National Cup Championship (15,000 TWD)

A♠ always, the National Cup is the event that opens an Asian Poker Tour (APT) festival, and it never fails to draw a huge crowd. What makes this edition different is what everyone is chasing. The APT Championship (APTC) officially got underway today inside Red Space, Taipei, and the stakes are higher than ever with the TWD 15,000 National Cup Championship boasting its biggest buy-in since the tournament began.

It is not a question of whether APTC will set records, but simply when. The benchmark to beat is the all-time APT side event record of 2,305 entries, set right here in Taipei during the APT Taipei 2024 National Cup.

Flight A moved things in the right direction with a total of 461 entries (351 unique). When the final hands were dealt, only 65 players survived the day, and one man finished a long way ahead of the pack. Thailand’s Teeraphat Rangkatekarn bagged 1,092,000 chips, the only player to reach a seven-figure count and well ahead of Chia Hsiang Ko, who closed in second place with 793,000.

Rangkatekarn climbed toward the top of the counts in Level 16 after his pocket sixes held in a sizeable flip against the Big Slick of Ka Ling Chui. The runout gave him a brief scare, but the sixes stayed in front and he dragged in a pivotal pot.

From there, the momentum never slowed. He continued stacking pot after pot and even brought the field to the brink of the money when his king-queen out-flopped the ace-jack of Anouk Wimalaratna.

Rounding out the podium places is Gwanu Ju, who played a monstrous four-way all-in pot during Level 17 to leap up the counts. Ju held aces and was up against his opponents' pocket queens, pocket tens, and king-queen. An ace-high flop all but sealed the deal, and sent Ju on his way to the podium.

Also finding a bag is a player that needs no introduction. Abraham Ceesvin, who won the 2025 APT Jeju Main Event just over a month ago, closed the day with 440,000 chips as he sets his sights on another lion trophy. His victory in Jeju, the largest international poker tournament ever held in Korea, earned the Singaporean KRW 649,835,200 (~USD 464,170) along with an APTC Main Event seat.

It was all smiles for Gregory “Greg Goes All In” Liow as he danced his way to a bag of 294,000, good for 25th in the counts. Even more surprising, he did it on a single bullet. For a man famous for firing more shells than a battlefield and joking that he provides “rakeback for the community,” this was a rare and glorious sight. Greg knew it too, and he looked very pleased with himself when the bags came out.

“I bagged the National Cup on my first bullet, and the best part was that it was a complete free roll for me. I had won a National Cup seat at APT Jeju during the N8 APT x TAENATAAK Invitational.”

Liow added with a grin, “I bagged shy of 300k for Day 2, and it feels great to not completely be giving rakeback to the players in an event for once!”

The bubble was a short affair, and in the first all-in-and-call situation, it was over. Caixin Wong, who was a contender for chip leader early on in the day, was the player to deliver the knockout as her king-four flopped a king to crack the pocket eights of the short-stacked Teng Yu.

Some other notables to make it through include Hong Kong's Wai Kit Lo (658,000), bubble-burster Wong (413,000), Patrick Liang (369,000), Ben Underwood (255,000), and Albert Gorelik (105,000).

For a full Flight A National Cup Championship Survivor List: Click here.

Be sure to check back regularly for all the updates from the championship events here at APTC.

The remaining 65 players are now bagging up for the day and will take their chips through to the final day on November 16th.

Stay tuned for a recap of the day's action and full surviving player chip counts.

Action folded to Caixin Wong in the small blind who open jammed all in for 40,000 effective as she had Teng Yu covered, who was sat in the big blind.

Yu went into the tank for a short while and made the call for his tournamnet life.

Teng Yu: 8♣ 8♠

Caixin Wong: K♠ 4♠

A nasty flop for Yu of 3♠ J♠ K♥ fell and he needed to hit an eight to stay alive.

He got no help with the 6♥ turn nor the 4♥ river and was sent to the rail as the bubble boy in 66th place.

The field now stands at 66 players, and with 65 spots on offer in Day 2, it means just one more player needs to be eliminated before the survivors can bag up for the night.

Teeraphat Rangkatekarn raised to 32,000 from under the gun and action folded around to Anouk Wimalaratna in the big blind who moved all in for 120,000. Rangkatekarn went into the tank for a short time before he made the call.

Anouk Wimalaratna: A♠ J♠

Teeraphat Rangkatekarn: K♥ Q♥

Not the door card Wimalaratna wanted to see on the Q♦ 8♥ 2♥ flop and he got no help on the 7♦ turn nor the 8♠ river and was sent to the rail as the pre-bubble boy.

Arun Sriram had his stack of around 100,000 in the pot preflop, and was put at risk by Pin Cheng Liu, who had a covering stack.

Arun Sriram: A♦ 5♥

Pin Cheng Liu: A♠ Q♠

Sriram was looking for a five, but the runout of A♣ 6♦ T♠ 4♠ 7♦ didn't contain one, which meant he had his marching orders just six players away from the money.

Cheng Jia raised to 20,000 from the hijack only for Wan Hung to three-bet all for 100,000 from the cut off. Action folded to Hsiang Ko on the button who flat called. Jia exited stage left quickly.

Wan Hung: 7♣ 7♦

Hsiang Ko: A♥ Q♣

A dangerous looking flop came for Hung of K♣ 3♦ J♣ and when the T♠ peeled off on the turn Ko hit his straight to leave Hung drawing dead.

The irrelevant 7♠ fell on the turn to make the pain even worse for Hung as he was sent to the rail.

Action folded around to Teeraphat Rangkatekarn who raised to 30,000 from the hijack and found a call from Shjng So on the button.

The flop came 2♠ 6♠ 3♥ and both players checked to see the T♦ peel off on the turn.

Rangkatekarn checked to So who bet out for 25,000, Rangkatekarn called and the dealer rolled off the 6♣ as the river. Rangkatekarn moved all in for approximately 520,000 and he easily had So covered.

So went into the tank and the dealer pulled in two time banks before he released his hand sending the pot to Rangkatekarn with no showdown. This pushed Rangkatekarn up close to a million in chips.

Players are on a 15-minute break.

Shun Zheng raised to 16,000 from under the gun and action folded to Kit Lo in the hijack who three-bet to 33,000. Action folded back around to Zheng who made the call.

The flop came K♠ 4♣ 2♣ and Zheng led out for 25,000, Lo called.

The turn brought the 4♠ and now Zheng fired out for 100,000, Lo flat called again.

The dealer peeled off the J♠ as the river and the action went check-check.

Zheng tabled 9♥ 9♣ but was way behind Lo and his A♠ K♣ and Zheng was pushed the monster pot.

Gwanu Ju had built a stack of around 600,000 after that big four-way all-in, but gave a little of it away to Ben Underwood just a moment ago.

Ju opened from middle position to 16,000 and Underwood three-bet to 44,000 from the hijack. When it got back to Ju, he called.

On the 7♣ Q♦ Q♥ flop, both players checked to the 5♦ turn, where Ju checked again. Underwood then fired 27,000, and that got Ju to fold.

Ju won't mind too much, as he still has around 550,000 to work with as the money bubble looms closer.

Gwanu Ju raised it up to 12,000 from early position only for Chan Tsz to three-bet all in for 61,000 from middle position. Jie Chen in the next seat also jammed all in for 63,000.

Che Chi sat on the button flat called and action folded back around to Ju who came back over the top and moved all in for approximately 230,000. This sent Chi deep into the tank and he pushed all his time banks into the middle, the dealer pulled in three of this before he decided to make the call putting the three other players at risk as he had them all covered.

Chan Tsz: K♣ Q♦

Jie Chen: Q♥ Q♠

Gwanu Ju: A♠ A♣

Che Chi: T♠ T♥

"Come on" exclaimed Ju when the dealer fanned out the flop of 2♣ 9♦ A♥ but when the J♥ came on the turn he had to dodge some outs for a double knock out and monster scoop. The river bricked out with the 4♥ and Ju started pulling in the monster pot whilst Tsz and Chen were sent to the rail.

Lee Hyundong raised to 12,000 from middle position and action folded around to Piu Ding in the small blind who three-bet to 25,000.

Hyundong made the call and the dealer rolled off the flop of 6♥ 8♦ 5♥. The action went check-check and the players saw the 2♦ roll off for the turn card. Ding now led out for 18,000 and Hyundong made the call.

The river brought the 8♣ and now Ding moved all in for approximately 85,000. Hyundong went into the tank for a short while before mucking his cards to send the pot to Ding without showdown.

Chia Gea Kuo shoved 36,000 from under the gun and Jaeah Kim called in the cutoff. Mao Lun Ya was in the big blind and shoved 83,000, and despite the good price that Kim was getting, he elected to fold, preserving his stack of around 210,000 he had behind.

Chia Gea Kuo: A♠ 4♠

Mao Lun Ya: 8♠ 8♣

Ya was in great shape to score a knockout, did retain his lead through the 6♣ 4♣ 6♠ flop. However, the A♣ turn gave Kuo a pair of aces, but also Ya picked up a flush draw.

No drama came on the 5♠ river, which meant Ya forked over the chips to Kuo, while Kim's head dropped. A sign he would have won the hand?

James Chiang Cho opened from the hijack and was met with a shove from Teng-Yu Yu in the small blind for about 30,000. It was folded back to Cho, who quickly called having Yu covered.

Teng-Yu Yu: A♥ 6♥

James Chiang Cho: K♣ Q♣

Yu held a slight lead with his ace, and the 9♣ 4♠ 2♦ 9♦ 7♦ runout kept Yu ahead to award him the double-up.

Bao Sheng Woon shoved for his last 17,000 on the button and it was folded to Chin Yu Ku, who looked at his cards from the big blind before letting out a chuckle and placing calling chips into the middle.

Bao Sheng Woon: A♦ 3♠

Chin Yu Ku: T♣ 7♠

Woon was ahead, but Ku's cards were live.

The 9♠ J♦ 5♥ flop and J♥ turn were safe for Woon, but a cruel T♠ landed on the river, pairing Ku's ten to eliminate Woon late in the day.

Ka Ling Chui was in early position and ended up getting her stack of around 115,000 in the middle preflop against Teeraphat Rangkatekarn, who was in the hijack with a bigger stack.

Ka Ling Chui: A♠ K♠

Teeraphat Rangkatekarn: 6♥ 6♣

Chui was in a flip, and picked up a ton more outs on the J♥ J♣ T♥ flop with a gutshot and counterfeit outs available.

Another three outs arrived on the 7♦ turn, but it was a case of 'too many outs' for Chui as the 3♥ river bricked out, sending her to the rail.

Great news for Rangkatekarn, though, as his stack swelled to around 350,000.

Chun Pei Chen opened to 10,000 from the cutoff and Akio Horii defended his big blind.

Horii check-called an 8,000 bet from Chen on the 4♦ 5♣ K♦ flop and then both players checked on the 3♣ turn.

The K♣ river paired the board and Horii shoved for his remaining 31,000, sending Chen into the tank.

Chen eventually put in a single chip to indicate a call and Horii turned over 9♦ 3♦ for kings and threes.

Chen tabled 8♣ 8♠ for a better kings-up, sending Horii out late in the evening.

Kai Yu open jammed all in for 31,000 from early position only for Ivan Govorov to then also move all in for less. Action folded around to Yen-Yi Tsao on the button who called and had both players covered.

Ivan Govorov: Q♠ K♥

Kai Yu: A♠ 9♣

Yen-Yi Tsao: A♦ T♦

Tsao was ahead and sitting pretty for a double knock out on the 2♣ 6♦ 4♦ flop and nothing changed when the dealer flipped over the 5♥ turn. However when the 9♣ dropped on the river Yu hit his pair to outdraw Tsao for a near treble up and send Govorov packing.

Cheng Chu Jia opened to 8,000 from middle position and it was folded to Sin Lan Chen, who shoved for her last 75,000 from the cutoff. Action came back around to Jia, who verbally announced a call to put Chen at risk.

Sin Lan Chen: A♦ Q♠

Chen Chu Jia: K♣ K♥

Chen would need some help against Jia's Cowboys, but the 9♥ J♦ 2♦ 4♠ Q♥ runout left her second-best with a pair of queens to award Jia the knockout.

In a blind-on-blind battle, John Perry had his remaining 25,000 in from the big blind and was put at risk by Sin Lan Chen in the small blind.

John Perry: K♦ K♣

Sin Lan Chen: Q♠ Q♣

Both players had the goods, but Perry's Cowboys were well in the lead. Chen couldn't find any improvement on the 5♦ J♠ 9♦ 2♥ K♥ runout, and she sent over the chips to Perry.

It's not all bad for Chen, though, as she was left with around 75,000 to play with.

The remaining 153 players are now on a 15-minute break.

Dicky Tsang rasied to 6,000 from under the gun only to face a three-bet all in from Kong Shum in middle position. Kim Fernandez then four-bet jammed all in for 130,000. Tsang went into the tank briefly before releasing his hand.

Kong Shum: A♦ T♥

Kim Fernandez: Q♣ Q♠

A clean runout of 7♣ 2♥ 5♠ T♣ 8♠ for Fernandez and he was sent the pot whilst Shum was sent packing.

There were around 15,000 chips in the pot on a full board of 2♠ 3♠ 3♥ 6♦ A♠ board when Arita Naohiro checked from the small blind. Joris Michl was in the big blind and bet 7,500, which Naohiro eventually called.

Michl proudly showed down a big blind special with T♦ 3♣ for trip threes, and smiled as Naohiro mucked his cards.

Zhi Gang Yang shoved for his last 21,000 from early position and just behind him, Chien-Chiao Tseng called to put him at risk. Everyone else got out of the way and hands were revealed.

Zhi Gang Yang: K♠ J♠

Chien-Chiao Tseng: A♦ J♦

Tseng had Yang domianted, and the 5♠ 7♥ 7♣ 3♦ 3♠ runout kept Tseng ahead with his ace to eliminate Yang from the field.

Masashi Kanta raised to 5,000 from the hijack and found calls from Shiang Chen in the cut-off and Gregory "Greg Goes All In" Liow in the small blind.

The flop came A♥ T♥ 7♣ and it was checked around for the players to see the 9♦ come on the turn. Liow now took the lead and fired out for 6,000 and was called in both spots.

The action was checked around on the 4♠ river. "Ten" announced Liow and soon sent his cards into the muck when Kanta tabled A♣ J♠ for top pair.

Here are some the current chip leaders as Flight A of the National Cup Championship enters its final stretch.

Teeraphat Rangkatekarn raised from under the gun to 4,000 and was looked up by Donghyup Kim in the big blind.

The flop came 6♦ A♥ 4♣ and Rangkatekarn continued for 3,000 only to be raised to 8,000 by Kim. Rangkatekarn made the call and both players checked down the 4♠ turn and 6♣ river.

Kim tabled A♣ 2♠ for two pair and Rangkatekarn sent his cards into the muck giving Kim the pot.

Kaihung Hu and Oliver Lirio were already all in preflop from the small blind and early position respectively with action pending on Yen-Yi Tsao in the hijack. Hu was in for approximately 20,000 while Lirio was in for about 40,000.

Tsao used up a couple of time banks and decided to gamble, having both players covered.

Kaihung Hu: K♥ J♥

Oliver Lirio: 2♣ 2♥

Yen-Yi Tsao: 7♦ 6♦

It was a fair fight between the three hands, but the 9♠ 9♣ 9♥ Q♦ 2♦ runout kept Lirio's decues best, eliminating Hu from contention and awarding him the near triple-up.

Over on Table 73, an unusual variant of poker was being played that included a four-card flop!

Victor Chen had opened to 4,500 from early position and Yiu Yeung Leung three-bet out of middle position to 11,000. When it got back to Chen, he called.

The dealer then burned a card and produced a flop of 9♣ 6♥ 4♣ 2♣, yes, a four-card flop. She immediately called the floor, who instructed the dealer to shuffle the four cards together and remove one as the burn card. After doing so, she produced a shiny, new flop of 6♥ 4♣ 9♣.

Despite all of the kerfuffle, the action checked to the river on the A♦ 6♦ runout, where Chen bet 15,000. Leung let it go, and Chen took the pot.

One-hand penalty for the dealer?

Greg "Greg Goes All in" Liow opened to 3,000 from the hijack and just behind him, Nishant Sharma three-bet to 8,000. It was folded back around to Liow, who called.

Liow check-called a 6,000 bet from Sharma on the 9♠ J♥ 5♠ flop and then both players checked on the 2♦ turn.

The 6♠ completed the board and Liow checked a final time, prompting a 15,000 bet from Sharma. Liow tanked a bit before calling and Sharma showed T♦ T♥.

Liow revealed K♣ J♠ for a flopped pair of jacks, which was enough to send the popular Poker YouTuber the pot.

The pot was bloated to 10,000 before the dealer peeled off the 7♦ 6♠ 8♠ as the flop.

Hong Jin led out for 3,000 from early position and was called by Tom Verbruggen on the button. The 2♦ came on the turn and now Jin bet out for 5,000 and again Verbruggen flat-called.

The river brought the T♦ and Jin didn't slow down betting out for 10,000 this time. Verbruggen went briefly into the tank before he released his hand to send Jin gthe pot with no show down.

Arita Naohiro opened to 3,500 from under the gun and just behind him, Chi Ying Lin shoved for his last 12,000. It was then folded to Dylan Foster in middle position, who also went all in for about 40,000.

Action folded back around to Naohiro, who quickly called having both of his opponents covered.

Chi Ying Lin: 8♦ 7♦

Dylan Foster: J♦ J♥

Arita Naohiro: A♠ A♥

Naohiro held the goods, and the K♦ 9♥ K♣ 7♣ 6♥ runout kept his rockets best to send both Foster and Lin to the rail.

The floor has now announced that late registration is now closed and a total of 462 players ponied up for the opening event of the APT Championship Festival.

Play will continue until 65 players remain who will then all bag up their chips and progress to the final day on November 16th. If multiple players are eliminated on the final hand of the day only players who have chips remaining will qualify for the final day and be in the money.

Players have been sent on a 15-minute break.

Late registration will close at the end of the break.

Jason Li raised from middle position to 3,100 and found calls from Yoichiro Toyofuku also in middle position and Ben Gur in the small blind.

The flop came J♦ 6♠ 5♣ and Gur checked it to Li who continued for 3,000. Toyofuku flat called only to then see Gur check-raise to 11,000. Li got out of the way sharpish and Toyofuku then re-raised to 23,000. Gur made the call and the dealer peeled off the 5♠ as the turn. Gur checked to Toyofuku who moved all in and had Gur covered. Gur snap-called.

Ben Gur: J♠ 3♠

Yoichiro Toyofuku: 6♣ 6♦

Gur was drawing dead with his flush no good against Toyofuku's turned full house. The irrelevant T♥ came on the turn and Gur was sent to the re-buy cage.

Bin Fu Hsu shoved for his last 12,500 on the button and it was folded to Vincent Wong in the big blind, who peeked at his cards before flinging in a single chip to indicate a call to put Hsu at risk.

Bin Fu Hsu: J♦ T♣

Vincent Wong: 3♣ 3♠

It was about as good of a situation Hsu could hope for, and the 4♠ J♣ 2♥ Q♦ 6♣ runout paired his jack to award him a much-neeed double up.

Shi Rong Wang raised to 2,800 from under the gun and it was folded to Sing Wen Chen, who made it 9,000 to go in the cutoff.

Action folded back to Wang, who didn't take long to four-bet to 22,500. Undeterred, Chen announced he was all in, which was met with a snap-fold from Wang to award Chen the pot uncontested.

Level 10 is now underway in Flight A of the National Cup Championship. Once this level wraps up, players will head into a scheduled break, and late registration will officially close when Level 11 begins.

The field has climbed to 390 entries, with 265 players still in the hunt as the action continues.

Heung Lin raised to 2,400 from under the gun only to face a three-bet to 7,200 from Seog Chae from middle position.

Lin made the call and the dealer peeled off the flop of 8♣ 6♠ T♠, Lin check-called Chae's 5,500 continuation bet to see the 8♥ roll off on the turn.

Both players checked the Q♦ river. Lin tabled K♠ Q♣ for a rivered top pair to get there against Chae's A♥ K♠

Slaven Popov, who sits 23rd on Bulgaria's All-Time Money List with over $1,300,000 in cashes, according to The Hendon Mob, just had his stack of 17,300 in the middle from the big blind. Singapore's Jing Jie Soh was in the hijack and put in calling chips, leaving Popov at risk.

Slaven Popov: 9♥ 9♦

Jing Jie Soh: A♠ 8♣

Popov had the best of it, but perhaps didn't feel confident as he had his phone out ready to record the runout. Fortunately for him, no aces appeared on the K♣ T♣ 5♦ 6♦ 3♣ board, and he doubled up to almost the starting stack.

Cheuk Yin Leung opened to 2,500 first to act and was three-bet to 7,500 by Caixin Wong in the cutoff. It was then folded back to Leung, who made it 20,000 to go.

Wong weighed her options, but eventually landed on a shove, which was enough to put Leung all in for approximately 80,000. Leung quickly committed his stack into the middle and a showdown was held.

Cheuk Yin Leung: A♠ K♠

Caixin Wong: J♣ J♠

It was a massive flip, and Wong let out a huge sigh of relief after the 5♠ 3♣ 9♥ 6♣ 3♠ runout kept her jacks best, eliminating Leung in the process.

Wong, who is no stranger to success on the felt with several notable finishes in the Taipei poker scene, now sits with a massive stack of about 200,000.

Action was joined with the pot at 7,500 and the board reading 7♦ 7♠ 6♦. Action was checked to Lun Wanh in the hijack, who fired out for 2,600 and was called by Jinhee Min.

The action went check-check on the 2♥ turn, and the players saw the 4♥ drop on the river. Min now led out for 3,400 and was snap-called by Wanh who tabled K♥ 6♥ for two pair, way ahead of Min's K♣ Q♥.

Yu Sheng Lin opened to 2,200 from under the gun and was called by Wei Shiang Chen from directly behind and Hsiang Chun Chang in the hijack. Min Wei Wu then squeezed to 8,500 from the small blind and Lin responded with a shove for a bit over 30,000.

Chen and Chang got out of the way, but Wu called to put Lin at risk.

Yu Sheng Lin: A♠ K♠

Min Wei Wu: A♥ K♦

Both players held Big Slick, but Lin was slightly favored with his suited variety.

The 4♠ A♦ T♥ flop gave Lin a backdoor flush, which improved to a frontdoor draw after the 5♠ fell on the turn to give Lin a sweat.

However, an uneventful 3♣ completed the board and Lin was forced to settle for a chop.

Frankie Cucchiara arrived to Flight A of the National Cup Championship in high spirits, already enjoying his time in Taiwan. He could not help but praise the island, saying, “I love Taiwan. It’s a little bit of a rainy season right now, but if you can get through that, it’s a gorgeous country, great food. It also has the nicest, friendliest people I've ever met.”

He was also impressed once again by Red Space, the home of this APTC stop. Having played here during the previous APT visit, he knew it was big, but walking in still gave him that same sense of scale. “Big, crazy big. It’s huge,” he said with a laugh. “I was here for the last APT, thankfully, and they’ve one-upped it again. The Championship has a different feel to it, unlike any APT I’ve been to ever before.”

Cucchiara plans to take on a full schedule this series. “Yeah, the plan is to play everything up until the Main Event and then hopefully just sun run through that and celebrate on the way out,” he said. “Most of the highlighted events in purple on the schedule I’ll be playing.”

His tournament also began with a bang. On the very first hand of the day, he found himself in a three-way all-in holding Big Slick. “Ace-king versus ace-king versus seven-five suited,” he recounted. “Lucky my ace-king held, and yeah, we got a good stack starting the first tournament of the day.”

With a strong start and a full schedule ahead, Cucchiara is more than ready to make the most of his time in Taipei. His energy, confidence, and love for Taiwan shine through, and he is clearly excited for what the festival has in store. Good luck, Frankie.

After a raising war all the money ended up in the middle with Wen Huang all-in for 17,000 and being looked up by Ming Lin.

Wen Huang: A♠ K♥

Ming Lin: A♦ J♦

A nice looking flop of J♣ K♥ K♠ rolled off for Huang and the 4♠ turn gave Lin no help. The 2♣ fell on the river giving Huang the pot and a full double up.

The pot had swelled to 15,000 and the board read 9♦ J♦ A♥ 5♣, Anmol Mehta had moved all in for his last 11,000 and was looked up by Wing Ho. Action folded around to Young Jung who then came over the top and moved all in for 52,000.

Ho went into the tank for a short while before he made the call putting two players at risk.

Anmol Mehta: A♣ Q♦

Young Jung: 9♣ 9♥

Wing Ho: A♦ J♣

The river bricked out with the 6♠ and Jung's flopped set held on to send Mehta to the rail.

With the pot sat at over 15,000 and the board of 7♥ 9♠ A♠ 4♥ 3♣ fanned out across the table Kit Lo bet out for 12,000 and was called by Hin Li.

Lo flipped over A♥ Q♥ for top pair and Li mucked his cards sending Lo the pot.

Nishant Sharma is plodding along nicely in the National Cup Championship and has around 90,000 in front of him after just dragging a pot against Shun Yi Zheng, who got a penalty earlier on today.

There were around 22,000 in the pot on a board of 5♠ 7♠ 2♥ 5♥ and Sharma had shoved from under the gun, putting Zheng to the test for his remaining stack of around 20,000. Eventually, Zheng let it go, and Sharma's stack grew.

Sharma has posted several strong results at APT stops, including a runner-up finish in the Single Day High Roller at APT Summer Series Hanoi 2023 for VND 868,200,000. A year prior, another runner-up spot was secured for a similar cash, but a lion trophy still eludes the Indian player.

Sangbeom Lim raised it up to 1,200 from under the gun and found calls from Wing Ho in early position, Prin Snitmacharo in middle position, and Chun Chang on the button. Anmol Mehta sat in the big blind then three-bet all in for his remaining 9,500. All players folded apart from Snitmacharo who made the call.

Anmol Mehta: 3♠ 3♥

Prin Snitmacharo: K♥ J♠

A clean runout of 6♥ 7♠ 5♥ 6♣ A♥ for Mehta and he was shipped the pot for a full double up and more.

With 3,000 in the pot the dealer fanned out the flop of A♣ 2♥ 8♥. Akio Horii checked from the big blind and Ding Wong fired out for 1,800 from the hijack. Horii called and on the K♥ turn again check-called Wong's bet now for 10,000.

Both players checked the 6♦ when it came on the river. Wong tabled K♦ T♥ which was way behind to Horii's A♥ J♠ and Horii was shipped the pot.

Samuele Eutizi is off to a great start and has around 80,000 in his stack, but he was more of a spectator in the last hand.

There were around 10,000 in the pot on a 7♥ 6♦ Q♣ T♥ board when Jaeah Kim bet 2,500. Herry Lian called, Weichung Yang called, but Eutizi got out of the way.

A T♦ hit the river and Kim elected to check, then Lian shoved around 12,000. Yang quickly folded, and after just a few seconds, Kim called.

Lian was first to show and flipped over a full house with Q♥ Q♦, which was good as Kim mucked. The dealer turned over Kim's cards to reveal a pair of eights holding 8♥ 8♣, before shipping the pot Lian's way.

The players are now on their first 15-minute break of the day.

The field is growing quickly and 197 players have now rocked up for the opening event of the festival. With late registration open for another five levels this number is expected to grow even further.

Thailand's Orathai Nasathaen opened to 1,200 from early position and Michio Aitani called from the next seat. Yi Kai Wang was short-stacked and shoved just under 10,000 from the button. Nasathaen pondered for a while before she eventually called, and Aitani folded.

Yi Kai Wang: 7♠ 7♦

Orathai Nasathaen: Q♠ J♠

Nasathaen found what she was looking for in a flip, and the next objective was to win it. The T♦ 3♥ 3♦ flop wasn't on her side, but the J♦ turn was as she made a pair. Wang did pick up a flush draw, but the Q♥ river wasn't what he needed, which meant he hit the rail early on.

Cheng Jia raised from early position to 1,200 and was looked up by Nam Quoc Pham Nguyen in the cut-off and Alexander Charron in the big blind.

The dealer rolled off the flop off K♣ 7♣ 4♥. Charron checked to Jia who continued for 2,000 and was called in both spots. The turn brought the 2♠ and now all players checked to see the dealer flip over the 7♥ as the river.

Charron checked again to Jia who fired out a pot sized bet of 10,000. Nguyen folded and Charron tossed in the call and instantly mucked his cards when Jia tabled K♥ 8♥.

Nishant Sharma started with a raise to 1,000 from under the gun and picked up five customers, creating a pot of 6,000 going to the 9♠ T♣ 9♣ flop.

All six players checked to the J♣ turn, where when it got around to Juwon Kim on the button, he bet 4,700. Patrick Liang called from the big blind, Sharma folded, then Shun Yi Zheng called in the cutoff, but seemed to forget that Arvi Limpadanai was still in the pot.

The floor were called to give a ruling and Limpadanai was told to act. With the extra information he had, he folded, and Zheng's call stood.

A Q♣ hit the river, making the board a lot scarier, and Liang checked it over. Zheng then bet 15,000, which got frustrated sighs from both of his remaining opponents, who quickly released their cards.

After the pot was pushed his way, Zheng was given a one-hand penalty for acting out of turn, but probably won't mind as he profited a good chunk on that hand, getting his stack back to even.

Sangbeom Lim raised to 800 from middle position and found a call from Wei Chien in the small blind.

The flop came 9♦ 8♣ 8♦, Chien checked to Lim who continued for 1,300. Chien made the call and the dealer rolled off the A♥ as the turn. Chien check-called Lim's 1,500 bet and both players checked down the 5♥ river.

Lim Q♣ 9♥ for second pair and out-flopping Chien's Q♦ T♠ and was pushed the pot.

With 3,000 in the middle the dealer rolled off the flop of 3♥ T♣ J♥. Abraham Ceesvin checked from the big blind as did Alexander Charron in middle position. Cheng Jia on the button fired out for 1,600 and found two calls.

The turn brought the 4♦ and agiain it checked aroud to Jia who now bet out for 5,000. Ceesvin made the call and Charron folded. The river saw the 8♣ peel off and Ceesvin checked it over to Jia for a third time who fired off a river bet of 15,500. Ceesvin snap-called tabling J♠ 4♥ for a turned two pair only to let out a sigh on seeing Jia flip over J♣ 8♥ for a rivered better two pair and Jia was shipped the pot.

In a multi-way pot Cheng Jia raised tit up to 800 from middle position and found calls from Shuma Kimura in late position, Abraham Ceesvin in the cut-off and Lin Yue on the button.

The players saw the flop of 3♠ 9♦ 8♠ peel off and it was checked around to Yue who fired out for 2,200. All players called apart from APT Jeju Main Event champion Ceesvin who exited stage left.

The turn brought the 5♣ and again it was checked to Yue on the button who fired out for 8,000 and found calls from Jia and Kimura now.

The dealer flipped over the 5♦ as the river and now Kimura led out for 15,000. Yue called and Jia folded. Kimura tabled K♥ T♣ for total air and Yue was shipped the pot with his flopped set holding 3♥ 3♣ streaks ahead.

With the pot at around 3,000 the board read 2♣ 5♠ 4♣ T♥. Richard Valencia led out for 3,500 from the big blind and was called by Richard Kiing from under the gun.

The river brought the A♥ and now Valencia fired out for 7,500 and was snap-called by Kiing who tabled 3♥ 3♠ only to see Valencia table K♣ 3♣ and the dealer started chopping up the pot to split between the players.

Wen You raised to 400 from the hijack only to face a three-bet to 700 from Jaeah Kim in the small blind. You then four-bet to 3,200 and Kim made the call.

The dealer peeled off the flop of 9♠ 2♦ 7♠ and Kim led out for 6,000. You called and the players saw the 4♦ roll off on the turn. Kim didn't slow down and now led out for 11,000. You called.

The A♥ came as the river and now both players checked. Kim tabled J♠ J♣ and wasn't impressed to see You turn over A♠ Q♠ for a rivered better pair and You was shipped the pot.

Action was joined with a huge pot brewing and over 20,000 in the middle and the board reading 2♠ Q♣ J♠ 5♣.

Kevin Bercq had led out for 20,000 from early position only to face an all in jam from Vincent Dupleix in middle position for a full starting stack of 40,000. Bercq tanked for a while before making the call.

Kevin Bercq: K♥ Q♠

Vincent Dupleix: J♥ J♣

Dupleix was way ahead with his flopped set and Bercq was drawing dead. The 7♣ bricked out the river and Bercq was sent to the rail giving Dupleix a full double up.

We are under way in the opening event of the APT Championship 2025.

Keep up to date here with all of the day's action in Flight A of The National Cup Championship.

The wait is finally over, the warm-up event has been taken down and the players are making their way to Taipei in their thousands.

The 2025 APT Championship Festival kicks-off at 11.00am today here in Taipei at Red Space 多元商務空間 with the first of the 20 championship events and Flight A of The National Cup Championship.

The festival is scheduled to host a massive 200 events with over TWD 288 million (~USD 8.7 million) in prize pool guarantees. Run in partnership with the Chinese Texas Hold’em Poker Club (CTP) at the cavernous Red Space 多元商務空間 venue and headlined by the TWD 311,000 (USD 10,000) buy-in APT Championship Main Event Freezeout carrying a massive TWD 156 million/USD 5 million guarantee—the largest in Asian poker history—the festival comprises 20 Championship Events, plus a further 180 side events and satellites. Each Championship Event winner will take home an exclusive APT Championship Lion Trophy along with their first-place prize money.

Today is the first of five starting flights for The National Cup Championship which boasts a whopping TWD 12,000,000 (~USD 386,000) guarantee.

Players will start with 40,000 in chips and the blinds will start at 100/200 with a 200 big-blind ante. Levels are 30 minutes and the players will play down to the money (14%) before bagging up their chips to return for the final day on November 16th when all starting flight survivors will combine to battle it out for the full prize pool and the coveted APT Championship Lion Trophy.

There will be a 15-minute break after every five levels with late registration and re-entries being available until the commencement of Level 11 (approx. 4.30pm). There is no scheduled dinner break.

Stay tuned for live coverage of all the day’s action from the opening day of what is primed to be a record-breaking APT Championship Festival.

Event starts 11:00 local time..