WDHL Seoul Championship Season 1 | Main Event Day 1A: 172 players, Mini Main Event Day 1: 496 players

On August 14, 2026, the first season of the WDHL 2026 Championship Season officially kicked off at the Seoul Main Arena in South Korea. The founders from both China and South Korea took to the final table to complete the opening ceremony, and the 7-day series began immediately. The fixed prize pool for this season is 2 billion Korean won, and the first day of competition features multiple events including the Main Event, the Mini Main Event, and Dream Turbo.

At noon, the Main Event Day 1A officially began. The 1,300-square-meter main arena featured 120 WDHL custom tables, and players from different regions entered the arena one after another. The first day of the Main Event ultimately recorded 172 participants.

The main event Day 1A saw 172 players, officially kicking off the series.

As the core event of the first season of the championship, the Main Event Day 1A will be the first major event to kick off on August 14.

A total of 172 players participated in this group, setting the stage for the main event competition over the next few days. Although the original article has not yet released the list of players who qualified for Day 1A, the scoreboard rankings, or the final number of entries, the scale of the first day has already established a basic level of excitement for the entire series.

Key entry data for Day 1 of WDHL

The mini-main event opened with 496 participants, just 54 shy of the 550-player cap.

One of the most popular events on the first day was the mini-main event, Day 1A.

The event has a total limit of 550 participants, and the first starting group alone recorded 496 participants, leaving only 54 spots to reach the limit, making it one of the most prominent participation statistics on the opening day.

While the main event was still in its first starting phase, the mini main event was close to its capacity on the first day, reflecting the large number of participants who quickly joined the tables after the series began.

Dream Turbo: 314 players battled until 5:20 AM

Another highlight event that continued into the night was Dream Turbo, with 314 participants.

The tournament went on until 5:20 a.m. the following day before a winner was decided. The original report states that the champion was ultimately determined by a hand of "66". Since the original report did not disclose the champion's name or the complete details of the final hand, this article will not provide further details about the unconfirmed hand.

From the start of the main event at noon to the Turbo event continuing until dawn, the first day of the WDHL featured almost a full-day competitive rhythm.

A 1,300-square-meter arena features 120 custom-made tournament tables.

In addition to the participant data, the scale of the Seoul venue is also a major focus of this event.

The WDHL Seoul Main Arena covers approximately 1,300 pyeong (about 4,500 square meters) and is divided into six competition zones, A through F, with a total of 120 WDHL custom-designed tournament tables. From the table body, tablecloth, cup holders to the logo on the table, everything features a series-exclusive design.

The venue also features an information desk, a separate final table, a smoking area, on-site restrooms, a W Shop, and a WDHL café, with separate zones for competition, rest, and supplies. Officials also specifically remind attendees that only the on-site restrooms and smoking area are open; other needs must be met at the external facilities.

Operations by GHS, supported by KT Group, with an annual scale of 7 billion Korean won.

This year's WDHL is operated by GHS (Global Holdem Star) and sponsored by KT Group.

According to the event plan, WDHL 2026 will host three season championships and multiple weekly tournaments throughout the year, with a total prize pool of 7 billion Korean won. The first season of the Seoul championship season has a fixed prize pool of 2 billion Korean won, and other tournaments will be arranged in subsequent seasons.

The High Roller event will take over on August 15th, with the Mini Main Event continuing on Day 1B.

Following the first day, the first season of the WDHL Championship continues with a number of events on August 15.

The day's schedule includes the Freezeout marathon, High Roller Day 1A, Mini Main Event Day 1B, and satellite events related to the Main Event and High Roller, with multiple events running simultaneously.

For the series, the biggest signal on opening day came from the scale of the participants: the Main Event Day 1A saw 172 players, the Mini Main Event Group 1 had 496 players, and Dream Turbo had 314 players. With the High Roller event and subsequent Main Event stages taking place, the Seoul Season 1, with its fixed prize pool of 2 billion won, will officially enter a busy season.

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