Ultra Stack Championship (25,000 TWD)

Play wrapped on Flight C of the Ultrastack Championship TWD 20,000,000 GTD inside the Red Space in the early morning hours, capping off another massive day of poker action at the Asian Poker Tour Championship here in Taipei.

The hyper-turbo flight attracted 132 entrants by the time late registration had closed, bringing the total number of entrants overall up to 691 when added with Flight A's 293 entries and Flight B's 266 entries.

Emerging as the overall chip leader of the 19 surviving players after bursting the Day-2 bubble himself was Kiyoung Kim, who bagged up a massive stack worth 1,859,000. Not far behind him is Nao Aoki (1,714,000), who held the chip lead for several levels before Kim surpassed him on the last hand of play.

Sitting a bit further down in fourth place is poker crusher Punnat Punsri, who managed to end with 1,370,000 in chips. Punsri can normally be found grinding the high-roller circuit but has shown he is not above entering smaller buy-in fields despite massive success on the felt. He sits far and away number one on the Thailand all-time money list with over USD 30,000,000 in live-tournament earnings, according to the Hendon Mob, and he shows no signs of slowing down.

Another notable to keep an eye on is famous Taiwanese poker pro Chen An Lin, whose 480,000 was good for the ninth place. Lin, a regular in both tournaments locally and across the globe, boasts nearly USD 2,000,0000 in live-tournament earnings and has multiple titles across Asia to his name.

Despite a modest start, Flight C of the Ultra Stack Championship steadily gained entrants throughout the day and it didn't take long for the chips to start flying. Ravn Teo claimed an early elimination after flopping a set of eights against Pou Hong Jin and holding. Teo maintained his momentum from that point onward, ultimately bagging a top three stack worth 1,373,000.

Another big name that joined the field was US-based pro Michael Wang. Despite being eliminated short of the bubble, Wang remained in good spirits and noted he plans on playing a full APTC schedule.

Other notables who entered, but fell short of a bag include Brad Ruben, Nishant Sharma, Calvin Tan, and Daniel Smiljkovic.

The Day-2 bubble was a short-lived affair, lasting only three hands before Kim put a brutal cooler on Kai Yang by being dealt pocket aces against pocket kings.

Everyone who fell short of securing a spot into the final day still have plenty of opportunities as Flights D, E, and F take place on Tuesday, Nov 18 at 11am, 4pm, and 8pm respectively. Those who have already earned a seat into the final day will reconvene on Wednesday, Nov 19 at at 11:15am to play down to a winner.

With plenty of action still to come, be sure to check back here for continuing coverage of the APT Ultra Stack Championship until one player is left holding the coveted APT Lion Trophy!

For the full Ultra Stack Championship Flight C Survivor List: Click Here.

The remaining 19 players are bagging their chips and will return on Wednesday, Nov 19 for the final day.

Stay tuned for a recap of Flight C.

On the third round of hand-for-hand play, Noa Aoki raised to 80,000 from the cutoff and was three-bet to 275,000 by Kiyoung Kim in the small blind.

Kai Yang committed his last 283,000 into the middle from the big blind and both Aoki and Kim called.

Kim began to put out a bet on the 5♥ J♣ 5♣ flop, which got a snap-fold from Aoki to set up a showdown between Kim and Yang.

Kai Yang: K♠ K♦

Kiyoung Kim: A♦ A♥

It was bad news for Yang, as he had run into a classic hold'em cooler.

The remaining players sweated the runout, which came T♥ 8♦ — eliminating Yang just shy of a Day-2 berth to end play for the day.

The final 20 players in Flight C of the Ultra Stack Championship have been sent on a 15-minute break.

When they return, hand-for-hand play will commence until the Day-2 bubble has burst.

Punnat Punsri opened from middle position and Arita Naohiro shoved for around 100,000 on the button. It was folded back to Punsri, who snap-called to put Naohiro at risk.

Arita Naohiro: A♦ J♠

Punnat Punsri: A♥ Q♦

The K♥ 9♣ T♠ 3♦ 8♦ runout kept Punsri best and Naohiro was eliminated just shy of the bubble.

Ravn Teo is starting to build a stack as the bubble nears.

Martin Carl raised from under the gun and Teo called in the big blind to see a flop of 4♦ 2♣ 3♦, where he check-called a small bet from Carl.

On the T♦ turn, Teo switched up his strategy and led out for 70,000, which Carl called pretty quickly. When the 7♠ hit the river, Teo peered at the stack of his opponent, then bet 120,000. Carl quickly relented, and Teo raked in the pot, which boosted his stack to around 850,000.

Noa Aoki has been on fire in the past couple of levels by being unafraid to gamble, which has led to several players being eliminated.

In a recent hand, Anderson Huang shoved for a bit over 100,000 on the button and it was folded to Aoki, who immediately asked for a count and then stuck in a chip to indicate a call.

Anderson Huang: 2♥ 2♣

Noa Aoki: Q♦ 9♠

The flop came K♦ T♣ K♠, which prompted Aoki to start shouting "Ten! Ten!" in hopes of counterfeiting Huang's pair.

Sure enough, the T♦ fell on the turn to give Aoki the best hand.

The 5♠ river couldn't save Huang and Aoki claimed another knockout.

Aoki currently leads the tournament with about 1,650,000.

Joel Loy shoved for around 230,000 from early position and it was folded to Jin Wang, who called from the small blind having Loy covered.

Joel Loy: A♦ T♦

Jin Wang: A♠ K♦

Loy found himself dominated, and the 8♦ A♣ 3♥ flop didn't change much as both players paired their ace.

However, the 6♦ turn gave Loy outs to a flush draw, which came in on the 4♦ river.

"Oowww!!" Wang cried out before pulling out his phone to snap a pic of the bad beat.

Flight C of the Ultra Stack Championship drew 132 entrants by the time late reg closed, which means 19 players will secure a spot into Day 2 (unless multiple eliminations occur on the bubble).

The turbo structure has ensured plenty of action, with several pots leading to early all-ins. Just 34 players remain about half way through Level 17.

Oh Jihwan opened from the hijack and Kuan Yu Lin shoved for his last 120,000 on the button. It was folded back to Jihwan, who quickly called to put Lin at risk.

Kuan Yu Lin: K♦ Q♠

Oh Jihwan: Q♣ Q♦

Jihwan enjoyed a sweat-free 2♥ 5♦ T♣ 6♠ 7♠ runout and was sent the rest of Lin's chips.

Nishant Sharma raised to 20,000 from early position and just behind him, Marcano Plaza shoved for 177,000 total. Just behind him, Jia Lin Luo also went all in for 240,000 total. Everyone else folded, including Sharma, and a showdown was held.

Marcano Plaza: A♠ 5♠

Jia Lin Luo: A♦ Q♣

It was a less-than-favorable situation for Plaza, but that quickly changed after the 4♦ 3♥ 5♣ flop paired his five to leave Luo drawing slim.

Neither the 4♣ turn nor J♦ river changed anything and Plaza was awarded the majority of Luo's stack.

Daniel Triana limped from middle position, Jung Jinwoo limped from the hijack, Anderson Huang limped from the cutoff, Dohang Na limped on the button, and Kriengkrai Hannunthawiwat called from the small blind.

Xiang Yu Yu wasn't having any of it and shoved his entire stack of over 300,000 into the middle.

One by one, each player dropped out and Yu picked up some easy chips.

Martin Carl raised to 12,000 from the hijack and was called by Ting-Chieh Chi in the small blind for a heads-up pot.

Chi then check-called a 12,000 bet from Carl on the 4♥ J♦ 8♥ flop and a 25,000 bet from Carl on the K♠ turn.

The 3♠ completed the board and Chi checked a final time. Carl proceeded to slide two small stacks of chips into the middle, one after the other, with the intention of betting 65,000. The floor was called over and it was ruled that Carl's first stack that went over the line would be the official bet, which was for 40,000.

It made no difference to Chi, however, as he let his hand go to award Carl the pot.

One hand penalty for Punnat Punsri!

Hang Xu had cards in front of him in the hijack, but Punsri made it 10,000 from the cutoff. Wang was given the option and chose to limp, which meant Punsri's raise stood. Juns Leong then shoved from the button for 116,000, Xu called off his stack of 106,000, and Punsri folded.

Hang Xu: J♦ J♣

Juns Leung: A♦ Q♥

Xu was ahead, and extended his lead on the J♠ T♣ 2♦ flop. Leung had a gutshot to Broadway, but that didn't matter after the 2♥ turn gave Xu a full house.

The dealer decided to give Leung a straight anyway as he put the K♦ out on the river, but Xu collected his double up.

Punsri sat out the next hand.

Michael Wang shoved for his last 27,000 from middle position and was called by Yohwan Lim in the small blind to be put at risk.

Michael Wang: K♦ T♥

Yohwan Lim: A♣ 8♠

Wang's cards were live, but the 6♦ 8♥ A♦ 9♠ A♠ runout left Lim best with a full house for the elimination.

Wang, who is a regular on the high roller circuit with nearly ~USD 10 million in live-tournament earnings, said he plans on playing a full schedule at the APTC.

"This is my third APT," Wang explained. "I must really like it because last year I flew from Jeju to Vegas and then back to Taipei to participate, and those are really long flights!"

Despite busting, Wang will will have many more chances to make a deep run, but said he is most excited for the Main Event.

"It's rare to see a USD 10,000 freezeout with such a big guarantee. Especially in Asia!"

Good luck to Wang, who will be seen a lot more on the felt this series.

The 95 remaining players have been sent on a 15-mintue break.

Flight C of the Ultra Stack Championship is up to 125 entrants and late registration will close at the end of the break.

Kil Soo Kim opened to 6,000 from under the gun and was called by Ting-Chieh Chi on the button, Sho Fujiki in the small blind, and Michael Wang in the big blind.

It was checked to Kim on the 2♦ 9♦ 8♠ flop and he continued for 7,000. Chi and Fujiki folded, but Wang called.

Wang checked again on the J♥ turn and Kim announced a bet of 15,000. Wang moved all in and Kim quickly called to put himself at risk for around 40,000 total.

Kil Soo Kim: Q♦ T♠

Micahel Wang: J♦ 9♣

It was a cooler for Wang, who had turned two pair against Kim's straight.

The 5♥ changed nothing on the river and Wang was forced to surrender the majority of his stack over to Kim.

Yi Yi Chen opened to 5,000 first to act and was called by John Matsuda in the hijack. Daniel Benor then shoved for a bit over 50,000 from the cutoff, which got a call from Chen and a fold from Matsuda.

Daniel Benor: A♣ J♥

Yi Yi Chen: K♥ K♦

Chen had Benor on the ropes, but the J♣ 3♦ J♠ flop improved Benor to trips for a commanding lead.

The 7♣ turn changing nothing, and the A♠ river was overkill for Benor after improving him to a full house for the double up.

Pou Hong Jin raised to 4,000 from middle position and found one caller in Ravn Teo on the button.

Jin check-called a 4,000 bet from Ravn on the 3♣ 8♥ 9♣ flop, but then check-raised Ravn's overbet of 21,800 to 55,000 on the T♦ turn.

Ravn shoved for approximately 95,000 total and Jin put in a reluctant call for a bit less.

Pou Hong Jin: K♥ J♥

Ravn Teo: 8♣ 8♦

Jin would need to hit his open-ended straight draw to double up and survive, but the K♠ river left him second best with a pair of kings and he was sent to the rail.

Lina Lam Na was already all in for 97,600, having got into a preflop raising war from the hijack against Edgar Asehan, who had Na covered from the cutoff.

Lina Lam Na: K♠ K♥

Edgar Asehan: A♦ T♠

No shenanigans occurred on the 3♣ 3♥ 3♠ Q♥ 2♦ runout, which left Na's kings best to award her the double up.

Chi Ying Lin opened from early position and was three-bet to 6,000 by Keith Ong in the cutoff. Wei Chew called cold on the button and Lin called as well.

The dealer brought 9♥ 4♥ J♣ on the flop and it was checked to Chew, who fired 7,500 into the middle. Lin called and Ong folded.

Lin checked again on the 4♣ turn, prompting a 20,100 bet from Chew. Undeterred, Lin slid his stack over the line for a raise enough to put Chew in all in for his last 30,000 behind.

Chew grimaced and sat back in his seat before folding his hand, conceding the pot to Lin.

Martin Carl opened to 2,000 from early position and was called by Ting-Chieh Chi on the button.

Chi called a 3,000 bet from Carl on the Q♥ 9♠ 6♠ flop, but gave Carl an bit of an incredulous look after he overbet the turn for 20,000.

It didn't take Chi longe to slide his hand into the muck and Carl took down the pot.

Kevin Tang raised to 1,600 from under the gun and was called by Calvin Tan in the cutoff, Joel Loy on the button, and Jaewan Park in the big blind for a four-way pot.

Action checked to Loy, who bet 2,500 on the 6♣ 8♠ 7♦ flop. Tang called and everyone else folded.

Both players then checked down on the 9♣ turn and 7♥ river.

Tang revealed A♠ A♥ for aces-up and Loy mucked his hand.

Three ways on a board of 4♦ Q♣ 7♦ K♣ with over 30,000 in the middle, Yeom Dongwk already had a bet of 25,000 in front of him from the small blind and was called by Kyungkeun Lee in the big blind and Wei Lun Wanh on the button.

The J♣ filled out the board and and Dongwk bet 55,000. Lee called after a bit of thought and Wanh quickly let his hand go.

Dongwk tabled K♦ Q♠ for top two pair and Wanh mucked, awarding the massive pot over to Dongwk.

Kevin Tang opened to 1,000 on the button and was called by Guo Guang Ng in the small blind and Jia Lin Luo in the big blind for a three-way pot.

Action checked to Tang, who continued for 1,500 on the 3♠ 5♠ K♣ flop. Only Luo called.

Luo check-called a 4,000 bet from Tang on the 7♣ turn and then both players checked on the 5♣ river.

Luo turned over K♥ 9♠ for a pair of king and Tang sent his hand into the muck.

With a single table of nine players to start things off, Flight C of the APT Ultra Stack Championship is now underway!

Flight C of the Ultra Stack Championship is ready to get underway at 8pm inside Red Space, Taipei, as the Asian Poker Tour Championship (APTC) continues to thrive. This will be the third starting flight of the TWD 20,000,000 guaranteed event, and with its 15-minute levels, players can expect a fast-paced, high-pressure session from the moment cards are in the air.

The momentum has been strong all day. Flight A drew 293 entries, locking 41 players into the Final Day. Flight B is currently running and has already attracted around 200 entries at the time of writing. With three more starting flights scheduled for tomorrow, November 18, the prize pool is on track to surge well past the guarantee.

Players in Flight C will begin with 100,000 chips at blinds of 200/400 with a 400 big blind ante, giving them 250 big blinds to navigate the early stages. Registration will remain open until the start of Level 11, and as with all flights, play will end once the field is reduced to 14 percent, with all survivors earning a cash and advancing to the final day on Wednesday, November 19.

Stay tuned for live updates as the third flight gets underway under the evening lights in Taipei.