Poker Writer
Ren Lin continued his success in Jeju by winning the Asian Poker Tour (APT) Jeju Classic Super High Roller to make for his third title on the South Korean Island resort in the first month of 2026.
Lin conquered the 115-entry event for KRW 396,317,500 (~$275,220) over the weekend, less than two weeks after winning two events in the King Poker Cup in the same location. According to APT live reporting, Lin won it in dramatic fashion by rallying from a two-big blind hole on the final day of play. Eventually, he battled back to overcome Japanese player Ryuta Nakai heads-up.
The APT Classic Super High Roller’s field of 115 was a record, the richest such tournament ever held in Korea.
The final table consisted of players from five different countries:
| Position | Player | Country | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ren Lin | China | $275,220 |
| 2 | Ryuta Nakai | Japan | $185,960 |
| 3 | Quang Dinh Do | Vietnam | $120,875 |
| 4 | Khoa Anh Ngo | Vietnam | $100,090 |
| 5 | Guoliang Wei | China | $80,730 |
| 6 | Ryan Plant | Ireland | $63,670 |
| 7 | Yosuke Miki | Japan | $48,680 |
| 8 | Kento Nasu | Japan | $36,645 |
| 9 | Paulius Plausinaitis | Lithuania | $27,350 |
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Ren Lin Winning in the Midst of Controversy
If Lin was affected by the WPT Global controversy surrounding him, he is not showing it at the poker table. Lin has continued to play through the fallout, which included the Chip Race Podcast breaking ties with WPT Global.
Lin’s hot start in Jeju gives him 600 points so far in the 2026 Card Player Player of the Year race. He will look to improve on his 54th-place finish in the 2025 Card Player POY race, where he amassed $2.9 million in tournament winnings.
Jeju Now a Hot Spot For Asian Poker
Jeju Island is a subtropical volcanic island 51 miles from the nearest point on the Korean peninsula, with a population of around 670,000. It is a popular tourist spot for foreigners and also a popular honeymoon getaway for Korean couples. It is often referred to as “Korea’s Hawaii.”
Jeju hosts 10 casinos, which are all for foreigners only. South Korea rejected a proposal in 2022 to allow mainland Koreans to gamble at Jeju casinos. Koreans can only gamble at the casinos — and participate in the poker tournaments — if they hold a foreign passport. A look at the results of Jeju poker tournaments shows that the vast majority of players are from China and Japan.
The target clientele for the Jeju casinos is heavy on Chinese tourists. They often look to nearby locations to escape the strict gambling laws of their home country. Chinese patrons are expected to frequent Jeju in the coming months, especially as Chinese group tours have visa-free entry to Jeju until June 30.
Jeju has become a hotbed of poker in recent years. The APT is set to host two series there in 2026, the ongoing series ending Feb. 8 and APT Jeju 2025 from Sept. 25 to Oct. 4. The Triton Super High Roller series has also hosted two events in Jeju, most recently in September 2025.
