APL MAIN EVENT (26,000 TWD)

Following a swift five-hour battle on the felt, Day 3 of the APL Taipei Main Event has come to a close with this season's Final Table officially cast. From a staggering 1,178 entries, the field has been trimmed down to just nine players remaining, each already guaranteed NT$ 374,900 (~US$ 12,680) in winnings as they make their way back tomorrow for the final battle.

Leading the charge is South Korea’s Ha Seong Min, who entered as the day chip leader and reclaimed the top spot late in the session after a string of well-timed plays and crucial knockouts. Ha finished with a commanding 11,765,000 (98 BB) in chips, double of second in rank Yau Xin Chu. South Korean runners have been on fire all tournament, carrying that momentum straight into the final table, with more than half the seats now filled by the contingent.

The road to the title and the NT$ 4,748,692 (~US$160,800) top prize resumes tomorrow at noon, where one player will rise above the rest to become the newest APL champion. Stay tuned as SMP brings you all the latest news straight from the tournament floor!

APL Taipei Main Event

Date/s: June 11-16, 2025

Buy-in: NT$ 26,000 (~US$ 865)

Guarantee: NT$ 21,000,000 (~US$ 700,800)

Entries: 1,178

Prize pool: NT$ 26,462,592 (~US$ 895,830)

ITM: 177 places

Day 1A: 132 entries, 20 qualified

Day 1B: 78 entries, 12 qualified

Day 1C: 223 entries, 33 qualified

Day 1D: 131 entries, 20 qualified

Day 1E: 409 entries, 61 qualified

Day 1F: 205 entries, 31 qualified

Final Table Chip Counts

In what turned out to be the final hand of the day, Chu Yong Chun moved all-in for 1,040,000 from the small blind against a cutoff open by Gwanghee Park. Park made the call, putting Chu at risk and setting up a final showdown.

Serving as the underdog, Park caught up quickly on board Q♣ 5♠ 9♦ 8♦ 7♥ , eliminating Chu one spot shy of the final table and closing out the Day 3 games.

A preflop game at this point, another showdown was seen on Table 2 after Ha Seong Min open raised all-in folded to him in the small blind. Calvin Lau took the spot for his entire 2,700,000, and was up for a crucial 46 BB race.

Ha was trailing going in, but the flop came 2♥ 3♣ T♣ , pairing him up and flipping the script. The runout completed 6♠ 8♠ , with Ha's bottom pair holding up for the win, shooting him up the ranks while Lau headed for the door in heartbreak.

Another preflop race landed on Table 3 with Seok Young Lee's button shove putting him at risk for his last 695,000 against Seunghyuk Jung in the big blind.

The flop K♠ 6♠ 8♥ quickly ran in favor of Jung, further improving him to a full house on runout K♦ 3♥ to deliver the knockout.

Action folded down to the blinds, where Yi Liao pulled the trigger for his last 1,035,000. Ha Seong Min in the big blind, quickly hopped in on the action, putting another at risk.

No surprises arrived on board 4♥ 3♣ T♣ 8♣ T♦ , leaving Liao's dominated ace bound for the muck, while Ha further extended his lead over the final two tables.

Junya Yamaguchi open jammed 1,385,000 in early position, and was looked up by Pak Leong Mak right on the big blind.

Yamaguchi dominated, bowed out shortly after missing to improve on board 9♣ 9♥ 3♠ 9♦ J♣ .

With action folded around to the blinds, Seunghyuk Jung shot out an open to 335,000, only to face a raise to 1,075,000 from Wu Chiayun in the big blind. Jung responded with a shove, putting Wu to the test for his remaining 1,025,000. After some thought, Wu committed his stack, setting up a crucial showdown.

The board ran out 9♥ 9♦ 7♠ 2♥ T♠ , leaving Wu ahead to secure the double up and keep his final table hopes alive.

Chip leader Chung Lee opened 250,000 in early position, and called Ha Seong Min's 625,000 three bet in the small blind.

On board 6♦ 6♣ 5♦ 7♣ 2♠ , Ha triple barreled - 250,000, 550,000, and a final 1,550,000. Lee check called the first two streets, but failed to get to showdown after Ha demanded for more.

Ha shipped the pot with his aggression, reclaiming the lead with 14 left in the running.

A♠ the curtain slowly begins to fall on Day 3 of the APL Taipei Main Event, just 14 players remain in contention for a seat at the final table. That means, only five eliminations are left on the table before the day wraps up. South Korea's Chung Lee currently leads the charge, with Taiwan's Yau Xin Chu right on his tail.

Hyundong Lee kicked off the action with a 200,000 open on the hijack, and was quickly followed with a 550,000 three bet from Seunghyuk Jung a seat after. Lee responded with another raise to 1,150,000, and picked up the pot uncontested.

With freshly acquired chips, Tsai Chia Ta moved all-in for 410,000 in the big blind against Wu Chiayun's early open, and found himself at risk once more.

This time, the runout didn’t go his way as Wu quickly bagged the advantage on board A♣ J♠ A♥ 6♥ 8♦ , knocking Tsai out in the process.

Pak Leong Mak opened 200,000 utg, Tsai Chia Ta called off his last 120,000 on the button, and Wu Chiayun completed his big blind.

No side pot was built around board A♥ 5♣ 2♣ 5♥ 7♦ as both Pak and Wu checked to showdown, where Tsai tabled a full house to score the triple up.

Action folded around to the button, where Donghyun Lim moved all in for his entire 1,380,000. Calvin Lau, sitting in the big blind, snap-called, sending immediate tension across the table.

Lim in rough shape, bid his Main Event dreams goodbye as board 6♣ 9♠ J♣ 4♣ A♠ sealed the win for Lau's ladies.

Chong Un Kim running on fumes, decided to take the leap, and shoved 575,000 utg. Yau Xin Chu called down the line, putting Kim at risk for his tournament life.

Kim in trouble, bound for the exit after being unable to get past Chu's pocket pair on board 8♦ 4♠ 8♥ 9♣ A♥ .

Running thin, Suya Lee utg, went with 8♦ 8♥ for his last 485,000, and was followed by another shove from Junya Yamaguchi with A♥ 7♥ a seat after. All else got out of the way, leaving the two to showdown.

The flop 3♦ 4♣ 4♥ kept Lee's pocket pair ahead, but was ultimately crushed as the runout A♦ T♥ paired up Yamaguchi's ace to bag the win.

Donghyun Lim opened 200,000 utg, and Chu Yong Chun completed on the big blind.

On flop A♥ A♣ T♦ , Chu check called a 225,000 cbet, revealing turn J♥ . Both checked to river K♥ , where Chu led all-in for 915,000. Lim took a minute, and made the call with trip aces A♦ 8♣ , only to find it at a loss against Chu's backdoor flush Q♥ 9♥ .

Action folded down to the blinds, where Yau Xin Chu open raised all-in. Guan Lun Chen right behind, risked his last 550,000, only to find himself in rough shape for his tournament life.

Board K♦ 9♠ 8♣ 7♠ 7♣ kept Chu ahead all the way, sending Chen out quickly in 19th place.

Chu Yong Chun pushed his last 660,000 folded to him on the cutoff, and Gwanghee Park called in the big blind.

Chu a favorite to win, cruised to victory on board 6♠ 6♥ 8♣ 5♣ 8♠ , earning him more room to maneuver through the day.

Suya Lee opened 160,000 in early position, and Seunghyuk Jung completed his big blind,

On flop K♥ 4♥ 7♠ , Jung check called a 100,000 cbet, and headed to turn K♣ . Both checked to river 8♠ , where Jung led for 150,000. Lee raised all-in, putting maximum pressure on his opponent.

Jung however, wasn't going anywhere as he called off his remaining 535,000 with 9♦ 9♣ . Lee's bluff A♦ J♣ was exposed, sending him plummeting down to nine big blinds.

Peng Sen Wu defended his big blind against Wu Chiayun's button open, and went ahead and led all-in on flop K♦ 7♦ Q♥ . Chiayun called down for his last 810,000 with two pair K♥ 7♥ , and found himself at risk against Peng's flush draw T♦ 8♦ .

Runout 4♣ 7♠ further improved Chiayun to a full house, earning him a clean double while Peng slipped down to less than a big blind.

Action was picked up on the turn Q♣ 5♥ 5♦ J♣ with a juicy 400,000 already stacked in the middle. Gwanghee Park on the big blind, checked his option, and called a pot sized bet from Donghyun Lim to river Q♦ .

Lim went for a final 825,000, yet quickly mucked after Park paid the price, shipping his opponent the pot with no showdown.

Changrok Han ripped 780,000 utg, and was followed with another shove from Chung Lee on the button. All else folded, leaving the two to showdown.

Han dominated, succumbed to his fate, having found no help on board A♣ 9♥ 5♣ T♠ 9♦ .

Tsai Chia Ta flicked in his last 380,000 utg, and was looked up by Chung Lee right on the big blind.

At risk, Tsai dodged one, having landed top pair on board 3♠ 4♦ K♥ 5♦ 3♥ to survive through.

Hao Chao opened 160,000 in early position, joined by two callers behind - Chu Yong Chun on the hijack and Wu Chiayun on the button.

All three checked flop A♥ K♣ Q♦ through to turn A♦ . Both Chao and Chu tapped the table once more, prompting Wu to bet 200,000. Chao made the call, while Chu stepped aside.

Chao checked river 2♦ to Wu, who took it to showdown, revealing Chao's trip aces A♠ 5♠ for the win.

With action folded to the blinds, Changrok Han shot out a raise to 175,000, and Yau Xin Chu to his left, made the call.

Action checked to turn 6♦ 9♦ 9♠ 3♠ , where Han gunned for another 160,000. Chu called and faced a final 425,000 from the aggressor on river 6♥ .

After some deliberation, Chu found the call with ace-high A♥ 2♣ , just enough to bag the win against Han's bluff K♥ J♦ .

Seok Young Lee opened 200,000 utg, and Jaejoong Kim completed on the big blind.

Lee continued for 400,000 on flop 7♦ J♠ 5♦ , and followed with an all-in on turn 6♣ . Kim called him down both streets, risking his last 370,000 for a combo draw.

Lee Q♠ Q♣

Kim Q♦ 4♦

River 9♥ bricked out for Kim, cutting his Main Event run short in 22nd.

Pak Leong Mak opened 120,000 in early position, and was followed by an all-in for 755,000 from Sumit Sapra on the button. Gwanghee Park cold called on the big blind, and Pak joined in, keeping it three way.

On flop Q♠ 2♣ 5♣ , Park led all-in, pushing Pak out of the pot, not until burning through two time banks.

Sapra K♥ T♥

Park Q♣ J♣

Sapra behind against Park's top pair, missed to improve on runout 9♥ A♦ , knocking him out of this season's Main Event entirely.

Hyundong Lee opened 130,000 utg and stepped up to the plate following an 855,000 all-in from Junya Yamaguchi in the big blind.

Yamaguchi ahead, was glad to see his pocket pair hold firm on board 3♣ Q♣ 9♥ 4♣ 8♦ , keeping him on his seat.

Gwanghee Park opened 130,000 on the hijack, and called a 450,000 three bet from Peng Sen Wu a seat after.

On flop Q♠ 5♣ 5♦ , Park faced a 225,000 cbet, and responded with an all-in. Peng snap folded, allowing Park to reveal his monster hand A♥ A♠ as he raked in the pot.

Sumit Sapra opened 125,000 on the hijack, and used up one time bank before throwing in the call against Wu Chiayun's 845,000 shove behind.

A 50-50 spot, Wu was spared from elimination, having spiked a wheel straight on board 4♠ 3♦ 5♥ 2♣ 5♣ to take the win.

Chung Lee defended his big blind against Jongseon Lee's 125,000 open, and check called another 125,000 on flop 4♥ 9♦ 2♥ .

On turn 6♥ , Chung took the initiative and led all-in, snapped by Jongseon for his remaining 800,000.

Chung 6♠ 6♣

Jongseon 4♦ 4♠

A set over set clash, Jongseon picked up the pieces shortly after the river 2♣ failed to deliver his one outer.

In dire need of a double up, Jongkwan Lee pushed 340,000 on the hijack, and was looked up by Jaejoong Kim right on the big blind.

Board 8♣ 7♠ 7♥ 2♦ 5♠ ran dry for both, leaving Kim's ace-high good for the takedown.

Second to act, Ke Dar Shu ripped 680,000, and was challenged by Changrok Han down the line.

Han ahead with the ladies, quickly delivered the elimination as no bad beats arrived on board T♠ 8♥ 4♣ 3♣ 9♠ .

Chung Lee opened 130,000 on the button, and was priced in to call Hsueh Chung Heng's 210,000 all-in from the small blind.

Slightly behind, Lee caught up quickly on board 3♠ 8♣ J♣ 5♣ 2♥ , sending Hsueh to the rail.

Folded to the hijack, Anson Lau open raised 925,000, leaving himself with barely 100,000 behind. Suya Lee on the big blind, demanded for the rest, and Lau flicked it in.

A coinflip for a 35 big blind pot, Lee's overcards instantly landed the advantage on board A♣ 8♠ 3♥ Q♥ 8♥ , sending Lau's pocket pair bound for the muck.

Running short, Zong Chi He pushed his lat 350,000 past the line, folded to him on the cutoff. Peng Sen Wu woke up with a premium pair on the small blind, and made a call for a showdown.

Zong in rough shape, bowed out shortly after the board T♥ 3♦ T♦ 6♠ J♠ felted no aces.

Seung Won Lee defended his big blind against a button open from Seok Young Lee, and led out for his last 275,000 on a T♥ 4♣ 3♣ flop. Seok Young made the call with A♣ J♦ , trailing Seung Won’s top pair.

The turn 6♥ changed nothing, but the river A♠ gave Seok Young a higher pair to snag the win and seal Seung Won's elimination in 31st place.

Gwanghee Park set the pace to 125,000 utg. Action folded down to the big blind, where Yoo Seokyeol made it 280,000 to go. Park went over the top, and Yoo snapped the rest.

Yoo poised for a double up, was close to clutching the win on board Q♦ J♦ 4♥ 8♦ , up until the river T♦ landed Park a straight to crack his aces and deliver the bust.

Short stacked and sitting in the small blind, Sanggyu Lee moved all in for his last 520,000 after a hijack open from Suya Lee. Suya made the call without hesitation, putting Lee at risk entirely.

Board T♦ 6♠ 4♠ 7♠ 5♠ remained in Suya's favor all the way through, leaving Lee to exit as the day's first casualty.

Yoo Seokyeol pushed his last 355,000 utg, and was looked up by Donghyun Lim on the small blind.

Yoo at risk, was in no sweat as board J♦ 9♠ 9♦ Q♦ 3♠ landed him trip nines to bank the win.

Vying for a 500,000 pot across board 9♣ 7♠ 2♦ A♦ , Donghyun Lim made an attempt for it with a bet of 350,000. Pak Leong Mak on the button, made the call, and arrived at showdown shortly after both slowed down on river 5♣ .

Lim showed a single pair 8♠ 8♣ , no good against Pak's K♥ K♠ .

Guan Lun Chen opened 100,000 mid position, and was joined by Calvin Lau in the hijack.

Action was checked to turn A♥ 8♥ 2♠ 6♦ , where Chen led for 200,000. Lau was up to the test, and went on to face a final shove from Chen on river Q♥ .

Lau thought about it for a minute, and shortly put his tournament life on the line. Chen revealed 5♥ 5♣ , unable to get past Chen's top pair A♠ Q♠ , leaving him with another loss.

Ha Seong Min opened 100,000 in mid position, and Guan Lun Chen sent out a 300,000 three bet two seats over. Ha responded with another raise to 600,000, putting Chen in a tough spot. Chen burnt through time banks, and eventually decided to let it go, conceding the pot to day chip leader Ha.

Sanggyu Lee opened to 105,000 on the button, only to face a shove from Seok Young Lee in the big blind. Sanggyu made a loose call, committing 560,000 more, nearly two-thirds of his remaining stack.

Unfortunately for Sanggyu, his gamble didn't pay off as board J♥ J♦ 7♥ K♣ 6♠ kept him behind all the way, earning Seok Young the clean double.

Chung Lee opened 105,000 on the hijack, and received calls from both Yau Xin Chu on the button and Jaejoong Kim on the small blind.

Lee continued for 125,000 on flop K♠ 9♦ 3♦ , keeping it three way to turn J♠ . Action was checked to Yau, who bet 250,000. Kim folded, while Lee put in the call. No more bets arrived on river T♦ , tabling a chop with both players connecting with the one-card straight on board.

In a tense blind vs blind encounter between Yau Xin Chu and Jaejoong Kim, action was picked up on the turn with a board showing 3♣ 8♠ A♣ 8♦ and a sizable 400,000 already in the middle. Yau had checked over to Kim, who fired a 200,000 half pot bet. Yau made the call.

The river 4♠ brought in another check from Yau, and Kim loaded up once more, this time for 350,000. Yau tanked briefly before making the call, exposing Kim's T♣ 6♦ bluff and earning him the pot with two pair A♥ Q♥ shortly after.

APL Main Event Day 3 action begins, good luck to all the players!

Day 3 of the APL Taipei Main Event is finally here, with only 32 players out of its 1,178-entry field remaining in contention, keeping the pressure high as the tournament edges closer to crowning its next champion. While each returning contender has locked up a minimum payday of NT$ 109,300 (~US$ 3,700), all eyes are set on the NT$ 4,748,692 (~US$ 160,800) top prize still up for grabs.

Today's battle will see only nine players remain by its end, each one a step closer to clinching this season's crown. The road ahead won’t be easy, with 60 minutes set on the clock, providing plenty of room for play and putting everyone’s skills to the test.

South Koreans continue to dominate the games, taking up nearly half of the remaining field, including the top three spots to start the day - Ha Seong Min with 3,525,000 (71 BB), Donghyun Lim with 3,280,000 (66 BB), and Chung Lee in third with 3,165,000 (63 BB).

Cards are back in the air at noon as the race to the final table heats up. Stay tuned as SMP brings you all the latest news straight from the tournament floor!

APL Taipei Main Event

Date/s: June 11-16, 2025

Buy-in: NT$ 26,000 (~US$ 865)

Guarantee: NT$ 21,000,000 (~US$ 700,800)

Entries: 1,178

Prize pool: NT$ 26,462,592 (~US$ 895,830)

ITM: 177 places

Day 1A: 132 entries, 20 qualified

Day 1B: 78 entries, 12 qualified

Day 1C: 223 entries, 33 qualified

Day 1D: 131 entries, 20 qualified

Day 1E: 409 entries, 61 qualified

Day 1F: 205 entries, 31 qualified

Day 2: 176 players, 32 qualified

Day 3: June 15, 2025

Final Table: June 16, 2025