Peng Huang wins the KPC Jeju and finishes as runner-up in the King's Main Event

Chinese poker player Peng Huang won the KPC Jeju Main Event and took second place in the King's Main Event, becoming one of the main stars of the Asian poker scene.

At the beginning of 2026, Chinese poker player Peng Huang made a spectacular breakthrough on the international stage, capturing the main title at the KPC Jeju Main Event and finishing runner-up in the prestigious King's Main Event. These achievements not only brought him record prize money but also made him one of the most prominent figures in the Asian poker community. In this article, we will take a detailed look at the events of the KPC Jeju series, break down the final tables of the key tournaments, and highlight other notable results from this festival. Peng Huang’s Standout Performance at KPC Jeju Until 2026, Peng Huang’s name was little known outside Asia. His first recorded cashes date back to December 2021, and by the end of 2025 his total winnings amounted to $73,178—mostly from tournaments in China, South Korea, and Vietnam. However, at the KPC Jeju series at LES A Casino, Huang showed impressive form, becoming the Main Event champion and reaching heads-up in the King's Main Event. In 2026 alone, his winnings have already reached $515,715, the best result of his career. KPC Jeju Main Event: Record Prize Pool and Final Table The KPC Jeju Main Event attracted 1,082 entries, creating a prize pool of $851,075—significantly exceeding the guarantee. The top 125 players made the money, and all final table participants were guaranteed at least $14,170. The first to bust from the final table were Mou Yue, Yirui Zhang, and Huan Yu Chen. The latter had already finished second in a similar Jeju tournament earlier this year, earning $152,037—the best result of his career. Kai Hung Hu finished fifth, having previously made the final table of the 2024 WSOP Mini Main Event with a $1,000 buy-in. He took home $31,700. Colombian player Sebastian Camilo Toro Henao finished fourth for $43,265, bringing his career earnings close to the $2.5 million mark. WSOP bracelet winner Yilong Wang finished third, adding $59,675 to his bankroll. After his elimination, Peng Huang and Hong Zhu battled for the title. Before heads-up play began, the two agreed to a deal that reduced the payout gap between first and second place. In the decisive heads-up, Huang emerged victorious, claiming the trophy and the top prize of $128,102—the best result of his professional career. Hong Zhu received $102,100, marking his fourth six-figure cash. KPC Main Event Final Table Results 1st place: Peng Huang — $128,102 2nd place: Hong Zhu — $102,100 3rd place: Yilong Wang — $59,675 4th place: Sebastian Camilo Toro Henao — $43,265 5th place: Kai Hung Hu — $31,700 6th place: Huan Yu Chen — $23,500 7th place: Yirui Zhang — $18,500 8th place: Mou Yue — $14,170 King's Main Event: Huang Close to a Double, but Falls Short in Heads-Up After his victory in the KPC Main Event, Peng Huang didn’t stop and registered for the King's Main Event with a $15,000 buy-in. The tournament drew 169 players and generated a massive $2,372,760 prize pool. Among the 26 players who cashed were well-known pros: Daniel Neilson, Fabian Gumz, Mehdi Chaoui, Eric Tsai, Nevan Chang, Joseph Cheong, and Tom Verbruggen. The latter had previously won the Mini Main Event for $26,735. Chinese player Xiaoyu Li finished ninth for $54,000. Michael Nam took eighth place ($66,000), while Ren Lin, a frequent topic of discussion in the poker community, finished seventh for $84,000. From that point, all remaining players were guaranteed six-figure payouts. Jian Zhu earned $110,000 for sixth place. German player Martin Sedlak, who started the final day as chip leader, finished fifth for $145,000. Zhuoqun Zhang finished fourth, after which the female representation at the final table ended: Xueying Zhao lost two big pots in a row and couldn’t recover, busting out of the tournament. The heads-up featured Peng Huang and Marius Kudzmanas. Their duel lasted about an hour and a half. In the decisive hand, Kudzmanas’ jack-eight (J8) beat Huang’s ace-three (A3) thanks to a jack on the flop. As a result, Huang finished second for $350,000, while the championship title and top prize of $533,800 went to Marius Kudzmanas. King's Main Event Final Table Results 1st place: Marius Kudzmanas — $533,800 2nd place: Peng Huang — $350,000 3rd place: Xueying Zhao — $225,000 4th place: Zhuoqun Zhang — $180,000 5th place: Martin Sedlak — $145,000 6th place: Jian Zhu — $110,000 7th place: Ren Lin — $84,000 8th place: Michael Nam — $66,000 9th place: Xiaoyu Li — $54,000 King's 60K Super High Roller: Historic Success for Eric Tsai One of the highlights of the series was the King's $60K Super High Roller with a $60,000 buy-in. The tournament attracted 66 players and generated an impressive $3,706,600 prize pool. The final table featured many well-known pros, including King's Main Event winner Marius Kudzmanas, as well as Manuel Fritz and Ethan "Rampage" Yau. Ryuta Nakai from Japan, who recently won $1,263,000 at Triton Jeju, finished fifth for $300,000. Mehdi Chaoui took fourth place for $370,000. Frenchman Hugues Girard achieved the best result of his career, finishing third for $470,000. The heads-up was between Eric Tsai and Calvin Lee. In a tense battle, Tsai emerged victorious and took home the top prize of $1,046,600—the first seven-figure win of his career. For Calvin Lee, second place brought $700,000, marking his 17th six-figure cash. Thanks to this success, Eric Tsai moved up to third place on the Taiwan all-time money list. His total stands at $5,726,822, just behind Pete Chen ($5,977,094), but catching up to leader James Chen ($11,600,353) will require several more big wins. King's 60K Super High Roller Final Table Results 1st place: Eric Tsai — $1,046,600 2nd place: Calvin Lee — $700,000 3rd place: Hugues Girard — $470,000 4th place: Mehdi Chaoui — $370,000 5th place: Ryuta Nakai — $300,000 6th place: Marius Kudzmanas — $240,000 7th place: Ethan "Rampage" Yau — $190,000 8th place: Manuel Fritz — $150,000 Other Notable Results from the KPC Jeju Series The KPC Jeju series stood out not only for its large main events but also for its packed schedule of high roller and side events. Special mention goes to Dutch player Michel Molenaar, who managed to win two high roller tournaments, earning a total of $308,400. Among the prize winners and finalists in various series events were well-known pros such as Biao Ding, Calvin Lee, Daniel Neilson, Danny Tang, Eric Tsai, Ethan Yau, Joseph Cheong, Kevin Choi, Punnat Punsri, Tom Verbruggen, Wenjie Sun, and many others. This confirms the high status of the series and attracts the attention of the region’s and the world’s strongest players. Poker Formats and Tournament Features of the Series The main events of the KPC Jeju series and the King's Main Event were played in No Limit Hold'em—the most popular poker discipline. Tournament buy-ins ranged from $1,000 (Mini Main Event) to $60,000 (Super High Roller), attracting both recreational players and the poker elite. Final tables in all key tournaments followed the classic format: the title and top prize were decided in heads-up play, and the payout structure provided substantial rewards for making the top 8 or top 9. It was common for players to make deals at the final stage to reduce the payout gap between first and second place, as Peng Huang and Hong Zhu did in the KPC Main Event. It’s also worth noting that many series participants are holders of major titles and WSOP bracelets, further highlighting the high level of competition and the prestige of the KPC Jeju tournaments. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players The results of the KPC Jeju series and the successes of players like Peng Huang, Eric Tsai, and Marius Kudzmanas show that the path to big prize money is open not only to global poker stars but also to those who steadily progress through regional tournaments. For PPPoker club members, this is a great example: consistent play, participation in local and online events, and working on your skills can lead to the international stage. The tournament formats featured at KPC Jeju—from large Main Events to elite high rollers—are fully implementable within PPPoker clubs. Organizers and players can use the experience of major series to build their own club leagues, satellites, and final tables, increasing both interest and the level of play in the community. Finally, paying attention to final table deals and smart bankroll management are important aspects to learn from the pros. Follow the successes of players at major series, analyze their decisions, and apply best practices in your own PPPoker club games. This will not only help you improve your own level but also make club tournaments more interesting and competitive.