GOP Incheon Main Event Preview: Hunt the Gauntlet, Pocket the 50% Rake Reward

Since opening day of Gods of Poker Incheon 2026, the brand’s mighty Gauntlets have stood on display inside Paradise City Casino — impossible to ignore and impossible not to stare at. These are the ultimate prizes of the festival.

By series end, five players will have earned the right to wear one, however above them all sits the most coveted of the collection — the Black-and-Gold Gauntlet, reserved exclusively for the GOP Main Event champion.

Now, the time has come for the hunt to begin.

GOP Main Event - Schedule

The GOP Main Event gets underway carrying a KRW 700,000,000 (~USD 480,000) guarantee and a buy-in of KRW 2,200,000 (~USD 1,500).

Kunal Patni

Across six days, running from May 18 to 23, players will clash through five starting flights, in pursuit of the iconic trophy and a place in GOP history. Three champions have come before them: Tian Zhi Kong (GOP Jeju), Chih Wei Fan (GOP Taipei), and Kunal Patni (GOP Phnom Penh).

Who will be the next?

Deep Stack, Plenty of Play

Getting down to the details, every player begins with 120,000 in chips, which is equivalent to 120 big blinds at Level 1. Players that sign up at Level 2 have 60 big blinds to play with. For max-reg players, you start with 30 big blinds.

From there, only the top 13.5% of each flight advances into the money stage. All surviving players then return on May 22 for Day 2, where blinds increase every 60 minutes before the field plays down to either 18 players or the official final table, depending on total entries.

The champion will be crowned on May 23.

Choosing Your Flight

One of the most interesting aspects of the GOP Main Event is how differently each flight plays. Whether players want maximum value, balanced pacing, or pure turbo chaos, there is a flight tailored to every style.

Day 1A — Deepest Value

Day 1A is the marathon structure spanning two days.

Kicking off on May 18 at 12:30, Day 1A Level 1 lasts four full hours and Level 2 lasts five hours. That's 9 hours of registration! Even longer once breaks and the overnight gap are factored in. No other flight comes close to giving players this much time to find their way to the money.

Registration closes at the start of Level 3 on May 19 at 12:30. Once that happens, blinds increase every 60 minutes.

For experienced tournament players, this is easily the best-value flight on the schedule. The structure heavily rewards patience, post-flop skill, and deep-stack maneuvering.

Day 1A - Structure

The most recent GOP Main Event champion, Patni, shared his thoughts on this structure after his victory,

"... after my experience of playing the Main Event here for five days, I can vouch that the structures are insanely amazing - for all kinds of players, regs as well as recreation players. People who are yet to experience this series, should definitely come and play this series. I am sure you will love them."

And there is another incentive attached.

50% Rake Reward for Day 1A Only Closing Soon!

Players entering Day 1A can currently take advantage of a special 50% rake reward promotion.

To be eligible, players must:

• Create a GOP Player Account at godsofpoker.com/sign-up
• Submit proof of attendance before expiry
• Prepay their Day 1A seat on or before May 17, 2026

The reward applies only to a player’s first Day 1A entry.

For more information, click here.

Day 1B and Day 1C — Balanced Grinder Flight

Day 1B runs on May 19 at 14:00 and offers one of the most balanced structures of the series.

The first two levels run 120 minutes each, with registration closing at the start of Level 3 at 18:30. From there, blind levels become 35 minutes.

Day 1B - Structure

Day 1C runs on May 20 at 12:30 PM. Like Day 1B, its opening two levels last 120 minutes each before registration closes at 5:00 PM. Afterwards, levels shift to 40 minutes, slightly slower than Day 1B.

These two flights are ideal choices for players wanting solid playability without committing to the ultra-long Day 1A marathon. It also strikes a comfortable middle ground between deep structure and manageable tournament length.

Day 1C - Structure

Day 1D — Daytime Sprint

Day 1D on May 21 speeds things up considerably. The first two levels three hours only - 60 minutes and 120 minutes before registration closes at 15:45. Afterwards, levels climb every 30 minutes. This is where aggression starts becoming a premium weapon.

Day 1D - Structure

Day 1E — Evening Turbo

For players that want pure adrenaline, Day 1E is the answer.

Starting May 21 at 18:00, the final entry flight also features 60-minute level 1 registration and 120-minute level 2 registration before it closes at 21:15. After that, levels become just 20 minutes long.

This is the fastest flight on the schedule and perfectly suited for evening warriors, players with less time to spare, and those who thrive under pressure.

Day 1E - Structure

Satellites Running Daily

For players looking for a lower-cost path into the Main Event, you are in luck! There are three satellites scheduled running on May 17, 18, and 19.

Each satellite begins at 19:00 with a buy-in of KRW 506,000 (~USD 350), offering players a shot at winning a KRW 2,200,000 Main Event seat for a fraction of the price.

Follow the Action

Featured tables and Final Table coverage will be livestreamed throughout the festival on the Gods of Poker Facebook page and the Gods of Poker YouTube channel, with the following schedule already confirmed: