The 10-day series boasted almost 100 events and attracted players from across the globe
The APT Jeju Classic Main Event has set a new benchmark for live poker in South Korea. A total of 1,718 players entered the $1,595 buy-in tournament, marking the largest live field ever recorded in the country. The turnout surpassed the previous record of 1,693 entries, which was set at the same Jeju stop in October 2025.
The festival itself spanned ten days and featured nearly 100 events, drawing players from around the world. The Main Event stood at the center of the schedule, offering a major prize pool and the tour’s signature gold lion trophy.
Canada’s William Li emerged as the champion after five demanding days of play. Li earned $394,162 for the win, by far the biggest score of his live tournament career. Just days earlier, he had recorded what was then his personal best cash with a third-place finish in a preliminary event.
Li’s victory marked a dramatic leap forward in his tournament résumé. Before this series, his largest live cash had been under five figures. His performance in Jeju not only rewrote his own record books but also placed him firmly in the season-long Player of the Year race.
The win awarded Li 1,080 Player of the Year points, moving him into the top 10 in the standings. His path to the title was not smooth. After building a strong stack on Day 1A, he endured a difficult second day before regaining momentum and pushing through to the final table.
The record-setting field and Li’s breakthrough victory combined to make this edition of the APT Jeju Classic one of the most memorable stops in the tour’s history.
