Asian Poker Tour Jeju 2026 Kicks Off with 135 Tournaments and Record Prizes

The Asian Poker Tour Jeju 2026 begins this Friday, September 25, at the LES A Casino, located in the Shinhwa World resort in Jeju, South Korea. The event features 135 tournaments on the calendar and is known for breaking attendance records and prize pools in the region. Among the main attractions is a $2,000 Main Event with $1.6 million guaranteed, a variety of formats, and accessible buy-ins for players of all profiles, as well as several routes to qualify for the prestigious end-of-season APT Championship.

The Rise of Jeju and the Role of LES A Casino

Jeju Island has gained prominence as an international poker destination in the past 15 years. Since the opening of the LES A Casino in 2018, the venue has witnessed cash games with $10M buy-ins and high-stakes tournaments of up to $200K. Figures like Bryn Kenney and Nick Schulman have faced off here, attracting global attention. The history of tournament poker in Jeju dates back even further: the first recorded circuit was organized by the Asian Poker Tour itself at the Royal Palace Casino in 2013, with only 166 participants in that year’s Main Event. By 2026, APT Jeju has already surpassed 1,700 entries in a single event, making it the largest live international tournament held in South Korea.

The ambiance at the LES A Casino stands out for its professionalism and luxurious environment, combining hospitality with efficient logistics for large events. Activities for APT Jeju 2026 will commence at 11:00 AM on Friday, September 25, and will be spread over two weeks.

A Diverse Schedule: From High Stakes to Mixed Formats

If you’re looking for variety, the APT Jeju schedule offers more than just traditional no-limit hold'em. Daily events cater to all tastes:

• Mixed games such as PLO, stud, 2-7 triple draw, open-face Chinese poker, Double Board Bomb Pots, single draw, and dealer's choice with 25 distinct variants.
• ROSET format, which combines razz, PLO8, stud, stud8, and 2-7 triple draw.
• Big bet tournaments and special mixes for fans of the unconventional.

Main tournaments include:

• $2,000 Main Event: guaranteed prize of $1.6 million.
• $11,000 Super High Roller: minimum of $365,000 in prizes.
• Daily high rollers, from hyper turbos to women's events and one-day tournaments.
• Affordable options: with $500, players get access to up to 9 different tournaments per day.

The combination of offerings ensures that both elite players and those seeking new experiences find tailored options. The APT is positioning itself as a leading venue for live poker both in and out of Asia.

The APT Community and the Appeal of Its Prizes

The atmosphere at APT events is usually vibrant and highly participative. The flow of players keeps the tables full and registration swift. Prizes often exceed what is promised, and the trophies, represented by stylized lions, are a source of admiration and coveted within the community. A recent example: Ren Lin was crowned champion in Jeju earlier this year with a memorable performance.

Additionally, the tournament offers direct qualifications for the APT Championship, one of the year's most anticipated events. This tournament, held in Taipei from November 13 to 29, will feature a freezeout Main Event with $5 million guaranteed and will distribute twelve seats among the winners of specific tournaments in Jeju:

• Top 3 of the APT Jeju Main Event
• High Roller
• APT High Roller
• High Roller — Ultra Stack
• APT Super High Roller
• Superstar Challenge
• Zodiac Classic — Sponsored by Natural8
• Mini Main Event

An additional two seats will be awarded via a random draw among players present on Days 3 and 4 of the Main Event. In 2025, champion Nishant Sharma earned over a million dollars as the inaugural winner.

Logistical Challenges and Record Expectations

The growth of APT Jeju imposes organizational challenges — from managing registrations to facilitating prize logistics — but the infrastructure of Shinhwa World and the expertise of the staff have solidified the event as a regional benchmark. Expectations are high for attendance and prize volume, especially following the evident growth in 2026.

For the global community, APT Jeju is shaping up to be a model of integrating new formats, large prize pools, and unique experiences, making it one of the most attractive live poker festivals worldwide. PokerOrg will be reporting from the venue throughout the series to follow the evolution of the event and the upcoming records.