The 2025 APT Championship Series in Taipei is shaping up to be another record-breaking series, and the Main Event is no exception. Day 1 drew an impressive 595-player turnout, setting the stage for an electrifying competition.

This year’s Championship Main Event features a single Day 1 flight in a freezeout format, giving each player only one shot at the title. Beyond the top payout, the eventual champion will also claim the coveted 24K APT Golden Lion Trophy, valued at an additional USD 10,000.

The prestigious TWD 311,000 (~USD 10,000) APTC Main Event came with a monumental TWD 156,000,000 (~USD 5 million) guaranteed prize pool — making it Taiwan’s largest-ever poker guarantee and the richest APT Main Event in history, even before registration opened. By Level 5, the number of registrants had already surpassed 540, smashing the guarantee and setting another record for the day.

The first record came from the Superstar Challengers event, taken down by Calvin Lee — who had previously won a Main Event ticket at the same even in the Incheon series. Today, he secured a ~USD 600,000 payout, which was the highest APT payout on record. The Main Event then surpassed this by guaranteeing over a USD 1,000,000 first-place prize, which was quickly met as the tournament progressed.

Excitement had been building long before Day 1, with over 100 players earning entry through the online Natural8 satellite, including Nicolas Godard (113,700) and Fabian Rolli (39,800), both of whom bagged chips and return to Day 2.

Live satellites running throughout the festival at the Red Space Event Centre also produced notable qualifiers. Georgina Vuksanovic, playing her first APT tournament after just three years of full time competing, enjoyed a steady day and took through 61,800 for Day 2 — making for an impressive start to her series.

Day 1 began at 11:15 a.m., with many players taking their seats immediately. Notable contenders included Sofia Lovgren, who has already dominated this series with several cashes, including a recent Mystery Bounty win. Taiwan’s top-ranked James Chen also appeared early, adding another title chase to his WSOP victories. Both players were among those to take a tumble, and won't be returning to Day 2 tomorrow.

Taiwan’s Chia Wei Kuo ended the day atop the chip counts with a towering 434,100 stack. Quietly climbing the ranks, Kuo doubled up opponent Mattias Lipp in one of the final hands, solidifying his lead.

Trailing him is Eisuke Katsuren from Japan with 329,000 chips. Katsuren, who earned his biggest cash of USD 61,257 at the recent APT Incheon High Roller, will look to maintain momentum into Day 2. Fellow Japanese player Nobuaki Sasaki (‘Sasa’) sits in third with 283,300 chips.

Powerhouses Erik Seidel (65,700) and Steve O’Dwyer were also in action, challenging tables across the room. O’Dwyer (73,100), who joined later in the day, accumulated chips near the end after eliminating Ferdinand Carabuena just after he quadrupled up.

Several former APT Main Event champions returned as well. While Punnat Punsri exited early, Abraham Ceesvin (46,000) and Joseph Cheong (72,600) bagged chips for Day 2. Cheong built his stack after an early knockout of Johannes Molenaar, hitting the nut straight.

Italy’s Alesso Isaia survived a runner-runner hand early, but eventually bowed out in the freezeout. Monika Hrabec (67,600) and Roman Hrabec (36,800) both bagged for Day 2, with Monika ending the day just above starting stack after a difficult Level 5.

Natural8 ambassadors Sparrow Cheung (68,400), Kitty Kuo (81,000), Fan Chih Wei (133,500), and Nevan Chang (196,000) all secured their spots for tomorrow.

Day 2 of the APTC Taipei Championship Main Event resumes at 11:00 a.m. TST, starting at Level 9 with blinds at 500/1,000 and a 1,000 big blind ante. Levels are 75 minutes long, with a 15-minute break every two levels and a scheduled dinner break after Level 14 (approx. 7:00–8:00 p.m.). Play is expected to conclude after Level 16 or once the money is reached.

Late registration remains open until the first two levels of Day 2, meaning the prize pool is expected to grow even further.

Stay with APT Live Reporting for full coverage of all Main Event and side-event action throughout the remainder of the 2025 Taipei Championships.

From a full field of 595 players, just 343 players secured a bag and will return to Day 2 of the ATPC Main Event.

Stay tuned to the blog as a full recap will be posted shortly.

Mattias Lipp saw a late night double through the current chip leader Chai Wei Kuo.

Lipp got in his remaining stack of just over ten big blinds against Kuo and the pair went head-to-head in one of the last hands of the night.

Mattias Lipp: A♠ 6♥

Chai Wei Kuo: Ax 4x

The Q♥ K♣ T♦ 6♦ 9♣ runout was safe enough for Lipp as he secured the double with a pair of sixes. He bags around 29,000 and will return to Day 2.

Despite giving away some chips, Kuo sat on a sizeable 430,000 stack after the hand.

In a last attempt to double up, after the last five hands had been announced, Maxwell Rosete shoved all-in for 92,000. Hang Xu had already bet 13,500 into a pot of 40,000 on a board of 6♥ 3♠ A♦ T♠ 4♥.

It cost him two time banks to finally make the decision to call, putting his tournament life on the line at the end of the day.

Rosete showed 7♠ 5♠ for a rivered straight. Disappointed, Xu turned over 3♥ 3♣ to show he had flopped a set.

He left the table and vented it all out to one of the other players who had already bagged his chips for the day.

Nearing the end of the day, players were slowing down, just hoping they'd survive the day to make it to Day 2. Such was the case on Table #68.

John Juanda opened for 2,100 on the button and got called by James Mendoza.

The flop came Q♣ 3♥ 7♣, and action went check-check all the way through the 4♦ turn and 2 river.

Mendoza showed K♣ J♥ while Juanda turned over A♥ Tx for ace-high.

Malaysia's Juns Leong got scratched in the previous hand for some chips while on the big blind.

In the following hand, Shixing Koo opened for 2,000 from the cutoff and Yoda Lin called on the button.

Leong three-bet to 10,000 on the small blind and found no customers to regain a pretty decent pre-flop pot to help him rebuild.

Jimenez Ortega and Wai Kiat Lee were locked in a tense pot with the board reading A♦ 6♦ Q♠ 5♦ 8♠. With 11,800 already in the pot, Jimenez Ortega uncorked a 16,000 overbet, only to be met immediately with a 42,000 shove from Lee, putting maximum pressure right back at him.

Ortega had a covering stack, but barely, and went tanking until he burned through two time banks before finally deciding to give up his stake in the pot.

Fujiwara Tetsuya opened for 2,000. Hsuan-Yu Lai called. Ankit Ahuja three-bet to 7,200. Nirunrut Rachburom four-bet jammed all-in on the big blind for 24,500.

Tetsuya stood down. Lai stood down. Ahuja gave it some thought and made the decision to call.

Ahuja opened K♠ T♣

Rachburom opened 8♠ 8♥

The flop of 4♣ K♦ A♥ gave Ahuja the lead, leaving Rachburom with only two outs left.

The turn 9♦ didn't help and the T♥ river improved Ahuja to two-pair, ending the run of Rachburom along with her hopes of a Main Event championship.

The floor has announced that players will continue through six more hands before bagging for the evening and returning to Day 2 tomorrow.

Those who bag will return at 11.am TST to battle through another day of play in search of the main event title.

Ferdinand Carabuena was already all in for his remaining few big blinds. He was in the big blind and had got called by three players, which checked the action all the way to showdown.

Carabuena was first to show after seeing the 5♣ J♠ 8♣ 4♥ J♥ runout. He was already stood from the table, expecting to hit the rail.

Ferdinand Carabuena: 8♠ 6♣

His opponents were Benjamin Jacobs sitting under the gun with K♦ Q♣, Bawoo Yun with K♠ Q♠ in middle position and Huges Girard in the cutoff holding 2♦ 2♦, none of which stood up to his pair of eights, securing him a quadruple up to around 13,000.

After the hand, he remarked, "Oh, I win. I go all in, and they still call me pre-flop."

His luck didn’t last long as he was all in, in the small blind but this time against power house Steve O’Dwyer.

He faded after getting all his chips in on the J♣ T♠ 4♥ flop with top pair.

Ferdinand Carabuena: K♦ J♥

Steve O’Dwyer: A♠ Q♠

But it didn’t hold against O’Dwyer’s ace-queen suited, as the Q♥ was turned. A T♦ river sealed his fate, and he hit the rail in the last level of the night.

Dongying Ling opened to 2,000 under the gun and got a caller in the big blind, Alexandru Papazian.

Both players saw a flop of 8♦ 2♣ 2♦. Ling continued with 2,600 and Papazian continued to hang on.

On the turn 4♣, Ling tried again with 5,100, this time Papazian let go of both his cards and the pot.

Matthias Lipp has had enough of the chip leader Chia Wei Kuo, who has been railroading the table with his massive stack. Following a raise from Kuo on early position, right next door Lipp fired it all in the middle and after it folded around, Kuo snap-called.

When they flipped them over, Lipp was in disbelief, saying, "Every time you have a hand."

Matthias Lipp: A♠ K♥

Chia Wei Kuo: A♦ K♠

When the flop ran 7♠ 5♠ 2♠, Lipp pushed his ace and called out, "One time! One time!" But the turn came 8♦ and the river K♣ to split the pot instead.

South Korean poker pro Seungmook "7High" Jung was seen getting up from his table and heading to the exit.

Jung was one of the 58 qualifiers in the record-shattering Mega Satellite that played last night and took his seat just before the second break.

Jung, who has over $2.1 million in total live earnings, also has three APT titles coming from high roller events. Jung won the NLH - High Roller in The APT Philippines 2022 in September and again during APT Philippines 2022 in November, but this time for the 6-Max High Rollers Hyper Turbo.

His latest APT victory was during APT Manila Classic 2024, where he topped the NLH - Freezeout.

Jung's best APT result was a 4th-place Main Event finish in APT Taipei 2024 for $127,000.

Zhan Xi Guo and Wai Kit Lo were locked in a tense standoff on a board of 7♣ K♦ T♠ 2♠, with roughly 23,000 already in the middle. That pot swelled further when Guo fired 18,000 from hijack, and after a pause, Lo check-called from under the gun.

The river brought the 8♠, and Lo checked once more. Guo followed up with a 33,600 bet, sending Lo deep into the tank. Lo stood up to scan the board again, thinking aloud as he tried to pin Guo’s range, “ace-queen, ace-jack”. Lo eventually put in the call, only to see Guo table 7♦ 7♥ for a flopped set.

In surprise, Lo said, “oh, sevens.”

“Bang!” Guo replied, dragging the pot.

Taiwanese high roller Meng Ling "Candy" Lin has entered the APT Championship Main Event Freezeout.

Lin has over $ 1.2 million in total live earnings and just recently scored her biggest cash just recently in the K Poker Cup series in Jeju where she topped the Single Day Super High Roller for nearly $480,000.

A year before, she topped a WPT Korea Single Day High Roller for a little over $180,000.

That victory also marked her 11th career title, going back to 2021. Lin has made multiple APT caches and has also bagged an APT title, winning the Women's Event in APT Taipei 2023.

Her most significant APT cash was a third place finish in the APT Taipei 2025 Single Day High Roller for $17,500.

Quick room scan to see some of the stacks of the Main Event's marquee players, especially those with WSOP bracelets and major APT titles.

Here's what we found:

With action passed to her, Georgina Vuksanovic fired 3,200 in a pot of 6,000 and a flop of 5♥ 4♥ 7♦. Chang Le Lin in the small blind called but Satoshi Isomae in middle position got out of the way.

The turn produced a 9♥, and still in control, Vuksanovic fired 8,000, which was enough to make Lin fold his hand.

In a three-way pot of 20,000 and a flop of K♣ T♥ 2♣, Wing Men Tan and Hao Shen checked the action to Ka Chun Tsui, who fired 6,700 into the pot.

Tan bowed out but Shen raised to 17,000. Tsui shoved all-in for 46,700 and Shen snap-called, putting Tsui at risk.

Ka Chun Tsui: A♣ A♦

Hao Shen: 2♦ 2♥

Shen immediately got to his feet and began recording the progress of the hand. He hit a set on the flop to crack Tsui’s pocket aces, then the turn brought the 2♠, drawing groans from the entire table as he improved to quads.

The dealer completed the board with the 4♥, and Tsui quietly packed his things before leaving the table.

Two players were all-in - Hiroshi Nishiyama for 84,000 and at risk, and Chung Ching Cheung for 135,000 - on a flop of 7♥ 4♥ 9♣. Action was on Hung Te Lee, who took his time considering his options. After burning two time banks, he folded, leaving the two players to proceed to the all-in showdown.

Hiroshi Nishiyama: A♠ T♠

Chung Ching Cheung: A♥ 9♥

Nishiyama held overcards but Cheung had already connected with a pair on the board. The run out 2♦ 5♥ didn't help Nishiyama, sending him to hit the rails.

Ranno Sootla was asked by a fellow tablemate about the small gold statue sitting beside his chip stack. Sootla explained that it carried personal meaning and that he had purchased it shortly after arriving in Taiwan. When interviewing him about it after a hand, he recalled:

“I was looking for something to have with me at the table for some time, and me and my girlfriend were walking around Taipei city and stumbled across this local seller.”

He continues, “It's actually made for stamps, but I didn’t get anything put on the bottom.” “I didn’t think much of it at first, but when we got back, we looked up the meaning of it, it related so much to me of where my career phase is right now.”

While he explained, the statue turned out to be more meaningful than expected.

“It’s a mouse, and so it symbolises things like being one step ahead, seeing things that others don’t see.”

Sootla noted that this symbolism resonated deeply with him and where he feels he currently stands in his poker journey.

“It has a number of significances to me personally… It was actually sick.”

He had been searching for something that connected with him for a few days before taking a seat at ATPC: “I was looking for something for days, but just didn’t find anything.”

“(This one) was meant to be.”

Sootla finished second in the Single Day High Roller last week, earning TWD 811,000 (~USD 26,930) — his first cash in Asia. He isn't new to the felt, though, as Sootla is a familiar face on the European circuit and has cashed in a number of recent Triton Poker Series.

Sootla continues to make his mark on the international stage - here at the record-breaking APTC Taipei series.

Jereld Sam has double the starting stack, having banked the maximum courtesy of Ran Ilani.

It opened with a raise from Sam at hijack for 1,600 that Ilani three-bet to 4,800 from the button. Sam called to take them to the flop of K♦ 6♣ 4♦ where more chips went in the middle with a bet of 6,200 that Sam check-called.

The J♠ turn is where it all went in. Sam checked again, Ilani shoved, exactly what Sam hoped for who called and showed top pair.

Jereld Sam: A♠ K♥

Ran Ilani: A♦ Q♦

The only hope for Ilani was a queen for Broadway but the river produced the 7♠ instead, and with both players near even in chips, Sam soared and Ilani was down to just 500.

Heavy preflop action erupted at Table 63, which started with a 1,700 raise from Kornkrit Chaveewanitkun at hijack. To his immediate left, cutoff Timon Prill flatted.

Two spots over, small blind Tattana Pengduen paused for thought then three-bet 4,600. Big blind Hung Chun Wu assessed the heavy action before him then four-bet 12,300.

Action swung back to Chaveewanitkun, who used up a time-bank before sending out a five-bet of 30,000. Prill quickly got out of the way while Pengduen fidgeted in his seat. After burning a time-bank, he reluctantly folded, leaving the decision on Wu.

Wu tossed in a time-bank as well and counted out his chips. Though he could afford it, if he lost, he would be significantly crippled. Just before the time ran out, he open-folded Q♣ Q♠ and asked Chaveewanitkun if he had aces.

Sure enough, Chaveewanitkun flipped over A♠ A♥, making Wu very relieved. Pengduen shared that he folded pocket jacks while Prill joked,

"I would have cracked you guys one hundred percent with ten-nine suited!"

Steven Chew and Peter Kiem were staring at a board of 4♣ K♣ T♠ 5♣ K♥.

Kiem had shoved all-in, and Steven Chew snap-called, risking his APT Championship Main Event hopes.

Chew tabled a flush with J♣ 2♣ from the big blind, but was denied the win by Kiem with the nut flush, holding A♣ 8♣ on the button.

Chew threw his chips in the middle to be shipped by the dealer to Kiem. He exited his seat to a polite round of "GG" from the table.

During the break, Kiem revealed in a quick conversation that he enjoyed the 75-minute bind level structure.

"I like it. It suits me. It's just chill," he said.

Kiem has just crossed the $600,000 mark in total live earnings and holds an APT title in the High Roller Double Stack during APT Taipei Classic 2024.

The "chill" structure indeed seemed to be working as he has grown his stack to over three times the starting.

Greg “All-in” Liow hit a painful downswing after losing a portion of his stack across two consecutive hands.

The slide began when Ting Wei Li opened to 2,000 from late position and Ankit Ahuja flatted on the button. Liow responded with a three-bet to 10,000, only for Li to come back over the top with a cold four-bet to 42,000. Both Ahuja and Liow released, sending the pot to Li.

On the next deal, Hsuan Yu Lai opened from hijack and got called by button Jean-Jacques Leo and small blind Liow. Li fired a 1,800 continuation bet on a flop of 3♣ 6♠ K♥ and only Liow called.

The action repeated on the A♠ turn with a 4,800 bet from Li check-called by Liow after using one time-bank.

The board completed with a 6♦ river and once more, Liow checked while Li sized up Liow's remaining stack of 13,900 then put him all-in.

Liow tanked again for one more time-bank and this time he emerged with a fold, unable to follow through with his infamous tagline.

During the dinner break, Lucia Martinez was explaining the hand where she got caught bluffing and left her a bit short-stacked.

"It was a good time because I always fold and fold and fold, and maybe he might believe me, but he didn't."

Right after the break, a glance at her table saw her being shipped the chips with the all-in button in front of her with her hand of J♥ T♥.

The board showed J♠ 8♥ 3♠ Q♥ 4♥.

The dealer had already turned over her opponent's losing hand. No further inquiries were made into who doubled her up. The important thing was that she doubled up and earned herself some breathing room and kept her APT Championship Main Event dream alive.

Martinez sits at over $550,000 in total live earnings, with most of her championship titles coming from her motherland in Spain. Her most significant cash was a 5th place finish in the Moneymaker Main Event for nearly $100,000.

Heavy preflop action kicked off with a raise from middle position Son Nguyen for 1,700. From hijack, Yunku Song took a peek then three-bet to 5,600. Folds followed until the big blind Mike Takayama unloaded the clip for a total of 15,700. This pushed out Nguyen while Song flicked the one-chip call.

Mike Takayama: J♥ J♠

Yunku Song: K♥ K♠

Takayama was in bad shape with his hand dominated with only two outs to save him. With a crowd of friends behind him, they called out for the jack and voila! It appeared on the flop J♣ T♣ T♥.

Takayama was now ahead and with his rail, they eagerly awaited the runout which were 4♠ turn and 9♣ river for a happy double up and

Kwang Soo Lee checked his option on the small blind on a board of 8♦ A♣ 4♥ K♥ Q♣ beside a pot that was worth around 38,000.

Challenging him in the hand was John Perry on the button, who counted off a bet of 32,000.

Lee tanked for a while, wondering why in the world anyone would invent such a huge, complicated gadget, such as a stapler, just to push a small piece of wire together to put papers together. That thought cost him two time bank tokens.

Eventually, Lee folded before the dealer could get a third one, awarding the pot to Perry.

With 500 red hoodies handed out to the early birds, the Main Event floor has turned into a giant game of "Where’s Waldo?"

Except today, Waldo is anyone not wearing red, having just missed out on securing their limited edition bag with APT hoodie inside.

Some of those newcomers into the main event include, Yohei Kitazto, Dominik Nitsche, Joshua Figuerres, Quan Qiu, Phachara Wongwichit and Ferdinand Lu.

Late registration is open until the end of play today - with it re-opening for the first two levels of play tomorrow - so there's still time for more players to jump in.

The 414 players currently with a seat in the main event take a 75-minute dinner break, with action due to resume at 8.15 pm TST.

When they return, they are expected to play two more levels before bagging for the evening.

Some notable players who had an early dinner break and won't be returning include Stanislav Zegal, Mattia Festa, Jaegeol Cho, Quang Thai Ha, Ben Hur Ybarsabal, Paul Esau, Lisa Tan, Jennifer Cassell, Felix Favre, Wing Po Liu, Jung Jinwoo, William Ysmael, Gyeong Beom Kim, Yuki Nakada, Je Min Chan, Robert Mitchell, John Matsuda, Kristo Segers, Alf Martinsson, Wanghee Lee and Stephen Lai.

A pot of nearly 40,000 was in the middle of the table beside a complete board of A♣ 2♦ 9♥ 5♣ T♠.

Wayne Lau was on the big blind and checked his option to Hugues Girard seated under the gun.

Girard counted off 36,000 and pushed it across the betting line.

Lau took a moment to think and eventually released his cards to the dealer, awarding the rather juicy pot to Girard.

On a three-way pot of 16,000, Quang Minh Bach bet 7,000 on a flop of 7♥ 2♥ 4♥. Both Him Wong Sung in early position and Nguyen Koi Le called to see the turn.

The turn dropped a 5♥, which all three players checked.

After Bach checked on the river 4♠, Sung fired 25,000. Le snap-called sending Bach to the tank. After a burned time bank, Bach folded, leaving the other two players to show down.

Sung showed 7♦ 7♠ for a full house, prompting Le to muck his hand.

With only 1,200 left after that hand, Le shoved all-in after a min-raise opening from Sung. The action folded around to Sung, who called to put Le at risk.

Nguyen Koi Le: K♥ 6♦

Him Wong Sung: T♠ 8♠

The board ran 8♣ 9♣ 2♥ J♣ J♦. Le's tournament run ended with Sung catching a pair on the flop.

Shoichiro Tamaki opened from under the gun and picked up three callers to go four-ways to a flop of J♠ T♥ A♣.

Tamaki kept the lead with a 2,500 continuation bet, and only the cutoff player, Christopher Mateo, stuck around.

On the 4♣ turn, Tamaki fired again and Mateo made a second call, sending them to the river 5♥.

Tamaki didn’t let up, unloading a hefty 20,000 bet. Mateo went deep into the tank, burning through all four of his remaining time-banks, but ultimately couldn’t pull the trigger.

A♠ the pot slid Tamaki’s way, Mateo asked, “You have jacks?”

Tamaki dodged the question with a smile, “What do you have?”

Mateo replied, “I have two pair.”

Michael Allen raised to 1,600 and got two callers in Duan Chao on the button and Wai Kin Suen in the big blind.

The trio checked the 3♥ 7♥ 3♠ flop.

On the 6♠ turn, Suen fired 3,000, and both Allen and Chao stayed on to see more of the board.

The river A♠ both Suen and Allen checked. Chao fired 7,500, which effectively placed Suen all-in with only 7,100 behind. Suen didn't hesitate to call, pushing Allen out of the pot.

Chao showed Q♠ K♠ for a flush. Suen, disappointed, flipped over A♦ T♦ before leaving the table.

Hao Shan Huang rocketed into the lead after securing a huge pot against Michael Foo.

Huang opened to 1,500 from the hijack and Foo called the big blind.

The J♦ 6♦ K♥ flop was check-called by Foo after Huang bet 1,300.

An 8♣ was turned and Foo check-raised to 13,600 after Huang bet 2,600.

The K♣ saw Foo bet out 15,000. There was little hesitation from Huang as he moved 46,000 into the middle.

Foo called and Huang showed his boat, which he made on the river with K♠ J♠. Foo slammed down his 8♥ 8♦, having turned the set.

Huang emerged as the new chip leader of the tournament after taking down the huge pot just before the dinner break.

Last night, Roman Hrabec was crowned champion of the APTC Super High Roller Championship for a whopping TWD 13,398,721 (~USD 428,768) top prize. In addition, he was awarded a seat to the APTC Main Event and is now back in the chase after a night's rest.

In a hand against early position, Anthony Xu, who opened to 1,500, Hrabec three-bet 4,200 on the button. Xu came back with a four-bet to 11,300, only for Hrabec to instantly announce all-in. Xu snap-folded.

Tablemate Dylan Foster pressed Hrabec to show, and he obliged and turned over A♠ 3♠, drawing “ooohs” from Foster. Hrabec grinned and fired back, “I learned it from Dylan.” Xu glanced at Foster and deadpanned, “he’s ahead.”

After Victor Dai opened for 2,000 from the cutoff, Lisa Tan in the small blind shoved for 22,500. When action returned to him, Dai called, putting Tan's tournament life on the line.

Lisa Tan: A♠ Q♥

Victor Dai: A♣ Q♦

Tan was visibly relieved to see the same hand. The dealer fanned out an 8♦ T♠ J♣ J♥ 7♠ board without any fuss. The players pulled back their chips to divide the small blind and the ante among themselves.

Benjamin Jacobs from under the gun started the action with a 1,400 raise. Folding around, John Matsuda in the big blind called, taking the duo to see a flop.

The flop dropped 4♥ 8♥ 7♦, which went tap-tap.

Matsuda donk bets the 9♠ turn and Jacobs called. After a check, Jacobs fired 6,000, which was too much for Matsuda's short stack.

Some notable players have taken their seat in the APT Championship Main Event Freezeout.

There's Australia's Joshua McCully, who was crowned Player One during the recent Triton ONE series held in Jeju earlier this year. That basically translates that McCully was the player of the series, garnering the most points to earn a little added bonus from the folks at Triton Poker.

What's equally amazing is that McCully claimed that title without winning a single event, although his consistency at running deep in multiple events is what earned him that recognition. McCully, who has over $ 2.6 million in total live earnings, has also bagged three APT titles to go along with several cashes.

His first APT victory came in a High Speed High Roller event in APT Phu Quoc 2023. That was followed by back-to-back wins in APT Summer Series Da Nang 2024, where McCully took down the Superstar Challenge and the Single Day High Roller Bounty 8-Max.

Another familiar face in the APT is Mike Takayama of the Philippines, who is a WSOP bracelet winner,and a multiple APT title holder dating back to the "old era" as far back as 2013.

With over $ 3.8 million in total live earnings, Takayama also boasts a Main Event win during APT Manila Championships 2017 among several APT first place finishes. Some of this more notable APT wins - there are many of them - include an APT/VSOP Superstar Invitational championship during APT Hanoi 2023 and a NLH - HIgh Roller event during APT Hanoi 2023.

Quang Minh Bach and Daniel Triana went head-to-head for a pot that had grown to 10,500 preflop.

After the flop came 4♥ 7♥ 2♦, Triana check-raised 11,000 from early position and Bach defended on the button.

This took them to the turn T♠ where they both checked, leading to the river 6♣.

Triana checked again and this time, Bach was not offering any freebies and shoved all-in. Triana quickly pulled out all of his time-banks and after burning through two of them, he opted to fold.

With over 540 entries now in the APTC Main Event, the tournament has officially surpassed the TWD 156,000,000 (~USD 5,000,000) guarantee.

APT Tournament Director, Tyler Willse, took to the floor to announce: “We have hit the guarantee!”

Celebrations were had cross the room, with people already talking about the next milestone of guaranteeing a top place payout of USD 1 Million (at around 570 entries).

If that happens, the winner of the Main Event will not only take home the largest first-place prize in APT history but will also break the record set earlier today by the USD 600K first prize in the Superstar Championship, which either Calvin Lee or Daniel Neilson is about to claim.

Two records in one day could soon be history!

Lucia Martinez was defending her big blind against Timon Prill.

Before both players was a completed board that showed J♥ 9♥ 5♣ T♦ J♠.

There was also a decent pot of around 8,400.

Martinez spent a time bank token, then counted out 7,000 to push beyond the betting line. Prill gave Martinez the look and decided to look her up with a call.

Martinez showed K♠ 8♠ for king high while Prill turned over T♠ 7♠ for a pair of tens to win the pot.

After action was passed to him on a pot of 15,000 and a flop of Q♥ T♥ J♣, Sparrow Cheung fired 3,000 which Brian Green called. Ching Eng Chen, still in the hand, decided to bow out.

The turn A♦ was checked all the way to the river 2♣. Green showed A♠ 2♠ for a rivered two-pair but was quite disheartened to lose the significant pot, when Cheung showed A♥ Q♠ for the top two-pair.

Monika Hrabec was involved in back-to-back hands that brought her stack up followed by a slight dip.

The first hand had already reached the turn 9♦ T♥ K♠ Q♣ when Hrabec bet 9,000 onto a pot of around 35,600.

This sent Liang Sheng Lee tanking until one time-bank was spent. He opted to fold and show 9♠ 9♥ set.

With her newfound chips, Hrabec raised 1,300 from hijack then four-bet to 11,000 after button player Hao Shen's 4,000 three-bet. Shen answered with a five-bet push which was enough to ship it without further challenge.

Natural8 Ambassador Charlie Chiu arrived at his table complete with an entourage of cameramen, covering every corner of the table. It made it seem that it was a featured table the way the crew hovered.

Chiu, who has over $930,000 in total live earnings, also creates poker content, which is why there is a full-on production crew whenever he joins a tournament. Chiu has significant cashes in Las Vegas tournaments in the Venetian and the Wynn, with two APT Single Day High Roller titles from APT Taipei 2024 and APT Incheon 2025 apart from numerous APT final table appearances.

It would've been interesting to see him make a deep run in the APT Championship Main Event Freezeout to provide better content for his vlog, but he was unfortunately eliminated and had to vacate his seat along with all of his production crew, following him like mice do, the pied piper.

Preflop action opened with a raise from Zheming Zhu at hijack, which Woo Hyeon Lee called from the button. Moving to the small blind, Martin Finger three-bet 7,000 and only Lee continued with a call.

Finger continued for 4,000 at the flop A♣ 9♣ 6♥ and Lee called. The turn 6♠ saw another bet from Finger of 10,000 and Lee stuck around, leading to both players checking the river Q♥.

Finger was first to show and revealed Q♣ T♣, Lee mucks as Zhu comments, "lucky river".

Selim Oulmekki opened for 1,400 and got a three-bet from Steven Chew from the small blind for 7,000. Oulmekki decided to stay on leading them to a flop.

The dealer fanned out 3♣ 4♥ K♣. Chew continued with a 3,600 bet, which Oulmekki could still afford.

On the turn 9♦, Chew cranks up the heat with a 14,000 bet. After a quick stare from him, Oulmekki folded his hand.

When Javier Zarco took his seat in the previous level and spotted fellow pro Christian Harder sitting opposite him, his reaction said it all. Clearly not thrilled with the table draw, he put his stack down and said, “We travel all the way here, for this?”

Zarco continued, “What’s going on?”

Together they have over $10 million in combined live earning, making their table a tough one to crack. Harder has 335 cashed on his record, dating back nearly 20-years to 2007 and has played in his fair share of $10,000 buy in tournaments.

These two are no strangers to the felt as they’ve crossed paths at countless APT, WSOP, EPT events, and poker festivals around the world. And now, here they are again in Taipei… facing off once more!

Gyeonseok Jeon and Huidong Gu built a pot of 22,500 by the time the board showed 8♦ Q♠ J♦ K♣. From middle position, Huidong Gu unloaded it all for a total of 20,900 and still wasn't able to shake off the bigger stacked Gyeonseok Jeon, who called at the cutoff.

Huidong Gu: 7♦ 4♦

Gyeonseok Jeon: K♦ Q♥

Despite Gu's calls for a diamond, the river produced 4♣ to send him to the exit as Jeon scooped up a big pot to add to his already big stack.

On a pot of 8,000 and a board of 7♦ 2♠ 6♣ 6♦, Ben Yung, in the small blind, fired 4,000 and got called by Czardy Rivera from the cutoff.

The river dropped J♠ and Yun kept the pressure strong a 7,500, but Rivera called to see a showdown.

Yung tabled Q♥ Q♠, which took the pot down.

Felix Favre opened to 1,200 from early position and got a caller in the big blind Tattana Pengduen to see a flop.

The flop dropped 8♠ 9♦ Q♥ and action went check-check.

The dealer peeled a 7♥ and Penduen took the initiative with a 1,800 bet which was enough to make Favre fold.

Joris Michl opened from middle position for 1,300.

Seonghyun Ryu three-bet raised to 3,500 on the button.

Jen Yue Chiang then four-bet raised to 11,300 on the small blind.

Michl folded and Ryu five-bet jammed all-in, covering the stack of Chiang.

Chiang tanked, wondered if dragons really flew around the Earth at one point in history, then showed the pocket jacks before mucking.

Ryu was polite enough to show the pocket kings. Both Michl and Chiang acknowledged "nice hand" with a tap on the table.

With over USD 26 million in live earnings and five WSOP bracelets, John Juanda is without a doubt one of the most decorated players in the field. Last April, he added his first-ever Asian Poker Tour trophy after winning the APT Taiwan Single Day High Roller and while that did not award him a seat to the APTC Main Event, it is just a drop in the bucket given his eight-figure earnings.

Unlike many players in Asia, Juanda is also no stranger to playing freezeout events and has been slowly chipping up. He recently won back-to-back hands with the players giving his three-bets plenty of respect.

The first hand opened with a raise of 1,300 from Nattawat Soontanont from middle position that was called by two players until it reached Juanda who squeezed from the big b lind for 6,000. No one bit for an easy pot.

The next hand was just about the same with Suphachet Kopatta raising 1,300 from the button then folding to Juanda's 5,200 three-bet at small blind.

So far, the Championship Main Event has attracted 511 entrants, competing for a TWD 156,000,000 (~USD 5 million) guarantee.

A few more entrants will be enough to break the guarantee and make APT history!

Some recent additions to the field include Julian-Andrew Warhurst, Ruben Bradley, and MingChang Hsiao.

Warhurst is chasing his second APT title, having previously won the Single Day High Roller in 2024. He also came close to victory earlier this stop in the Natural8 Cup but fell short, finishing 9th.

Hsiao was one of the fortunate players who managed to satellite in.

A lot more players are filling up the tables, and yet we are also losing a few. Some of those who didn't make it past the second break include the likes of Daniel Craig Jones, Yi Chang Ho, Seong Uk Huh, Supanai Puekwattana, Kin Lau, Lee Hyundong, Tadayoshi Noguchi, Noda Hiroyuki, Kit Kwan Chun, Sheng Huang Han, Punnat Punsri, Choi Eng Loong, Peng-Sen Wu, Tak Chung Yan, Julian Blebea, Min Soon Lim, and Wan Hung.

There are 415 players which remain in the tournament and have gone on their second 15-minute break of the day.

They will return at 4.30pm to play to more levels before the dinner break.

Several days prior, Seungyeol Kim survived the bubble round of the Natural8 Cup Championship Freezeout with just one chip worth 1,000. Unfortunately for him, his run quickly ended the following day, earning him just the minimum.

Kim is back in action with much more chips to play with and added more after picking up a pot on pure aggression.

Facing a raise of 1,200 from Abhijith Cheruku at under the gun that was called by hijack player Nattawat Soontanont, Kim bumped it up to 4,500 on the button. Both players called for three-way down the street.

More chips got dumped in the pot on a flop of 5♥ A♣ 3♠ with Kim firing 4,000 and getting check-called by both players.

The turn T♥ was checked again to Kim who barreled 13,000, and this time, it was enough to earn the pot as both players check-folded.

Him Wong Sung opened for 1,100 and got a 2,600 three-bet from button Salgado Urrutia. Nishant Sharma in the small blind called and so did Sung.

The dealer fanned 7♥ 8♦ A♣. All three players knucked taking them to the turn.

The dealer peeled a 4♠ turn. No one wanted to let go of the hand so when Sharma fired 3,000, both Sung and Urrutia tagged along.

Sharma slowed down and checked the K♠ river, prompting Sung to bet 12,000. Urrutia picked up his time banks, considered his options, hinted at a possible call, but ultimately folded his hand.

Sharma asked Sung to move his hand so he could check out how much he had behind, which was around 20,000. With a shake of the head, he conceded both his hand and the pot to Sung.

With a pot of 3,200, Jeffrey Lo and Martin Kozlov stared down a flop of K♣ J♣ 6♥.

From the small blind, Kozlov checked, and Lo, under the gun, fired out 1,200, which Kozlov called. The turn brought the 8♠, and Kozlov again checked to Lo, who ramped up the pressure with a 5,600 bet. Kozlov called once more.

The river completed the board with a Q♣, and after another check from Kozlov, Lo elected to slow down and check behind.

Kozlov tabled A♣ A♠ for an overpair, only to see Lo reveal K♣ K♥ for a set, to claim the pot. A♠ Lo was collecting, Victor Dai looked over at Kozlov and asked, "How did you know?"

Everyone folded to the button Minh Tien Le who slid out a raise of 1,200. Small blind Pakinai Lisawad answered with a three-bet to 9,200 which big blind Jaewook Shin considered, but then folded. With action back on Le, he quickly folded while pointing to Lisawad's blue chip worth 5,000 and Lisawad agreed while laughing,

"Yes, one hundred percent wrong chip," and claimed the pot.

All eyes are locked on Table 41, which features one of the toughest line-ups of the entire event — anchored by the legendary Erik Seidel himself. A ten-time WSOP bracelet winner with nearly USD 50 million in live earnings and a Poker Hall of Famer, Seidel’s presence alone is daunting to any player.

Sitting just a few seats away is Joseph Cheong, representing the new-school elite with over USD 20 million in live earnings. Cheong is also a WSOP bracelet winner, and the two have walked the same WSOP halls many times before. Today, their meeting turns this table into a battleground, which isn't for the faint-hearted.

Meanwhile, Table 81 is drawing its own crowd, with cameras fixed on Taiwanese poker YouTuber-turned-pro, Charlie Chiu. Chiu initially looked to study computer engineering in the US, but while there he discovered poker scene. He turned his hobby into a full-time career in just a few years, and has built nearly USD 1 million in live earnings.

Joining him at the table just two seats over is India’s Ankit Ahuja, one of the highest ranked Indian players, with results dating back to 2011, making it another tough table to crack.

Korean high roller slugger Junseok Oh was being pushed the pot while Scott Margereson was packing up to go.

The board showed A♠ 3♥ 7♥ 3♠ 6♠ with Oh having turned a full house with 7♠ 7♦ to overwhelm Margereson's A♥ K♠ two pair.

Oh now sits as one of the biggest stacks in the room.

Australia's Alex Lynskey has been spotted moving again to another table.

Moving again? How is thate affecting your game?

"It's annoying. I'm kinda getting used to a table and they moved me again for like the fourth time. But I think this one is good because I'm pretty short-stacked, so maybe the change will be better," Lynskey quickly replied before he went off to the other end of the room, totally opposite from where he started.

Lynskey is best known for finishing in 7th place in the 2018 WSOP Main Event and almost came close to a bracelet during 2017 WSOP, when he finished as runner-up to James Obst in the $2,620 NLH - The Marathon.

Lynskey also came in as a runner-up in the APT Manila 2024 High Roller and in the APT Taipei 2025 Super High Roller.

Michael Allen check-called Sakan Dhangwatnotai's bet of 2,800 on a pot of 6,000 and a board of J♠ Q♦ 3♠ T♥.

Both players knuckled the river 7♠. Allen showed Q♣ 5♦, which was good enough to win the pot.

APT Jeju 2025 Main Event Winner Abraham Ceesvin entered the tournament and still looked a bit "foggy-eyed."

When asked if he was late because he failed to wake up, he replied, "I woke up early and went back to sleep. I really wanted to come late on purpose because I needed more sleep," he confessed.

"Getting sleep is going to be important the next few days because it's long hours."

And that is great advice from someone who has gone the distance several times in APT Main Events.

Ceesvin can make history by winning back-to-back Main Event titles should he lift the 24-K APT Gold Lion Championship Trophy again.

Jimmy Guerrero opened for 1,200 on the cut-off and David Sommer shoved all-in on the button for his last 6,400. Sommer gave it some thought and decided to make the call.

David Sommer tabled 5♦ 5♥ and was against the K♦ 8♦ of Guerrero.

A flop of J♣ T♦ 9♦ gave Guerrero 20 outs to make a better pair, a straight or a flush.

Sommer sweated it and was already up from his seat, ready to accept his fate. However, the poker gods were kind enough to throw a T♥ on the turn and an A♣ on the river, keeping Sommer alive with a crucial double-up.

Alessio Isaia caught lucky break to avoid the rail in a showdown with Te Hsuan Pan.

With the action folded around to the small blind, Isaia moved all in for his last 10,400, and Pan snap-called. When they flipped them over, it was a dire scenario for Isaia, who held only one overcard against Pan’s made hand.

Alesso Isaia: K♠ 3♥

Te Hsuan Pan: 9♠ 9♥

The flop came 6♦ 8♣ 5♠, offering little hope, but the turn 3♠ gave him a glimmer of survival. That glimmer became full brightness on the river, as the K♣ completed a runner-runner two pair, doubling Isaia’s stack and keeping his tournament hopes alive.

Yeow Chung Chong was on the big blind and was up against Murly Manokharan on the button.

A flop of 4♣ A♥ K♠ was in front of them along with a pot of 14,000.

Chong check-called the 5,500 bet of Manokharan to open a 5♦ turn.

Both checked their option to see the 7♦ on the river.

Chong fired 20,000, covering the remaining 12,000 stack of Manokharan.

Manokharan tanked, used his last remaining time bank, gave Chong a short stare down before throwing in a chip to make the call.

Manokaharan showed K♥ Q♠ for a pair of kings, but was totally decimated by the A♦ A♠ of Chong, who had flopped a set.

Graham Cowan fired 7,600 on a completed board of 9♠ T♠ 2♣ 8♣ K♠ with 15,000 chips in the middle. Won Lee Da, who was still in the hand, shoved all in for 26,500. After asking for a count and considering his options, Cowan called, putting Da at risk.

Won Lee Da: A♣ T♣

Graham Cowan: Q♥ Q♠

Although Cowan hit top pair, he couldn't beat Da's pockets. Cowan was visibly disheartened with the amount of chips he had left as Da scooped the pot for a double.

On a pot of 3,000, Keshu Peng and Scott Margereson checked the board of 2♥ 9♥ 6♥ K♣.

The dealer peeled 8♦ on the river and Peng fired 1,400. Margereson went beyond and made it 3,200, which was enough to make Peng fold.

On his Asian Poker Tour debut, Michael Foo won the 2025 APT Incheon Super High Roller 8-Max which not only awarded him a career-high score of KRW 31,292,500 (~USD 228,890), he also received a seat to the region's most historical event, the APTC Main Event in Taiwan. In a quick chat with Foo, he shared,

"It's my first time here and it's a good event but I'm not doing so good. Maybe I'll have a bigger stack later."

With only one bullet allowed, Foo has been seesawing but picked up a pot on a double barrel that opened with a raise of 1,200 from Thanakrit Arkaswipard on early position. Cutoff player Dinesh Alt called, then on the big blind, Foo fired a three-bet of 4,200. Only Arkaswipard gave him action.

At the flop of A♦ 4♦ 8♥, Foo barreled another 2,800, and this time he won the pot easily with Arkaswipard folding.

A pot of around 18,0000 sat beside a complete board of 3♦ 7♠ T♥ 8♥ Q♠.

Joseph Cheong sat on the big blind when he moved all-in. Johannes Molenaar tanked, wondered how many dinosaurs must've roamed the earth to provide fossil fuel for over two centuries before pushing in a stack to make the call.

Cheong tabled J♣ 9♣ for the nut straight while Molenaar showed Qx Tx for the losing two-pair.

Cheong, a WSOP bracelet winner, is the APT all-time money leader with a good percentage of his $20 million total live earnings coming from APT wins. Cheong has the distinction of being a two-time APT Superstar Challenge winner and a two-time APT Zodiac Classic champion.

In fact, Cheong earned his seat when he repeated as Zodiac Classic champion in APT Jeju 2025 earlier this year.

A few days ago, he was asked how his series was going and Cheong gave a thumbs down sign. Perhaps now, with a recent huge pot from an elimination, he can gain some momentum to include the historic APT Championship Main Event Freezeout title under his belt.

If there's anyone in the APT who can get it done, then it certainly is Cheong.