The 2026 KPC x LPT Series festival held in Jeju, South Korea, was among the most prestigious Asian poker events of the year. Over several days, it provided players with a rich schedule featuring more than 50 tournaments covering a wide range of buy-ins and formats. Undoubtedly, the centerpiece of the festival was the S4 King’s Main Event with a $5,300 buy-in, which drew 191 players, creating a $1,000,000 prize pool. The top 24 players made it into the money, securing at least a min-cash of $10,300, while the champion walked away with an impressive $600,700.
A Dramatic Final Day
The final day saw the last 8 players from a total of 191 entries, all assured a minimum payout of $68,000. However, each had their sights set on the $600,700 top prize and the prestigious title. Ren Lin entered the final with a massive chip lead, facing formidable opponents from the global stage: Lithuania’s Matas Cimbolas, an EPT champion and one of the table's most experienced players, and the American player Seunghyun Nam, who held the second-largest stack with 15.8M in chips.
Live stream from the final table:
The final table kicked off at high pace. Shortly after play began, short-stack Takumi Odani was eliminated in 8th place, his aggressive strategy falling short. He was followed by Li Zikai in 7th, unable to turn his fortunes around as one of the favorites ended his tournament run. On the other hand, Matas Cimbolas, starting with a very small stack, fought admirably for survival. With several all-ins, he climbed a place higher but eventually finished in 6th. Ren Lin continued to control a large portion of the chips, and you could watch his journey on this live stream:
In the final four, Trung Hieu Nguyen from Vietnam made a notable push, having gained attention the previous day with bold bluffs. His daring style ultimately earned him a respectable 4th place. Zengxiang Chen from China slid into the medal positions but was soon ousted by fellow countryman Ren Lin, taking 3rd place for $280,000.
In the final heads-up battle, Ren Lin faced Seunghyun Nam from the USA. Lin held a strong chip advantage, but Nam fought back, narrowing the gap with a series of successful hands. He even took the lead with a daring bluff-call that caught Lin off guard. Lin, however, remained calm, weathered the brief storm, and regained control through patient play.
In the decisive hand of the evening, Lin won a preflop all-in with A d 4 h against Q s 7 c, sealing the victory. Tony Ren Lin became the champion of the King’s Main Event 2026, collecting the trophy and $600,700 for the win. Nam, the runner-up, took home a respectable $420,000 for 2nd place. For Lin, who has amassed over $16.8 million in live tournament earnings, this victory marks another milestone and a partial redemption after facing questions about his reputation.
Final Table Results:
| Rank | Player | Country | Earnings |
| 1. | Tony “Ren” Lin | China | $600,700 |
| 2. | Seunghyun Nam | USA | $420,000 |
| 3. | Zengxiang Chen | China | $280,000 |
| 4. | Trung Hieu Nguyen | Vietnam | $205,000 |
| 5. | Abraham Ceesvin | Singapore | $155,000 |
| 6. | Matas Cimbolas | Lithuania | $118,000 |
| 7. | Li Zikai | Singapore | $89,000 |
| 8. | Takumi Odani | Japan | $68,000 |
👑 2026 KING POKER CUP Series #S4
— King Poker Cup (@KingPokerCup) January 17, 2026
The King’s Main Event Champion is crowned.
From a $2,681,700 prize pool, Tony Lin 🇨🇳 claims the $600,700 top prize and becomes the Inaugural King’s Main Event Champion 🏆
His second King Poker Cup title.
A champion crowned. A legacy begins. ♠️ pic.twitter.com/4qeGZp1MHW
Redemption After WPT Global Controversy
It was during this festival that a headline-making announcement emerged: Tony Ren Lin became the new face of WPT Global. The online platform hired him as an ambassador despite allegations of cheating in October 2025—specifically, “ghosting,” where a player receives online advice from another person. For this breach, Lin received a lifetime ban on GGPoker and a 49-day suspension from WSOP events.
The decision by WPT Global to offer him a second chance surprised many. Notably, poker commentators and WPT Global ambassadors David Lappin and Dara O’Kearney ended their association with the platform in protest, stating they could no longer represent the company with a clear conscience. However, WPT Global defended its controversial move, citing a belief in second chances and the possibility that Lin had learned from his mistakes. After the tournament in Jeju, it seems Ren Lin seized the opportunity to present himself in a positive light again, this time thanks to his performance at the poker table.
