KPC x LPT Series 2026 Jeju: Festival Kicks Off with Strong Start, First Trophies Go to Chen and Ngo

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The KPC x LPT Series 2026 runs from January 3 to January 18, offering players a robust lineup of trophy tournaments and mixed formats, with a series guarantee of ₩2,010,000,000.

The highlight of the coming days is set to be the Main Event, with a buy-in of ₩1,300,000 and a guarantee of ₩880,000,000. Players have multiple starting flights to choose from (January 6 to 9), providing ample time and opportunities to secure a spot in Day 2. Before diving into the main tournament, let’s take a look at what the festival’s opening brought.

Jeju Opening Kicked Off the Series in Style

The series’ opening event, Jeju Opening with a buy-in of ₩900,000, attracted 429 entries, instantly showcasing the international lineup gathering in Jeju this January. While Taiwanese players made it to the final table, it was the Chinese presence that ultimately claimed the trophy.

Yixian Chen entered the final table in second place by chip count, but made it clear from the outset that he wasn’t content to leave things to chance. A blend of patience and well-timed aggression paved his way to the heads-up, where he overcame Yaoyu He to take home a converted $44,265. This victory is a career-changer for Chen, as reports suggest he walked away with more than four times his previous live earnings in a single day.

Jeju Opening Event Final Table Results:

Position Player Country Prize
1 Yixian Chen China $44,265
2 Yaoyu He China $29,880
3 Yanbo Du China $21,855
4 Long Jin China $16,675
5 Chien Chih Weng Taiwan $12,590
6 Xialin Li China $9,545
7 Kai Cheng Hsu Taiwan $7,330
8 Guangdong Dai China $5,670
9 Ledong Zhou China $4,435

High Roller Sees Vietnamese Final Showdown

As the last all-ins of the Jeju Opener were wrapping up in the tournament hall, the High Roller with a buy-in of ₩5,000,000 had already begun its own narrative. With 178 entries, the event drew fierce competition, and the final table was a showcase of players unafraid to engage in big pots during critical phases.

The best finish in this tournament came from Khoa Anh Ngo. Focused, patient, and without unnecessary embellishments—this is what a champion's performance looks like in a high-stakes tournament where every misstep is costly. In the heads-up, he faced fellow countryman Quang Minh Nguyen, with the Vietnamese duel culminating in Ngo sealing the title and the top prize of approximately $125,670.

High Roller Final Table Results:

Position Player Country Prize
1 Khoa Anh Ngo Vietnam $125,670
2 Quang Minh Nguyen Vietnam $83,550
3 Alan Zheng Australia $60,795
4 Yilong Wang China $44,855
5 Yuxi Huang China $33,510
6 Chung Ching Cheung Hong Kong $25,350
7 Seunghyun Nam United States $19,435
8 Chun Yu Ma Hong Kong $15,080
9 Tingjia Cao China $11,895

 

Find the complete live report and photo gallery of this event on our partner SoMuchPoker’s website here