APT Jeju 2026: Cheong Leads High Roller, Hanh Wins No. 9

Day 6 at APT Jeju 2026 raises the stakes even higher

Day 6 of APT Jeju 2026 had the kind of energy that defines a major poker festival: big names, big payouts, and several storylines that matter far beyond a single day’s results. As the side events moved toward their decisive stages, the tournament room in Jeju became a snapshot of what the Asian Poker Tour does best — mixing elite competition with breakout moments that can reshape a player’s season.

For players, days like this are more than just entries in a results page. They are a reminder that a single deep run can transform momentum, bankroll, and confidence at the same time. For the series, they reinforce why APT festivals continue to attract a wide range of accomplished professionals and ambitious challengers.

Joseph Cheong tops the two-day High Roller field

The headline event of the day was Event #54: High Roller, which reached its final phase with 43 players surviving Day 1 and returning for the last push. Only 27 will make the money, with a min-cash of KRW 8,120,000 (~USD 5,993), while the champion will bank KRW 179,790,000 (~USD 132,686) and a seat in the APT Championship 2026 Main Event.

At the top of the counts is American pro Joseph Cheong, who bagged 1,311,000 chips. Cheong is one of the most recognizable names in the field and a two-time Zodiac Classic winner. He is now chasing his sixth APT title, and he has yet to win on the APT circuit this season, which adds extra weight to his final-day run.

Sitting just behind him is Indian pro Kunal Patni with 1,157,000. Patni is looking for his seventh APT title and, like Cheong, is still seeking his first APT victory of the year. In a two-day High Roller, that kind of stack position can be extremely valuable, especially with the bubble and late-stage ICM pressure still ahead.

Hong Kong’s Ka Chun Tsui holds third place with 1,120,000. He is aiming for his second APT title, and a win would also mark the biggest score of his career. That is exactly the kind of upside that keeps High Roller fields so compelling: one final-day heater can change a player’s record in a dramatic way.

Also still in contention is Nevan Chang, a Natural8 ambassador who already collected his tenth APT title earlier in the series by winning the Superstar Challenge. He enters the final day near the bottom of the standings with 119,000, but in high-level tournament poker, even a short stack can remain dangerous if the spots are chosen well.

If you want to follow the broader ecosystem around major festivals, it is worth comparing live action with what strong poker rooms and poker clubs offer to players preparing for big-field and high-stakes events.

Tran Hanh captures his ninth APT title in Masters Fixed Limit Draw Poker

Austria’s Tran Hanh added another trophy to his decorated APT resume by winning Event #55: Masters Fixed Limit Draw Poker. The event drew 28 entries, and Hanh collected KRW 13,428,000 (~USD 9,910) for the victory.

The result gave Hanh his ninth career APT title, underlining just how strong his record is across the Tour’s mixed-game offerings. Players who thrive in these formats usually combine technical precision with adaptability, and Hanh’s latest win is another sign that he remains one of the most dangerous names whenever the schedule moves away from standard no-limit hold’em.

Thailand’s Sorawit Suriyakarn finished second for KRW 9,250,000 (~USD 6,827), while Chinese pro and WSOP bracelet winner Renji Mao took third for KRW 5,900,000 (~USD 4,354). With only five players making the money, every street carried extra value.

For players working on broader fundamentals, a good poker school can be especially useful when the schedule includes mixed games, draw variants, and other formats where hand reading and structure awareness matter just as much as raw aggression.

Su Yang posts a career-best score and wins his first APT title

China’s Su Yang produced the best live result of his career by taking down Event #56: NL Hold’em for KRW 26,547,765 (~USD 19,592). The score more than doubled his previous lifetime live tournament earnings and delivered his first-ever APT title.

The final heads-up battle came against fellow Chinese player Chen Yu, and the two agreed to a straight ICM deal. Because Yang was the chip leader at the time, he received the title and trophy, while Yu secured KRW 24,219,000 (~USD 17,874) for second place.

Thailand’s Kasidit Sukwongjan completed the podium with KRW 14,400,000 (~USD 10,627). In total, 31 players were paid.

Results like this are a reminder that live poker still rewards patience and timing. A player does not need decades of results to make a breakthrough; sometimes one well-managed stack and one correct final-table decision are enough to open a new chapter in a career. For many grinders, that is the same path they imagine when taking shots through promotions & bonuses or building a schedule around consistent value.

Geka Aoi turns her first cash into a first APT title

One of the most uplifting stories of the day came from Japan’s Geka Aoi, who won Event #57: Women’s Event for KRW 4,045,244 (~USD 2,985). The field drew 17 entries, and Aoi’s victory was especially notable because it was her first recorded live tournament cash.

Instead of merely opening her live results ledger, Aoi went all the way to the title on her first payday. That is a rare and impressive achievement, and it speaks to either strong preparation or a very clear understanding of how to navigate a small-field event when the pressure rises.

China’s Tian Qi finished runner-up for KRW 2,690,000 (~USD 1,985), while the United States’ Tsubasa Mendoza took third for KRW 1,680,000 (~USD 1,240). With only three paid spots, every elimination had immediate value.

Suiyuan Chen keeps rolling with another Jeju victory

China’s Suiyuan Chen continued her strong run at APT Jeju 2026 by winning Event #58: Turbo - NL Omaha Ultimate Hi-Lo - Cry Me a River. The event drew 55 entries, and Chen earned KRW 6,770,880 (~USD 4,997) for the victory.

She had already won Event #20: Sunday Super Stack earlier in the festival, so this latest result gives her two titles in Jeju and brings her career total to three APT titles. That kind of repeat success in one series is a strong indicator of form, confidence, and adaptability across different structures.

Australia’s Jarryd Godena finished second for KRW 4,890,000 (~USD 3,609), while Japan’s Hisatoshi Iida took third for KRW 3,160,000 (~USD 2,332). Eight players were paid in total.

Expert analysis: what Day 6 means for players and the tour

Day 6 delivered several useful lessons for tournament players following APT action closely.

First, versatility matters. Hanh won a draw game, Chen won a mixed Omaha format, Yang won no-limit hold’em, and Aoi broke through in the Women’s Event. That spread shows why elite festival players often need more than one weapon in their arsenal.

Second, ICM remains decisive in late-stage live poker. The Su Yang final table is a textbook reminder that stack sizes affect not just chip strategy but payout strategy. The player with the lead at the deal table often has leverage, but that leverage only matters if the player has navigated earlier stages well enough to reach that point.

Third, chip leaders still need to finish the job. Cheong is in a great position in the High Roller, but the money bubble, final-table pressure, and the presence of experienced opponents make the path far from simple. In expensive events, even a healthy stack can disappear quickly if a player misjudges risk.

Finally, these results highlight a broader truth about live poker: preparation pays. Players who study ranges, structures, and short-stack play give themselves a real edge, whether they are grinding online, entering live festivals, or sharpening their game through a poker agent or a trusted training routine.

What comes next at APT Jeju 2026

With the High Roller heading into its final day, the festival’s biggest narratives are still unfolding. Cheong, Patni, and Tsui all have a real shot at a marquee score, while players like Hanh and Chen have already strengthened their APT résumés with wins that matter both statistically and strategically.

That is what makes APT Jeju compelling: it is not only about who wins the biggest trophy, but also about how the results build reputations, fuel future entries, and shape the next stage of a player’s tour season.

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