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King Poker Cup Debuts in Jeju With Record Turnouts and High-Stakes Drama

From scandal to victory: Ren Lin’s double triumph at Jeju’s newest poker showdown. Can this series rival Asia’s biggest events?

The image shows a large crowd of people sitting in front of a stage, with some standing on the...
The image shows a large crowd of people sitting in front of a stage, with some standing on the floor. On the right side of the image there is a railing, and in the background there are screens, flags, lights and other objects. This image is likely from the 2018 Asian Games, as indicated by the text at the bottom.

King Poker Cup Debuts in Jeju With Record Turnouts and High-Stakes Drama

A new poker series, the King Poker Cup, wrapped up its first run in Jeju last week. Held at LES A Casino in Jeju Shinhwa World, the event aimed to establish itself as a key player in Asia’s poker scene. With high-stakes tournaments and strong turnout, organisers marked the debut as a success.

The series took place from January 11 to 18, 2023, offering events tailored for mid-to-high-stakes players. The $5,000 King’s Debut Opener drew 362 entries, while the $30,000 Final Coronation attracted 68 competitors. Overall, more than 800 unique participants joined across the week.

Ren Lin became the standout performer, securing two titles. He won the King’s Main Event for $600,700 and the $10,000 NLH/PLO Mix for $70,000. His appearance followed a recent disqualification and ban from WSOP and GGPoker, though he had since been reinstated. The King Poker Cup’s rapid growth mirrors the expansion of similar brands. The 2026 K Poker Cup × Long Poker Tour Series Main Event, for example, recorded 2,030 total entries, signalling strong interest in the region’s poker events.

The King Poker Cup’s debut in Jeju exceeded 800 participants and featured high-profile wins. With ambitious plans to grow, the series now looks to solidify its position in Asia’s competitive poker market. Organisers will likely build on this momentum for future editions.

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