APT Jeju 2024: Festival Sets New Country Record; China’s Xixiang Luo Tames Record-Breaking Field to Win APT Jeju Main Event For KRW 429,292,500

The Asian Poker Tour (APT) Jeju 2024 dropped the curtain on a record-shattering 10-day poker extravaganza on Sunday! This landmark festival etched its name in the tour’s 18-year history as the largest and most lucrative South Korean stop ever. Players flocked to the luxurious Landing Hotel & Casino within the dazzling Jeju Shinhwa Resort. A staggering 954 players from 32 countries and regions fueled the action, generating a jaw-dropping 8,626 entries across 93 thrilling events. The battle for a monumental KRW 12.33 Billion (~$9.08 Million) prize pool wrote a new chapter in South Korean poker history.

This edition marked APT’s fourth venture in Jeju, initiating a new chapter after a seven-year hiatus and the first ‘new era’ stop in the country under the new management. The last APT Jeju Main Event champion was Japan’s Katsuhiro Muto in March 2017, netting KRW 22.57 Million. Now, the series boasts prize pools that have expanded exponentially compared to earlier tournaments, signalling a thrilling resurgence of poker in the region.

The KRW 2.5 Million buy-in Main Event was the indisputable crown jewel of the festival. It lived up to its billing and then some, drawing an unprecedented 1,089 participants (583 unique) across four starting flights, creating a massive prize pool of KRW 2.37 Billion (~$1.70 Million). This monumental turnout stands as the largest field ever for a poker tournament in South Korea, solidifying APT Jeju 2024’s place in poker history.

China’s Xixiang Luo (cover image) emerged victorious over this record-crushing field, claiming the award-winning APT Gold Lion Main Event Trophy along with the lion’s share of the prize pool – a jaw-dropping KRW 429 Million (~$317,139). This marks the richest tournament purse ever awarded by the APT in South Korea. Fellow countryman Jianfeng Sun also earned an impressive payout, banking a commendable KRW 257.88 Million (~$190,170) in second place.

But Luo’s dominance didn’t end there. He also triumphed in Event #47: PL Omaha High / Hi-Lo Mix – 5 Card, adding another KRW 6.2 Million ($4,588) to his winnings. Throughout the entire series, Luo masterfully snagged eight cashes, amassing an eye-popping total of KRW 540 Million ($398,923)!

Xixiang Luo`s heads-up battle against compatriot Jianfeng Sun was short but intense, lasting 15 hands. The duel reached its climax when all chips went in pre-flop, with Sun holding , initially ahead of Luo’s . However, a decisive five on the flop tipped the scales in Luo’s favour, landing him his third APT trophy and his second victory of the series.

INSERT IMAGE OF LUO & SUN HEADS_UP

This win not only marked Xixiang Luo’s best career score but also catapulted him to #10 on China`s all-time money list, pushing his lifetime live tournament earnings to over $3 Million.

In his post-match interview, Luo shared a light moment, laughing, “Do I really have so many second places?” He reflected on his recent performance, revealing, “Actually, I’ve been running bad for the past two months, but this APT series has turned out to be quite successful.”

He confided to APT hostess Hsiao-Chin “Elfin” Lin, “It’s been a long time since I’ve been this serious about my game.” Luo also reminisced about a personal goal, saying, “But ten years ago, I said I would win a main event championship within 40 years. Ten years have passed, and I’ve completed the task 30 years ahead of schedule. Yes!” Filled with exhilaration, Luo celebrated enthusiastically with his supportive rail, marking a memorable victory in his storied career.

The final table was a mosaic of international talent, featuring UK’s Jason Park Lun Wong (3rd for KRW 181.58 Million), China’s Jian Han (4th for KRW 136.43 Million), Russia’s Sergei Kim (5th for KRW 104.34 Million), China’s Mingchen Zhang (6th for KRW 76.29 Million), Feng Chen (7th for KRW 57.28 Million) and Erdun Xu (9th for KRW 31.97 Million) and Taiwan’s Shih-Kai Lo (8th for KRW 41 Million).

With Indians invading Vietnam in large numbers and with much success at the HSOP Championship, VIPT and the recent Poker Dream 10 Vietnam, a smaller contingent of players showed up for the APT Jeju stop due to its demanding travel and documentation requirements.

Deepak Vansil and Ish Agarwal made significant strides at the APT Main Event. Vansil nabbed the 109th spot with a payout of KRW 48.50 Million (~₹2.92 Lakhs), and Agarwal finished 155th, pocketing KRW 39.70 Million (~₹2.44 Lakhs). Additionally, Agarwal almost snagged a maiden APT title in Event #70: Turbo PL Omaha High – 5 Card, securing KRW 31.70 Million (~₹1.95 Lakhs) in second place, pushing his series tally to approximately ₹4.39 Lakhs.

Final Table Results (KRW)

1. Xixiang Luo – 429,292,500
2. Jianfeng Sun – 257,880,000
3. Jason Park Lun Wong – 181,580,000
4. Jian Han – 136,430,000
5. Sergei Kim – 104,340,000
6. Mingchen Zhang – 76,290,000
7. Feng Chen – 57,280,000
8. Shih-Kai Lo – 41,000,000
9. Erdun Xu – 31,970,000

The festival`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 recorded in the country for each event.

Event #9: APT Super High Roller attracted 53 players (67 total entries), generating a massive KRW 831 Million prize pool (~$603,900). China’s Zhendong Li emerged victorious, claiming KRW 229 Million (~$169,507), while Hong Kong’s Kuen Wai Jeffrey Lo took home KRW 188 Million (~$138,685) for second place.

A staggering 191 entries (122 unique) in the KRW 7 Million buy-in Event #76: APT High Roller fuelled a colossal KRW 1.20 Billion (~$886,500) prize pool. In a tense final table showdown, Taiwan’s Ting Yi Tsai dominated to claim the title, taking home a massive KRW 267 Million (~$197,050). China’s Yisha Chen finished as the runner-up, taking home KRW 180 Million (~$133,004).

Outside of the Main Event—which accounted for close to 20% 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 field size and prize pool, with the former setting a new tour country record for both. They accounted for 6.7% of the total prize money awarded.

The KRW 30 Million Event #27: Superstar Challenge attracted 36 entries (28 unique) and generated a prize pool of KRW 1 Billion (~$735,655). In the end, USA’s Joseph Cheong outplayed the field, earning a massive KRW 374 Million (~$276,809). Despite a strong challenge from China’s Tianyuan Tang, Cheong prevailed, with Tang taking home a still-impressive KRW 258 Million (~$190,767) as runner-up.

Taiwan’s Jingyao Yan dominated the KRW 4 Million buy-in Event #37: Single Day High Roller, taking home a handsome KRW 83 Million (~$61,620) prize! The event drew 74 players (91 total entries), creating a KRW 317 Million (~$229,770) prize pool. In a thrilling battle, Thailand’s Jitrada Boonnak fought valiantly as the runner-up, securing an impressive KRW 58 Million (~$43,194).

The KRW 3 Million buy-in Event #59: Zodiac Classic proved a massive draw, attracting 238 entries (187 unique) and generating a KRW 623 Million (~$458,390) prize pool. China’s Peng Chen conquered the field, claiming a handsome KRW 131 Million (~$97,361) first-place prize. Hong Kong’s Sai Hang Jason Chau put up a strong fight, ultimately finishing as runner-up and securing KRW 88 Million (~$65,571).

APT Jeju 2024 – Title Winners

Team India Scores at APT Jeju 2024

Content & Images Courtesy: Asian Poker Tour