Faster. Higher. Stronger. While the Olympic motto is usually reserved for feats of athletic brilliance, it felt just as fitting on Jeju Island this weekend—only this time, the battlefield was felt, not ice.
More than 5,000 miles from Milan, the Asian Poker Tour Jeju Classic Main Event reached a thrilling conclusion, rewriting record books and crowning an unlikely champion. When the final card was dealt, Canada stood atop the podium, with amateur standout William Li claiming the title, the trophy, and a life-changing $402,000 payday.
A Personal Best, by a Mile
Li’s victory capped off an already memorable week. Just days earlier, he had recorded his previous best tournament score—$39,000 for a third-place finish in the APT Jeju High Roller Single-Day event. This win didn’t just top that result—it obliterated it.
The $402K first prize represents more than a tenfold improvement on his prior best cash and alone exceeds his lifetime recorded tournament earnings by nearly six times. Not bad for a player who still considers himself a recreational competitor.
History Made in Korea
Records falling has become something of an APT trademark, and Jeju was no exception. The $1,600 Main Event drew an enormous 1,718 entries, making it the largest international poker tournament ever held in Korea.
The prize pool swelled to more than $2.3 million, the second-largest in APT Korea history, while Li’s $402K winner’s prize also set a new high-water mark for the stop.
The supporting events joined the record-breaking party as well:
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Mini Main Event: 812 entries, $574K prize pool, $100K to the winner
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Ultra Stack High Roller: 312 entries, $827K prize pool, $165K first prize
Coming on the heels of November’s record-setting APT Championship in Taipei, the explosive start to 2026 signals another massive year for the tour—fitting, as the APT celebrates its 20th anniversary.
“Anything Can Happen”
“Poker isn’t my profession,” Li admitted after the win, though his composed performance suggested otherwise.
Facing a field stacked with elite talent—including reigning GPI Player of the Year Punnat Punsri, Jeju double-winner Ren Lin, and APT stalwart Lester Edoc—Li kept his expectations in check.
“I’m actually a relatively pessimistic person,” he said with a smile. “Everyone knows how poker is—anything can happen. Nothing is ever certain.”
Until, eventually, it is.
A Wild Final Table
Li navigated a chaotic and action-heavy final table on Saturday, starting with the rapid exit of Yuefeng Pan, who returned with just a fraction of a blind and was forced all-in on the first hand, finishing ninth for $29K.
Pan was followed by Haohui Ma (8th, $38K), who ran into the pocket aces of Vietnam’s Quang Minh Nguyen. Nguyen surged into the chip lead but suffered one of the tournament’s cruelest beats shortly after, flopping two pair against Shintaro Sato—only to see Sato complete a runner-runner straight to send Nguyen out in sixth place for $72K.
Sato looked unstoppable, amassing nearly half the chips in play. Li, however, refused to fade.
After eliminating Zu You Wang in fifth ($90K), Li found himself all-in and behind against Christian Tabac. A dramatic river card saved him, swinging momentum back in his favor and keeping his title hopes alive.
Turning the Tables
The defining moment came heads-up. After closing the chip gap with an immediate double-up, Li capitalized on a costly bluff by Sato. Li turned a straight, calmly called Sato’s massive river shove, and suddenly the balance of power flipped.
Moments later, it was over.
Sato moved all-in with king-eight, Li called with ace-jack, and the board offered no miracles. Sato settled for $224,000 as runner-up, while Li completed a remarkable comeback.
A Golden Finish
Along with the $402,000 first prize, Li earned a free seat into the APT Championship Main Event later this year—an honor also awarded to the rest of the final three.
For William Li, it’s a first live tournament victory, a career-defining payday, and one of the most striking trophies in poker.
And fittingly, for a performance worthy of the Olympic spirit, it shines in gold.
