GOP Jeju Day 2 Delivers First Gauntlet Champion

The Gods Of Poker wrapped up its second day at LES A Casino, in Jeju Island, South Korea, as the inaugural Eden Awakens festival crowned another slate of champions. With 80 tournaments on the schedule and KR₩ 2 Billion (~USD 1.4 Million) in guarantees running from December 5 through December 14, 2025, Day 2 delivered its share of excitement including the first gauntlet winner of the series. Here are the latest highlights. 

Day 2 Highlights

Michael Nam First To Wield The Gauntlet At Demigods Challenge

Seunghyun Michael Nam

USA’s Seunghyun Michael Nam claimed one of the marquee honors of Eden Awakens after conquering the Demigods Challenge to lift the Black Gauntlet of the series. As one of the most stunning trophies on display, Nam engaged in a heated heads-up battle with Filipino pro Lester Edoc, trading blows until Nam sealed the victory and the coveted KR₩ 71,416,000 (~USD 48,600) top prize.

Event Recap

The Demigods Challenge stood as the most expensive event in the lineup, costing players KR₩ 15,500,000 (~USD 10,500) to enter. An elite field of eight contenders entered for a total prize pool of KR₩ 114,266,000 (∼USD 77,750). Two-time side event champion Vamerdino Magsakay was among them, looking to add the Gauntlet to his GOP collection but fell short of the money. Magsakay exited on the bubble to pave the way for the final showdown.

Heads-up: Lester Edoc and Seunghyun Michael Nam

Heads-up play began with Nam ahead but momentum quickly shifted when Edoc scored a double up with J ♠️ 9 ♥️ over Nam’s J ♦️ 6 ♣️. Edoc check-raised all-in on a 4 ♠️ 7 ♣️ J ♥️ 5 ♠️ board and his kicker held through the 10 ♥️ river to seize the lead. 

Nam recovered some chips after a winning showdown with ace-ten dominating jack-ten then took a dip in an interesting hand where Edoc regretted not firing a third barrel on a board 4 ♦️ 10 ♠️ 2 ♠️ 9 ♠️ 9 ♥️ with 10 ♣️ 3 ♠️. Instead he checked back, only to see Nam’s K ♠️ 4 ♣️, then commented, 

“I missed value, it was the perfect river for me! You have second nuts and I didn’t bet.” 

Momentum turned fully when Nam open-shoved with ace-five and was snap-called by ace-three, a hasty decision Edoc also regretted. The board dropped a five to deny a split while giving Nam back the advantage. 

The final hand struck down with Edoc all-in holding 2 ♣️ 2 ♠️. Nam tank-called with K ♥️ 4 ♣️. The runout 6 ♣️ 5 ♥️ 8 ♦️ K ♣️ A ♥️ burned Edoc’s pair on the turn to crown Nam as the first GOP Gauntlet champion. 

Quang Anh Phan Wins Silver Spartan At The Opener

Quang Anh Phan

Vietnam’s Quang Anh Phan became the first multi-day event winner of the series taking down Event #1: GOP The Opener to capture the Spartan Trophy and the KR₩ 24,040,000 (~USD 16,360) champion’s payout.

“I have played in Jeju several times before but getting a trophy is a new experience for me, so it feels quite great.” 

Final Table Recap

GOP The Opener - Final Table

The two-day opener attracted 167 runners with only 24 players advancing to today’s money round. In just three quick hours, the field was carved down to the final nine, with Phan at the helm. His lead was quickly tested when Maria Argao struck the opening blow, eliminating Cheng Li in 9th place. 

As blinds escalated, Bai Yun Peng seized the top spot only for fate to turn against him when his pocket kings were cracked by Hongbo Pan’s pocket tens. The torch then passed to Yang Yi after he eliminated Wing Yin Lee in 8th place. 

Joining the action, Brian Green went on a heater winning back-to-back showdowns. He first brought the gavel down on Shao Shuai Li in 7th place with 10 ♦️ 9 ♦️ over A ♠️ K ♦️ on a board of A ♥️ 5 ♥️ 10 ♣️ 9 ♠️ 10 ♠️ then survived Yi’s pocket tens by spiking a king with his suited king-jack.

Phan soared back into the lead by dusting Pan in 6th place while Peng cut the gap by eliminating Yi in 5th place. Argao joined the fore after ending Green's run in 4th place but it was short-lived as destiny swung once more. 

Argao's A ♣️ 3 ♥️ push was overpowered by Phan’s A ♥️ J ♣️ leading to her eventual downfall in 3rd place. 

Heads-up began with Peng eager to seize victory in a single strike. He three-bet shoved with  6 ♣️ 9 ♥️ bluff only to be met by Phan’s J ♦️ J ♥️ which improved to quads.

The final hand came immediately after with Phan’s 9 ♥️ 5 ♣️ outdrawing Peng’s 10 ♠️ 5 ♦️ on a board of 9 ♣️ 6 ♦️ 5 ♥️ 6 ♣️ 3 ♥️. 

After the win, Phan shared his thoughts on the Cronus Structure,

“Everything is down to hands rather than time. It seems to be in a rush. I have to recalculate every kind of strategy that I want to do. I have to make sure that my opponent could be readable in a way. I have to adjust my strategy.”

For the full payouts, click here. 

Jeorge Lagatuz Dominates Pandora’s Mystery Bounty Flights

Jeorge Lagatuz

The next phased event in Eden Awakens was Event #9: Pandora's Mystery Bounty KR₩ 150M GTD. A total of 189 took the felt across four entry flights and after it all completed, only 27 survived into the ITM round. 

Buy-in: KR₩ 800,000
Entries: 189
Prize pool: KR₩ 150,000,000 (~USD 102,000)
ITM: 27 players

Armored with an overwhelming stack of 1,490,000 was Flight C leader Jeorge Lagatuz from the Philippines. Lagatuz already boasted a massive lead when he knocked out Jia Qi He on the bubble. 

Danil Karpov

In second rank was Thailand's Danil Karpov with 960,000. Like Lagatuz, Karpov was sitting on a mountain of chips when he delivered the bubble to end Flight B. 

The final 27 players return on Sunday, December 7 where the next Silver Spartan Trophy and a champion's payout of KR₩ 24,180,000 (~USD 16,450) are up for grabs. Of course, the players will also be on the hunt for the biggest mystery bounty. 

For the full list of survivors and seat draw, click here. 

For the payouts, click here.

Yuri Ishida Wins Aphrodite’s Event

Yuri Ishida

Japan's Yuri Ishida became the first owner of the Aphrodite's Event Mirror Trophy after defeating Ferlyn Cabaling at heads-up. Along with the GOP hardware, Ishida earned the lone payout of KR₩ 2,073,600 (~USD 1,410). 

Arjun Agrawal Outshines At PLO

Arjun Agrawal

Shield trophies were also awarded at Day 2 of Eden Awakens. The first to earn one was India's Arjun Agrawal at Event #10 PL Omaha event. With 21 runners building a prize pool of KR₩ 15,422,400 only the top three profited. 

In the end, Agrawal denied Taiwan's Patrick Liang in 2nd place and GOP Mixed Game Advisor Hanh Tran in 3rd place to lift the trophy and the KR₩ 7,712,400  top prize.

Alfie Adam Wins A Shield At PLO Turbo

Alfie Adam

UK's Alfie Adam earned his GOP Shield after rising to victory at Event #13: PLO Turbo. The event drew 20 entries for a prize pool of KR₩ 5,544,000. Adam defeated Daniil Shalaev to secure the largest cut worth KR₩ 3,824,000. 

First Title For Kyota Henzan At Hyper Turbo High Roller

Kyota Henzan

The final Shield trophy of the day awaited its champion in Event #16: Hyper Turbo – High Roller, where twelve contenders entered in full battlegear, forging a prize pool of KR₩ 12,441,600. 

In the end, it was Kyota Henzan who prevailed, backed by a rail of friends to secure his career first title, the shield, and a payout of  KR₩ 7,771,600. 

For the complete Eden Awakens Day 2 results, click here.

GOP Player of The Series

GOP Player of the Series Crown

With the first two days now in the books, the GOP Player of the Series race is officially underway. To be in  contention for the lone GOP Crown Trophy, players need to accrue the most number of points throughout the series to be hailed as the ultimate festival warrior. Along with the trophy, the POS winner will receive USD 1,500 in GOP Tournament Credits.

For second place, USD 1,000 in tournament credits will be awarded and for third place, $500 in tournament credits. 

For all of the GOP Player of the Series information, click here.

Fast Track To Eden Awakens

To enter the gates of Eden Awakens without having to wait in line, players are encouraged to complete the Les A Casino membership pre-registration in advance. Simply scan the QR code below to register before arrival and enjoy faster entry once you reach Jeju.

Links:

Eden Awakens - Complete Player Guide
Eden Awakens - Schedule
GOP Eden Awakens - Photo Gallery