The inaugural King Poker Cup concluded in Jeju, South Korea, January 11–18, delivering a high-stakes poker festival designed to cement the series as a premier stop in Asia’s rapidly growing poker market. Hosted at LES A Casino, Jeju Shinhwa World, the debut festival showcased mid-to-high-stakes buy-ins across multiple events, drawing international players and establishing a strong foothold for the King Poker Cup brand alongside its parent K Poker Cup (KPC).
Ren Lin Dominates the Debut
Chinese high roller Ren Lin emerged as the headline performer, securing two titles during the week. His standout achievement came in The King’s Main Event, where he outlasted 191 entries to claim $600,700 from a $2,681,700 prize pool, becoming the first-ever Main Event champion. Earlier in the festival, Lin also captured the $10,000 NLH/PLO Mix, adding $70,000 to his winnings.
Lin’s success came amid a turbulent period off the felt. He had recently been disqualified from a WSOP Circuit event and faced an indefinite ban from GGPoker and the WSOP, only to be reinstated seven weeks later. Soon after, Lin was announced as a WPT Global ambassador, a move that generated controversy, including public distancing by the World Poker Tour. Despite the headlines, Lin’s performance in Jeju kept the focus firmly on the tables.
Festival Highlights and Winners
The King Poker Cup schedule featured a range of high-stakes buy-ins:
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$5,000 King’s Debut Opener: 362 entries, Yang Zhang $330,500
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$10,000 Crown Hunt Mystery Bounty: 109 entries, Matas Cimbolas $242,500
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$15,000 King’s Main Event: 191 entries, Ren Lin $600,700
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$10,000 NLH/PLO Mix: 12 entries, Ren Lin $70,000
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$30,000 Final Coronation: 68 entries, Lei Yu $485,500
High rollers and bounties throughout the week drew strong fields, with over 800 unique participants across the combined KPC and King Poker Cup series.
K Poker Cup Momentum in Asia
The Jeju stop was part of a larger surge for the K Poker Cup brand, which has grown rapidly in Asia. In a recent collaboration with the Long Poker Tour, the 2026 KPC × LPT Series Main Event drew 2,030 entries, generating a ~$1.55M prize pool. Champion Zhang Lante took home ~$203,000 before ICM adjustments, along with dual trophies and a $15,000 seat to the King Poker Cup Series.
KPC also unveiled its official website (kpcpoker.com) during the series, providing a centralized hub for schedules, news, and updates across both brands, signaling further growth for the Asian poker circuit.
The King Poker Cup’s Jeju debut combined high-stakes action, international talent, and strong organizational momentum, setting the stage for Asia’s next major poker festival.
