Zhiyi Wang - APT National Cup Champion

The largest opening event ever to run in Korea has come to a close at the Landing Casino located in the luxurious Jeju Shinhwa World resort.

The KRW 850,000 (~USD 600) APT National Cup attracted a total field of 760 entries and amassed an impressive total prize pool of 536,190,336 (~USD 382,990), more than double the guarantee and the richest the tour has ever generated in the country.

After 8 gruelling hours of play, the APT National Cup crowned a new champion. with China's Zhiyi Yang victorious, taking home his biggest career cash of KRW 92,004,336 (~USD 65,720).

Wang outlasted 108 final-day qualifiers in a fast-paced, intense battle to reach the top, facing offf against compatriot Chang Liu heads-up, with the latter also securing a career-best score of KRW 72,210,000 (~USD 51,580) after a heads-up ICM deal was struck between the two.

2025 APT Jeju National Cup Final Table Results

Final Table Action

Reaching the final table was relatively slow, as players carefully picked their spots to secure a seat among the final nine. But once it was set, eliminations came quickly, with players dropping one after another.

The first to fall was China's Weining Liang; finding ace-high, Liang shoved all-in but ran into his compatriot Jie Zhu, who held pocket eights, which held strong across all streets. Despite performing well throughout the day, Liang was out in 9th place for KRW 7,725,000 (USD 5,520).

Following soon after was Hong Kong's Kevin Lam. After getting squeezed out of a pot Lam found himself in a desperate position where all he could do was go all-in on consecutive hands.

Lam's luck ran out when he placed all his chips in the middle holding six-two offsuit and ran into ace-king held by China's Jie Zheng, collecting KRW 7,725,000 ($5,520) for his 8th place finish.

As the championship drew closer, play slowed down, with contenders avoiding unnecessary all-in confrontations. With one of the best hands in the game, China's Yehan Lin put his tournament life on the line holding pocket kings. To his surprise and dismay, he ran into the champion’s aces, with Lin finishing in 7th place for KRW 14,316,000 (~$10,225).

Linghui Dai

After getting crippled by Zheng, China's Linghui Dai was forced to go all-in from the small blind with nine-eight offsuit against Wang in the big blind with ace-seven suited, which caught two-pair. Dai claimed KRW 19,935,000 ($14,240) for his 6th place finish.

Zheng who was short stacked most of the day, made it all the way to the final table. The size of his stack, even on the final table, constantly fluctuated. Zheng was eliminated when the runner-up Liu spiked a pair on the flop holding king-ten offsuit against Zheng’s king-jack offsuit.

Although visiby disappointed, Zheng left the tournament in good spirits having claimed KRW 26,364,000 (~$18,830) for his 5th place finish.

San Chun Wong from Hong Kong found a good spot to go all-in after catching a pair on the flop holding jack-ten offsuit. Wang, dominated, held jack-deuce but scored an upset when he rivered a two-pair. Calmly taking the blow, Wong left the table quietly and headed off to the payout counter to claim his KRW 33,279,000 (~$23,770) cash prize for a 4th place finish.

Jie Zhu

Zhu followed shortly after, shoving all-in with king-four with only ten big blinds left. Unfortunately, his opponent Liu held ace-nine, and with neither connecting on the board, Zhu was sent to the rail in 3rd place, earning a prize of KRW 44,084,000 (~USD 31,490).

And then there were two. Once play was down to Wang and Liu, the finalists took a break to discuss a deal. They agreed on an ICM split, leaving roughly KRW 4,000,000, along with the title and the trophy, still up for grabs.

Despite the deal, the battle for the prestige of the title remained fierce. Starting with a 2.5:1 lead, Liu fought relentlessly until the stacks were nearly even. On a pivotal hand, however, Wang cunningly trapped Liu, staying passive despite holding a flush with eight-five suited.

Chang Liu

Liu struggled to win his chips back and finally fell on the final hand when he called an all-in after catching mid-pair with a gutshot straight draw with ten-eight offsuit against Wang’s top pair with queen-four suited. Liu took home KRW 72,210,000 (~USD 51,580) for runner-up.

And then one man was left standing – Zhiyi Wang stood victorious amid the cheering of the rail.

Congratulations to all the players!

Zhiyi Wang took 1st place in the APT National Cup Tournament for KRW 92,004,336 (~$65,720).

A full winners recap will be published shortly.

Chang Liu

Chang Liu was slowly bleeding chips after Zhiyi Wang shifted the momentum in the final few hands of the night.

One key hand saw Wang open to 600,000 and Liu called.

The 6 2 T flop was checked by Liu and Wang bet 400,000. Liu called and the players went to the turn.

Both checked the 4 turn and were brought the Q river. Liu checked, Wang bet and Liu folded.

A few hands later, Liu lost more chips after he limped the small blind and Wang checked the big blind.

Wang check-called after Liu bet 300,000 on the Q 3 9 flop.

Both checked the 6 turn to get to the 4 river, and Wang bet out 950,000. Liu took a moment before deciding to fold.

The final hand of the night saw Liu open to 600,000 and Wang call.

The T 4 Q flop was check-called by Wang after Liu bet 600,000.

Wang check-jammed the 9 turn, after Liu bet 1,600,000.

Liu put four time bank cards in front of him and the dealer took two before Liu moved a stack into the middle to call, putting himself at risk for his remaining 8,150,000 chips.

Chang Liu: T 8

Zhiyi Wang: Q 4

Wang turned over two pair and Liu was needing some help from the river to stay alive.

Wang secured the tournament win after the dealer placed the 6 river, and Liu was eliminated in second place for KRW 62,182,000 ($44,415)

Zhiyi Wang

Action slowed down with the chip stacks between Chang Liu and Zhiyi Wang almost equal.

For several hands the blinds were just exchanged back and forth, until Wang was able to take the lead back from Liu.

Liu limped on the button and Wang checked his option taking both players to the flop.

The dealer fanned out J T 2 . Wang check-called Liu's bet of 300,000 to see the turn.

The same thing happened on the 6 turn when Liu bet another 600,000.

Finally on the river 3 , Liu fired 4,000,000 after action was passed to him for a third time. Wang calmly threw in one chip for a call.

Liu showed 5 3 then Wang tabled 8 5 for a turned flush.

Hand 1: Chang Liu limped from the small blind and Zhiyi Wang checked the big blind.

The 2 2 A flop saw Wang check, Liu bet 250,000 and Wang fold.

Hand 2: Wang opened to 500,000 and Liu folded the big blind.

Hand 3: Liu opened to 500,000 and Wang folded the big bind.

Hand 4: Wang limped from the small blind and Liu raised to 750,000. Wang called taking the players to the flop.

The 7 8 K flop was bet by Liu to 500,000 and Wang called.

Liu bet 1,500,000 after seeing the 3 turn, prompting Wang to fold.

Hand 5: Liu limped the small blind and Wang checked.

Both checked the T 7 6 flop to see the 2 turn.

Wang bet 300,000 and Lui called.

The 8 came on the river and Wang bet 900,000. Lui made the call and the players flipped their hands.

Wang showed 4 3 and Lui took the pot with a pair of deuces holding 5 2

Hand 6: Wang opened to 500,000 and Lui moved all in, prompting a quick fold from Wang.

Lui had chipped away at Wang and the chips stacks had balanced out over the first few hands of heads up.

After striking a deal, Chang Liu and Zhiyi Wang return from their break to resume play for the title, the APT Silver trophy and around KRW 4,000,000.

The two remaining players are on a short comfort break and discuss an ICM deal.

Jie Zhu

Jie Zhu shoved all-in from the small blind for around 2,425,000 and Chang Liu, in the big blind had Zhu covered and didn't hesitate to make the call.

Jie Zhu: K 4

Chang Liu: A 9

Already in the lead, Liu strengthened his position when then flop dropped T Q 9 .

Zhu had some hope with a gutshot straight draw but the turn Q and the river 6 offered no help,. Zhu walked away in 3rd place for KRW 44,084,000 (~$31,490)

San Chun Wong

With action left to the blinds, Zhiyi Wang in the small blind raised to 500,000 and big blind San Chun Wong made the call.

The dealer flopped 8 7 J . Wang continued the pressure with a 400,000 bet prompting Wong to shove all-in for 2,875,000. Wang asked for a count and once done, he called, putting Wong's tournament run at risk.

San Chun Wong: J T

Zhiyi Wang: J 2

Wong dominated Wang and maintained his lead on the 6 turn.

The river 2 changed it all for Wong has Wang caught himself two-pair. Shocked, Wong left the table in 4th Place for KRW 33,279,000 (~$23,770).

Zhiyi Wang

Jie Zhu opened to 500,000 on the button, and Zhiyi Wang defended the big blind.

The Q J A flop saw both players check to the 4 turn.

Wang bet out 500,000 and Zhu called.

The Q saw Wang bet another 400,000 and Zhu made a final call.

Wang quickly showed Q J for a boat, and Zhu mucked his hand.

Wang was left to stack up even more chips, holding the chip lead with only five players remaining.