Abraham Ceesvin wins the record-breaking APT Jeju Main Event in Korea

Abraham Ceesvin became the champion of the APT Jeju Main Event, defeating Lily Tan and taking home $460,850. The tournament attracted a record 1,693 entries in the history of Korean poker.

Abraham Ceesvin claimed victory in the Main Event of the APT Jeju series, setting a new record for the number of entries in a poker tournament in Korea. In the final heads-up, he defeated Lili Tang from China and took home the top prize of $460,850. The Largest Main Event in Korean Poker History The Asian Poker Tour (APT) Jeju Main Event attracted 1,693 entries—a record for poker tournaments in Korea. The buy-in was $1,800, and the total prize pool exceeded all expectations. This event became the third largest Main Event in APT history and awarded the third biggest first-place prize in the series’ history. The final table was marked by intense competition. Abraham Ceesvin, who previously finished second at the APT Taipei Poker Classic last September (prize — $251,163), managed to go all the way this time. In an interview after the tournament, Ceesvin noted that his loss in Taipei had haunted him for a long time, but he kept trying despite the disappointment: “When I finished second in Taipei, it was very painful. Maybe it was due to inexperience. Sometimes you don’t get a second chance, but I kept trying.” The victory in Jeju brought Ceesvin not only a large cash prize but also a ticket to the 2025 APT Championship in Taipei—a tournament with a $5,000,000 guarantee, which will take place from November 24 to 28. In addition to Ceesvin, Lili Tang (2nd place) and Shuang Qiu (3rd place) also received tickets. APT Jeju Main Event Final Table Results Prize table for the Main Event final table: 1st place: Abraham Ceesvin — $460,850 2nd place: Lili Tang — $288,900 3rd place: Shuang Qiu — $206,100 4th place: Jae Kyung Sim — $155,000 5th place: Zhen Yu Jin — $117,600 6th place: Yifan Zheng — $89,300 7th place: Yu-Chung Chang — $67,900 8th place: Jae Hyun Lim — $51,600 9th place: Yifan Li — $39,300 It’s worth noting that the battle for the title lasted until the very end. Lili Tang came close to becoming the first female APT champion in the new era, but Ceesvin managed to seize the initiative and prevail in the heads-up. Tickets to APT Championship 2025 The top three finalists—Abraham Ceesvin, Lili Tang, and Shuang Qiu—each received a ticket to the 2025 APT Championship in Taipei worth $10,000. This tournament promises to be one of the most significant events of the year thanks to its $5,000,000 guarantee and a strong expected field. Ceesvin himself noted that he expects tough competition: “The tournament will not be easy. Many players will be preparing hard, since there’s big money at stake.” Festival Scale and Other Notable Wins The APT Jeju festival included 99 trophy events and four satellites, with a total of 11,821 entries registered. Among the most notable winners was Joseph Cheong, who won the Zodiac Classic (sponsored by Natural8) out of 449 entrants and took home $173,465. Poseidon Ho made four final tables, including a win in the Hyper Turbo for $4,195. Among regular Triton SHRS participants, Danny Tang stood out at the festival, capturing two titles. His biggest success came in the Superstar Challenge, where Tang won $316,445. Xixiang Luo also scored double victories, winning two Pot-Limit Omaha tournaments: Big O and the unique "Lazy Rivers" format, where each player is dealt an individual open card on the river. Special mention goes to Hanh Tran, who became a five-time APT Jeju champion. His biggest achievement was winning the 9 Game High Roller event. Multiple Winners at APT Jeju Hanh Tran — 5 titles, including the 9 Game High Roller Danny Tang — 2 titles, biggest prize in the Superstar Challenge ($316,445) Xixiang Luo — 2 titles in Pot-Limit Omaha (Big O and Lazy Rivers) Poseidon Ho — 4 final tables, win in Hyper Turbo ($4,195) The APT Jeju festival became a stage for many outstanding performances, and its record numbers in entries and prize pools confirm the growing interest in poker in the region. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, the successes at APT Jeju are a clear example of how regular play and participation in major online and offline tournaments can lead to significant achievements. Even if you’re currently only playing in online clubs, the experience gained in multi-table tournaments and final tables can be excellent preparation for live events of this scale. Record fields and large prize pools show that the level of competition is constantly rising, so it’s important not only to improve your technical poker skills but also to focus on mental resilience—just as Abraham Ceesvin did, not giving up after last year’s defeat. Playing satellites and regular PPPoker tournaments could be your first step toward big final tables and tickets to prestigious series. Moreover, the variety of formats at APT Jeju (from classic NLH to Pot-Limit Omaha and mixed games) highlights the importance of versatility. Try different disciplines in PPPoker clubs—this will expand your poker arsenal and increase your chances of future success.