Junyu Huang Wins APT National Cup

The 2026 Asian Poker Tour (APT) Jeju Classic got off to a roaring start with 690 entrants turning out for one of its marquee events — the APT National Cup. After two hard-fought days inside the Les A Casino at Jeju Shinhwa World resort, it was Junyu Huang who held all the chips after defeating Zu You Wang heads-up in an exhilarating heads-up match that saw Huang overcome a more-than 3:1 chip deficit.

For his victory, Huang will take home the Silver Lion Silhouette Trophy along with the KRW 93,844,384 (~$65,855) first-place prize money, which represents the lion's share of the KRW 486,804,384 (~$341,620) prize pool.

Winner's Reaction

"Winning this championship is honestly quite lucky," Huang said shortly after winning his first-ever APT title through the use of a translator. "it’s also a recognition of all the time I’ve spent learning poker along this journey, so I’m really happy."

Huang, who only started playing poker two years ago, spoke with the wisdom of a veteran — mentioning the importance of taking the game seriously on and off the felt to achieve success.

"I think more importantly is to keep learning, maintain a good mindset, and stay focused and patiently wait for opportunities. I think the challenge is controlling impulsive thoughts or irrational decisions, that’s very important."

Huang also expressed his admiration for the APT.

"APT is one of the largest and most professional tournaments in Asia, with a great organization and venue, so I think APT is the smartest choice within Asia."

Excited to hop back into action, Huang explained he still has a full schedule of him.

"Since it's only Day 2 of the schedule, I'll probably just have a simple meal and continue playing tomorrow!"

Junyu Huang

2026 APT Jeju National Cup Final Table Results

Final Day Action

Just 97 of the original 690 entrants returned for Day 2 in what turned out to be a day of near non-stop action. All the returning players had already secured a min-cash worth KRW 1,340,000 (~$920) and weren't shy about getting their chips into the middle.

Qin Peng set the pace after eliminating Piyatassakorn Nopparut just two minutes after play began and the action hardly let up from there.

Among the those in the field was APT Main Event Champion Rene von Reden of Germany, who claimed the prestigious title in Taiwan back in 2024. Von Reden found himself at risk early on after jamming king-queen into Zhiying Zhou's ace-king, but he caught a miracle on the river to keep his deep run alive. Meanwhile, the field continued to dwindle and was down to just 60 players within first hour of play.

Rene von Reden

It was about this time that Wang began his ascent up to the top of the leaderboard after eliminating several short-stacked players in quick succession. In one such hand, Zhi Hao Wang shoved for a handful of big blinds and Wang woke up with pocket nines in the small blind. The board ran clean for Wang and he found himself sitting with over 3,000,000 in chips in Level 27, which was more nearly four times average chip stack at the time.

Despite all the eliminations, Anan Li rose the occasion after entering the final day as the shortest stack and managing to run it up to a competitive stack. However, Li eventually ran out of steam and busted in 23rd place for KRW 2,720,000 (~$1,870) — not bad for starting the day with a single big blind.

Anan Li

By the second break of the day, just 14 players remained. Von Reden was among those to fall just short of the final two tables after getting in a three-way all in and falling to Yung Fung Lau's king-queen holding ace-jack. During the final two tables, Wang continued to claim eliminations and extend his chip lead before Changliang Sun was knocked out just shy of the final table in 10th place after running ace-jack into Qiang Xu's pocket queens.

Wang remained the man to beat by entering the final table with a commanding chip lead and it looked to be his tournament to win after claiming the first casualty of the final table by eliminating Weihong Liu with pocket tens.

Zu You Wang

Vishal Ojha, who entered the final day as the chip leader, made his presence known by waking up with Big Slick and sending Wei Hong out in eighth place after calling Hong's preflop shove.

Xu momentarily put a damper on Wang's momentum after winning a massive flip against him holding pocket queens against Wang's ace-king suited. Following the clash, Xu took over the lead briefly before Wang came roaring back — first by eliminating the last lady standing, Methavee Taveekitvatee, with a dominated king-jack, and then by catching Broadway against Xu in another large pot.

Methavee Taveekitvatee

Xu picked up some chips at the expense of a short-stacked Yi Fei Chen, who was eliminated in sixth place after losing a flip with pocket deuces against Xu's ace-king. Following him out the door shortly thereafter was Jiaqi He, who fell in fifth place after calling all in preflop with seven-five against Wang's queen-nine and failing to improve.

Ojha then took a stand against Xu by calling all in with ace-jack and winning against Xu's pocket fours for a double up. The victory was short-lived, however, as Xu returned the favor by winning a preflop flip against Ojha with ace-king against Ojha's pocket nines. With Xu holding the covering stack in their second clash, Ojha was eliminated in fourth place.

Three-handed play began slow, with players trading pots and no significant chip swings. That all changed, however, after Xu made an ambitious bluff against Wang that didn't work out. Xu was left short after the hand and he ended up being eliminated in third after shoving queen-ten preflop and getting called by Huang's ace-deuce. The board left Huang with a pair of aces and he added some much-needed chips to his stack, as Huang was still at a 3:1 chip deficit against Wang entering heads-up play.

Qiang Xu

Momentum immediately began to shift in Huang's favor after he got three streets of value against Wang holding pocket tens on a king-high runout.

From that point, Huang didn't take long to take over the chip lead after forcing a fold from Wang in a massive pot. Things kept getting worse for Wang after he attempted to bluff Huang with seven-trey and ended up getting caught by Huang, who had flopped two pair.

Zu You Wang

Huang was drawing live to end the match early after calling a preflop shove from Wang with queen-eight against Wang's king-deuce, but Wang instead doubled after pairing his king.

Unfazed, Huang answered right back in a hand shortly after by rivering a flush and getting paid off by Wang for a hefty bet on the end. Wang was left short again and shoved preflop holding seven-six suited. Huang snap-called with what ended up being the best possible hand against Wang's exact cards — pocket sevens.

The board ran out clean for Huang and just like that, Huang completed a remarkable comeback to capture his first-ever tournament title in the prestigious APT National Cup event.

Junyu Huang

The APT Jeju Classic has only just begun, so stay tuned for continued coverage as more APT champions are soon to be crowned!

Junyu Huang

Junyu Huang has overcome a 690-entry field and defeated Zu You Wang heads-up after mounting an epic comeback to win the APT National Cup event.

For his victory, Huang will take home the Silver Lion Silhouette Trophy along with the KRW 93,844,384 (~$65,855) first-place prize money.

Stay tuned for a recap of the final day.

Zu You Wang

Zu You Wang shoved for his last 3,300,000 on the button and Junyu Huang quickly called to put Wang at risk.

Zu You Wang: 7 6

Junyu Huang: 7 7

It was the worst-case scenario for Wang, who found himself crushed by Huang's pocket sevens.

The 8 T J flop gave Wang some chop outs to a straight, but the A turn and 3 river bricked out, eliminating Wang in second place to put an end to the tournament.

Junyu Huang raised to 700,000 on the button and Zu You Wang defended his big blind.

Wang check-called a 500,000 bet from Huang on the 3 K 8 flop and then both players checked on the Q turn.

The K completed the board and Wang checked a final time, prompting a 1,575,000 bet from Huang.

Wang pondered a bit before calling and Huang turned over 7 5 for a flush. Wang shook his head and sent his hand into the muck, awarding Huang a substantial pot to re-take a commanding lead.

Zu You Wang

Zu You Wang shoved for his last 3,400,000 on the button and Junyu Huang tanked a bit, but eventually decided to call to put Wang at risk.

Zu You Wang: K 2

Junyu Huang: Q 8

Wang held a slight lead and the T K 6 9 Q runout kept him best after pairing his king to award him the double up.

Junyu Huang

Zu You Wang limped on the button and Junyu Huang checked his option.

Wang then called a 300,000 bet from Huang on the 5 4 4 flop and a 900,000 bet from Huang on the 9 turn.

However, Wang let his hand go after Huang fired 3,000,000 into the middle on the 6 river and Huang collected the pot.

On the very next hand, Huang limped on the button and Wang checked his option.

Wang check-called a 375,000 bet from Huang on the 5 9 8 flop and then both players checked after the 8 turn paired the board.

Wang took the initiative for a hefty bet of 1,250,000 on the Q river and Huang re-checked his hole cards before sticking a call into the middle.

Wang showed 7 3 for a bluff and Huang revealed 9 5 for two pair to claim the pot.

On the button, Zu You Wang initiated with a 500,000 bet which Junyu Huang called. Both players waited for the flop which dropped 2 T 2 .

Huang check-called Wang's continuation bet of 350,000 leading them to the turn.

The turn 4 fell and after another check, Wang kept up the aggression with a 1,150,000 bet. Huang then took control of the hand by going over the top with a 2,300,000 raise, making Wang consider his next move carefully.

He made the call to see the last card fall 8 .

Huang slowly pushed in a tall tower of chips worth 3,400,000 sending Wang to the tank. After burning a time bank card, Wang surrended both his hand and the massive stack to Huang.

Junhyu Huang

In the small blind, Junyu Huang completed the blinds and Zu You Wang checked to see a relatively friendly flop.

The flop came 9 7 K .

Huang started the post-flop action with a 300,000 bet which Wang called taking them to the turn.

Huang kept the heat up with a 475,000 bet on the 4 turn. Wang called again to see the last card.

The river showed another 4 . Huang cranked up the heat with a 1,700,000 bet. Unperturbed, Wang threw in one chip to signify a call.

Huang turned over T T prompting Wang to muck his hand.

Qiang Xu

A few hands after losing the majority of his stack, Qiang Xu shoved for his remaining stack from the button and was called by Junyu Huang in the big blind to be put at risk.

Qiang Xu: Q T

Junyu Huang: A 2

The 7 4 A flop left Xu all but drawing dead after pairing Huang's ace and the 7 turn made his elimination official.

An irrelevant 4 completed the board and Xu exited in third place.

Zu You Wang

Qiang Xu called from the small blind and called after Zu You Wang raised to 650,000 from the big blind.

Xu proceeded to check-call a 450,000 bet from Wang on the 7 3 7 flop and then an 850,000 barrel from Wang on the 2 turn.

The 5 completed the board and Xu led out for 2,100,000. Wang didn't take long to stick in a single chip to indicate a call and Xu could only show K 9 for king-high.

Wang flipped over 9 2 for a turned deuce and was awarded the massive pot. Xu, on the other hand, was left with just 600,000 following the hand.