp and Zhou check.

The 7 J 4 flop was checked to the A turn.

Zhou bet 300,000 and Cheong called. Both checked the 8 river and Cheong pipped Zhou having 9 4 , with a pair of fours being enough to stand up against Zhou's K 6 .

In the penultimate hand of the day, Zhou raised to 550,000 and Cheong moved all in. Zhou mucked, and Cheong was sitting strong, having regained the lead.

Ledong Zhou raised to 400,000 and Joseph Cheung matched to see a flop of A J 8

Zhou bet 200,000 and Cheong called to open a 8 on the turn. Zhou went all-in and Cheong tanked before finally putting a chip to call.

Cheong tabled J 7 for a pair of jacks and a flush draw.

Zhou opened A 6 for a pair of aces.

The poker gods threw a 3 on the river and Zhou thought he had won. However, the dealer showed the flush and Zhou had to count off the 2,200,000 to pay Cheong.

Joseph Cheong and Ledong Zhou were in for the minimum and were given a monochrome flop of 9 4 5

Both checked to open a T on the turn.

Zhou led for 300,000 and Cheong made the call to see a 3 river. Zhou fired 800,000 and Cheong moved all-in, covering Zhou's stack.

Zhou took a deep breath and made the call.

Cheong showed 7 6 for a straight, but was only second best to the 3 2 of Zhou, which had flopped the flush.

The pair are only a few hands into heads up action, but no big pots to report on yet.

Joseph Cheong maintains the lead after he limped the small blind and Ledong Zhou checked the big blind.

The 4 T 7 flop was checked by both to see the K turn and T river. Cheong bet 200,000 which was enough to prompt Zhou to fold.

A few hands later, Ledong took some back after raising to 400,000 and seeing Cheong call.

The 9 J A flop was checked by Cheong and Ledong bet 300,000.

Cheong folded.

With Joseph Cheong having the chip lead, heads-up play begins.

Peng Deng

In one of the first hands after the break, Joseph Cheong opened to 500,000 on the button and Ledong Zhou called from the small blind. Peng Deng moved all in from the big blind for 3,200,00 and Cheong re-jammed for 7,500,000. Ledong checked his hand and took some time before folding, allowing the players to go heads up to showdown.

Peng Deng: K T

Joseph Cheong: A K

Cheong was first to show his Ace-King and Deng reluctantly turned over his King-Ten off-suit and stood from the table to watch the runout.

The Q 9 8 flop brought Deng some hope of a straight draw, but the A turn was a dagger to Deng and one that wasn't removed by the 6 river.

Deng left the tournament in 3rd place for KRW 110,790,000 (~USD 79,135), leaving the remaining players to go heads up for the title.

Three players are still fighting for the Zodiac Classic championship. There will be a quick 15-minute break before the action resumes.

Song Xue

After getting through a jam, Song Xue found himself all in again against Joseph Cheong.

Cheong had opened to 350,000 on the button and Xue moved all in for 1,480,000 from the big blind.

There was no hesitation from Cheong, and he snap called and showed his pocket aces.

Song Xue: 5 5

Joseph Cheong: A A

Xue didn't pick up anything on the Q T 9 9 K runout.

Joseph secured the pot, sending Xue home in 4th place for KRW 88,000,000 (~USD 62,860).