Tianhao Zheng

Day 2 of the KRW 2,300,000 APT Main Event came to a close after nine hours of relentless, high-intensity poker action at LES A Casino.

The event attracted 1,492 entries, and with an additional 226 late registrations in the first hour of play along with 255 OnLive Natural8 entries, the total field officially closed at 1,718 entries. The record-breaking turnout makes this the largest poker tournament ever held in South Korea and the second-richest APT Main Event in the country’s history, generating a massive prize pool of KRW 3,414,009,600 (~ USD 2,370,840).

Sitting atop the chip counts at the end of play is China’s Tianhao Zheng with 1,173,000 chips. Zheng, who led Flight B and entered Day 2 third overall in chips, surged into the chip lead midway through the day and maintained his advantage through the final levels.

A familiar figure on the Asian poker circuit with more than USD 1 million in live tournament earnings, Zheng firmly established himself as the player to chase heading into Day 3.

Quang Minh Nguyen

Close behind in second place is Vietnam’s Quang Minh Nguyen with 1,101,000 chips. A regular in the APT circuit, Nguyen is a former APT Super High Roller champion and the runner-up in the recently concluded APT Superstar Challenge.

After narrowly missing out on adding another lion to his haul, he’ll be setting his sights on this golden prize to further grow an already impressive collection.

China’s Dong Li rounds out the top three with 1,100,000 chips, finishing just a fraction behind Nguyen.

MAIN EVENT DAY 2 TOP TEN STACKS:

Also inside the top ten are British Qibang “James” Cheung, a multiple APT mixed-game champion still in search of his first APT Gold Trophy, and Natural8 ambassador Chih Wei Fan of Taiwan.

A former APT Superstar Challenge champion, Fan currently sits 12th on Taiwan’s All-Time Money List and remains a serious contender deep in the field.

A total of 254 players will return for Day 3, all guaranteed a minimum payout of KRW 3,510,000 (~USD 2,440), but with all eyes firmly fixed on the top prize of KRW 579,649,600 (~USD 402,535).

Punnat Punsri

While 255 players were scheduled to reach the money, Russian Danil Karpov became the first to receive a minimum cash payout, having also qualified through OnLive alongside the 37 players who secured their Day 3 seats online.

Among them is former APT Main Event champion Punnat Punsri of Thailand, who remains in contention for another Gold Lion Trophy.

Full Payout Structure as Follows:

Day 2 Highlights:

Day 2 was packed with memorable moments that only added to the drama and excitement as the field inched closer to the money.

During hand-for-hand play with three players left before the payouts, Li saw his stack climb into the top three, having enjoyed an above-average run for most of the day. In a pivotal clash against countryman Liangqiang Pang, Li’s ace-king connected on the flop against Pang’s king-six suited, eliminating Pang just short of the money.

The hard bubble delivered maximum chaos, with two players eliminated simultaneously, both from China, in one of the most dramatic moments of the tournament.

China’s Lei Song was forced all-in from the big blind with just 6,000 chips remaining and went to showdown against Japan’s Tsurumi Shun. Shun’s five-four suited made a pair to overcome Song’s king-three offsuit, sealing the first bubble elimination.

Dajie Zhou

At the same time, and to the amusement of the entire tournament floor, China's Dajie Zhou met his fate after four-bet shoving with the worst hand in poker—seven-deuce offsuit—into Zhou Lu’s pocket aces. Zhou caught a deuce on the flop and cheered for another to fall on the remaining streets, but the miracle never came, ending his run in one of the most memorable hands of the tournament.

Also advancing into the money is China’s Tony Ren Lin (79,000), who entered the Main Event fresh off back-to-back victories in the APT Super Highroller and APT Superstar Challenge. With another cash secured, Lin maintained a perfect 100% cash rate for the series and will move on to Day 3.

Yu Zhou's Bag

Finally, there was the curious case of Chinese Yu Zhou, who bagged 165,000 chips at the end of Day 1 but never appeared on Day 2. Despite the no-show, Zhou still managed to sneak into the money and will advance to Day 3 with just two big blinds remaining.

Players will return for Day 3 at 11:15 a.m. (KST). Play will continue through ten 60-minute levels or until the field is reduced to 48 players, whichever comes first.

With the money secured and the biggest payouts looming, the stage is set for a tense and dramatic Day 3 as the remaining field pushes deeper toward the final table and a shot at APT glory.

Join us again tomorrow as we bring you the hottest, heart-stopping poker action from Jeju Island, South Korea.

To view the Full List of Survivors, CLICK HERE

To view the Seat Draw, CLICK HERE.

That's a wrap on Day 2.

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

Lei Song - The Bubble Boy of The APT Jeju Classic Main Event

Lei Song was on his big blind and was forced all in for his last 6,000.

When the cards were dealt, Tsurumi Shun made the call and Danil Karpov also made the call.

Shun and Karpov still had a side pot to play for while Song could only watch and let the poker gods decide his outcome.

Shun and Karpov checked the flop of T 7 3

On the 4 turn, Shun led out for 6,000 and Karpov stood down.

The culmination of the showdown had to wait for the entire fanfare with cameras and the announcer, and when the all was set and ready, the players were asked to open their cards.

Lei Song peeled open K 3 for a pair of threes.

Tsurumi Shun showed 5 4 for a pair of fours.

Song needed a king or a three on the river. The 8 river wasn't any of his outs, sending him out as the bubble boy and allowing the remaining 255 players to make it in the money.

With the bubble bursting, play has been stopped with all 255 bagging their chips to return for another round on Day 3 where the climb up the payout ladder begins.

Dajie Zhou

With three all-in-and-call situations in the latest round of hand-for-hand, there was a crazy hand that played out which included the best and worst starting hands in hold'em!

Dajie Zhou made it 15,000 to play from early position and action folded to Zhou Lu in late position, who three-bet to 45,000. It came back around to Zhou, who four-bet jammed for around 250,000. Lu snap-called and had Zhou covered.

Dajie Zhou: 7 2

Zhou Lu: A A

Some help arrived for Zhou on the 2 3 5 flop but when the 5 paired the board on the turn, his two pair outs were taken away.

No miracle deuce for Zhou on the 8 river, and he was sent to the rail as the never-to-be-forgotten 'seven-deuce' bubble boy!

Zhou exited in 257th, with another player all-in at the same time!

Yi Pai Zhou

Yi Pai Zhou had already moved all in from the hijack for approximately 150,000 and was called by Haohui Ma, who had Zhou covered in the cutoff.

Yi Pai Zhou: A A

Haohui Ma: J J

No shenanigans came on the T 7 Q 7 9 runout and Zhou doubled up as hand-for-hand play continues.

Liangqiang Pang opened to 13,000 in cutoff and got a three-bet to 37,000 by Dong Li on the button. Pang waited until the last 5 seconds before announcing all-in for 495,000.

Li asked for a count, then counted his own chips...once... twice... checked his cards and looked as his chips once again, before randomly picking up a stack and jamming it in the middle of the table to the audible surprise of the whole table. He had Pang covered.

Liangqiang Pang: K 6

Dong Li: A K

Another groan of surprise was heard when the cards were tabled.

The flop came A 6 J . Li's lead was strengthened but Pang, having hit bottom pair, still had a chance of turning things around. He tried to stand up and prepare to leave but was forced to sit back down as people crowded around the table.

The turn brought the 8 , offering no help to Pang.

When the river fell 5 , a collective moan rose from the table and the rail as Pang made his exit, and the crowd slowly dispersed in preparation for the next hand.

There are 257 players left.

The remaining 258 players have been sent on a 20-minute break. Hand-for-hand play will resume when they return.

Ryan Plant

Heads-up on a completed board of J A 4 Q 4 with a couple hundred thousand already in the middle, Peng Chen checked from under the gun to Ryan Plant, who announced he was all in on the button to put Chen all in for his last 272,000 behind.

Peng Chen went deep into the tank, burning up several time extensions before slamming some calling chips into the middle.

Plant could only show 2 2 and Chen triumphantly tabled K J for jacks-up to score the massive double and leave Plant short.

Heads-up on a flop of K 9 T with several thousand already in the middle, Liangqiang Pang was under the gun and check-called a 20,000 bet from Dong Li, who was directly behind him.

The Q fell on the turn and Pang again check-called a bet from Li, this time for 40,000.

The J brought a straight on board and Pang announced he was all in. Li quickly laid his hand down and Pang collected the pot.

Just as the hand ended and with 258 players remaining, the tournament director announced hand-for-hand play will commence until the money bubble has burst (when 255 players remain).

Vishal Ojha

A pot of 130,000 was built beside a flop that showed 7 4 5

Michael Fan was in early position and was up against Vishal Ojha on the button for this massive pot.

The dealer threw in a K on the turn. Fan and Ojha both checked to reveal a T on the river.

Fan tapped his option over to Ojha, who declared all in, covering the remaining 62,500 chip stack of Fan.

Fan tanked for a bit, threw in a time bank token and tried to study Ojha. He took a look again at his cards, at the board, at his cards, then pushed his stack forward.

Ojha turned over 7 7 for a jackpot set of sevens. Fan peeled open J J and said "nice hand" before leaving his seat.