Since the Asian Poker Tour (APT) first landed in Jeju, South Korea in 2013, times have changed dramatically. Back then, poker in the region was still in its infancy, growing slowly and quietly. A decade later, the landscape looks completely different — player participation has exploded, and under new ownership, APT has ascended to unprecedented heights.
Today, APT stands as one of the most sought-after poker tours in Asia, with its dominance reflected in the staggering turnouts and massive prize pools at every stop. Just look at the figures from this year’s previous series — they speak for themselves:
APT Incheon: KR₩ 15,296,871,770 (~US$ 11 million) total prize pool
APT Taipei: NT$ 612,000,000 (~US$ 20 million) total prize pool
APT Manila Classic: PHP₱ 350,124,235 (~US$ 6,015,880) total prize pool
Now, the tour’s fourth stop of the season brings APT back to Jeju for the second consecutive year. The event will take place from September 26 to October 5, 2025, at the Landing Casino at Jeju Shinhwa World, promising ten days of thrilling poker action.
Players will once again battle for huge prize pools and the prestigious APT Lion Trophy. With expectations running sky-high, let’s take a closer look at what APT Jeju 2025 has in store for everyone.
APT Jeju 2025 — Ten Days of Poker Action Return to Jeju!
The highly anticipated APT Jeju 2025 is set to heat up South Korea’s poker scene once again! This edition features a record 103 events and a guaranteed total prize pool of KR₩ 4.9 Billion (≈ US$ 3.4 million). If past results are any indication, that figure is likely just the beginning — last year’s APT Jeju shattered expectations, generating over KR₩ 12 Billion (≈ US$ 8.6 million) in prize money across 87 events.
The schedule this year is even more extensive, with buy-ins ranging from KR₩ 400,000 (≈ US$ 285) to KR₩ 35,000,000 (≈ US$ 25,000), ensuring that players of all levels — from recreational enthusiasts to high rollers — can find the right battlefield. With marquee tournaments and popular side events running almost daily, players will face the delightful dilemma of deciding which events to play.
💥 Main Event — KR₩ 2.2 Billion Guaranteed
The undisputed highlight of the festival is the APT Main Event, offering a guaranteed prize pool of KR₩ 2.2 Billion (≈ US$ 1.57 million).
Dates: September 28 – October 3, 2025
Structure: Four starting flights (Day 1A–1D)
Late Registration: Open until one hour after Day 2 begins
Last year’s Main Event in Jeju attracted 1,089 entries, generating a prize pool of KR₩ 2.376 Billion (≈ US$ 1.72 million) — a record for an APT Main Event in South Korea, only surpassed by APT Incheon 2025 earlier this year.
The champion, Xixiang Luo from China, claimed the title and took home KR₩ 429,292,500 (≈ US$ 311,800), solidifying his place among Asia’s top professionals.
🌟 Events Expected to Draw Huge Fields
In 2024, several tournaments proved to be massive crowd favorites — and they’re set to do the same this year. Some champions took home 30x to 70x their buy-in, while the Main Event winner earned 171x his entry fee!
A special highlight this year is the Sunday Superstack, now with a reduced buy-in of KR₩ 500,000, less than half of last year’s entry. This price cut is expected to drive record-breaking participation.
Additionally, all Single Day High Roller events drew over 100 entries last year, and similar turnouts are anticipated once again.
🏆 A Look Back at APT Jeju 2024’s Most Popular Events
| Popular in 2024 | Entries | KR₩ (prize pool) | 1st prize (KR₩) |
|---|---|---|---|
| APT Main Event 2.5M | 1,089 | 2,376,742,500 | 429,292,500 |
| APT High Roller 8 Max 7M | 191 | 1,204,255,000 | 266,735,000 |
| Zodiac Classic by N8 3M | 238 | 633,322,000 | 131,792,000 |
| Single Day High Roller 3.5M | 154 | 470,547,000 | 109,387,000 |
| Double Stack NLH 400K | 444 | 387,612,000 | 8,339,880 |
| Mystery Bounty Hunter 1M | 511 | 300,000,000 | 42,355,000 |
| Korea National Cup 800K | 404 | 282,153,600 | 55,786,600 |
| Sunday Superstack 1.1M | 270 | 259,281,000 | 51,981,000 |
| Mini Main Event 800K | 327 | 250,000,000 | 49,008,000 |
| Freezeout 800K | 201 | 140,378,400 | 31,108,400 |
| NLH Turbo 900K | 169 | 132,783,300 | 30,883,300 |
| NLH Turbo 700K | 206 | 125,886,600 |
High Rollers Set to Shine as Jeju Becomes a Premier Destination for Poker Elites
As Jeju continues to solidify its reputation as a top destination for elite poker players, high roller events with buy-ins reaching tens of millions of Korean won are expected to draw some of the most prominent names in the game.
The crown jewel among them is the Superstar Challenge, featuring a staggering KR₩ 35,000,000 (≈ US$ 25,000) buy-in — making it the most expensive event of the APT Jeju 2025 festival.
Several high-profile players are expected to return to the felt, including:
Xixiang Luo, reigning APT Jeju Main Event Champion
Joseph Cheong
Weiran Pu
Marc Rivera
Jun Hao Wu
Jun Obara
Daisuke Ogita
📊 Reference: APT Jeju 2024 High Roller Statistics
| Event | Entries | KR₩ (prize pool) | 1st prize (KR₩) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superstar Challenge 30M | 36 | 1,012,680,000 | 374,700,000 |
| APT Super High Roller 13.5M | 67 | 831,872,000 | 229,452,000 |
| Baby Superstar 10M | 46 | 419,428,000 | 122,790,900 |
Get Ready for Your Jeju Journey
With APT Jeju 2025 just around the corner, now is the perfect time to book your flights! For accommodations, players can enjoy exclusive rates through APT’s official travel partner, DK Poker Tour Bookings.
APT has also released the complete APT Jeju 2025 Player Guide, covering all participation requirements and answering common player questions to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.
While the most exciting moments will undoubtedly happen at the tables, players are also advised to pack a raincoat or waterproof jacket, as light rain is expected during the festival period in Jeju.
Red Dragon Poker APP Officially Launched
The long-established tournament brand Red Dragon Cup has now released its own app — “Red Dragon Poker.”
The Red Dragon Cup is a well-known Asian poker brand with a strong reputation across the region. Originating in Macau, it quickly became one of the most influential poker events in Asia. Red Dragon Poker tournaments regularly attract players from all over the world, offering massive fields and impressive prize pools.
For those interested, we highly recommend downloading the “Red Dragon Poker” app to join more exciting tournaments.