Tian Zhi Kong Wins Inaugural Gods Of Poker Main Event

The Gods Of Poker has crowned its first-ever Main Event champion, with China’s Tian Zhi Kong rising above the competition to hoist the magnificent Black-and-Gold Gauntlet and secure the top payout deal of KR₩ 187,290,000 (~USD 127,000).

Competing in his first-ever poker tournament outside of home turf, Kong shared with GOP host, Erica Tsang, his reasons for attending the event.

I saw this event and I found the structure very interesting. This is my first time competing abroad and there are many tournaments I haven't participated in yet. I thought this one was very interesting so I decided to come. 

Taking place at LES A Casino in Jeju, South Korea, Kong's GOP journey began at Flight A where he bagged a very healthy stack to take to Day 2. After all the flights completed, with 481 entries in total, 66 advanced each one locking up a piece of the KR₩ 1,000,000,000 prize pool.

• Buy-in: KR₩ 2,000,000 (~USD 1,360)
• Prize pool: KR₩ 1,000,000,000 (~USD 700,000)
• Entries: 481
• ITM: 67 players

Tian Zhi Kong at Day 2

Day 2 was challenging for Kong, barely gaining ground to drop to 7 big blinds. He received a boost when he three-bet pushed with Ace-rag and got lucky on caller Joshua Figuerres' with an ace on the river to survive against pocket Jacks. 

The day ended with 12 players remaining, Kong wedged in the middle of the pack with a decent 17 big blinds. 

Final Day Action

Returning on the final day, Kong stayed under the radar as short stacks fired away. Tao Wei Chang was eliminated on a shocking runner-runner, going from 77 percent win-rate to crashing out in 12th place. 

Unlike Joshua Figuerres who overcame two showdowns against Meng Ling Lin to avoid the rail, Dongying Lin couldn't get out of the danger zone to fall to Li Yin in 11th place. 

The final table was formed after Jiang Wang called to his doom with Lin's kicker giving him the boot in 10th place.

Gods Of Poker Main Event - Final Table

Still under the radar with a mid-stack, Kong watched the aggressive action continue leading to the fall of Figuerres in 9th place on a brutal defeat. It was all-in on the turn, with Figuerres' kicker ahead, the river paired Kazuki Okamoto's lower kicker.

Short stacks Jia Xin Wang (8th) and Czardy Rivera (7th) were eliminated next, then Peng Deng fell to Lin after losing a chunk to Okamoto on a bluff. 

The last Filipino hope, Elmer Kalaquian, fell in 5th place on a flip against Okamoto to bring the field to four players. 

Kong Rises

Lin led with a towering stack while on the opposite end was Kong with just ten big blinds. It was at this stage that Kong made his ascent, winning two showdowns in dramatic fashion. In turn, this sent Okamoto crashing out on a stunning cooler against Yin.

At three-handed, Kong went pound for pound against Lin in multiple hands to claim two more double ups, the second one earning him the chip lead with a flush on the flop over top pair. 

With Kong firmly ahead, an ICM deal was struck leaving aside a portion of the pot and the GOP Gauntlet for the champion. 

When action resumed, Yin brought down Kong's towers with pocket Aces earning him the maximum to catapult to the top. Yin ballooned further by knocking out Lin in 3rd place. 

[On a side note, Lin jumped to the top of the Player of the Series leaderboard.]

Heads Up

Li Yin versus Tian Zhi Kong

Just three hands into heads-up play, Kong closed the gap when his Ace-Queen held against Yin’s Ace-Four for a full double up. Minutes later, he struck again. 

Kong tank-called Yin’s semi-bluff to seize the chip lead. The hand left Yin with just three big blinds which Kong claimed on the very next hand to seal the coveted title.

For the full payouts, click here.

For the live reports, click here.