NEWS

NEWS

2026 Poker Dream 21 returns to Genting, Malaysia, with a guarantee of RM5 million for the main event

Regional news

  Poker Dream 21 returns to Genting Highlands, Malaysia in 2026, officially bringing the focus of the Asian poker world back to this iconic venue. Founded by Asian poker legend and Triton's key figure, Winfred Yu, this tournament will be held from April 9th to 20th, 2026, welcoming professional and amateur players from around the world with a nearly two-week intensive schedule. For many Asian players, Poker Dream is more than just a tournament brand; it's one of the most recognizable and high-quality tournaments in recent years. Now, its 21st stop returns to Genting Highlands, Malaysia, representing not only the brand's continued expansion but also making this high-altitude venue a main stage for major poker events once again. What are the highlights of the Poker Dream 21 Main Event? The most anticipated highlight of Poker Dream 21 is undoubtedly the Main Event with a guaranteed prize pool of RM5 million. With a buy-in fee of RM3,200, this Main Event not only has a relatively accessible entry point but also an extremely attractive prize pool, expected to attract a large number of players from across Asia. Furthermore, the Main Event doesn't have a single entry point; instead, it offers multiple starting routes, including regular, fast, and double-up groups, allowing players with different styles and pace preferences to find a more suitable way to enter. This arrangement also makes the overall schedule more flexible, further enhancing the participation and competitiveness of the Main Event. What other formats are there in Poker Dream 21 besides Texas Hold'em? While Texas Hold'em remains the main focus, Poker Dream 21 also demonstrates its emphasis on diverse competitive content. The schedule includes classic and skill-based games such as Seven Card Stud and Three-Card Lowball, expanding the overall skill depth beyond a single game. Seven Card Stud: Each player receives seven cards without using community cards and must choose the five strongest cards. This classic game tests memory, observation, and information processing abilities. For players skilled in reading hands and accumulating situational judgment, this is an excellent stage to showcase their fundamentals and experience. Three-Card Lowball, a lowball game with the reverse logic of "the lower the score, the higher the win," is known for its fast pace and direct judgment. For players looking to improve their mixed-game skills, this is a worthwhile technically demanding game. In addition, the tournament includes a mystery bounty tournament with a guaranteed RM400,000 and a Super High Roller tournament with an entry fee of RM20,000, further catering to players with different bankroll levels and competitive needs. What are the benefits of early bird pre-registration for Poker Dream 21? 1. Hotel Accommodation Discounts: Pre-registered players can enjoy accommodation discounts of up to 25% at selected Genting Malaysia hotels, effectively reducing overall tournament costs for players who need to stay for extended periods. 2.

From the Oscars to the Poker Table: Arden Cho Finds Joy and Thrills in Texas Hold'em

German anecdotes

  From the Oscars to the poker table, Aden Zhao maintains her enjoyment and excitement in Texas Hold'em, which is her most distinctive personal characteristic in recent years. This actress and poker player once again took international entertainment center stage for voicing Rumi, the protagonist of the Netflix animated film "K-Pop Demon Hunters"; on the other hand, she continues to be active in the Texas Hold'em poker arena, naturally blending the worlds of acting and the poker table. "K-Pop Demon Hunters" recently won two Oscars, Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song, bringing Aden Zhao's name back into the spotlight. For poker players, she is not just a celebrity associated with the poker table, but a true long-term player involved in cash games, live broadcasts, and official tournaments. How has Aden Zhao fared in the poker world? Aden Zhao has consistently participated in Texas Hold'em activities in recent years, appearing on high-profile programs such as Hustler Casino Live and The Big Game on Tour, accumulating $436,828 in live tournament winnings. She doesn't just treat poker as a hobby, but has long been committed to learning and practicing, gradually building her poker table experience. In the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) $10,000 Super Turbo Bounty event, she finished 20th and won $34,896. Going back further, she also finished as runner-up in the PokerGO Tour Million Dollar Free Roll, behind Daniel Smiljkovic, and won a career-high $200,000. How does Arden Zhao view the balance between poker and acting? 1. She approaches poker with the same seriousness as acting. Arden Zhao mentioned that she prepares extensively before acting, and if you want to continue improving in poker tournaments, you should approach the games and learning with the same seriousness. 2. She doesn't want to lose the fun and excitement of poker. Even while continuing to compete, she emphasizes that she wants to retain the original fun and excitement of poker. For her, this combination of playfulness and competitiveness is the reason for her long-term commitment. 3. She is establishing a unique crossover image. From Oscar-winning films to formal poker tournaments, Aden Zhao is gradually building her own crossover positioning, making her a figure that both the entertainment and poker circles are willing to pay attention to. Why is Aden Zhao worthy of attention in the poker world? Aden Zhao is special not only because she is a celebrity, but because she has consistently achieved results at the poker table. While many crossover celebrities only occasionally participate in recreational activities, she has gradually made poker a long-term commitment. This makes her presence in the poker world not just a halo, but gradually transform into actual recognition. From this perspective, she represents another kind of poker figure: not necessarily a full-time professional player, but able to integrate poker into her original life stage and continuously maintain fun and excitement in the process.

2026 SCOOP the gods gather! Simon Mattsson and Mikita Badziakouski lead the Mysterious Bounty Competition

International news

  The 2026 SCOOP is a gathering of titans, with the opening night kicking off the high-stakes tournaments with a bang. Especially in the high-stakes events, the presence of top pros like Simon Mattsson and Mikita Badziakouski made the entire event incredibly competitive from the very first night. For those following the high-stakes and mystery bounty events, this night was practically a condensed version of the 2026 SCOOP's technical spectacle. From the final table clashes of multi-time champions to the appearance of top pros who dominate both online and in-person, the lineup wasn't just exciting; it was a battle of titans. How is Simon Mattsson faring in the mystery bounty? The final table for Event 03-H: the $1,050 mystery bounty was arguably one of the most formidable combinations of the opening night. Simon Mattsson, currently ranked second, is a legendary player with 14 SCOOP titles, aiming for his 15th career championship. Even more daunting is that this final table isn't just occupied by one top player. The table also features Niklas Astedt with 11 titles and Patrick Leonard with 10, bringing the total number of SCOOP titles to a staggering 52. From experience and skill to sheer pressure, this is arguably one of the toughest final tables of 2026 so far. How did Mikita Badziakouski perform in the 7-Max High Stakes event? In Event 06-H: $1,050 7-Max, Mikita Badziakouski currently leads the pack in chips. This Belarusian high-stakes veteran has accumulated a substantial amount of winnings in live super-high stakes events and is now demonstrating similar dominance online. For many players, Mikita Badziakouski's most formidable quality isn't just his results, but his ability to maintain a high output across different formats and paces. This is why the pressure on the entire table intensifies when he leads in a SCOOP high-stakes event. What other key results are there from the 2026 SCOOP Opening Night? Event Results & Prize Money Event 02-L Rabeinho wins $6,969 Event 02-M mathiace wins $21,334 Event 07-H konsti1710 wins the mystery bounty tournament – SCOOP 02-H: $530 No-Limit Texas Hold'em Opening Event Top 10 Chip Rank Player Country Potato Chips 1 Neymar Brazil 2,244,918 2 Andrei "Andrzej" Novak Ukraine 2,044,012 3 Pavel "silentm0de" Pressu