Bryn Kenney Wins the King Poker Cup in South Korea
Kenney extends his winning record with the victory in the King’s Charity $100K Super High Roller, while Lonis highlights a prior deal.
Bryn Kenney, the leader in tournament poker earnings, added another triumph to his impeccable record by winning the King’s Charity $100K Super High Roller at the King Poker Cup in Jeju, South Korea. While the official earnings amount to $1,954,000, runner-up Jesse Lonis revealed that both players agreed beforehand to split the money, competing only for the trophy.
Tournament Details and Main Results
The tournament was contested by 71 players, each paying $100K, yielding a total prize pool of $6,674,000. The event took place at the LES A Casino in Jeju. The competition narrowed down to 11 payouts after three days of play. Ren Lin was the first to fall after the bubble burst, earning $200K. Other notables like Tom 'Durrrr' Dwan and David Miscikowski failed to place higher than sixth, taking home prizes of $350K and $280K respectively.
Main Results
- Bryn Kenney (USA), $1,954,000*
- Jesse Lonis (USA), $1,300,000*
- Elton Tsang (Hong Kong), $880,000
- Xuanyi Wang (China), $630,000
- Xing (China), $450,000
- Tom Dwan (USA), $350,000
*Before the deal.
Kenney and Lonis: Heavyweight Duel
Bryn Kenney, with over $89M in tournament earnings over 19 years, and Jesse Lonis, who has amassed over $30M since 2020, faced off in a final that satisfied both. After the deal, each walked away with around $1.6M, with Kenney claiming the title and trophy. Kenney remains at the top of the all-time earnings list, despite criticism surrounding some of his more notable records.
Comments and Context
Controversies surrounding these deals in poker can influence how statistics are perceived. While some question the validity of their records, Kenney shows no signs of slowing down. Jesse Lonis, on his part, continues to rise in the rankings, largely due to his numerous recent successes in high-stakes events at major venues.
Other Important Details: The presence of notable players like Tom Dwan enhances the prestige of the event. This appearance also marks a significant return for Dwan, despite not reaching the podium.
Looking Ahead
With Kenney's skill and willingness to sacrifice, his dominance seems set to continue. But Lonis will be close behind, ready to challenge the reign in future events. Poker experts will keep a close eye on how their careers develop in the high-stakes circuit.
Additional images courtesy of the King Poker Cup.
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About the author
Sofía Carrasco
Poker Correspondent
Sofía Carrasco covers live and online poker — tournament series from the WSOP and EPT to the daily room grind, promotions, and the industry moves behind them. The reports keep every score, pot, and player name exactly as the record shows, and follow the story past the final hand: who qualified, what the structure rewarded, and how the field is shifting. For player moves, software, and regulation across the poker economy, Sofía Carrasco is the first read.
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