Main Event Flight B Attracts 289 Entries; Japan's Norihide Tanaka Bags Biggest

APT JEJU 2024 SCHEDULE | OFFICIAL RESULTS | IMAGES | WINNERS | PLAYER LISTS

JEJU, SOUTH KOREA, April 30, 2024 – The second of the APT Jeju 2024's KRW 2.5M Main Event starting flights, playing out at the tournament tables of the world-class Landing Hotel & Casino, located in the luxurious Jeju Shinhwa Resort, is in the books.

Flight B of the Main Event saw a total of 289 entrants (233 unique) enter the tournament arena, battling it out at the baize over ten 45-minute levels, bringing the combined field up to 574 so far, with two more starting flights left to play out.

It was Japan's Norihide Tanaka who topped the chip counts, spinning up a stack of 261,000 by the time the tournament clock ticked into the red.

Taiwan's Hao-Ting Chao finished a close second, and was the only other player to conclude play with a stack valued at over 200K, bagging up 230,800 in chips.

China's Haisheng Bi (197,000) rounded out the top three, with Japan's Hiroyuki Noda (196,300), and Thailand's Phanlert Sukonthachartnant (175,000) also placing in the top ten:

FLIGHT B TOP TEN STACKS

Other notables to lock up a Day 2 berth included Natural8 Ambassador Phachara Wongwichit (162,800), New Zealand's Thomas Ward (126,300), the USA's Benjamin Jacobs (125,200), Germany's Samuel Tebege (115,300), former APT Main Event champion Feng Zhao, Hong Kong's Alan Lau (86,100), Philippines' #1 ranked tournament player Marc Rivera (79,800) and a whole host of others.

A total of 130 players successfully circumnavigated the tournament minefield to lock up a Day 2 berth.

For Main Event Flight B Player List please CLICK HERE For Main Event Flight B Survivors please CLICK HERE

With two more starting flights left to play out, there are still opportunities for those unsuccessful in their endeavors to win their way through.

The final two starting Flights C & D – both boasting six 30-minute levels and four 40-minute levels each – get underway on Wednesday, May 1 at 11am and 6pm respectively.

Players can also buy in directly on Day 2 before the action gets underway at 11am local time on Thursday, May 2.

You can follow all the APT Main Event Flight B action as it played out via the APT Blog.

All tournament information can be found on the APT Main Event - Flight B tournament page.

USA's Joseph Cheong Wins South Korea's Richest Superstar Challenge for KRW 374.7M (~USD 272K)

Joseph Cheong claimed his second APT title in the richest Superstar Challenge to play out in

After an 11-year hiatus, the USA's Joseph Cheong has once again summited the peaks of an APT high roller event.

The highly decorated US-Korean player triumped over a 36-strong (28 unique) field to take down Korea's richest-ever Superstar Challenge, claiming the lion's share of the record KRW 1,012,680,000 (~$735,655) prize pool.

Proving just why he boasts over USD 18 million in live tournament winnings, Cheong battled back from an 8-to-1 chip deficit against China's Tianyuan "Terry" Tang in an epic fifty-four hand heads-up duel that spanned four 40-minute levels.

Tang held the chip lead from the start of the final day until mid-way into the match, and while the Chinese player had Cheong on the ropes on three seperate occasions, he was unable to deliver the knockout blow.

Cheong turned the tables after surviving his third all in, fading Tang's open-ended straight draw to seize a lead he would not relinquish, claiming the exclusive Black Lion Superstar Challange trophy, and a bumper KRW 374,700,000 (~USD 272,160) top prize – the largest first place prize this tournament has awarded in the country.

While Tang will be disappointed with the fact he was unable to convert his sizable chip lead into the win, the Chinese player can console himself with the second largest score of his poker career, banking KRW 258,230,000 (~USD 187,560) for his runner-up finish.

Taiwan's Chi Jen "Justin" Chu banked his third-largest career score, collecting KRW 164,560,000 (~USD 119,530) for third place.

New Zealand's Thomas Ward earned the fifth-largest cash of his playing career, taking KRW 118,990,000 (~USD 86,430) for fourth place.

APT Taipei 2024 Main Event champion Daisuke Ogita rounded out the last of the paying positions, cashing for KRW 96,200,000 (~USD 69,875).

SUPERSTAR CHALLENGE RESULTS

For Superstar Challenge Results please CLICK HERE

Taiwan's Pete Chen came within touching distance of making the money, losing a huge flip against fourth place finisher Ward to get short before Cheong administered the coup de grâce to burst the money bubble.

Natural8 Ambassador Danny Tang had also fought his way though to the final day, but was unable to spin up his short stack and exited empty-handed in seventh place.

Read about how all the Superstar Challenge Final Day action played out via the APT Blog.

You can also follow all the action as it played out via the Superstar Challenge live stream:

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All tournament information can be found on the Superstar Challenge Final Day tournament page.

SIDE EVENT ACTION

Taiwan's Jingyao Yan Claims Gold in Event #37: Single Day High Roller

Taiwan's Jingyao Yan claimed a career-best score in Event #37: Single Day High Roller

All the high rolling action was not exclusive to the Superstar Challenge, with the KRW 4.5M Event #37: Single Day High Roller getting underway at 11:15am local time and drawing a field of 91 entries (74 unique).

The field was packed with high rolling talent, boasting several former APT champions in Thailand's Punnat Punsri and Thanisorn Saelor, Hong Kong's Dicky Tsang, and the UK's Asa Smith.

Other notables in the running looking to earn their slice of the KRW 317,772,000 (~USD 229,770) prize pool included the USA's Christian Harder, Germany's Manig Loeser, and Superstar Challenge finalists Chi Jen "Justin" Chu and Thomas Ward.

The Natural8 Ambassadors were also out in force with Danny Tang, Kannapong "Tent" Thanarattrakul, and Yu Chung "Nevan" Chang all in the running.

However, none of the aforementioned notables were able to go the distance, with Taiwan's Jingyao Yan the man to claim gold.

Yan overcame Thailand's Jitrada Boonnak heads-up to take the KRW 83,412,000 (~USD 60,200) top prize, earning his maiden APT title in the process.

Boonnak bagged KRW 58,470,000 (~USD 42,200) for his runner-up finish, with China's Chongxian Yang completing the last of the podium positions, banking KRW 38,610,000 (~USD 27,870) for third.

Other notables to cash included China's Fei Wang (5th), bracelet winner Weiran "Kevin" Pu (6th), Taiwan's Chih Wei Fan (8th), and Hong Kong's Hon Cheong "Ivan" Lee (8th).

A total of 13 players made the money, with the tournament paying out as follows:

SDHR FINAL TABLE RESULTS

For Event #37: Single Day High Roller Player List please CLICK HERE

For Event #37: Single Day High Roller Results please CLICK HERE.

All tournament information can be found on the Event #37: Single Day High Roller tournament page

China's Yang Lu Locks Up Second Series Title in Inaugural Event #38: Mix Game Masters - 9 Game

Yang Lu became the fifth player to claim a second series title, winning Event #38: Mix Game Masters 9 Game

Another brand new addition to the APT schedule, the KRW 1.5M Event #38: Mix Game Masters - 9 Game (Limit H-E-R-O-S, + PLO, NLH, 2-7 Single & Triple Draw) attracted 42 entries (37 unique) on its tour debut.

Players battled over twenty-five 30-minute levels for a share of the KRW 54,999,000 (~USD 39,770) prize pool, with the top six places paid.

It was China's Yang Lu who claimed the honor of becoming the inaugural Mix Game Masters - 9 Game champion, defeating Taiwan's Leon Hsu heads-up to claim the **KRW 18,709,000 (~USD 13,500) top prize and lock up his second title of the series.

Hsu, making his third final table appearance, cashed for his largest score of the series so far, taking KRW 12,920,000 (~USD 9,325) for his runner-up finish.

Hong Kong's Kevin Choi rounded out the winner's podium, receiving KRW 8,250,000 (~USD 5,950) for third place, with China's Xixiang Luo (4th), Japan's Daiki Aoki (5th) and China's Ziwen Liu (6th) the only other players to make the money.

MIX GAME MASTERS 9 GAME RESULTS

For Mix Game Masters - 9 Game Player List please CLICK HERE

For Mix Game Masters - 9 Game Results please CLICK HERE

All tournament information can be found on the Event #38: Mix Game Masters - 9 Game tournament page

Japan's Shinya Nakai Wins Maiden Live Title in Event #39: NL Hold'em - Single Re-Entry

Japan's Shinya Nakai collected his first Baby Lion trophy in Event #39: NLHE - Single Re-Entry

The KRW 1M Event #39: NL Hold'em - Single Re-Entry drew the third largest field of the day, attracting 95 entries (83 unique).

Players fought it out at the felt over twenty-seven 25-minute levels, all looking to score a piece of the KRW 82,935,000 (~USD 59,980) prize pool.

It was Japan's Shinya Nakai the man to defeat all comers, besting Singapore's Jingxiang Ong heads-up to claim his maiden live tournament title and the KRW 21,755,000 (~USD 15,700) top prize.

Ong scored silver and KRW 15,260,000 (~USD 11,015) for his runner-up finish, with China's Chang Liu bagging bronze and KRW 10,080,000 (~USD 7,275) for third place.

A total of 13 players made the money, with the tournament paying out as follows:

NLHE SINGLE RE-ENTRY FINAL TABLE RESULTS

For Event #39: NL Hold'em - Single Re-Entry Player List please CLICK HERE

For Event #39: NL Hold'em - Single Re-Entry Results please CLICK HERE

All tournament information can be found on the Event #39: NL Hold'em - Single Re-Entry tournament page.

All the remaining side event action from Day 5 of the festival will be posted to the APT Jeju 2024 News Section on Wednesday, May 1, although all results are available by clicking on the respective tournament in the APT Jeju 2024 Schedule.

You can catch up on the Side Event Action from Day 4 of the Series (Monday, April 29) HERE

For further information, please contact Press@APT.Poker or visit www.APT.Poker.