The WPT Korea 2024 Poker Championship has broken records with an astounding 1065 participants on its opening day, marking one of the largest poker events in South Korean history. This surge in attendance has boosted the total prize pool to an impressive $1.9 million, with the top prize of $320 thousand up for grabs along with the prestigious WPT trophy.
Leading the pack are three players from China: Lin Yang with 836 thousand chips, Hai Pan with 616 thousand chips, and Renji Mao with 545 thousand chips. Meanwhile, defending champion Yin Tao trails with 165,000 chips, surpassed by Uzbekistan's Valery Pak, who holds 222 thousand chips after a strong showing.
Notable players advancing to day two include seasoned poker veterans Phil Ivey, Stephen O'Dwyer, Daniel Smiljkovic, and WSOP 2022 champion Espen Jorstad, adding further excitement to the tournament.
