APT Incheon Main Event surpasses $1M guarantee, Philippines’ Mike Takayama and Thailand’s Punnat Punsri wrap up final flight

The prestigious APT is showing no signs of slowing down with another outstanding Main Event turnout for its fifth return to South Korea. Tournament tables across the Paradise City Casino were heavily packed as the thrilling KRW 1,300,000,000 (~US$ 1,000,000) guaranteed APT Incheon Main Event played down its final two flights yesterday. The biggest tour in APT history completed four qualifiers on schedule, racking up a collective 709 entries with each posting the KRW 2,300,000 (~US$ 1,725) entry fee towards the prize pool.

The generated pot from the four flights alone so far amounts to KRW 1,467,630,000 (~US$ 1,128,946) in prizes, enough to cover the ambitious million dollar guarantee. This record serves as the second largest tournament in brand history and the biggest APT event in the country. With registration remaining open until Day 2 action starts at noon today, chances are the stakes are about to get higher and the top prize looking as lucrative as ever.

Flight C and D Recap

A combined 331 players survived the initial ten levels of play with Flight A chip leader Yu Sheng Lin maintaining his position atop with a massive 246,500 chip count. Yesterday’s action saw the first of two 30 minute flights cap the day with 85 entrants advancing through out of the 156 entry field. China’s Zhanghui Yu led the pack with a healthy 184,100 bag, ranking 15th in the overall Day 2 counts. Among those joining Yu in the felt today are notables John Tech, Winfred Yu, APT Superstar Challenge champion Jun Hao Wu, and runner-up Kevin Choi.

With the evening games giving players the last chance to build a stack, the last flight on schedule drew in a total of 123 entries with a lesser 70 players qualifying through the next round. Action wrapped up with several poker superstars topping the ranks including WSOP bracelet winner Mike Takayama, APT Taipei Main Event champion Punnat Punsri, Japan’s Kazuhiko Yotsushika and Australia’s Aaron Lim. Philippines’ Takayama stands to be a solid crusher across the Asian tournament scene with a whopping 16 APT titles under his belt, in search for his third APT Main Event in this season’s games. The Filipino pro topped the Flight D counts with 205,000 in chips, putting him sixth in the overall pecking order.

Thailand’s Punnat Punsri followed closely behind with 201,300 after a crucial flip against Huidong Gu on the ninth level of the day propelled him to the top. Punsri claimed the richest APT Main Event in history earlier this May after besting the 1,434 Taiwan entry field for NT$ 11,210,400 (~US$ 364,300).

Day 2 action resumes on Level 11: 800 / 1,600 – ante 1,600 for 60 minute intervals and plays down to ITM. Day 3 returns at exactly 12:15 pm on September 1, Friday, playing to the final nine. Full payouts will be revealed once registration closes at the start of Day 2.

APT Incheon Main Event Day 2 Top Chip Counts

Main Event Day 2 seat draw can be accessed here.

APT Incheon Main Event Review

Date/s: August 28 – September 2, 2023
Buy in: KRW 2,300,000 (~USD 1,725)
Guarantee: KRW 1,300,000,000 (~USD 1,000,000)

Day 1 Results

Flight A: 223 entries / 80 advanced
Flight B: 207 entries / 96 advanced
Flight C: 156 entries / 85 advanced
Flight D: 123 entries / 70 advanced