Event #1: TLPT Opening (US$600,000 GTD) Day 1 | 2025 The Lord Poker Tournament Jeju

05-13-2025 19:30 UTC+9

Chen Relieved to Chop

Dan O'Hair

Level 14 : 3,000/5,000, 5,000 ante

Action folded to Dong Chen in the cutoff, who took a long gander the tournament clock before committing his final 15,000 into the middle. Action folded to Yanchao Zhao in the big blind, who called to put Chen at risk.

Dong Chen: A♣K♦ All in
Yanchao Zhao: A♠K♣

Chen let out a small smirk upon seeing Zhao's hand and the runout failed to bring any shenanigans for a chopped pot just four spots off of the money.

Player	Chips	Progress
Yanchao Zhao	240,000 240,000	240,000
Dong Chen	19,000 28,000	28,000

Tags: Dong Chen Yanchao Zhao

05-13-2025 19:16 UTC+9

Liang Catches a Lucky Break as Money Bubble Draws Near

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Dan O'Hair

Level 14 : 3,000/5,000, 5,000 ante

Ruimin Liang shoved for his last 35,000 on the button and was called by Junbo Qu in the small blind to be put at risk.

Ruimin Liang: 9♥9♣ All in
Junbo Qu: A♠A♦

Liang had one foot out the door, but the 9♦3♣6♠ flop improved Liang to a set of nines to take a commanding lead in the hand.

The Q♥ turn nor Q♠ river changed anything and Liang was awarded the double up.

Just 82 players remain with 75 making the money.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ruimin Liang	78,000
Junbo Qu	35,000

Tags: Ruimin Liang Junbo Qu

Level: 14

Blinds: 3,000/5,000

Ante: 5,000

05-13-2025 19:07 UTC+9

Harder's Tens are Good

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Dan O'Hair

Level 13 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

American poker crusher Christian Harder is in the field and is currently sitting with an above average stack as the money bubble draws nears.

In a recent hand, Harder opened to 8,000 first to act and was called by Jiakai Kang in the big blind.

Both players checked all the way down on the 4♣J♠K♠3♠3♦ flop, turn, and river and Kang turned over a pair of deuces.

Harder revealed 10♦10♠ and added the pot to his stack, which currently sits around 110,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Christian Harder	110,000 110,000	110,000

Jiakai Kang	35,000 35,000	35,000

Tags: Christian Harder Jiakai Kang

05-13-2025 18:51 UTC+9

Prize Pool Announced

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Dan O'Hair

Level 13 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

In total, the TLPT Opening Event Freeroll drew 446 players to compete for the US$600,000 guaranteed prize pool.

Of those, 75 will make the money, with a min-cash being worth US$3,100 while the eventual winner will take home a cool US$100,000.

Place	Payout	Place	Payout
1	$100,000	10-11	$7,000
2	$78,000	12-13	$6,000
3	$54,000	14-17	$5,000
4	$37,000	18-26	$4,400
5	$27,000	27-35	$4,000
6	$19,000	36-44	$3,600
7	$14,000	45-53	$3,300
8	$11,100	54-75	$3,100
9	$8,000

Level: 13

Blinds: 2,000/4,000

Ante: 4,000

05-13-2025 18:29 UTC+9

Time For a Break

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Dan O'Hair

Level 12 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

The remaining 100 players have been sent on a 15-minute break.

05-13-2025 18:25 UTC+9

Zhang Sends Li Out

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Dan O'Hair

Level 12 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Tao Li raised to 16,000 from the small blind — leaving himself just 3,200 behind — and Jinyu Zhang called from the big blind.

The flop came 7♣9♠10♣ and Tao shoved for his remaining stack and was quickly called by Zhang.

Tao Li: J♥4♦ All in
Jinyu Zhang: A♠Q♣

Li had whiffed the flop, and the 6♦7♠ runout left Zhang's ace-high best for the elimination.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jinyu Zhang	75,300
Tao Li	Busted

Tags: Jinyu Zhang Tao Li

05-13-2025 18:13 UTC+9

Zhou Drills the Turn to Eliminate Zhang and Double Through Patrik

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Dan O'Hair

Level 12 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Quan Zhou raised to 11,500 from early position, and Patrik Demus called from directly behind. Qiaochu Zhang then shoved for her last 18,000 from the hijack and action folded back around to Zhou, who went all in for slightly more. Demus called, having both players covered, and a three-way showdown was held.

Qiaochu Zhang: K♣K♦ All in
Quan Zhou: 6♠5♠ All in
Patrik Demus: 9♠9♣

Zhang was a solid favorite to triple up, but the 9♦4♥2♣ flop vaulted Demus into the lead with a set of nines.

Another twist of fate saw the 3♦ fall on the river to upgrade Zhou to a straight to take the lead.

The Q♥ river bricked out and Zhang was eliminated while Zhou dragged the monster pot.