Former pro gamer and broadcaster Hong Jin-ho finished as runner-up at an international poker tournament.
Hong Jin-ho placed second at the World Series of Poker Europe (WSOP Europe) held in Prague, Czech Republic, on the 7th (local time).
WSOP Europe is a globally recognized poker tournament held annually in Europe. That day Hong Jin-ho faced Portuguese player Pedro Faustino and lost narrowly in the final, finishing as runner-up.
Notably, the runner-up prize at this tournament was €147,440, reportedly about 200 million won.
When Hong Jin-ho reached the final table he began the match with a mid-range chip stack but maintained steady play and stayed near the top. In particular, when three players remained he eliminated an opponent to advance to the final.
In the final he fought a close match despite having fewer chips than his opponent. In the last showdown he seemed to gain the advantage, but in the late stages his opponent mounted a comeback and he finished as runner-up.
Regarding this, Hong Jin-ho wrote on his social media, "I got a great chance after a long time but sadly missed it. From when about 12 players were left my chips were very low, but I think I held up well. I wanted to become a two-bracelet holder and be unmatched in Korea. I'll try to get another good opportunity," he said.
Meanwhile, Hong Jin-ho gained great popularity in the 2000s playing the computer game StarCraft as the Zerg. He raised his profile by appearing on various broadcasts after his pro gamer career, and his transformation into a poker player drew attention as his reported career winnings totaled 3.1 billion won.
[Photo] SNS
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