Dragon Of The Year (15,000 NEW TAIWAN DOLLAR)

After 16 levels of play, the final Dragon of the Year Special Event qualifier wrapped up with Justin Chan bagging the lead across the Day 1B 28 survivor list. Chan quickly rose over the field by the last hour, beginning his run good with a full double up from opponent Zhong Zhi. Chan continued this momentum and went on to dust Seung Yi with a flopped straight against the latter's two pair. By day's end, Chan found the largest bag, stacking a massive 1,029,000 (102 BB) chip count well surpassing Day 1A chip leader Kai Hung Hu's 805,000 stack.

Date/s: July 22 to 24, 2024

Guarantee: NTD 2,000,000 (~USD 60,980)

Buy in: NTD 15,000 (~USD 450)

Entries: 453

ITM: 69 places

Day 1A: 179 entries / 27 ITM / 18 survivors

Day 1B: 274 entries / 42 ITM / 28 survivors

Day 2/ Final Day: Thursday, July 25

*Full recap and End of Day 1B chip counts to follow

Utg Justin Chan opened to 16,000, called by both players on the blinds - Kuo Long Chueh (SB) and Zhong Zhi (BB). On flop 5♠ K♥ 6♥ , Chan continued for 25,000, check called once more by both opponents. All three checked turn Q♥ through and moved on to river Q♦ . Zhong led for 72,000 and Kuo check called to showdown. Zhong shows A♠ 5♥ , no good against Kuo's K♠ 7♦ .

A threeway limp pot rolled flop 7♠ 8♦ 9♦ . Small blind Justin Chan led for 40,000, called behind by Yi Seung Yong. On turn Q♣ , Chan barreled another 100,000 and a final all-in on river T♣ . Yi called off for his tournament life with Q♦ T♠ , only to bust after Chan turned over J♠ T♦ for a flopped straight.

Utg opened, followed by a three bet to 40,000 from Zhong Zhi. Justin Chan cold calls, revealing flop A♠ 9♥ 8♦ . Zhong continues for 50,000 and shoves all-in on turn T♥ . Chan calls off for his 143,000 behind with A♦ Q♥ and is ahead of his opponent's A♥ J♥ . The river 2♣ seals the win for Chan, shooting him up past the 500k mark.