From February 3 to February 11, players in Japan finally experienced their first-ever Asian Poker Tour festival in their home country. The Japanese have been long time supporters of the brand, participating in numbers at stops around the region. The inaugural APT Tokyo Japan 2019 took place at Casino Stadium with 9 events total that included the highlighted Main Event. Below is a roundup of the biggest winners.
Kannapong Thannaratrakul wins the Main Event
Despite a heavy Japanese attendance at the Main Event, it was Thailand’s Kannapong Thannaratrakul who ran away with the bragging rights championship title. Thannaratrakul overcame a field of 234 entries. Since the law does not allow for cash prizes, He was awarded a slew of prizes to the upcoming APT Philippines I 2019 in April. He won a Main Event ticket worth (JPY 120,000), a Championships Event seat worth JPY 240,000, a High Rollers seat worth JPY 240,000, plus airfare and hotel accommodations. Additionally, he claimed the first-ever APT Championship Ring awarded in Tokyo.
The event only paid out the top four players. Finishing 2nd was Japan’s Masakatsu Setoguchi. He was awarded an APT Philippines I 2019 Main Event ticket worth JPY 120,000, a Championships Event seat worth JPY 240,000, plus airfare and hotel accommodations.
Claiming the third prize was China’s Jiangbin for an APT Philippines I 2019 Main Event seat worth JPY 120,000 inclusive of airfare and hotel accommodations. Same prize was given to 4th placer Kohei Iwaki from Japan.
Jin Bo wins APT Player of the Series
Chinese player Jin Bo displayed prowess at the side events taking down two events both on the same day. This earned him a pile of points towards the APT Player of the Series race. He stayed ahead throughout out to to win the POS title along with USD 800 in APT tournament credits.
Jin Bo defeated a field of 46 players at the No Limit Hold’em 1 then later that evening he rose above the 33 runners of the No Limit Hold’em Turbo 1 event. He is the only player to have won two tickets to the APT Philippines 1 2019 Main Event worth JPY 120,000 each. He also received airfare and 4-night hotel accommodation.
Other event winners:
Go Mori : Kickoff Event
Junya Kubo : High Rollers
Akia Kawano : NLH Turbo 2
Yuki Hirata : Championships Event
Yuta Murakami : No Limit Hold’em 2
Narutoshi Otsuka : No Limit Hold’em 3
Next stop: APT Taiwan 2019
Now that the inaugural APT Tokyo Japan has concluded, the tour heads to Taipei for their next stop. APT Taiwan 2019 gets underway from February 20 to March 3 at Chinese Texas Hold’em Poker Association. The event boasts of a NT$ 10 Million guarantee. There are two featured tournaments, the Main Event and the Championships Event. 21 side events will run alongside.
Article by Tricia David
Louis Hartwell
Graduated in Media Communication at the University of Lausanne, Louis Hartman is a co-founder of somuchpoker.com. He began his career in Cambodia as freelance journalist. In same time he was making his living by playing poker every night at that time. Intense learner, he read dozens of poker strategy books to improve his skills during many years. With a strong interest about poker "behind the scene" in Asia and his communication skills, Louis launched Somuchpoker in 2014.
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