William Li wins APT Jeju Classic 2026 Main Event, earning $402,535.
Tournament saw record participation with 1,718 players.
Li's victory overshadowed his previous best earnings of $39k.
They say that in poker, anything can happen, and William Li is currently living proof. The Canadian amateur just pulled off a monumental victory in the APT Jeju Classic 2026 Main Event, outlasting a record field of 1,718 runners to take home a first-place prize of $402,535.
In a tournament characterized by a "boom" atmosphere that saw various attendance records shattered, Li’s win stands as a testament to the "Olympic spirit" of the game, where focus and a cool head can occasionally trump years of professional experience.
The Largest International Field in Korea
The scale of the 2026 Jeju Classic cannot be overstated. By attracting over 1,700 entries, the $1,600 Main Event entered the history books as the largest international poker tournament ever hosted in South Korea. This record-breaking attendance pushed the total prize pool over the $2.3 million mark, creating one of the richest events in the APT's 20-year history.
APT Jeju Classic 2026 Main Event This massive turnout wasn't limited to the Main Event; the Mini Main and Ultra Stack High Roller also set new benchmarks for their respective formats, cementing Jeju's status as a premier global poker destination.
Comeback from the Brink
Li’s journey to the Gold Lion trophy was punctuated by a dramatic heads-up duel against Japan’s Shintaro Sato. Sato, who had dominated much of the final table with an aggressive style, began the match with a massive chip lead.
William Li However, Li remained unfazed, capitalizing on a crucial early double-up to pull even. The match reached its climax when Sato launched a high-stakes bluff on a dry board, only for Li to make a heroic call that effectively ended the contest.
Shintaro Sato The win marks a career-high for Li, whose previous best cash was a $39k score earlier in the same series.
Pure Poker Tour 2026
