Event #11: US$20,000 8 Handed (US$500,000 GTD) Day 1 | 2025 The Lord Poker Tournament Jeju

05-19-2025 15:46 UTC+9

Thompson and Song Chip Up Without Showdown

Christian Zetzsche

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

On a heads-up turn of A♥Q♥8♠2♥, James Mendoza check-called a bet worth 13,000 by Gary Thompson and they headed to the 2♣ river. Once Mendoza checked, Thompson moved all-in via massive overbet and Mendoza used two time bank extensions before folding.

At the same time on the other table, Calvin Lee raised to 2,500 and was called by Stephen Song as well as Christopher Park. Quan Zhou in the big blind three-bet to 19,000 and Lee folded. Song four-bet to 50,000 and Park let go, as did Zhou after some consideration.

Player	Chips	Progress
Stephen Song	455,000 35,000	35,000

Gary Thompson	225,000 25,000	25,000
James Mendoza	169,500 30,500	30,500
Quan Zhou	155,000 30,000	30,000

Tags: Calvin Lee Christopher Park Gary Thompson James Mendoza Quan Zhou Stephen Song

Level: 2

Blinds: 500/1,000

Ante: 1,000

05-19-2025 15:40 UTC+9

Gierse Pays Chen Off

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Dan O'Hair

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

Action folded around to the blinds, where Yisha Chen raised to 2,000 from the small blind and Marius Gierse called in the big blind.

Chen check-called a 2,000 bet from Gierse on the 2♠7♠A♦ flop and then both players checked on the 6♠ turn.

Chen retook the initiative with a 5,000 bet on the Q♦ river and Gierse called. Chen turned over A♥3♣ for a pair of aces and Gierse sent his hand into the muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
Marius Gierse	200,000 15,500	15,500
Yisha Chen	190,000 10,000	10,000

Tags: Marius Gierse Yisha Chen

05-19-2025 15:35 UTC+9

Mendoza Back for More Glory

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Christian Zetzsche

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

Half an hour has been played and the Day 1a field has reached 16 entries with 15 players remaining. Ivan Zhang is the only re-entry so far and the last player to join the fray was James Mendoza, who finished runner-up to Stephen Song in the $15,000 TLPT Main Event yesterday evening.

With his runner-up finish for $450,000, Mendoza recorded his largest cash prize on the live poker circuit and will have more than $2.3 million on his resume to jump into fourth place of The Philippines all-time money list on The Hendon Mob.

Player	Chips	Progress
James Mendoza	200,000

Tags: Ivan Zhang James Mendoza Stephen Song

05-19-2025 15:29 UTC+9

Park Takes From Lee

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Christian Zetzsche

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

In a three-bet pot to the 7♣5♦4♠ flop with 27,500 in the middle, Christopher Park checked and then called a bet worth 14,000 by Calvin Lee. Both players checked down the 4♥ turn and the 8♥ on the river for Park to reveal the K♥K♠, which ended up winning the pot for Park.

Player	Chips	Progress
Christopher Park	249,000 49,000	49,000
Calvin Lee	173,000 42,000	42,000

Tags: Calvin Lee Christopher Park

05-19-2025 15:26 UTC+9

Zhang Flops the Goods

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Dan O'Hair

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

Quan Zhou opened to 2,500 from middle position and was called by Calvin Lee in the cutoff. Quan Zhou then squeezed to 15,000 from the big blind, which got a fold from Zhou and a call from Lee.

Lee called a 10,000 bet from Zhang on the J♠9♥6♠ flop, but folded facing a 55,000 barrel from Zhang on the 3♦ turn.

Zhang then slammed down the J♦J♣ face up for a top set before collecting the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ivan Zhang	230,000 30,000	30,000
Calvin Lee	215,000 30,000	30,000

Quan Zhou	185,000 15,000	15,000

Tags: Calvin Lee Quan Zhou Zhang Flops

05-19-2025 15:20 UTC+9

Chang Off to a Rough Start

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Christian Zetzsche

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

Nevan Chang defended out of the big blind against an open raise by Taylor Black and check-called the Q♠J♦4♥ flop for 4,000. Chang checked the J♣ turn to then call a larger barrel for 12,000 before checking the 3♠ river once more.

Taylor now tossed in two T-25,000 chips for an overbet and Chang called rather quickly, but mucked when he was shown the A♥J♥ for trips jacks by Black.

Player	Chips	Progress
Taylor Black	280,000 93,000	93,000

Nevan Chang	104,500 95,500	95,500

Tags: Nevan Chang Taylor Black

05-19-2025 15:19 UTC+9

Zhang Busts to Song; Immediately Reenters

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Dan O'Hair

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

Stephen Song and Ivan Zhang were heads-up with a substantial pot already in the middle on a board of 6♦8♣J♣7♠.

Song checked from the hijack to Zhang, who announced he was all in for approximately 150,000 on the button.

"I mean, alright," Song said as he committed his stack into the middle, having Zhang slightly covered.

Ivan Zhang: Q♦8♦ All in
Stephen Song: A♦A♠

"Eight! Queen" Zhang shouted.

Instead, the dealer brought a 2♣ on river — bricking out for Zhang and awarded Song the massive pot with his aces.

Zhang immediately reentered following his elimination.

Player	Chips	Progress
Stephen Song	420,000 195,000	195,000

Ivan Zhang	200,000 2,000	2,000

Tags: Ivan Zhang Stephen Song

05-19-2025 15:13 UTC+9

Two New Entries in the Field

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Christian Zetzsche

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

A few minutes into the opening level, the field reached 14 entries and the two new additions to the field both hail from China in Lei Yu and Yisha Chen.

Player	Chips	Progress
Lei Yu	200,000

Yisha Chen	200,000

Tags: Lei Yu Yisha Chen

05-19-2025 15:11 UTC+9

Song Three-Bets Lee

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Christian Zetzsche

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

Calvin Lee opened to 2,500 and then called a three-bet to 9,000 by Stephen Song in the next seat, which led them to the J♥5♦2♠ flop. Once Lee checked, Song continued for 6,000 and picked up a call.

After the 10♥ turn, Lee checked and Song increased his sizing to 35,000 in order to force out Lee. While the hand played out, Quan Zhou entered on the same table.

Player	Chips	Progress
Stephen Song	225,000 1,915,000	1,915,000

Quan Zhou	200,000
Calvin Lee	185,000

Tags: Calvin Lee Quan Zhou Stephen Song