Jin Hoon Lee Wins First Event of Inaugural WSOP Paradise

Jin Hoon Lee, starting the day with the eighth-biggest stack, navigated through a day filled with ups and downs. Despite his initial position, Lee showcased a focused and disciplined game, strategically picking his spots and never giving anything away. The final table, featuring notable names like Mikita Badziakouski, Sam Greenwood, and David Peters, proved to be a challenging battleground.

The intensity heightened when a massive three-way confrontation led to a double elimination, sending Rafael Robles and bracelet winner Konstantinos Nanos to the rail on the final table bubble. Hyunsup Kim was the first to fall at the final table, experiencing the wrong end of a flip situation and bowing out in ninth place.

Accomplished pro Davidi Kitai followed, losing a crucial flip to finish in eighth place. The roller coaster of hands continued as Kartik Ved succumbed in a volatile hand that witnessed lead changes on every street of the runout. Thomas Santerne's exit followed, finding himself on the wrong end of a flip situation.

Drew Scott also experienced a difficult runout, eventually falling victim to a hand that saw him lead until the final card. Konstantin Maslak bowed out in fourth place after going all in with a dominated ace and failing to improve. At this juncture, Maria Ho had outlasted all but one player and entered three-handed play with a significant chip lead.

However, Maria Ho's journey was soon cut short after losing a massive flip, placing her in a short stack for the first time since the start of Day 2. Eventually, she exited in third place, unable to improve her short stack. As heads-up play began, Jin Hoon Lee held a 3:1 chip lead over Max Pinnola.

The battle between Lee and Pinnola unfolded over a series of hands, with Pinnola initially flipping the chip counts to a 3:1 lead in his favor. Yet, Lee, displaying resilience, quickly stormed back after doubling with kings and aces in short order. In the final hand, Lee found himself in a dominating position, securing his first WSOP bracelet with a runout that held up through five cards.

Jin Hoon Lee's victory, worth $420,000, marked the culmination of an action-packed final table that featured twists and turns. Surrounded by friends to witness the moment, Lee screams of victory could be heard from across the room

In the aftermath of his win, Lee expressed hope that his victory would inspire fellow Korean players to participate in the WSOP and strive for more bracelets. The international love for the WSOP and the game of poker, coupled with Lee's triumph, promised to contribute to the growth of the game in his home country.

Final Table Results: