Lee Liew Wins Korea National Cup for Second APT Title

Lee Liew stops the title defense and claims the Korea National Cup

The second day of APT Jeju 2026 delivered one of the festival’s cleanest storylines: Lee Liew from Malaysia captured the Korea National Cup after defeating defending champion Zhiyi Wang in heads-up play. In doing so, Liew denied Wang the chance to become the first player in Asian Poker Tour history to successfully defend a title.

The victory was built over a 474-entry field, a size that makes this event feel more than a side attraction and closer to a true mid-tier championship. Liew’s reward was the lion-shaped silver trophy and KRW 70,334,000, the second-largest cash of his career and a meaningful leap in his live tournament profile.

This result matters because it shows how much value sits in the middle of the live poker ecosystem. Big-field mid-buy-in events are often where players make the jump from being promising regulars to becoming recognized winners. They also reward consistency more than short-term variance, which is why a performance like Liew’s resonates with serious tournament players.

Korea National Cup final table pressure and deep runs

At the start of the final day, 67 returning players were already locked into at least KRW 1,380,000. That guaranteed payout creates a very specific kind of tension: once the money is locked in, the focus shifts from survival to stack leverage, pay-jump pressure, and final-table positioning.

The day-one chip leader, Zu You Wang, converted his healthy stack into fifth place, a strong result but one that also shows how difficult it is to close out a large live field. Several notable names made deep runs without reaching the endgame.

• Bin Li in 14th;
• Dillion Najor in 18th;
• Renji Mao, a two-time bracelet winner, in 20th;
• Abraham Ceesvin, the reigning APT Jeju Main Event champion, in 30th.

Sun Yue was the last woman standing, bowing out in 33rd. Maxim Lykov finished 50th, while Rishi Mehra exited in 55th. In a field like this, even accomplished players have very little room for error, which is part of what gives the result its weight.

• 1st: Lee Liew — KRW 70,334,000
• 2nd: Zhiyi Wang — KRW 44,250,000
• 3rd: Furui Wang — KRW 31,690,000

For players following the broader live scene, it is worth comparing how different environments shape results. Some players sharpen their game in poker rooms, while others build experience in poker clubs before stepping into a field like this one.

What Lee Liew said after winning

In his post-match interview, Liew said he did not even realize at first that he had just beaten the defending champion. That detail says a lot about live tournament focus: once the cards are in the air, many players narrow their attention to ranges, stack sizes, and line selection rather than the resume of the opponent across the table.

Liew praised Wang’s game, saying the Chinese player was very solid and made few mistakes. That kind of respect is important because it highlights a key truth about live poker: you do not win a title like this by waiting for someone else to collapse. You have to outlast a competent, disciplined opponent in a format where one or two pots can change the entire event.

The Malaysian player also framed the win as a personal milestone. He said this was his first trophy from a mid-sized event, after previously winning only smaller side events. That makes the result especially meaningful because it signals progression. In tournament poker, the move from smaller wins to a more substantial title often marks the moment when a player’s confidence and bankroll management finally align.

Liew also explained that he plans to use most of the prize money to continue funding future tournaments. That is the kind of practical decision that helps a player turn one breakthrough into a longer-term career. He added that his next goal is to win a main event title, which he has not yet achieved.

He closed by thanking his friends and coach for their support. That part may sound simple, but it reflects how much live poker success depends on a support system. Even the best players usually need technical feedback, emotional balance, and a clear plan for what comes after a big score.

Expert analysis: why this win matters for tournament players

From a strategic perspective, Liew’s victory is a strong reminder that mid-buy-in live events are still one of the best proving grounds in poker. The fields are large enough to create meaningful prize pools, but they are also often soft enough for disciplined, studied players to edge out the field over time. That combination is exactly why many serious players target these events as their core volume.

There is also a psychological lesson in the result. Defending a title is harder than winning one the first time. A champion often enters the next event with a bigger target on his back, more attention from opponents, and extra pressure to repeat. Wang’s runner-up finish shows how thin the margin is at the top of live poker, where a single cooler, a missed value spot, or a tough ICM spot can decide the difference between history and a near miss.

• Stack preservation matters, but so does accumulation in the later stages.
• ICM pressure increases sharply once the money ladder becomes meaningful.
• Final-table experience is a skill, not just a byproduct of running hot.
• Bankroll discipline is part of winning, especially when the goal is moving up to larger events.

For players preparing for similar festivals, the path is usually a mix of technical study and volume. Reviewing push-fold spots, studying heads-up ranges, and learning how to navigate late-stage pay jumps can make a huge difference. That is why resources like poker school and well-timed promotions & bonuses can be practical tools, not just marketing language, for players building a live schedule.

On a broader level, the result also reinforces why Asia remains one of the most important live poker markets. Strong local participation, international travel appeal, and a growing calendar of major stops mean that titles earned in Jeju carry real weight. A win here is not a small regional note; it is a respected line on a player’s resume.

APT Super High Roller adds elite-level heat

While the Korea National Cup was deciding its champion, the APT Super High Roller was already producing its own high-stakes drama. The event featured a KRW 15,000,000 buy-in and a massive KRW 500,000,000 guarantee, plus a USD 10,000 seat to the November APT Championship Main Event and the coveted Pewter Lion trophy.

The field drew 99 total entries from 67 unique players, making it the second-largest Korean-based APT Super High Roller so far. The prize pool climbed to KRW 1,368,427,500, and only 13 players will cash. A min-cash is worth KRW 27,780,000, while the eventual winner will take KRW 355,667,500 along with the title and the seat.

After sixteen 40-minute levels, only 26 players remained. Teeraphat Rangkatekarn ended Day 1 as the chip leader with 3,425,000, a stack that put him well ahead of the nearest challenger, Calvin Lee from the United States, who finished on 1,945,000.

That kind of chip advantage matters a great deal in high roller poker. With fewer recreational mistakes in the field and deeper strategic awareness across the table, the player who controls the biggest stack can dictate the pace, apply pressure in position, and force others into tougher ICM decisions later in the event.

Conclusion: a breakthrough win and a bigger stage ahead

Lee Liew’s Korea National Cup victory is more than a trophy photo. It is a career step forward, a strong live result, and a meaningful win in a field that included a defending champion and several accomplished names. He now has a second APT title, a major score, and a clear next target: a main event trophy.

For APT Jeju 2026, the result adds another layer to a festival already packed with momentum. For players, it is a reminder that live poker rewards patience, preparation, and the ability to finish when the spotlight is brightest. And for the Asian poker scene, it is another sign that the tour continues to produce stories with real competitive value.

If you are tracking where to play next or how to build your schedule, the path usually starts with the right mix of study, volume, and access to the best live and online opportunities through poker agents and other tournament pathways.

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