Tomoya Tsubouchi

Japan’s Tomoya Tsubouchi has been crowned the first major champion of APT Incheon 2026, overcoming a record-breaking field of 709 entries (451 unique) to win the Korea National Cup inside Paradise City Casino Resort.

Tsubouchi entered the final table with three times the stack of his nearest rival and remained in control throughout. He eliminated four of his eight final-table opponents, including Phuong Ngoc Nguyen and Ian Rudolph in a three-way all-in on the final hand, to secure the title, APT Lion Trophy, and KRW 78,109,411 (~USD 55,400).

Nguyen collected KRW 47,710,000 (~USD 33,835) as runner-up, while Rudolph earned KRW 34,090,000 (~USD 24,180) for third.

The KRW 700,000 buy-in tournament generated a KRW 409,459,411 (~USD 290,400) prize pool, more than doubling its KRW 200,000,000 guarantee. The 709-entry field and resulting prize pool both set new tour-stop records for the Korea National Cup in Incheon.

Korea National Cup Final Table Results

For the complete Korea National Cup results and payouts, please CLICK HERE.

Winner’s Reaction

Speaking through a translator after his victory, Tsubouchi said taking home the trophy meant even more to him than the prize money.

“More than the money, winning and taking home the trophy is what really means the most to me. Of course, having the prize money is great too! I came here with a group of six friends, and I’m really looking forward to celebrating with them tonight.”

Tsubouchi felt he played particularly well once the field reached five players and he was able to take advantage of the increasing ICM pressure.

“Against players who couldn’t afford to bust, I was able to apply heavy pressure with a very wide range. Without relying too much on luck, I steadily accumulated chips. Capitalizing on that favorable position was the key for me today.”

Tomoya Tsubouchi celebrating with his friends

His immediate feeling after eliminating Nguyen and Rudolph in the final hand was one of relief rather than excitement.

“When I won the three-way hand, rather than feeling a rush of excitement like, ‘I did it,’ it was more a feeling of relief. I had managed to finish it without having to play heads-up, just as I had hoped.”

Despite his composed final-table performance, Tsubouchi revealed this was only his second time playing a live tournament outside Japan. What began as a Korean vacation with some poker has now encouraged him to travel specifically for the game.

“Honestly, this trip was meant to be more like a Korean vacation with poker. Winning has made me love poker even more, and now I want to travel overseas specifically to play, build on this experience, and continue improving.”

From 101 Players to the Final Table

A total of 101 players returned for the Final Day, each already guaranteed at least KRW 1,110,000 (~USD 790).

Flight B chip leader Ivan Govorov began the day in front with 827,000, followed by Thailand’s Jeerasak Khumchanthuek with 626,000 and China’s Yutao Zheng with 610,000.

The field fell quickly during the opening levels, with just 34 players remaining by the first break. Among the early eliminations were Zhentao Long in 85th, Maxim Lykov in 82nd, Alen Bakovic in 55th, and Natural8 Ambassador Hua Wei Lin in 51st.

Hua Wei Lin

Two players from the APT Manila Classic 2025 Main Event final table made another deep run in Incheon. Alexander Ugay, who finished fifth in Manila, departed in 23rd, while champion Govorov remained in contention as the tournament approached the final table.

Tsubouchi began his climb up the leaderboard as the tournament reached its final two tables. The eventual champion eliminated Zheng in 15th place, ending the Flight C chip leader’s bid for the title.

Ivan Govorov

Govorov, who won the APT Manila Classic 2025 Main Event, eventually fell just short of another final table.

The Russian player lost a flip against Koji Komatsu to finish eleventh, leaving the tournament one elimination away from the final nine.

Tsubouchi Takes Control as Khumchanthuek Bubbles

One of the largest pots of the tournament went Tsubouchi’s way with ten players remaining.

Khumchanthuek called bets on all three streets of a seven-eight-seven-five-nine board, including 1,100,000 on the river. Tsubouchi showed king-six for a straight and collected the pot of approximately 4,500,000, climbing to 6,200,000.

Jeerasak Khumchanthuek

Khumchanthuek later moved all in for 470,000 with king-ten and was called by Ogura Ryushin, who held ace-king in the big blind. Both players paired their king, but Ryushin’s ace kicker remained in front to send Khumchanthuek out in tenth.

Korea National Cup Final Table

Top Row L-R: Jin Yoojin, Ogura Ryushin, Ryusuke Kosugi, Tomoya Tsubouchi, Koji Komatsu
Bottom Row L-R: Ian Rudolph, Phuong Ngoc Nguyen, Chen Chaopeng, Naoki Yamashita

Yamashita Scores a Double Knockout

The final table began with two players departing in the same hand.

Chen Chaopeng moved all in for 440,000 before Ryusuke Kosugi reshoved for 675,000. Naoki Yamashita called from the big blind with ace-jack and paired his jack on the flop to beat Kosugi’s ace-queen and Chaopeng’s ace-six.

Chaopeng finished ninth, while Kosugi’s larger starting stack secured him eighth place.

Chen Chaopeng

Tsubouchi Pulls Away

Tsubouchi extended his lead by eliminating Jin Yoojin in seventh. Yoojin moved all in for 2,920,000 with ace-jack, but Tsubouchi woke up with ace-queen and held to climb close to 12,000,000.

Jin Yoojin

Koji Komatsu followed in sixth after moving all in with nine-seven against Tsubouchi’s king-jack. Komatsu paired his seven on the flop, but a jack on the turn moved Tsubouchi ahead and ended another final-table run.

Nguyen Moves Into Contention

While Tsubouchi controlled more than half the chips in play, Nguyen began building the stack that would eventually carry him to second place.

Nguyen eliminated Naoki Yamashita in fifth after his pocket sevens held against ace-deuce.

Naoki Yamashita

Nguyen then sent Ryushin to the rail in fourth. Ryushin check-shoved for approximately 1,700,000 on an all-heart flop, only to discover that Nguyen had already flopped a queen-high flush.

Ogura Ryushin

Three-Way All-In Ends the Tournament

The tournament came to an end in a three-way all-in, with Tsubouchi putting both Nguyen and Rudolph at risk.

Nguyen raised to 500,000 on the button before Tsubouchi moved all in from the small blind. Rudolph called for his final 900,000 from the big blind, and Nguyen used his last time bank before calling as well.

Rudolph held ten-eight, Nguyen had pocket sixes, and Tsubouchi showed jack-ten.

Ian Rudolph

Nguyen remained ahead on the ace-nine-four flop, but the seven on the turn gave Tsubouchi an open-ended straight draw. An eight on the river completed Tsubouchi’s jack-high straight and ended the tournament immediately.

Phuong Ngoc Nguyen

Rudolph finished third as the shorter of the two eliminated players, while Nguyen secured the runner-up prize.

Tsubouchi had started the final table with the lead, controlled the action throughout, and ended it by eliminating both remaining opponents in a single hand.

His victory brings the record-breaking Korea National Cup to a close and awards the first major trophy of APT Incheon 2026, with plenty more action still to come from Paradise City Casino Resort.

Korean National Cup Winner Tomoya Tsubouchi

Tomoya Tsubouchi has taken down the APT Incheon Korea National Cup by way of a double elimination in the last hand.

Tsubouchi takes home a healthy KRW 78,109,411(~$55,400), his largest career cash to date and first major career poker title, details courtesy of The Hendon Mob.

Stay tuned for a brief recap of all the day's action.

Phuong Ngoc Nguyen

Phuong Ngoc Nguyen opened to 500,000 on the button and Tomoya Tsubouchi in the small blind decided to shove all-in with his massive stack. Ian Rudolph in the big, put all his 900,000 chips in. Nguyen was visibly perplexed not knowing what to do.

He asked how much Rudolph had stalling for time as he had only one time card left. After the count was made, he threw in his last time card. On the last second he threw in a chip for a call evoking surprise from his opponents and the railbirds.

Ian Rudolph: T 8

Phuong Ngoc Nguyen: 6 6

Tomoya Tsubouchi: J T

Tsubouchi had to say, "Wow, three-way all-in!" Nguyen was ahead with his pockets when the dealer flopped 9 A 4 . Tsubouchi's outs increased when the 7 fell on the turn giving him a straight draw.

The river 8 completed his draw and just like that, Tsubouchi became the champion eliminating both Rudolph and Nguyen in one hand

Ian Rudolph

Tomoya Tsubouchi opened and Ian Rudolph who was covered called, putting his tournament run at risk.

Ian Rudolph: Q 3

Tomoya Tsubouchi: Q 7

Tsubouchi had the superior queen-high when the flop dropped 9 J 4 .

The turn 8 retained the status quo.

To Rudolph's relief, the Q fell on the river resulting in a chop.

Phuong Ngoc Nguyen

Phuong Ngoc Nguyen open-jammed from the small blind for 2,125,000 and was called by Tomoya Tsubouchi in the big blind, who had him covered.

Phuong Ngoc Nguyen: T 8

Tomoya Tsubouchi: J 9

Nguyen was paddling upstream with not much of a paddle and the 4 2 A flop changed nothing. The A turn didn't help either but when the T peeled off on the river Nguyen hit his pair and was shipped the pot for a double-up.

Tomoya Tsubouchi

Tomoya Tsubouchi is piling on the pressure three-handed. With multiple shoves that have gone uncalled, Tsubouchi has a huge chip lead over his two opponents.

Ian Rudolph

With a dead small blind, Ian Rudolph shoved from the button for 1,750,000. Phuong Ngoc Nguyen was in the big blind and after a little deliberation, he made the call.

Ian Rudolph: K T

Phuong Ngoc Nguyen: K 9

Rudolph has his opponent pipped, and held through the A T 8 8 4 runout to survive with a pair of tens.

Ogura Ryushin

Phuong Ngoc Nguyen raised under the gun to 400,000 and Ogura Ryushin defended his big blind.

On the 4 8 5 flop, Ryushin checked and Nguyen continued for 300,000. A quick shove followed from Ryushin for around 1,700,000, which Nguyen snap-called.

Ogura Ryushin: K T

Phuong Ngoc Nguyen: Q T

Nguyen had flopped a flush, which left Ryushin drawing to a heart. Neither the 5 turn nor 9 river could deliver what Ryushin needed, leaving him out in fourth.

Naoki Yamashita

Action folded to Phuong Ngoc Nguyen in the cutoff who made it 450,000 to play. It folded around to Naoki Yamashita in the big blind who three-bet all in to 800,000. Nguyen snap-called.

Naoki Yamashita: A 2

Phuong Ngoc Nguyen: 7 7

No help for Yamashita on the 5 K J K 8 runout and he was sent to the rail in fifth place.

The remaining five players are now on a 15-minute break.