National Cup Championship (15,000 TWD)

The curtain has closed on Flight C of the National Cup Championship, which proved to be the biggest yet with 684 entrants (556 unique) making their way into the Red Space venue to take their shot at Asian Poker Tour glory. However, after a swift bubble period, only 96 of them managed to secure a spot into the final day tomorrow.

With three of five starting flights now completed, the National Cup Championship has attracted 1,408 entries so far. With two more starting flights to conclude later tonight, the all-time APT side-event record of 2,305 entries (set at last year’s National Cup in Taipei) is very much within reach.

Standing tall as chip leader by the end of the day was Daito Yamashita, who managed to bag up 892,000 by the time the Day-2 bubble had burst. Yamashita's aggressive style saw him surge late in the day to claim the third spot overall across the first three starting flights. To date, Yamashita's biggest tournament score comes from the APT Main Event in Incheon earlier this year, where he finished 14th for KRW 23,960,000 (~USD 17,258). With a big stack and plenty of momentum on his side, Yamashita will be looking to best his high score tomorrow in the final day.

Two-time WSOP bracelet winner Darius Neagoe rounded out the top ten after ending with 609,000. Fresh off his second bracelet victory last month at WSOPE Rozvadov, the Romanian grinder is now looking to carve out his presence in Asia with more deep runs here at the APT.

Just outside of the top ten sits Li Ta Hsu, who will bring 600,000 in chips to battle with on the felt tomorrow. A pillar of the Taipei poker community, Hsu has tournament cashes dating back to 2006 and remains one of the local scene’s most seasoned competitors.

John Perry will also be one to watch after securing a bag worth 580,000. The Aussie enjoyed a stellar day that included eliminating Konstantinos Stroulis with Big Slick late in the day. Perry, who boasts nearly USD 2,000,000 in live-tournament earnings, is now one step closer to adding a major APT title to his already impressive poker resume.

The final two flights (D and E) are set to conclude tonight, at which point all the surviving players from all five flights will reconvene on Sunday, Nov 16 at 11:15am to play down to a winner.

For all the latest updates from the final flights and final day, be sure to check back here as the National Cup Championship races to its thrilling conclusion!

The remaining 96 players are now bagging and tagging for the evening.

They will return tomorrow (Sunday Nov 16) at 11:15am for the final day.

Stay tuned for a recap of Flight C.

Paul Yugendra was already all in from the big blind for his last 21,000 against Michael Concepcion, who had Yugendra covered from the cutoff.

Paul Yugendra: 9♦ 8♥

Michael Concepcion: Q♦ J♣

Yugendra's cards were live, but the J♦ 9♥ 4♥ flop paired both players to leave Yugendra drawing slim.

The 6♠ turn and K♥ river were blanks and Yugendra fell short one place of earning a Day-2 berth.

A♠ the field edged closer to the bubble, the short stacks were left with no choice but to adopt a push-or-fold strategy. Isaac Chern Chze — who certainly isn’t known for playing conservatively — decided to shove his remaining 57,000 from the cutoff.

Jun Yi Ho made the call, but before the button could push the action any further, Supanut Wannasangkhum seized the opportunity and re-shoved for his 176,000-chip stack. Ho suddenly found himself in a decision for his tournament life, prompting him to drop all five of his time banks on the table at once before ultimately letting his hand go.

Just before the showdown, Chze admitted, “I’m definitely behind,” and he wasn’t wrong as he tabled 9♦ 7♦. Wannasangkhum revealed his superior pocket pair, 9♥ 9♠.

The board ran out A♠ 9♣ K♣ 7♣ 2♠, sealing Chze’s fate and sending him to the rail painfully close to the bubble.

With 97 players remaining and 96 making it to the final day, hand-for-hand play has begun and will last until the bubble has burst.

Sin Lan Chen was already all in for approximately 100,000 preflop from middle position against Witoon Ittiphuritat, who had Chen covered from under the gun.

Sin Lan Chen: A♦ A♥

Witoon Ittiphuritat: K♥ K♣

It was the best situation Chen could hope for, as she was a heavy favorite to double up near the bubble.

The J♥ Q♦ T♦ flop, however, gave Ittiphuritat an immediate sweat with an open-ended straight draw.

The T♥ turn kept Chen ahead, but a cruel 9♠ landed on the river — completing Ittiphuritat's straight to eliminate Chen late in the evening.

Konstantinos Stroulis shoved for his last 135,000 from early position and just behind him, John Perry called to put Stroulis at risk. Everyone to act behind folded and a showdown was held.

Konstantinos Stroulis: K♦ Q♦

John Perry: A♣ K♠

Stroulis nodded and stood up from his seat upon seeing Perry's Big Slick, apparently resigned to his fate.

The board ran out 2♣ 6♥ 9♥ 4♥ 4♦ — leaving Perry best with his ace to eliminate Stroulis about 20 spots off of the bubble.

Play has begun to turn notably conservative at several tables as players begin to vie for their spot in the finals tomorrow.

However, some of the shorter-stacked players are picking their spots to commit.

In a recent hand, Glen Gressman raised to 20,000 from the hijack and was three-bet to 115,000 by Hao Che Cheng, leaving himself just 16,000 behind. Li Ying Fang shoved on the button for a bit more, which got a fold from Gressman, but a call all in from Cheng.

Hao Che Cheng: 7♦ 7♠

Li Ying Fang: K♣ Q♣

It was a fair fight that ended up going Cheng's way after the 8♠ A♠ 2♥ 3♥ 8♣ runout held his sevens up, awarding him the double up and leaving Fang short.

Thomas Antoine shoved from under the gun for approximately 170,000 and it was folded around to Min Joo Cho, who also went all in for a bit more from the hijack. Everyone else got out of the way.

Thomas Antoine: A♣ K♣

Min Joo Cho: Q♥ Q♣

"Classic flip," Cho added.

It indeed was a flip, but one that didn't go in Cho's favor after the T♣ 4♦ 5♣ 7♣ 4♠ runout improved Antoine to a flush to award him the double up.

Cho was left with just 40,000 following the clash and busted shortly thereafter.

The remaining 141 players have been sent on another 15-minute break.

Play will conclude for the day once the field has been reduced to 96.

Jennifer Cassell shoved on the button, having both players in the blinds covered, and Sze Chun Li tanked a bit in the small blind before deciding to commit his stack worth 102,000 into the middle. Aaron Valencia folded in the big blind and a showdown was held.

Sze Chun Li: A♥ Q♥

Jennifer Cassell: T♦ 9♦

Li got his chips in good, but the 9♥ 6♥ 5♣ flop gave Cassell the lead with a pair of nines.

The 3♣ turn was a brick, but the 5♥ river filled Li's flush draw and he doubled up through Cassell.

Robert Spano, an Aussie who is a regular in Australian and US poker scene with over USD 1.3 million in live-tournament earnings, said the National Cup Championship is his very first entry in an APT tournament and is looking to make a deep run.

Spano, who just arrived last night, said he had planned on playing last year, but circumstances delayed his trip to Asia until this year.

"It's been fantastic so far!" Spano said of his experience so far. "The staff are so pro-active... everything is very well run."

Spano currently sits with about 150,000, which represents about an average stack and plenty to work with in his quest to secure a spot into the final day tomorrow.

Here are some of the big stacks and the field begins to thin.

There are just over 200 players left, and 96 of them will earn a spot into the final day tomorrow.

Wiritoon Ittiphuritat opened to 9,000 pre-flop under the gun with 8♠ 8♦. In the small blind, Joseph Sandaev fired back by moving all of his 65,000 chips into the middle holding A♦ T♦.

Ittiphuritat made the call, and the dealer spread a board of Q♥ K♦ K♥ J♦ 2♠, giving Sandaev a straight and bringing him right back into the action.

Li Yu Wu open-shoved for approximately 50,000 and it was folded around to John Perry, who took a quick peek at his cards and quickly called, putting Wu at risk.

Li Yu Wu: 9♥ 9♣

John Perry: A♦ K♣

Wu had a sweat for his tournament life, which was saved after the 5♦ Q♠ 3♠ 9♦ 4♦ runout left him with a set of nines for the double up.

Level 14 had just begun with blinds at 1,500 / 3,000 and a 3,000 big blind ante when Vincent Dupleix found himself in urgent need of a lifeline, sitting on a short stack of just 20,500.

The Frenchman, a familiar face on the Asian circuit, decided it was time to take a stand and moved all-in from under the gun. Graham Cowan made the call, and the two players went heads-up before the flop.

Dupleix, holding K♦ Q♠, needed to find some help on the board, as Cowan’s A♥ 6♦ had a slight edge going into the runout.

The flop immediately delivered relief for Dupleix, falling 9♥ 4♠ Q♥ to give him top pair. The turn 5♠ and river 8♦ changed nothing, securing the much-needed double-up and keeping Dupleix in contention.

The remaining 267 players have been sent on a 15-minute break.

During the break, the t-500 denomination chips will be colored up.

Munhyeok Sim opened from middle position and it was folded to Wen Chun Hsu, who made it 18,000 to go from the big blind. Sim called.

Hsu followed up with a bet of 11,000 on the K♥ 5♥ J♦ flop, and Sim announced he was all in. Hsu confirmed Sim was in fact all in and quickly called off for 64,500 total.

Wen Chun Hsu: J♠ J♥

Munhyeok Sim: K♦ J♣

It was bad news for Sim, who had run top two pair into Hsu's set of jacks.

Sim was looking for a king, but the 3♥ turn and 6♥ river bricked out to score Hsu the large double.

Kevin Tang raised to 6,000 from the cuotff and found one caller in Jay Leong in the big blind.

The flop came A♠ A♥ 6♥ and Leong checked to Tang, who continued for 6,000. Leong then check-raised to 15,000 and Tang called.

Both players decided to check down on the 9♣ turn and T♦ river and Leong showed 4♣ 4♦.

Tang revealed 6♦ 5♦ for aces and sixes and was sent the pot.

Wei Chun Lin opened to 8,500 from middle position and was three-bet to 25,000 by Jennifer Cassell in the cutoff. Action folded back around to Lin, who shoved for around 80,000 total. Cassell quickly called, having Lin covered, and hands were turned face-up.

Wei Chun Lin: Q♣ Q♥

Jennifer Cassell: A♣ K♦

It was a classic flip between two premium hands, but the 2♣ J♦ 7♦ T♠ K♥ runout paired Cassell's king on the river — eliminating Lin and sending the massive pot Cassell's way.

Three players saw a flop of 3♠ 8♦ 5♦.

Acting first from the small blind, Yu Yi Lee led out for 4,500. Srisuphan Treerapong, facing the bet from middle position, tanked through two time banks before eventually folding. With just 20,000 left, Adrian Siewiera moved all-in from the button holding J♣ J♥.

Lee decided to take the gamble with his middle pair, calling with A♣ 5♣, but the turn 4♠ and river 6♥ brought no help.

Siewiera surged back into contention, climbing to 50,500 chips.

I Chung Chen opened to 4,000 from early position and was called by Kai Hung Wang from directly behind for a heads-up pot.

Chen proceeded to check-call a 5,000 bet from Wang on the 2♣ 4♥ J♦ flop and a 7,500 bet from Wang on the J♣ turn.

However, Chen check-folded facing a 19,500 bet from Wang on the 9♦ river and Wang collected the pot without showing.

Heads-up on a flop of 5♣ 2♣ J♣, Nien Hung Chiu checked from the big blind and Robert Spano bet 5,500 from under the gun.

Chiu responded with a check-raise all in for 20,500 total and Spano tanked a bit after verifiying the amount. Spano eventually tossed in calling chips to put Chiu at risk and hands were revealed.

Nien Hung Chiu: A♥ 6♣

Robert Spano: 9♠ 9♥

It was the correct call from Spano, but Chiu was still drawing live with flush and overcard outs.

The 8♠ turn changed nothing, however, the 9♣ landed on the river — filling Chiu's flush draw to award him the double up.

"Aye ya!" Spano shouted.

"Welcome to Asia," Nicholas Go said from across the table, which got a laugh from everyone.

Late registration has officially closed for Flight C of the National Cup Championship, and the momentum has not slowed one bit. The third starting flight brought in a massive 667 entries, pushing the overall total to 1,395 entries with two more flights still to come. With numbers like these rolling in, the field is already well past the halfway mark toward smashing every National Cup record on the books.

The action inside Red Space, Taipei has been nonstop as tables filled instantly and new waves of players continued streaming in throughout the afternoon. The tournament staff has been working at maximum capacity to accommodate the surge, with players eager to secure their seat and chase a deep run in one of the most in-demand events of the festival.

Due to the huge turnout, an alternate list has been activated. Every player currently on the alternate list is fully guaranteed a seat, and staff are steadily working through names as seats become available. With the room buzzing and chips flying, Flight C has set the tone for what is shaping up to be a historic weekend at APTC.

Players in the field have been sent on another 15-minute break.

So far, 659 players have entered Flight C. Late registration will close at the end of the break.

Paul Yugendra didn’t hesitate to announce all-in several times during the final minutes of Level 10. The Singaporean player was clearly enjoying a strong run of cards.

On the very last hand before the break, he opened to 3,000 from the hijack. Yji Ono three-bet to 10,000 from the big blind. Yugendra quickly responded by shoving his remaining 42,800 chips into the middle. Ono called, immediately revealing a pair of queens.

Yugendra, holding a pair of kings, stayed calm as the dealer spread the board A♥ T♦ 6♦ 7♣ 9♥. The board held, and Yugendra doubled his stack. With a huge smile, he was able to get up and enjoy the 15-minute break.

A three-way all in was already in progress between Li Ta Hsu in the small blind, Hia Lin Huang in the big blind, and Jia Huo Wu in early position.

Hsu was in for approximately 10,000, while Wu had 38,000 in front of him. Hsu had both players covered and all hands were revealed.

Chia Lin Huang: A♣ K♦

Jia Huo Wu: A♦ A♠

Lia Ta Hsu: Q♠ Q♥

It was a match between three premiums, but Wu had way the best of it with his rockets.

The board ran out T♣ 8♠ 5♠ J♥ A♥ — needlessly improving Wu to a set to eliminate Huang and double-up through Hsu.

Michael Concepcion made a raise from middle position and ended up getting his stack of around 40,000 preflop after Masashi Kanta three-bet the button.

Michael Concepcion: A♦ K♥

Masashi Kanta: K♠ K♣

Kanta had the Cowboys and just needed to fade an ace, which he did on the T♥ 3♠ 2♣ 5♠ J♦ runout, which meant Concepcion hit the rail.

On the other hand, Kanta saw his stack soar up to around 140,000 as the deadline for registration edges a bit closer.

Action folded around to the blinds, where An Chi Tsai raised from the small blind and was met with a shove for 10,000 from Ryo Takeuchi in the big blind. Tsai quickly called and a showdown was held.

Ryo Takeuchi: K♥ 8♥

An Chi Tsai: 6♣ 6♦

It was a fair fight, but the 5♦ 4♣ 5♠ 2♣ 6♥ runout left Tsai best with a full house to send Takeuchi to the rail.

Fabian Rolli opened to 2,200 on the button and was three-bet to 7,500 by Yang En Hsia in the big blind. Rolli asked to see how much Hsia had behind and then made the call.

The flop came 7♥ 4♣ 4♥ and Hsia continued for 10,000. Rolli pondered a bit, but eventually decided to let his hand go to award Hsia the pot.

Rolli, who is a regular in poker tournaments across the world, is still over a starting stack despite the hit to his stack with about 45,000.

With pocket jacks J♥ J♠, Zhi Gang Yang had a strong starting point to build his hand and stay in contention on a flop of Q♥ T♠ 9♥.

He decided to shove his remaining chips into the middle and Bin Fu Hsu, holding K♠ Q♠, didn’t hesitate to call with top pair and an open-ended straight draw.

The straight came on the turn with A♣, and a brick on the river, 3♦, ended Yang’s hopes.

Shixiang Khoo, the 2023 APT Summer Series Danang Main Event champion, was back on the felt today as he jumped into Flight C of the National Cup Championship. He arrived in a calm and grounded mood, summing up his year with quiet honesty. “Yeah, it’s alright. This year, competition-wise, not so bad, not so so well,” he said with a small smile.

His start to the day felt steady too. “Yeah, it’s OK. For now it’s OK,” he noted, taking the early levels in stride as the room continued to fill around him.

Looking back on the two years since his career-defining win in Danang, Khoo spoke proudly about the growth he has witnessed at APT. “Oh, it’s definitely continued growing under great management. I feel that they have very good goals, and the scene in Asia has constantly been growing,” he explained.

He also highlighted the international shift he sees happening across the region. “Asia is the market to be at, where you see more Europeans coming over to play more poker. So we have to catch up on skills as well. We have to grind more hours, we have to have more associations within each country and within Asia itself to improve as a region.”

A♠ a past champion, that progress means a lot to him. “I’m hoping that we continue growing, APT continues growing, and as one of the champions, I’m very proud to be part of this competition as well.”

His first impressions of Red Space this time around were positive too. “Beautiful. The first time was freezing. This time around it’s much better. I brought such thick clothes this time around,” he joked.

Khoo plans to take on a strong schedule this series. “I’ll be playing the Main, all the key events, probably the Zodiac, but not the high roller ones,” he said. He also shared his humble outlook about continuing to improve. “Yeah, I feel that I still am lacking in some spaces of the game to be able to compete with players like Joseph and the better Singaporean players as well.”

Khoo settled back into his seat as Flight C continued, ready for a long grind and hoping to build another memorable run on APT soil. Good luck to him throughout the series.

Guillaume Bercq opened to 1,600 from middle position and was called by Chia-Hui Tu in the hijack, Szu-Jui Chiu in the small blind, and Herry Lian in the big blind.

Action checked to Bercq, who again put 1,600 into the middle. Tu and Chiu called, but Lian got out of the way.

Action checked through on the T♦ turn and Chiu checked a final time on the 3♥ river. Bercq bet 3,000, which got a call from Tu and a fold from Chiu.

Bercq showed T♥ 9♥ for tens-up, but Tu revealed A♦ T♣ for tens-up with the best kicker to claim the pot.

Hung Yi Ho raised to 1,600 from the cutoff and was called by Pei Yi Du on the button and Kuan Ip Chi in the big blind.

Chi chekced to Ho, who continued for 2,500 on the J♦ 4♠ Q♥ flop. Du called, but Chi folded.

Both players checked on the Q♦ turn and then Ho fired 8,000 into the middle after the J♠ filled the river.

Du decided to look Ho up and he showed Q♠ 9♥ for trip queens. Du couldn't beat it and mucked — conceding the pot to Ho.

Action folded around to the blinds, where Munhyeok Sim raised to 1,500 from the small blind. Pochou Hou three-bet to 4,000 from the big blind and Sim called.

Sim check-called a 3,500 bet from Hou on the A♦ 3♦ K♦ flop and then both players checked on the 2♣ turn.

The 9♥ completed the board and Sim took the initiative with a bet of 10,500. Hou let his hand go and Sim took down the pot.

Players have been sent on their first 15-minute break of the day.

Flight C is currently up to 329 entrants.

Ren Hao Yang limped from early position and just behind him, Erik Mason shoved for his last 1,700. Edison Marzan called in cutoff, Mijin Kang called in the big blind, and Yang called as well for a four-way pot.

All three active players checked down on the 9♠ 7♠ A♣ flop, 9♣ turn, and T♣ river.

Mason showed A♦ 3♠ for aces-up, which was best against Yang's 5♥ 5♦, Kang's K♠ J♦, and Marzan's 6♦ 6♠ to award him a much-appreciated quadruple up after having his aces cracked in an earlier hand, according to Mason.

After the dealer revealed the river on a board A♣ 3♥ Q♦ K♥ 4♠, the action escalated. Chan Iokyn bet 6,000, Goto Daiki raised to 18,000, and Jeffrey Tsang moved all-in.

After using two time banks, Iokyn made the call. Daiki folded, and the two remaining players tabled their hands.

Tsang revealed pocket aces, which held strong against Iokyn’s ace-queen, sending Iokyn to the rail.

Cheng Shuo Mai opened to 800 from the cutoff and was called by Chansoo Yoo on the button and Jakkapong Apirattanachot in the big blind, for a three-way pot.

The flop came J♣ Q♥ 3♥ and Apirattanachot checked to Mai, who continued for 1,000. Yoo called, and Apirattanachot folded.

Mai bet 2,000 on the 5♣ turn, which got a quick fold from Yoo to award Mai the pot.

Gregoire Main de Boissiere raised to 800 from the cutoff and was called by Kim Ping Ng in the big blind.

Ng check-called a 600 bet from de Boissiere on the 3♠ 3♣ 3♥ flop and a 1,400 bet from de Boissiere on the 7♥ turn.

Both players decided to check after the 7♦ river brought a full house on board and the two players chopped up the pot.

Three ways on a board of 9♣ 5♠ 7♣ A♥, Sung Woo Choi checked from the big blind and Yu Yi Lee checked from the hijack to Chih Wei Cheng, who bet 2,300 on the button. Both Choi and Lee called.

The 5 completed the board and It was again checked to Cheng, who increased his wager to 12,200. Choi called, but Lee got out of the way.

Cheng showed 5♥ 4♦ for trip fives, which got a nod of acknowledgement from Choi before he sent his hand into the muck.

Tin Hau Cheung and Aaron Valencia were already all in on a completed board of 6♥ 3♣ 5♣ 9♣ 8♥.

Cheung held Ax Kx, which was no good against Valencia's Qx Qx to award Valencia the double up and leave Cheun short.

Jakkapong Apirattanachot opened on the button and was three-bet to 3,200 by Takeomi Miyazawa in the big blind. Apirattanachot called.

Apirattanachot called a 2,800 bet from Miyawawa on the 4♦ 9♦ 3♥ flop and then bet 7,500 after being checked to on the 3♦ turn.

Miyazawa wanted nothing to do with it and laid his hand down — conceding the pot to Apirattanachot.

Heads-up on a board of Q♦ 3♣ 2♦ 5♣ with several thousand already in the middle, Kuan Ip Chi checked from middle position and Chin an Chang bet 3,000 from the hijack. Chi called.

The 2♠ completed the board and Chi checked once more. Chang grabbed three t-5,000 denomination chips and placed them into the middle, which got a quick fold from Chi to award Chang the pot.

With 54 players already seated, Flight C of the APTC National Cup Championship is now underway!

On the opening day of the National Cup Championship at Red Space Taipei, Friday, November 14, a total of 724 entries were recorded across the first two flights.

The winner of this event, featuring a TWD 12,000,000 guaranteed prize pool, will take home not only a hefty cash prize and the trophy, but also a coveted seat into the APT Championship Main Event.

Flight C, set to begin at 11am local time (TST), will see players competing through 25-minute levels, starting with 40,000 chips. The tournament will open with blinds at 100 / 200 and a 200 big blind ante.

Registration will close at the start of Level 11, around 3:40pm

With 14% of the field making it in the money, players will battle it out tomorrow, Sunday, for a shot at claiming the title and the prestigious Pewter Lion Trophy.

Follow all the action of the National Cup Championship on this page, where we will share the highlights and the most thrilling hands from the tables.

Which players are still in the running, and who are the two players who managed to build a seven-figure stack? Check out the list of survivors from Flight A and Flight B