The poker world is always in motion these days, with major poker events happening all over the world. Last week was a true demonstration of that, as major poker festivals were played in South Korea, Cyprus, Barcelona, and Florida, showcasing the global scale of the game and the massive interest across continents.
After Bryn Kenney marked the previous week with his historic win at the King Poker Cup in Jeju, it was time for Ren Lin to shine at the same venue this time, as he cashed in 7 of the 13 events and won the Player of the Series title.
The Onyx High Roller Series made a return to Cyprus and crowned a new Main Event champion, while the EPT Barcelona festival opened its doors with the first preliminary event.
Back in the States, 2015 WSOP champion Joe McKeehen won a key Main Event at the SHRPO, reminding the poker world of his status as an elite poker player, wrapping up a week filled with exciting poker news from all parts of the world.
King Poker Cup Wraps Up – Ren Lin Wins Player of the Series
The inaugural edition of the King Poker Cup in Jeju, South Korea, drew to a close, with 12 regular events and a $100k Charity High Roller coming together for an epic tournament series.
The Cup brought together a series of regional superstars and international high rollers, all of whom competed for millions in prize money and unique poker memorabilia.
The likes of Jesse Lonis, Punnat Punsri, and Ye Wang were all among the champions, while other notables like Tom Dwan, David Coleman, and Elton Tsang all recorded noteworthy performances.
For Bryn Kenney, this edition of the King Poker Cup will remain a memorable one for years to come, as his win in the $100k Charity High Roller was enough to push him across the $90,000,000 mark in all-time tournament winnings, making him the first player to ever achieve this feat.
Another player who will remember the series for good things is Ren Lin, who was able to make the money in 7 of the 13 total events. Lin min-cashed the $100k High Roller for $200k, won the $10k NLH/PLO Mix, came second in the $30k Final Coronation, and placed third in the $5k NLH Throne Clash.
His results across the series ensured that Ren Lin would be crowned Player of the Series, which earned him a $10k check on top of his tournament winnings, along with the prestige and clout that comes from a dominating performance at a major tournament festival like this.
Kenney’s historic victory and Lin’s Player of the Series performance were two of the most noteworthy details of the first King Poker Cup ever played in Jeju, as the series continues to gain momentum and become a major event that local and international players can look forward to on a regular basis.
👑🏆KING POKER CUP — AUGUST 2026 POS!
— King Poker Cup (@KingPokerCup) August 11, 2026
Huge congratulations to Tony Ren Lin 🇨🇳, crowned the King Poker Cup Player of the Series — August 2026!
Tony takes home the ultimate POS crown, an exclusive Gold Ring 💎 and a $10,000 USD wallet deposit! 💰🔥 pic.twitter.com/Oj063xuxSu
Onyx High Roller Series Crowns a New Main Event Champion
The Onyx High Roller Series returned to the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa last week as well, bringing together a number of notable high rollers, including the likes of Daniel Rezaei, Sergio Aido, Aleksej Ponakovs, Daniel Coleman, and Matthew Wantman, all of whom made the money in the prestigious $25,500 Main Event.
Yet, it was Dutch player Raoul Kanme who celebrated in the end, as he defeated Matthias Lipp at the end of an all-European final table battle to capture the $1,250,000 first-place prize and the trophy.
The Main Event drew in a significant crowd of 255 entries, given its buy-in and location, and once again justified the idea behind the Onyx High Roller Series, which was designed to fill the need for high-stakes poker tournaments in the Mediterranean area.
Kanme’s historic victory came down to a big three-barrel bluff he decided to pull during the heads-up battle, which turned the tide of the match and ensured the momentum would swing his way.
This bluff, combined with perfectly executed final table play, gave Kanme the biggest tournament win of his career, following a few close calls over the recent years.
Raoul Ricardo Kanme 🇳🇱 takes down the $25K Main Event and walks away with $1,250,000 after battling through one of the most stacked final tables in Onyx Live's history!
— Onyx Live (@_OnyxLive) August 14, 2026
A massive victory and the biggest score of his career!
Congratulations, Raoul! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/lh6S0MrJvb
Joe McKeehen Wins Big at the SHRPO
With the World Series of Poker (WSOP) now truly in the books, the Las Vegas regulars and tournament grinders from the rest of the world have moved on to other places. While many of the international players were busy grinding it out in Jeju and Cyprus, one American hero kept building up his impressive resume down in Florida.
Joe McKeehen, the 2015 WSOP Main Event champion, who was also involved in the “laptop-gate” incident with champion Jonathan Tamayo, reminded the poker world of what it was that made him top dog in 2015 by taking down the $5,300 SHRPO Championship for $462,600 and another notable tournament title.
McKeehen’s career reached its absolute pinnacle in 2015 when he won it all in the Main Event, but it’s been an impressive journey for him ever since, as he has kept on the consistent grind, showing that winning millions of dollars in a single tournament should not mean an end to a tournament player’s career.
Joe has continued to win on a consistent basis across a variety of tournament series, demonstrating a true champion’s mentality that’s now earned him a massive win at SHRPO and ensured that his name is not forgotten by the general poker audience.
European Poker Tour (EPT) Is Back in Barcelona
The most prestigious poker tour on European soil, the European Poker Tour (EPT), is back for its yearly Barcelona stop, which is traditionally the most frequented of all the EPT festivals.
The festival opened this week with the €1,650 PokerStars Open event, guaranteed to be an epic affair, and a prelude for the things to come over the next couple of weeks.
The crowning jewel of the EPT Barcelona festival will be the €5,300 EPT Main Event, which saw Thomas Eychenne win €1,217,175 last year, and will be guaranteed to create new six-figure winners this year as well.
Beyond the Main Event, EPT Barcelona will also create plenty of opportunities for the high rollers, with the €30,000 Super High Roller Warm-Up, €100,000 EPT Super High Roller, and €50,000 Super High Roller Second Chance just a few of the key events for the high-stakes crowd.
Stay tuned for more news from EPT Barcelona, as champions are crowned and records are broken throughout the rest of August.
