The remaining 9 players have bagged their chips and successfully made the final table. There was plenty of action on the felt from all players in this event, as the day began with 71 runners filling the tables at the Red Space Events Centre here in Taipei. Play got underway just after the money bubble burst last night, with everyone guaranteed at least TWD 148,400 (~USD 4,790).

There were many casualties and bad beats throughout the day, eventually reducing the field to just 9. All players returning tomorrow have locked up TWD 683,600 (~USD 22,050), but each of them has their eyes on the top prize of TWD 7,538,480 (~USD 243,180), which also comes with an APTC Main Event ticket worth TWD 311,000 (~USD 10,000).

Rob Hollink tops the counts, finishing the night with a commanding 3,555,000 stack. Hollink started strong, securing a double up early through a hand in which he connected on the flop and turn to bust table mate Anusorn Asiralertsiri. By the middle of the day, he had built a towering stack, though he did drop some chips in a battle with Jon Rounce-Sue. One of Hollink’s most pivotal hands came when he doubled after flopping trips and got maximum value from Chang Seog Chae. Hollink held firm throughout the evening and, in one of the last hands of the night, he picked off a bluff from Rounce-Sue to stay on top.

Christopher Mateo follows close behind after an impressive day. He entered play near the top of the counts with 791,000, placing him 4th out of the 71 returnees. He steadily maintained and built his stack to over 2 million by the middle of the day. His path wasn’t without resistance, especially with Kitty Kuo on his left applying pressure throughout. He doubled up Kuo when she out-kicked him. Mateo kept track of their confrontations, and when Kuo ramped up the pressure, he found a fold after she jammed over his small blind raise. Despite that setback, Mateo surged back to the top entering the final two tables, helped significantly by a late-night pocket aces pickup that sent Kazuhiro Shirazwa to the rail.

Kitty Kuo, a Natural8 Ambassador and the last woman standing in the event, rounds out the podium. Kuo began the day with 168,000 but was active from the start, accumulating chips along the way. She took some from Mike Takayama in an early pot, and later from Xi Zhan Guo, which eventually led to his elimination from the tournament. Her double through Christopher Mateo boosted her stack to 720,000, but she lost a chunk to Anthony Spinella, getting ace-seven in against ace-eight. She later doubled back through Fabian Rolli in what turned out to be one of his final hands, helping her end the night in third.

*Big Blinds as of Level 27

Adrian State staged the biggest comeback of the day, bagging chips and returning for Day 4. His day started well when he picked up eights and knocked out Derek Chen. But Kuo was confronting him and knocked him down to just 115,000 just an hour before the end of the night. His luck changed and he saw back-to-back doubles, spinning his stack back up to 875,000 within just minutes of nearly being out. He kept up the momentum and saw himself at risk again but secured yet another double through Dohang Na. State saw to the end of Fabian Rolli, and finished in 6th position going into the final table, making for an epic late-night comeback.

Chang Seog Chae is also under the spotlight as he has already crushed his own record, his previous best career cash, and guaranteed himself more than double his total lifetime earnings. This result is especially sweet after he was the bubble boy in a recent Ace Poker League (APL) Taipei 2025 Main Event. Chae returns with around 27 big blinds to play with, sitting in 7th place.

Shiina Okamoto returned today and reached the final three tables. She held a steady stack for most of the day but was knocked down by Hajime Watanabe in a blind-vs-blind battle. Her tournament run ended shortly after when she committed her final chips with Ace-King against Dohang Na’s pocket threes and found no help on the board.

Many notables arrived and exited throughout the day, including the last remaining Natural8 Ambassador Sparrow Cheung and APT 2025 Jeju Main Event champion Abraham Ceesvin. Both fell to the same early fate, busting within minutes of Day 3 starting.

The final day resumes tomorrow, Saturday, 22 November, at 11:15 a.m., and will play down to a champion. Action begins at Level 26 with blinds at 25,000/50,000 and a 25,000 big blind ante, but with only two minutes left in the level, it will quickly progress to Level 27 at 30,000/60,000 with a 60,000 ante. Levels remain 60 minutes long, and full coverage will be available on the live stream with a 30-minute delay.

For the APT Live Stream: Click HERE

Be sure to check back tomorrow for continued APT live reporting from the Natural8 Cup Championship as we follow the action all the way to the crowning of our first champion.

The Final Table has been reached, marking the end of Day 3.

Stick around as a full recap of today’s action is coming shortly.

Dohang Na opened to 100,000 in late position and was called by the blinds, Kitty Kuo in the small and Rob Hollink in the big blind.

The flop came 5♣ 7♦ 8♦, and all three players checked. After a check on the 3♦ turn, Hollink fired 75,000, prompting Na to go all-in for 795,000. Kuo snap-called while Hollink got out of the way. Both Na, at risk, and Kuo went to showdown.

Dohang Na: A♦ Q♣

Kitty Kuo: 5♥ 5♦

Kuo had caught a set on the flop. Na still had a chance to improve with his flush draw but the river fell 8♠, giving Kuo a full house and sending Na out one place short of the final table.

Rob Hollink check-called Jon Rounce-Sue's bet of 115,000 on a flop of 2♥ T♠ 7♥ with around 300,000 chips in the middle.

The turn fell 4♥ and action went check-check. Looking slightly confused T♥, Rounce-Sue fired 125,000 and Hollink flat-called.

Rounce-Sue tabled J♦ 9♦ for a complete bluff. Calmly, Hollink showed A♠ 7♦ for a two pair on the board.

After doubling up, Kazuhiro Shirazawa found himself all-in again and at risk for his last 500,000 against Christopher Mateo.

Kazuhiro Shirazawa: 9♦ 9♣

Christopher Mateo: A♠ A♣

Board ran 6♥ 2♥ 3♣ J♦ 7♠.

No more miracles came for Shirazawa and he was sent to the payout cage to collect his 11th place loot.

While Kirazawa doubled up in the other table, another Battle of the Blinds was going on.

Fabian Rolli had made an "almost all-in" jam for 205,000, leaving a 5,000 chip behind. Adrian State defended his big blind with just a call.

The board ran out 9♣ 9♠ 6♦ K♦ 5♥.

Rolli checked his option and eventually put in his last chip when State bet it out.

Fabian Rolli opened a formidable A♥ 3♥, but it wasn't enough to defeat State's 7♠ 5♠, which made a pair of fives for the win, sending Rolli out of the tournament.

Fabian Rolli opened to 100,000 from under the gun, leaving a single 25,000 chip behind. Action folded around to Jon Peter Rounce Sue, who moved a stack of 200,000 into force the action and Rolli checked the action on the other table, then called.

Fabian Rolli: K♠ 9♣

Jon Peter Rounce Sue: T♣ 5♥

The A♦ Q♦ 2♠ 7♠ 4♥ runout brought in little sweat, and Rolli secured a double and remained alive.

Action folded to the blinds and Bawoo Hyun Shik Yun moved all-in on the small blind to pressure the shorter-stacked big blind of Kazuhiro Shirazawa.

Shirazawa accepted the challenge and risked his last 275,000.

Bawoo Hyun Shik Yun: Q♣ 2♦

Kazuhiro Shirazawa: 5♠ 5♣

Board ran 6♥ T♦ A♥ T♣ 2♥.

Shirazawa's fives survive and manage to give him a life-saving double up.

Bawoo Hyunshik Yun opened from under the gun and Kazuhiro Shirasawa, who was sitting to his direct left, moved all in for 1,400,000.

Yun called, putting his 1,200,000 stack at risk, and the players went to showdown.

Bawoo Hyunshik Yun: 9♣ 9♦

Kazuhiro Shirasawa: A♠ K♠

Yun held on the T♥ 9♠ A♥ flop, improving to a set.

The 7♠ turn and 2♦ river didn't change anything, and Shirasawa was left with 200,000.

Action was picked up with Adrian State all-in and at risk against Dohang Na. The pot was already around 1,000,000 when the all-in showdown occurred on a board of 2♠ K♦ 9♣ 5♥ 6♣. State had only 545,000 behind and was covered by Na.

Adrian State: A♠ A♣

Dohang Na: K♠ T♣

Na caught top pair on the flop but couldn’t beat State’s pocket aces. State scooped the pot for a double, pulling himself closer to the final table.

Kitty Kuo and Adrian State went head-to-head again after State opened to 100,000 from the hijack and Kuo three-bet to 250,000 from the cutoff.

State made it 425,000 and Kuo used a time bank card, before announcing "All-in" for her remaining 1,025,000 stack, for the second time against State.

State put in some chips to call, just covering Kuo, and they flipped their hands.

Kitty Kuo: A♣ K♥

Adrian State: J♦ J♣

The T♥ J♠ 3♣ flop saw State hit a set, and Kuo let out a sigh, but she wasn't out of luck as had flopped some outs with a straight draw.

She got there on the Q♣ turn, and State was left with little hope of the pot.

After the 5♦ river was placed, the dealer counted out Kuo's stack and State was left with just 115,000 after the hand.

After getting crippled by Kitty Kuo, Adrian State jammed his remaining 105,000 all-in and was matched by Fabian Rolli to defend the big blind.

Adrian State: A♥ T♣

Fabian Rolli: 9♦ 8♥

Flop came 4♥ 9♥ Q♠ to give Rolli the lead with a pair of nines.

The turn 2♦ kept State on the edge of elimination.

And then, the poker gods did a tribute to Greenstein and threw an A♣ on the river to bring State back to life.

In the following hand, Kitty Kuo raised to 225,000 from under the gun. Then Jon Rounce-Sue fired it up to 675,000 on the button.

State defended his big blind with a call. Kuo stood down.

Jon Rounce-Sue: A♦ 3♦

Adrian State: A♥ K♥

Board ran 5♠ 8♥ 7♠ 7♣ 2♥.

State's big slick was ahead and maintained the lead to double up.

Anthony Spinella opened for 80,000 and received an all-in shove from Dohang Na. Spinella took some time to consider his options, then made the call, putting his tournament life on the line.

Anthony Spinella: A♦ K♠

Dohang Na: A♠ A♥

That was the last hand Spinella wanted to see tabled and his disappointment at running into aces was visible as he got on his feet and started picking up his things.

The board ran T♠ 3♥ 7♥ 4♥ 8♦. The dealer started counting Na's chips, but Spinella was ready to go. He simply asked Na how much his chips were and said, "I've covered," then left.

On a pot of around 400,000 and a board of Q♠ T♥ 9♦ K♠, Jon Rounce-Sue fired 220,000. Dohang Na burned a time bank before calling.

Rounce-Sue needed time to consider his options when the river T♦ fell. He finally decided to bet 725,000. Na flat-called just to muck after Rounce-Sue tabled A♣ J♣ for a turned straight.

Arita Naohiro opened from the hijack for his remaining 495,000, leaving himself with a single 5,000 chip behind.

Bawoo Hyunshik Yun called on the button and flipped over his hand, not seeing that single chip that was left behind.

Bawoo Hyunshik Yun showed A♠ Q♣, and Naohiro took some time, looked across at the other table to see what action was unfolding, and then flicked in his chip to call.

Arita Naohiro: K♦ T♦

Naohiro called, knowing he was behind but was committed nonetheless.

The 4♣ 5♦ 4♦ flop didn't change much, but the Q♠ turn and A♣ river daggered his departure and he was sent home in 14th place.

Kazuhiro Shirazawa opened for 80,000 and Hajime Watanabe amped it up to 200,000.

When action went to monster chip leader Christopher Mateo in the big blind, he four-bet to 600,000.

Shirazawa folded and Watanabe then five-bet to 1,000,000, leaving behind 50,000 in chips.

Mateo then pushed all-in. And then some chaos ensued as the stalls began due to the pay jump.

It was made known to the players that using a time bank is an option in the strategy and that six time banks were allowed. Several complained, but rules are rules and the complaints won't mean much if the rules are still being followed.

Nevertheless, Watanabe made the call.

Hajime Watanabe: K♠ K♥

Christopher Mateo: 8♦ 8♠

The flop came J♣ T♣ 9♦, which gave Mateo a few more outs with a lower straight.

However, the runout of 2♠ 6♥ didn't offer any assistance.

Watanabe's kings held to earn a monster double up and reduced the chip lead of Mateo

Joel Singam, on the button, pushed 200,000 of his chips to the middle leaving behind 30,000. But even before he could release his stack, small blind Anthony Spinella announced all-in promting him to put his remaining chips in for his tournament life.

Joel Singam: J♠ 4♦

Anthony Spinella: K♦ 3♠

The flop came 7♠ 9♠ T♥, giving Singam hope with a gutshot straight draw. But no help arrived when the dealer peeled a 2♠ turn and a 2♦ river. Spinella won the hand with king-high, sending Singam to the payout counter.

Jon Peter Rounce Sue opened from middle position to 80,000 and Adrian State three-bet to 240,000 from the cutoff.

Kitty Kuo was on the button and paused, before sliding a time bank card towards the dealer. She used two cards, and counted out her stack 830,000, before announcing "All-in".

There was a sea of quick folds though the blinds, and back to State who took a little longer to deliberate.

State also mucked, giving Kuo a good chip up.

Action folded to Kazuhiro Shirazawa on the button, who jammed all-in against the very short stacked blinds.

Curtis Lim made the call from the small blind for his last 200,000. Julian Warhurst gave it some long thought on the big blind, but decided to let it go.

Curtis Lim: K♦ J♠

Kazuhiro Shirazawa: K♠ 8♠

Lim looked good pre-flop and even when the flop dropped T♥ Q♠ 7♣.

The turn however 4♠ gave Shirazawa a flush draw and it completed when the A♠ hit the river, sending Lim to the rail.

Curtis Lim was in the big blind and only had 40,000 behind after he's put the minimum bet in. Hajime Watanabe, in middle position, bet exactly 80,000, and small blind Kazuhiro Shirasawa decided to join in the fun.

Without any fuss, Lim put his remaining chips all-in and quietly watched the hand unfurl. The dealer flopped 3♦ T♠ Q♥, and action went check-check.

This continued without creating a side-pot on the 5♦ turn and A♦ river. Shirasawa, first to show, tabled, 9♠ 8♠ for nine-high. Looking embarrassed, Lim tabled K♥ Q♠, which made the table chuckle in amusement. Watanabe didn't even bother to show his hand as the dealer pushed the pot towards Lim for a triple up.

On a pot of around 300,000, Jon Rounce-Sue fired 75,000 on a flop of 4♣ A♠ A♣ from the small blind and was called by the only other player in the hand, Anthony Spinella.

Rounce-Sue slowed down and passed the action to Spinella on the 2♥ turn. Spinella made a stab of 210,000 and his opponent hung on to see the last card.

The river brought a 5♠ Rounce-Sue took back betting control with 450,00,0 which was enough to take the pot down.

The remaining 16 players take a short 15-minute break.

Fabian Rolli raised his small blind to 80,000. Kitty Kuo in the big blind defended by three-betting to 230,000. Rolli, not to be outdone, shoved all-in for around 850,000 which Kuo snap-called for her tournament life.

Kitty Kuo: K♥ K♠

Fabian Rolli: A♦ 6♦

The flop gave Kuo a sweat as it ran 3♦ 4♣ 9♦, giving Rolli a flush draw to add to his outs.

The runout 3♠ J♠ didn't give it to him however and gave Kuo a double up instead.

Hajime Watanabe opened for 60,000 under the gun and got two callers in Arita Naohiro on the button and Rob Hollink in the big blind.

The trio saw a flop of 6♦ 2♥ Q♣. After a check from Hollink and Watanabe, Naohiro fired 85,000 which was enough to win the pot.

With 450,000 already in the pot and the flop showing 3♣ 9♣ 5♠, Rob Hollink fired 100,000, which his heads-up opponent Chang Seog Chae called.

No action happened on the J♠ turn as both players checked, but it resumed when the Q♥ river dropped. Hollink shoved for 665,000, sending Chae into the tank. After burning a time bank, Chae made the call.

The river got Chae in trouble as it paired his A♣ Q♦, but Hollink had the nuts from the get-go, tabling 3♦ 3♥ for a flopped set.

Shiina Okamoto had her last 120,000 chips in the middle with Dohang Na giving the challenge.

Shiina Okamoto: A♦ K♦

Dohang Na: 3♣ 3♦

Board 8♠ 9♥ 6♠ 4♣ 7♠.

Okamoto found no help on the board, sending her out of the tournament.

Hajime Wantanabe opened to 60,000 from under the gun and Chang Seog Chae jammed from the hijack for his remaining 580,000.

Kazuhiro Shirasawa called on the button and Wantanabe got out of the way, mucking his hand quickly.

Chang Seog Chae: 4♣ 4♦

Kazuhiro Shirasawa: A♣ A♥

Chae sat composed as the players flipped their hands.

Shirasawa was ahead with aces, but not for long as the 8♥ 5♦ 4♥ flop brought in a set for Chae.

The 2♥ turn and 7♦ river saw Chae chip up, leaving Shirasawa short-changed from his aces.

Chae is one of the lesser known players in the tournament and has already secured a career-best record.

There are just 18 players remaining, and things are heating up as the tournament closes in towards the final two tables.

Arita Naohiro moved all-in for 265,000 and was called by Jun Ho.

Arita Naohiro: A♠ 6♠

Jun Ho: A♣ K♠

The board ran 6♦ 5♣ 8♠ 4♦ 3♣.

Despite being dominated, Naohiro paired a six which held to give Naohiro a double up.

Later in that level, both players were at it again.

Arita Naohiro: K♥ K♠

Jun Ho: A♠ A♥

The board ran 3♠ 7♣ K♦ T♣ 5♣.

Naohiro made a set on the flop, leaving Ho with 30,000 crumbs.

A hand after, Ho was all-in for his tournament life and his last 70,000

Arita Naohiro: K♥ J♥

Jun Ho: A♠ 7♣

Board ran 8♣ K♠ 3♥ J♣ T♣.

Naohiro turned a pair which was good enough to win the pot and finally send Ho to the rail.

After a check, Hajime Watanabe fired 45,000 in a pot of 180,000 and a flop of Q A 5. His heads-up opponent, Jon Rouce-Sue called, leading them to the turn.

The turn dropped J♦, and action went check-check. On the river J♣, Rounce-Sue initiated with a 200,000 bet, which Hajime called.

Rounce-Sue tabled K♣ J♥ for rivered trips, prompting Hajime to muck his hand.

Anthony Spinella and Kitty Kuo had their chips in the middle with Spinella at risk of elimination.

Kitty Kuo: A♦ 7♣

Anthony Spinella: A♠ 8♦

Board: J♦ A♣ 8♣ 5♥ T♦

Spinella flopped two pair and went on to double up.

Action folded to Dohang Na on the button, who opened for 50,000.

Shiina Okamoto three-bet to 160,000 on the small blind and Hajime Watanabe four-bet to 320,000 on the big blind.

Na went bye-bye and Okamoto shoved all in, covering the stack of Watanabe.

Watanabe risked and made the call.

Shina Okamoto: A♦ 5♦

Hajime Watanabe: J♥ J♣

Board: 9♥ 9♠ 8♥ 5♣ 4♠.

The board didn't help Okamoto and her stack was left crippled.

On a pot of 200,000, the dealer flopped 5♦ 6♠ 9♥ with three players waiting to act. Jun Yi Ho in the big blind and Jon Rounce-Sue under the gun both checked to Rob Hollink, who bet 75,000. It was enough to make Ho fold his hand but Rounce-Sue stayed on to see the next card.

Both players checked the turn 5♥, but on the river J♥, Rounce-Sue re-started action with a 230,000 bet. It only took a few seconds for Hollink to call and just as fast to fold his hand when Rounce-Sue tabled K♠ 5♠ for trips.

On the button, Shiina Okamoto opened for 50,000 and got a three-bet from Hajime Watanabi to 180,000. Without even using a time bank, Okamoto shoved all in 700,000 which was enough to make Watanabi fold.

Teng Kuei Hsu did an almost all-in, leaving 10,000 chips behind. Chang Seog Chae also went all-in.

Hsu burned through the maximum 6 time bank tokens and was probably hoping for a payjump, but none materialized. He eventually threw in the last 10,000 and put his tournament life at risk.

Teng Kuei Hsu: 3♣ 3♥

Chang Seog Chae: 6♥ 6♦

The board ran 2♦ 5♣ A♥ J♦ T♠ and was of no help, sending him out of the tournament.

Action folded to the blinds when Lun Po Lam shoved all in for his last 200,000. Hajime Watanabe called to defend the big blind.

Lun Po Lam: A♣ 9♠

Hajime Watanabe: J♣ J♥

Board: 4♥ 6♣ A♥ 8♣ J♦.

Lam had hope when he paired his ace on the flop. However, Watanabe caught a jack on the river to make a set, eliminating Lam.

Chang Seog Chae opened to 80,000. Jon Rounce-Sue called and Arita Naohiro jammed all in for 280,000.

Chae made the call and Rounce-Sue stepped down.

Chang Seog Chae: A♠ K♥

Arita Naohiro: J♠ T♠

Board: T♣ 3♦ 6♦ 6♥ T♥.

Naohiro led on the flop with a pair and ended up with a full house on the river to make a much-needed double-up.

On a pot of 400,000 and a completed 7♥ 7♣ 3♣ 5♣ J♠ board, action was on Akshay Nasa, who fired 130,000, which garnered an all-in shove from his head-up opponent, Kazuhiro Shirasawa, for 815,000. After asking for a count, Nasa went to the tank, using up three time bank cards as he only had around 650,000 behind. Visibly struggling, Nasa ultimately made the call.

Shirasawa showed 5♥ 5♠ for a full house on the turn, while Nasa, frustrated, turned over Q♠ J♣. Nasa left the table as the huge pot was shipped towards Shirasawa's direction.

25 Players remain and are headed for a quick 15-minute break.

Some of the players who have ended their run include Benjamin Leblond, Jeffrey Lo, Zhan Xi Guo, Mike Takayama, Kok Wei Teoh, Jaeho Lee, Kim Fernandez, Derek Chen, Andrei Spataru and Chung Ching Cheung.

The remaining players are guaranteed TWD 257,800 (~USD 8,315)

Action folded around to Christospher Mateo, who raised to 60,000 from the small blind. Kitty Kuo re-raised in the big blind to 200,000, and Mateo sat back to deliberate.

Mateo flicked in a time bank, taking the extra time, before moving his hand towards the dealer.

Before the dealer could scoop them, Kuo suggested, "You show - I show...?". Mateo picked his hand back up and turned over ten-four off suit.

Kuo said, "Wrong girl, wrong girl," before showing her strength with A♠ Q♦.

After the hand, Mateo continued to discuss his history at this table with Kuo, and laughed whilst saying "My score is 5-0, I never win".

Despite losing to Kuo, Mateo was topping the counts, with only 25 remaining in the field.

Shiina Okamoto opened for 50,000 under the gun and got a three-bet from Adrian State, immediately to her left for 250,000.

Derek Chen in cutoff announced all-in as well for around 340,000, pushing Okamoto out of the way. Both gentlemen headed to showdown with State at risk.

Adrian State: 8♠ 8♥

Derek Chen: A♠ K♥

The board ran 6♥ 3♣ 6♠ 7♠ J♠. With no aces or kings on the board, State's eights held for a double up leaving Chen with around four big blinds.

Chen was eliminated a few hands after.

On the flop of 7♥ 5♣ J♠, Curtis Lim in lowjack fired 30,000 and got called by his heads-up opponent, Bawoo Hyumshik Yun in hijack to see the turn.

The turn A♦ was peeled and Lim fired another 75,000 and got called once again by Yun. On the river 9♣, Lim shot out 300,000, which sent Yun into the tank. He burned a time bank card and made the call.

Lim showed K♠ T♥ for a bluff while Yun flipped over A♠ K♠ for top pair.

Shiina Okamoto opened for 40,000 on the cutoff. Adrian State called from the button and Arita Naohiro jumped in on the small blind.

The flop arrived 3♠ T♥ 7♣.

Action was checked to State on the button, who led out for 60,000. Naoihro called and Okamoto then raised it to 200,000.

State folded immediately and Naohiro took a moment before finally letting go, awarding a good-sized scoop to Okamoto.

Derek Chen was on the big blind going up against Dumitru-Adrian Pora on the lojack.

A pot of around 100,000 was brewing in the middle beside a board that showed T♠ 6♦ 4♣ 3♣ 4♦.

Chen acted first and fired 60,000.

Pora riffled his chips until the clock wore down before he gave back his cards to the dealer.

After Akshay Nasa opened for 45,000 from the cutoff, Joel Singam, in the big blind, shoved all-in for 183,000. Nasa called, putting the latter at risk.

Joel Singam: A♥ Q♥

Akshay Nasa: K♣ J♥

Singam was looking hopeful when the flop dropped 6♥ 9♥ 8♠. Already in the lead with ace-high, Singam's outs to improve further increased with a flush draw. The turn A♠ secured him a potential double. And when the river fell 9♦, Singam happily scooped the pot to stay alive.

Action folded to the blinds and monster chip leader Christopher Mateo raised to 100,000 in the small blind.

Kitty Kuo then went all-in on the big blind for 330,000.

Kitty Kuo told Mateo, "You're chip leader. Only 330,000."

Mateo made the call.

Chrisopher Mateo: K♣ 3♣

Kitty Kuo: K♥ J♦

Board: K♠ 4♣ 8♠ 8s 6♠.

Both paired the flop and made two pair on the turn, but Kitty had the better kicker to earn a double-up.

After she stacked her chips, she told Ysmael, "Xie Xie."

Akshay Nasa has been making waves throughout the first week of the APT Taipei series. He emerged as the end-of-day chip leader on both Day 1 of the 7-Max Championship and Day 2 of the Natural8 Cup event, steadily building a reputation across the tables.

Nasa’s Climb to the Top

In the 7-Max Championship, Nasa finished 20th after a rough start saw his chip stack tumble during the first level of the day. Undeterred, he bounced back and joined the Natural8 Cup Championship on Day 1. He bagged just above the starting stack, returning for Day 2 with 44,000 chips. Nasa quietly climbed the ranks, jumping from 325,000 during Level 15 to 860,000 in under two levels of play, and he continued to build a commanding stack as the day progressed.

Towards the end of the evening, as the money bubble loomed, he was seen open-jamming his monster stack in the right positions, forcing folds and stealing blinds. This didn’t go unnoticed as he was caught red-handed playing two-three suited, handing some chips back to his fellow tablemate, Teng Kuei Hsu. Even so, he closed out the day as the chip leader, marking another highlight in his debut APT Taipei appearance.

Nasa recently took a fall and currently sits on 760,000, having lost his dominating stack in an ongoing battle with Jon Rounce-Sue.

Nasa on the Record

APT caught up with Nasa during the first break of the day to discuss his successes at recent stops from across the world, and his draw to this APTC Taipei series.

Nasa has frequented many APT stops in the past, but never Taipei. When asked what drew him to this APT Taipei Championship, Nasa said, “I didn’t want to miss out on a big stop, and a new country is always fun.”

He also has a history with other major Poker series, including WSOP. He has played during three WSOP summers, and had particular successes cashing in their online tournament. Nasa also has scores from across the pond in the UK, most recently from the 888 Mini Main Event in London, but his main track record is within the Asian circuit. When asked what draws him back to APT events specifically, he replied, “I like the structure and management of the events”.

Nasa also plays both online and live cash games, noting that recent changes to regulations in India will see him focusing more on live tournaments abroad. When discussing his plans for 2026, Nasa explained they were still undecided but added, given the recent changes, “I will be travelling a lot more for live stops”.

No doubt Nasa will become an increasingly familiar face on APT feeds and screens, adding to his already impressive USD 727,592 total live earnings. The recently announced 2026 schedule ensures plenty of opportunities for him to make his mark.

Xi Zhan Guo just couldn't catch a break. Hand after hand, he was either pushed out of a hand or just lost the hand.

This time, Kitty Kuo, sitting to his right opened for 32,000 in hijack. He three-bet to 65,000 and got called.

The flop came 8♦ Q♠ 4♥, continuing the pressure, Guo fired another bullet for 30,000 after action was passed to him. Once again, Kuo called.

Both players checked through the 7♣ turn and the 9♥ river. Kuo tabled 5♥ 5♦, prompting Guo to muck his hand.

Guo was eliminated a few hands after.

Akshay Nasa and Jon Rounce-Sue were at it again, this time in the battle of the blinds. On a pot of 80,000 and a flop of 9♦ 8♥ T♣. Nasa check-called Rounce-Sue's bet of 24,000.

When the 7♦ fell on the turn, looking very straight-y, both players slowed down, checking all the way to the river A♠.

Both players hit a pair of nines on the flop with Nasa showing Q♣ 9♣ and Rounce-Su tabling K♣ 9♠, which outkicked the former for the pot.

There was a Battle of the Blinds between Fabian Rolli on the small blind and Kim Fernandez on the big blind.

Both players were fighting for a 90,000 pot with a board that showed Q♣ A♠ 3♣ 8♠ 9♥.

Rolli acted first and checked. Fernandez gave Rolli "the look" and decided to just check back.

Rolli showed 8♣ 6♣ while Fernandez opened J♦ J♣ and scooped the spoils of battle.

Following the break, only 35 players still have chips and a seat.

Among those who have ended the championship campaign include Dinesh Alt, Nathan Ong, Noa Aoki, Michael Allen, Tao Qin, Andre Marcano, and Kuo Wei Kao.

Day 2 will conclude when we have reached a final table of nine players. Still a lot more poker to go.

Players are on a short 15-minute break.

From the small blind, Arita Naohiro shoved all in for 128,000 after an opening raise of 24,000 bet from Dohang Na on the button. When action returned to him, Na called, taking them to showdown and putting Naohiro at risk.

Arita Naohiro: A♣ 3♦

Dohang Na: Q♥ T♥

The board ran 4♣ 3♠ A♥ 8♠ 6♣, giving Naohiro top pair and a much-needed double-up.

Rob Hollink opened for 20,000 from under the gun. Chung Ching Cheung three-bet raised to 100,000 on the small blind. Tao Qin then four-bet jammed all in for 431,000.

Hollink moved out of the way immediately and Cheung burned through some time banks, looking at the monitor, considering two words - "Pay Jump" - knowing his stack was covered.

Eventually, he made the call.

Chung Ching Cheung: A♠ K♥

Tao Qin: 7♥ 7♣

Board: A♣ J♦ 8♦ 5♣ A♦.

Cheung flopped a pair and rivered trips. Qin asked, "Why so long to call?"

Then Cheung explained "pay jump" and went through his range - "ace queen, I fold right away." as he stacked his monster double-up.

Meanwhile, Hollink chimed... "I had king-ten diamonds."

Dohang Na bet 70,000 from the small blind, on a pot of around 200,000 and a flop of 2♥ 3♠ 9♦. Derek Chen, the only other player in the hand, called to see the next card.

The turn 9♠ fell and after a burned time bank, Na announced all-in for 515,000, sending Chen into the tank. While waiting for his action, Na put on his hoodie, masking any possible tells he may give.

Chen mucked his hand and the dealer pushed the pot towards Na's direction.

Action was picked up on a completed board of 4♥ 3♠ 3♣ 4♠ 9♠ with a pot of 250,000. Fabian Rolli turned over 8♥ 8♦ and without bothering to check what his heads-up opponent, Chung Ching Cheung's action would be, he complained that his cards were marked and called for the floor.

A discussion ensued with the table totally forgetting it was Cheung's turn to act. Looking confused, Cheung was just hanging on to his cards, looking at Rolli, the floor and the dealer alternately.

Finally, the dealer remembered Cheung and asked his action while the discussion was still ongoing.

Cheung indicated he was folding, then turned his attention to checking the cards as well.

Two former APT Main Event champions had a little spat.

Kitty Kuo opened for 25,000 from early position and Mike Takayama defended the big blind.

The flop arrived J♣ 8♦ 2♠.

Takayama checked and Kuo fired 30,000. Takayama folded to fight another time.

The pot reached 72,000 pre-flop. In contention were Hajime Watanabe on the small blind and Kuo Wei Kao on the cutoff.

Both were given a flop of A♦ A♣ 4♦.

Watanabe check-raised the 18,000 bet of Kuo to 48,000. Kao made the call.

The turn showed a Q♣.

Watanabe led for another 48,000 and Kao again went along.

The river brought a Q♥ and Watanabe declared all-in before the clock ran out with his stack covering Kao's.

Kao threw in a few time banks, looked hard at the board that wouldn't change and wondered if Atlantis really existed under the sea.

Eventually, he threw back his cards to give up the HUGE pot, leaving himself with crumbs, but still alive.

The pot reached 72,000 pre-flop. In contention were Hajime Watanabe on the small blind and Kuo Wei Kao on the cutoff.

Both were given a flop of A♦ A♣ 4♦.

Watanabe check-raised the 18,000 bet of Kao to 48,000. Kao made the call.

The turn showed a Q♣.

Watanabe led for another 48,000 and Kao still went along.

The river brought a Q♥ and Watanabe declared all-in before the clock ran out with his stack covering Kao's.

Kao threw in a few time banks, looked hard at the board that wouldn't change and wondered if Atlantis really existed under the sea.

Eventually, he threw back his cards to give up the HUGE pot, leaving himself with crumbs, but still alive.

On a pot of 70,000, Jon Rounce-Sue passed the action to his heads-up opponent Zhan Xi Guo, who bet 20,000 on a flop of Q♠ J♣ 7♠. Rounce-Sue called to see the next street.

The turn produced J♦, where both players checked. Rounce-Sue fired 75,000 when the river dropped Q♥, which double paired the board for a possible full house. Guo couldn't call and surrendered his hand as Rounce-Sue added yet more chips to his growing stack.

Toby Joyce sat on the small blind. Kim Fernandez was on the hijack and Julian Warhurst was on the cutoff.

A pot of around 90,000 was in the middle with a board that showed J♠ A♦ 4♦ 8♦ 6♣.

Joyce and Fernandez checked over to Warhurst, who didn't shy away from firing 50,000.

Joyce took a peek and mucked. Fernandez followed, awarding the juicy pot to Warhurst.

South Korean Chang Seog Chae remains as one of the 40 players still competing for the title in the Natural8 Cup Championship. He is relatively unknown in the poker world, with recorded live tournament earnings of $14,116. His largest single cash of $4,703 came from a recent Super Cup event in Busan. Chae primarily competes in the Asian live poker circuit, steadily building experience in large-field tournaments.

He has already had a successful series here in Taipei, having cashed both the Mystery Bounty event and the Super Hyper Turbo, but neither of the cashes set a new personal record. That all changed for him in this event, where he has already locked up TWD 168,000 (~USD 5,360).

Chae returned to the day with a sizeable 432,000 chips and remained steady throughout the morning flurry of bust outs and looks to be able to ladder and set a new record for himself. Whilst Chae’s presence in this tournament has been steady, he already experienced a brutal knockout during his recent participation in Ace Poker League (APL) Taipei 2025 Main Event when busted on the stone bubble of Day 1, in a blind vs blind hand which ended Chae’s run just short of the money.

If Chae reaches the final two tables and finishes in 11th place, he would more than double his total live earnings in a single event. All eyes will be on him as he chases this personal milestone.

On a pot of 150,000 and a completed board of 6♦ K♥ J♣ J♦ 5♠, Mike Takayama pushed 202,000 to the middle of the table, leaving around 50,000. Jeffrey Lo, his heads-up opponent, went into the tank needing to burn one time bank before making the decision to call.

Takayama flipped over K K for a turned full house. Lo threw his cards to the muck pile and started counting his chips. Takayama scooped the massive pot towards his direction effectively doubling up.

Akshay Nasa opened with 24,000 from hijack and got two callers, in Jon Rounce-Su and Mike Takayama in the cutoff and on the button respectively.

The flop came A♣ 3♥ 3♦. Nasa fired another bullet worth 16,000 and succeeded in pushing Takayama out, but Rounce-Sue hung on.

The turn T♥ saw another 40,000 from Nasa, but it still wasn't enough to shake Rounce-Sue off the hand. On the river 2♠, Nasa finally slowed down with a check. Rounce-Sue took control with a 150,000 bet. Nasa, unwilling to let go of his hand, called.

Rounce-Sue turned over A♠ T♠ for a rivered top-two pair. Frustrated, Nasa showed one card - A♥ - then mucked his hand.

On a pot of 30,000 and a board showing 8♥ A♥ A♠ 9♣, Chaehun Ryu fired 15,000, which was called by Po Lam Lun, his heads-up opponent sitting immediately to his left.

The river came 4♦ and Ryu tried to take the pot down with a 55,000 bet. Lun checked his stack before letting go of his hand.

Chung Ching Cheung opened for 20,000 from under the gun. Tao Qin three-bet to 56,000 from the seat over.

Rob Hollink then shoved all-in for 172,000. When it came to the big blind, Anusorn Alisertsiri pushed all-in for his last 130,000.

Cheung folded immediately and Qin gave some thought before letting go.

Rob Hollink: A♦ Q♣

Anusorn Asiralertsiri: J♦ J♠

Board ran A♣ 4♠ K♣ Q♥ 5♥.

Hollink flopped an ace and turned two pair. While Asiralertsiri gained outs, none of them came on the river, and he exited the tournament.

Hyeonsik Yun moved his last 100,000 all-in and was matched by Vamerdino Magsakay.

Hyeonsik Yun: A♠ K♦

Vamerdino Magsakay: Q♦ Q♠

Board ran 3♣ 9♥ 3♠ 8♦ 9♦.

Yun couldn't find any help and was shown the exit.

Teng Kui Hsu opened from after the gun for 20,000 and Kok Wei Toh - the recent APT PLO Championship winner - made the call.

Both players checked the flop of 5♣ 5♥ Q♠ and also checked the T♦ turn. After the 6♠ river was dropped, Hsu fired 40,000.

Toh took a moment of reflection and decided to fight another time.

Jaeho Lee and Chang Seog Chae had a huge pot of 150,000 in the middle with a completed board that showed Q♦ 9♦ Q♣ J♠ T♦.

Chae checked his option on the small blind over to Lee on the hijack.

Lee riffled his chips, took his time, put in a time bank and then made a dramatic push of a towering 100,000 stack across the betting line.

Lee made no fuss. He took a final look at his cards and folded.

On a pot of around 70,000 and a flop of 6♦ 3♣ J♠, Ping Lin check-called Jon Rounce-Sue's bet of 10,000 to see the next card peeled.

And the turn fell 2♦. After another check, Rounce-Sue fired another 35,000, keeping the pressure on the short-stacked player. Lin, visibly uncertain, made the call.

After passing the action the third time, Rounce-Sue effectively placed Lin all-in with a 200,000 bet, sending him into the tank. After burning two time banks, Lin folded his hand then achingly looked at his diminishing stack.

Action was picked up with Derek Chen calling the all-in shove of Jaeho Lee for 58,000, taking them to showdown and putting the latter at risk.

Jaeho Lee: 5♦ 5♥

Derek Chen: A♣ 6♠

Lee's pocket fives held on the flop of T♠ 2♣ 8♠. Derek was looking to hit the board for an elimination but the 5♠ fell on the turn, securing Lee's double up. The dealer completed the board with Q♣ then pushed the chips towards Lee's direction.

Zhan Xi Guo and Joel Singam had a pot of 70,000 in front of them with a complete board that showed 5♦ 6♦ 9♠ 3♠ A♠.