Day 3 of the Asian Poker Tour Championship (APTC) Main Event played out inside Red Space as the record-breaking 671-entry field approaches its final stretch. The grueling session ended with just 34 players remaining, all now in sight of the final table and poker immortality in the TWD 311,000 (~USD 10,000) freezeout.

The stakes are higher than ever, with this event featuring the biggest ever APT Main Event prize pool: a staggering TWD 194,080,973 (~USD 6.2 million). Everyone remaining is now chasing the monumental TWD 37,030,773 (~USD 1,186,880) top prize and the Championship title.

Emerging on top after a hard-fought day was Taiwan’s Hao Shan Huang, who bagged the lead with 2,727,000 chips, having consistently stayed near the summit for most of the day. A familiar face on the APT circuit, Huang's best live cash currently sits at just over USD 40,000, meaning a 23rd-place finish or better here will already mark a new, significant career high.

Romania’s Alexandru Papazian is just a few big blinds behind with 2,693,000 chips in his bag. Papazian is in a league of his own as he sits first in his country's All-Time Money List with over USD 4,000,000 in cashes. They are well clear of Australia’s Neng Zhao, who ended in third with 1,688,000 chips.

The first objective for the players on Day 3 was to make it into the money, and that didn't fail to deliver some drama as aces were cracked twice during hand-for-hand play on the way to trimming the field down to the final 95.

With 98 remaining, Soohak Eo shoved ace-four suited from the hijack for around 15 big blinds and was quickly called by Sukhrat Massimov in the small blind, who held pocket aces. Just as it seemed that a player would be lost, two fours on the flop gave Eo trips and a double-up.

Not long after, Jen Li Liu committed his stack with ace-queen and ran into Jan Chun's ace-king. Neither player improved on the board, which meant Liu was out in 98th.

Jaesung Lee then got his stack in with pocket jacks and was put at risk by the Big Slick of Eisuke Katsuren. A clean flop for Lee got him over halfway to a double-up, but a king on the turn ended his hopes in 97th.

In the most brutal hand of the bubble, John Costiniano shoved from early position with queen-five offsuit, attacking the shorter stacks who were trying to survive.

Shinya Maeda, who came second in the APT Summer Series Da Nang Main Event, looked down at pocket aces and quickly called. A queen-high flop kept Maeda's aces in front, but a devastating five on the turn improved Costiniano to two pair. Maeda couldn't catch up on the river, which delighted the remaining 95 players as they had all made the money.

The eliminations then came thick and fast from there on out with the likes of Frank Cucchiara (86th), Roman Hrabec (85th), Fabian Gumz (84th), Stephen O’Dwyer (77th), Natural8 ambassador Phachara Wongwichit (74th), Dylan Foster (62nd), Aditya Agarwal (56th), and the last woman standing Sumire Hori (45th) all hitting the rail before the end of play.

The day marched on, and more and more chip millionaires were made. Huang was one of the first and he spent most of the day on top of the pack. The Taiwanese player had a great series at APT Jeju last year with two runner-up finishes in the Korea National Cup and Micro Main Event, and has carried that momentum forward to Day 4 of the richest Main Event in APT history.

Lithuania’s Matas Cimbolas steadily climbed the ranks throughout the day and ended up fifth in the counts with a bag of 1,624,000. Late in the last level, he added a chunk to his stack as he picked up pocket aces and called the shove of Lok Ming Chan, who held king-ten. Chan did turn a flush draw, but the river left him unimproved and out in 41st, and sent Cimbolas up the leaderboard.

Start-of-day chip leader Dohang Na had a topsy-turvy day as his stack rode the waves of tournament poker all the way to the finish line in 20th with 867,000 in his bag. In a hand against Huang, Na was caught with his hand in the cookie jar when he bet the river and immediately mucked when his opponent called.

Some other notables to make it through include Dominik Nitsche (1,504,000), Nishant Sharma (1,329,000, Ankit Ahuja (1,303,000), Jun Hao Wu (1,286,000), Martin Finger (1,275,000), Ben Loo (1,013,000), and John Costiniano (318,000).

Play resumes at 11:15 AM on Thursday, November 27, in Level 23 (10,000/20,000/20,000). The plan is to play six levels or to the final table, but that will be decided as the day progresses and be left up to the tournament director.

For a full Day 3 APTC Main Event Championship Survivor List: Click here

Be sure to check the APT blog frequently for all the latest action from the floor, and to see who can make a run at the final table.

The remaining 34 players are now bagging and tagging for the evening.

Stay tuned for a recap of Day 3.

Chia Wei Kuo found himself short and shoved on the button. It was folded to Wei Lin Bo, who called to put Kuo at risk.

Chia Wei Kuo: K♣ J♥

Wei Lin Bo: Q♣ 3♦

Kuo was favored with his queen, but Bo's cards were live, and the 3♥ 5♣ 6♠ flop paired Bo's trey to give him the lead.

There would be no drama, as the Q♠ turn improved Bo to two pair, which left Kuo drawing dead.

The 9♥ river made it official and Kuo was eliminated in 35th place for TWD 844,300 (~USD 27,060).

There was a pot of 200,000 in the middle beside a board that showed 5♦ K♥ K♣ 9♦.

Martin Sedlak tapped his option from the small blind and Eisuke Katsuren fired 75,000.

Sedlak took his time and made the call.

The river showed a 9♠.

Sedlak checked and surrendered when Katsuren fired 300,000.

Both relatively short-stacked as the day neared its end, Eisuke Katsuren and John Costiniano were walking on eggshells around each other, careful not to lose more chips.

On a pot of 130,000, Katsuren bet 25,000 on a completed board of 5♥ 6♦ 7♥ J♥ 4♦. After burning his final time bank, Costiniano raised to 100,000, leaving just 170,000 behind. Katsuren spent some time, burning his own time bank before deciding to flat call.

Costiniano tabled K♠ 9♠, while Katsuren held J♦ 9♦. A♠ the dealer prepared to push the pot to Katsuren, Andrew Han, who was also on the table, questioned the hand, thinking Costiniano might have won it.

Costiniano looked hopeful, but when the dealer revealed the cards—still not in the muck—Katsuren breathed a sigh of relief, knowing he had truly won the pot.

The tournament director has announced that the last 5 hands will be played for the night.

With the day coming to an end, players were tiptoeing around the hands, hoping to survive and have a brighter start tomorrow.

Such was the case when Ankit Ahuja checked a board of 3♥ A♥ A♦ J♥ with a pot of 130,000, joined by his opponent Junzhong Loo.

On the river T♦, Ahuja tossed out a tentative 30,000, only to be met with an all-in shove from Loo, who had just 175,000 behind.

With a smile, Ahuja sent his hand to the muck, and Loo grinned as he happily scooped the pot.

Nguyen Man Hao opened for 32,000 from early position. Chia Wei Kuo called from the hijack and Martin Finger defended the big blind.

All three checked the flop of J♦ T♦ 7♦

Then, they checked the 5♠ turn.

And they all checked the T♥ river.

Finger was the first to show 9♠ 9♦ for a pair of nines and everyone mucked.

Hao showed a Big Slick before sending it back to the dealer.

Yu Lin shoved for his last 200,000 from the cutoff and was called by Ben Loo in the big blind, who had Lin covered. Lin then got out of his seat to sweat the runout with his camera.

Yu Lin: 7♠ 7♥

Ben Loo: A♣ K♠

It was a coin flip for Lin's tournament life, but the 3♠ A♦ J♦ T♦ Q♦ runout left Loo best with Broadway — eliminating Lin in 38th place for TWD 844,300 (~USD 27,060).

Nishant Sharma raised the pot to 32,000 from the button and both blinds - Kwang Soo Lee in small and Domink Nitsche in big - tagged along.

The dealer flopped 6♣ 6♥ Q♣, which the trio checked. Breaking the friendliness on the 4♣ turn, Lee fired 50,000 which made both Sharma and Nitsche fold.

Dohang Na opened from under the gun for 32,000 and Neng Zhao defended the big blind.

Both players were given a flop of 5♦ 6♠ 5♠.

Zhao check-called the 28,000 bet of Na to open a J♣ on the turn.

Zhao check-called again, but this time for a hefty 1110,000.

The dealer gave a 6♥ on the river.

Zhao led for 75,000 and Na made the call.

Zhao tabled Q♠ J♦ but lost out to the A♣ J♠ of Na, who had the better kicker.

John Costiniano opened for 32,000 from under the gun. Action folded to Hao Shan Huang in the small blind, who raised to 88,000. Costiniano then four-bet jammed for 204,000. Huang, sitting on a monster stack, made the call.

John Costiniano: K♠ K♦

Hao Shan Huang: A♦ Q♣

Board ran T♣ 4♠ 7♥ 4♥ Q♦.

Huang hit his queen on the river, but it was still not enough to defeat the kinds of Costiniano, who scooped a very critical double-up to give him some breathing room.

Nishant Sharma and George Tomescu were heads up on a completed board of 9♥ 7♥ 8♦ 5♥ 3♣ with a large pot already in the middle. Tomescu had already shoved on the button, which was enough to put Sharma all in for 545,000 total in the big blind.

Sharma went deep into the tank, but eventually convinced himself to toss a single chip into the middle to indicate a call.

Tomescu turned over A♥ 5♠ for a pair of fives and Sharma revealed 6♥ 4♠ for a straight to score the massive double up.

Matas Cimbolas opened to 32,000 from the hijack and Lok Ming Chan shipped in his stack of 361,000 from the small blind. Cimbolas snap-called.

Lok Ming Chan: K♠ T♠

Matas Cimbolas: A♠ A♥

Chan was way behind the aces of Cimbolas, and the flop of 2♥ 3♠ 3♣ wasn't the one he was looking for. However, some hope arrived in the form of a flush draw on the 5♠ turn, which gave Chan a shot at survival.

However, that hope was quickly snatched away as the 2♦ river kept the aces of Cimbolas ahead, and sent Chan out in 41st.

After that hand, Cimbolas' stack grew to 100 big blinds. Dangerous.

Thanh Tien Nguyen check-called Hao Chuang's bet of the flop of A♣ 9♠ K♥ with150,000 chips in the middle.

With almost equal stack sizes, both players decided to check down the run out of 7♣ 7♥. Nguyen, first to show, tabled A♦ Q♦, which was enough to add the win the pot and add it to his chips stack.

John Costiniano opened to 32,000 from the cutoff and was called by Andrew Han in the big blind.

Costiniano proceeded to call a 25,000 lead from Han on the 6♥ 6♣ 8♣ flop and a 60,000 barrel from Han on the A♣ turn.

The Q♥ fell on the river and Han announced he was all in. Costiniano shook his head and flung his cards into the muck to award Han the pot and leave himself with 190,000 to work with.

A pot of around 120,000 was in the middle with a board that showed 6♠ 9♠ 2♠ 4♣.

Dohang Na of South Korea was on the cutoff and bet out 60,000. Jun Chun, also from South Korea, was on the button and called.

The river came 9♥.

Na moved all-in and Chun snap-called even before the chips were counted.

Na tabled 9♦ 2♣ for a full house.

Chun gave "THE LOOK" to Na and showed K♠ J♠ for a flush.

The dealer counted off 262,000 and Chun shook his head while shipping the payment to Na.

Jereld Sam opened to 32,000 from under the gun and got an all-in shove from Nguyen Man Hao for 161,000. Sam called, putting Hao at risk.

Nguyen Man Hao: A♥ Q♠

Jereld Sam: 6♥ 6♠

The flop came T♣ A♠ J♦, pushing Hao into the lead.

The T♥ improved his hand to the higher two pair, and the brick river 3♠ locked up the pot for Hao, keeping his tournament run alive.

Wei Lin Bo opened to 32,000 on the button and called a three-bet to 90,000 from Nguyen Dung in the big blind.

Bo then called a 45,000 bet from Dung on the K♦ J♦ 5♥ flop before both players checked on the 7 turn.

The A♥ completed the board and Dung quietly announced he was all in. Bo made sure that the action was confirmed and then quickly called all in for 193,000 total.

Dung showed A♣ 6♠ for a rivered pair of aces, but it was no good against Bo's Q♠ T♠ for a rivered straight to award Bo the double up.

The air was tense and the silence deafening at Table #77. With a pot of around 400,000 and a completed board of T♥ K♣ T♣ 8♥ 2♥, John Costiniano and Andrew Han were locked in a showdown.

Han shoved all-in for 225,000, sending Costiniano deep into the tank, visibly wrestling with what Han could possibly be holding. After burning a time bank, and to the shock of everyone watching, Costiniano made the call.

Both players tabled their hands at the same time - A♦ J♠ for Costiniano and A♥ Q♣ for Han - and simultaneously blurted out, “What the F***!” They repeated it back and forth several times before finally settling down, still stunned by the reveal.

Costiniano then broke the silence with a grin: “I knew you were bluffing. But I never thought you’d be bluffing with the better hand.”

The remaining 42 players have been sent on their last 15-minute break of the day.

The action has slowed, with just 11 players eliminated in the past level — a sign of how much every decision matters as the field begins to consolidate and the pay jumps begin to increase.

• Alfie Catches a Bluff From Han
• Nitsche Flops Quads to Stack Goel
• Sumire Hori is the Last Woman Standing
• Sedlak Seeking Biggest Cash Since High Roller Victory
• Geeng Runs into Sam's Big Slick

On a pot of 60,000 and a flop of J♠ K♦ 4♣, George Tomescu in the small bet 22,000 and got called by Nishant Sharma under the gun.

The turn 5♥ was checked by both players leading up to the river T♦.

Tomescu threw in a time bank to think about his next move. He finally decided on betting 22,000 which was enough to make Sharma. Sharma headed to the break as Tomescu scooped the pot.

A total of 42 players are still in the hunt for the APT Championship Main Event title. Some of those who have fallen following the dinner break include:

Vamerdino Magsakay, Foo Hsien Loong, Apoorva Goel, Ta Chih Geeng, Nuttapath Saislip, Zhangpeng Ma, Yu Yung Lin, Kuo Wei Kao, Sumire Hori, Ming Thoo Ken and Soohak Eo.

All received a payout of TWD 727,800 (~USD 23,325)

A really juicy pot of over 250,000 was in the middle of the table beside a board that showed K♥ A♣ 6♥ 9♦.

Hong Kong's Lok Ming Chan was under the gun, fighting heads-up against Te Hsuan Pan of Taiwan.

Chan fired 117,000, and after some thought, Pan jammed all-in for his last 320,000.

Chan tanked, wondered how brave the first person to eat a lobster must've been, then folded, shipping the chips Pan's way.

Matas Cimbolas completed his bet in the small blind and Wei Lin Bo checked his option to see a flop. The dealer fanned 8♥ 7♠ 7♣, which both players checked.

On the turn J♦, Cimbolas bet a blind. Bo, with only six big blinds behind, remained cautious and folded his hand to find a better hill to make a stand.

Martin Sedlak is still in the field and recently crossed the million-chip mark with just 46 players left.

The German poker pro had his career-best score last year in Taipei after taking down an APT High Roller for TWD 5,244,000 (~USD 164,850). Since then, Sedlak has cashed numerous times, but has yet to cash for six figures following his victory.

However, Sedlak's above-average stack gives him a solid chance to reach new heights if he can reach the final table and place seventh or higher (for TWD 5,628,300 ~USD 180,395).

In a recent hand, Sedlak raised to 24,000 from early position and was called by Adam Alfie in the big blind.

Alfie check-called a 15,000 from Sedlak on the J♥ 2♥ J♣ flop, but check-folded after Sedlak bet 60,000 on the 9♠ turn.

Nishant Sharma opened to 25,000 from lowjack and Alexandru Papazian in hijack called to see a flop.

Sharma check-called Papazian's 60,000 bet on the flop of T♣ K♠ 6♠. On the 2♣ river and with action passed to him, Papazian fired 100,000, which was enough to make Sharma fold.

Nutthapath Saislip of Thailand moved all-in for 188,000 from under the gun and Ori Kossonogi of Taiwan re-raised to 450,000 on the small blind to isolate.

Sumire Hori was on the big blind and looked tempted to call, but it meant risking her tournament life, so she folded with some trepidation.

Nuttahapath Saislip A♥ 9♦

Ori Kossonogi: J♦ J♣

Board ran 7♣ 9♣ K♦ T♦ 5♣.

Saislip failed to improve and he was sent to the payout cage to collect TWD 727,800 (~USD 23,325).

After the hand, Kossonogi asked Hori if she would've won. She just smiled.

Jereld Sam opened the hijack to 24,000 and Ta Chih Geeng called from the big blind.

They went to a flop of K♦ T♣ 5♦, where Geeng checked and Sam bet 14,000. Geeng then moved all in for 92,000, and Sam quickly called.

Ta Chih Geeng: T♦ 9♥

Jereld Sam: A♣ K♥

Geeng had flopped middle pair and rolled the dice, but unfortunately ran into the top pair of Sam. There were still two cards to come, but it was all over on the K♣ turn as Sam made trips.

A meaningless 6♦ hit the river, and Geeng exited in

Sumire Hori of Japan is on her way to making the biggest cash of her career. With 50 players remaining in the field, each one is guaranteed at least TWD 727,800 (~USD 23,325).

Hori's biggest cash came from a final table appearance in a Main Event in Taiwan recently, where she pocketed USD 17,582 for finishing eighth.

Hori has played in several APT stops - Manila in 2022, Taipei in 2023 and earlier this year in Taipei. Her best APT result was an 8th place finish in the Zodiac Classic by Natural8 this year, where she banked USD 4,195.

Hori has total live earnings of USD 40,779 and can easily break over USD 100,000 if she manages to reach at least 15th place.

Meanwhile, she has a below-average stack of 360,000 (30 BB), which could use some help.

Dominik Nitsche opened the button to 36,000 and Apoorva Goel shoved 152,000 from the small blind. Nitsche quickly called.

Apoorva Goel: A♣ J♣

Dominik Nitsche: T♥ T♣

Goel needed to win the flip, but that seemed incredibly unlikely as the T♠ T♦ A♥ flop gave Nitsche quads. Only running aces could save Goel, but instead running eights filled out the board as the 8♥ 8♦ turn and river confirmed his elimination in 51st place.

Action was picked up with Wei Lin Bo, all-in and at risk, against Hao Chuang in a battle of the blinds.

Wei Lin Bo: A♦ J♣

Hao Chuang: K♦ Q♠

In the lead, Bo was poised to pad his stack when he hit the A♠ 5♣ K♠ flop for top pair. The J♠ turn improved his hand further to two pair, even as Chuang picked up extra outs with a gutshot straight draw.

The river 8♣ brought no help for Chuang, allowing Bo to continue his tournament run.

Sumire Hori and Junzhong Loo were heads-up on a flop of 9♦ Q♣ 2♣ with about 70,000 in the middle.

Hori bet 22,000 from under the gun and Loo called.

The Q♦ turn paired the board and Hori barreled for 36,000, which Loo again called.

Hori wasn't done and announced she was all in on the 8♣ river, which was enough to put Loo all in for his last 95,000.

Loo tanked a bit, but eventually decided to lay his hand down, awarding Hori the pot without a showdown.

Thanh Tien Nguyen of Vietnam sat on the big blind against Foo Hsien Loong, who was under the gun.

The flop showed 7♣ 7♥ 4♦ beside a pot of around 60,000.

Nguyen check-called the 30,000 bet of Loong to see a 6♠ turn.

Once again, Nguyen check-called, but this time Loong bet 90,000.

The river threw a 3♣.

Nguyen led out for 62,000 and Loon made the call.

Nguyen flipped over 6♦ 5♦ for a straight while Loong mucked his hand and stared long at his crippled stack.

Ben Loo limped in the small blind and Nishant Sharma in the big blind defended by raising to 35,000. Loo called to see a flop.

The flop displayed 6♥ K♣ T♦. Loo check-raised Sharma's bet of 20,000 and made it 60,000. Sharma called.

On the turn A♦ Loo threw in a time bank before firing 50,000 sending Sharma into the tank. It was Sharma's turn to mull things over, burning a time bank before making the call.

Finally, on the river J♠, Loo checked and Sharma took control by shoving all-in for 86,000. Loo needed to consider his options. He asked for a count and burned a time card, shook his head and conceded his hand. Sharma scooped the much-needed chip boost.

Andrew Han fired 32,000 on a completed board of 4 J 2 3 5 with a pot of 60,000 chips. His heads-up opponent, Adam Alfie, called taking them to showdown.

Han announced king-high but Adam waited for him to show his hand. Han tabled K 9 for king-high while Adam showed J 7 for a pair on the flop.

Foo Hsien Loong opened to 25,000 from early position and Neng Zhao defended his big blind.

Zhao checked to Loong, who continued for 22,000 on the 2♠ 5♥ 8♣ flop. Zhao then check-raised to 56,000 and Loong called after a bit of thought.

Zhao checked again on the Q♥ turn and Loong took back the initiative with a bet of 110,000. Zhao used up a time bank and then called.

The J♦ filled the river and Zhao checked a final time. Loong thought a bit before checking behind and Zhao turned over 8♦ 8♥ for a flopped set.

Loong slid his cards into the muck and Zhao added to his stack.

Taiwan's own Andy Tsai, aka Andy Stacks, is still in the Main Event and has around 425,000 to play with, but did just give up a few chips.

The only female let in the field, Sumire Hori, opened from the hijack to 24,000 and Tsai called on the button. Ankit Ahuja shoved the small blind for 191,000, and that earned him the pot as his two opponents folded.

They're currently all playing on Table 80, alongside Nguyen Huu Dung, Ori Kossonogi, Junzhong Loo, and Nutthapath Saisilp.

Ming Thoo Ken of Malaysia was seated at the cutoff and was involved in the hand against Lok Ming Chan of Hong Kong on the button.

The two faced a of around 150,000 with a board that showed Q♦ 5♥ 3♦ 8♠ 4♣.

Ken led out for a bet of 115,000 and Chan took a moment before returning his cards to the dealer, awarding the handsome pot to Ken.

Players have returned from dinner, and cards are back in the air!

The remaining 53 players have been sent on a 75-minute dinner break.

Here are some highlights from the Level 20:

• Kuo Doubles After Turning a Straight
• Nitsche Has Built a Big Stack
• Costiniano's Luck Becomes the Talk of the Table
• Poppitukul Hits the Rail
• Chan Comes From Behind to Send Shen Out

Play will get back underway at approximately 7:40 PM.

Some players were sent off to an early dinner, ending their run in the Main Event Freezeout Championship.

The likes of Tsu Lin Tsao, Dongying Ling, Finn Penderak, Cheruku Abhijith, Dylan Foster, Dicky Tsang, Sutipong Popitukkul, Nai Yuan Hu, Seongheon Ryu, Hao Shen, and Aditya Argawal all earned TWD 650,200 (~USD 20,840)

Meanwhile, Eugene Zhou and Zhan Xi Guo were able to make the pay jump to TWD 727,800 (~USD 23,325) before ending their journey.

Action folded to Eugene Zhou on the button who jammed his last 36,000 all-in. Yu Yung Lin defended the big blind with a call.

Eugene Zhou : A♣ 8♥

Yu Yung Lin: Q♦ 5♣

Board ran 6♥ 6♣ K♠ A♦ A♥.

Zhou ended with a full house to give him a crucial double-up.

Martin Sedlak opened for 20,000 from middle position. John Costiniano called from the cutoff.

Benjamin Wu spent a time bank token before shoving an almost all-in for 166,000, leaving a 5,000 chip behind.

Eugene Zhou, on the small blind, also tanked before shoving all-in, covering Wu.

Sedlak and Costiniano stepped out of the way. Wu threw the last chip in to call.

Benjamin Wu: A♠ K♥

Eugene Zhou: A♣ Q♦

Board ran T♠ 8♥ 9♦ 5♣ 3♦

The big slick of Wu held to double up.

Andrew Han of Australia, seated on the big blind during the time of this hand exclaimed, "Welcome back, bro! You were down to this" as he signalled an inch with his fingers.

In the following hand. Cositiniano opened for 20,000 and Wu jammed all-in from the cut-off. There were no callers and Wu scooped up an extra 45,000 chips.

On a pot of 75,000 and a board of 6♠ 5♠ J♦ K♠, Vamerdino Magsakay in the big blind and Martin Finger passed the action to Che Li Lin. Lin fired 30,000.

Wanting to see the last card, Magsakay called, but Finger had seen enough and folded. The river 4♥ dropped and Magsakay checked again. Lin bet 80,000, sending Magsakay to the tank.

Magsakay used all of his time and a time bank to mull over things but seemed like he needed more. He looked down and saw that he only had one time bank left, as the dealer started to count the last five seconds down.

Seemingly undecided and rushed, he folded his hand at the very last second and conceded the pot to Lin.

We missed the action, but there was a huge pot of 140,000 beside a completed board of 6♦ Q♣ A♥ 4♣ 3♥.

Hao Shan Huang of Taiwan was on the small blind and was the first to peel open A♣ J♥.

Eisuke Katsuren of Japan was on the button and mucked his hand, counting what remained of his stack.

Lok Ming Chan and Hao Shen got into a preflop raising war from the blinds that resulted in Shen all in for 450,000 from the big blind against Chan, who was in the small blind and had Shen covered.

Hao Shen: K♣ K♦

Lok Ming Chan: J♠ J♦

Both players held premiums, but Shen had way the best of it with his Cowboys.

That quickly changed, however, as the J♥ Q♥ 5♣ flop improved Chan to a set and left Shen drawing slim.

"King! King" Shen shouted.

Neither the 4♦ turn nor 6♦ river changed anything despite Shen's pleas and he was eliminated in 57th place for TWD 650,200 (~USD 20,840).

Ever since the bubble burst, Table #77 had been running on a steady stream of jokes about John Constiniano’s unbelievable luck, so much so that Adam Alfie insisted someone had to write about it.

In one hand, Andrew Han opened for 20,000 and Constiniano defended his big blind.

The two checked their way through the entire board of 9♠ J♥ 4♥ J♦ Q♠. Costiniano revealed 7♠ 4♠, enough to make Han muck instantly. With a laugh, Han declared he would never bet on Costiniano given his luck today.

China's Che Li Lin opened for 20,000 from early position. When action came to Sutipong Poppitukul of Thailand on the small blind, he three-bet jammed all-in for his last 227,000.

Vamerdino Magsakay of the Philippines. made the call from the big blind after asking for a count.

When it came back to Lin, he jammed all-in for 528,000.

Magsakay, seeing that he was at risk, folded and opened pocket jacks towards the muck.

Che Li Lin: K♦ K♥

Sutipong Poppitukul: A♦ J♣

The board ran 5♠ 8♣ 8♥ 6♣ Q♠.

Poppitukul couldn't improve and was sent to the rail, earning TWD 650,200 (~USD 20,840) for his 60th place finish.

While it was a good fold from Magsakay, his stack suffered a big dent.

Foo Hsien Loong opened to 20,000 from under the gun and was called by Jun Hao Wu on the button and Hao Shen in the big blind for a three-way pot.

The flop came 2♥ 2♣ 6♦ and Shen checked to Loong, who continued for 34,000. Both Wu and Shen called.

It was again checked to Loong and he barreled 100,000 into the middle on the 7♥ turn. Wu stuck around with a call, but Shen laid his hand down.

The 9♥ completed the board and both players checked.

Loong showed J♣ J♥ first and Wu mucked.

"If the river was not a heart I jam," Loong said as he collected the pot.

Apoorva Goel was under the gun and was competing with Ta Chih Geeng on the cutoff.

A juicy pot of 120,000 was in the middle beside a board that showed Q♠ 9♣ 6♣ 4♥.

The dealer peeled open the 6♦ river and both players checked their options just before the clock expired on them.

Goel announced "Ace-nine," and Geeng showed A♠ K♦.

Goel mucked, shipping the chips Geeng's way.

Dominik Nistche and Finn Penderak were heads-up on a completed board of 9♣ 5♠ 3♠ T♦ 6♣ with over 300,000 already in the middle.

Penderak checked from the small blind and Nitsche, who was on the button, used up a time extension before announcing he was all in.

Penderak sat back in his seat and didn't take long to slide his cards into the muck.

Nistche, who has four WSOP bracelets and over USD $20 million in live-tournament earnings, has nearly doubled his stack since the start of Day 3 and currently sits with approximately 1,350,000.

Martin Sedlak of Germany was on the small blind and was going up against Ta Wei Tou of Taiwan, who was under the gun.

There was around 60,000 in the middle with a flop that showed Q♦ 7♠ 9♣.

Sedlak check-called a 27,000 bet from Tou to open a 4♦ on the turn.

Sedlak checked and Tou didn't shy away from betting 75,000.

Sedlak didn't bother to continue, awarding the pot to Touu.

Martin Sedlak opened to 20,000 in cutoff. Chia Wei Kuo in the button and Ta Wei Tou in the big blind both called.

The flop came 4♥ T♣ 9♦ and action went check-check all the way to the turn K♠.

On the river 7♥, Tou restarted action with a 15,000 bet. Kuo raised to 50,000. After a few seconds of thought, Tou announced all-in and Kuo snap-called.

Tou showed T♠ 2♠ for a flopped pair but Kuo tabled Q♥ J♥ for a straight.

There was an open from Matas Cimbolas from middle position and Dohang Na called on the button. Dicky Tsang also came along from the big blind.

On the 7♣ 6♦ J♦ flop, it checked around to Na, who bet 24,000. Tsang shoved 149,000, and Cimbolas folded. Na asked for a count and after a while, he decided to let it go.

Hao Chaung is the chip leader at Table 84, and Zhan Xi Guo is the shortest stack with 15 big blinds to work with. Na was the start-of-day chip leader and has been in multiple battles so far on Day 3, but has almost a million to play with.

Te Hsuan Pan opened for 24,000 from hijack and got the big blind, Jun Hao Wu, to join him to see the flop.

The dealer fanned 3♥ J♠ 7♠. Pan continued with a 22,000 bet, but having other plans, Wu raised to 70,000 which was enough to make Pan fold and win the pot.

The floor manager has just announced that Day 3 will play until 48 players remain or until the end of Level 22 - whichever comes first.

Meanwhile, there are 67 players still with chips and a seat. Some of the recent eliminations include the likes of Julian Warhurst, Duan Chao, Maxwell Rosete, Ming Hsiao, Phachara Wongwichit, Seunghun Ko and Chi Ngong Tang, who all made the min-cash of TWD 572,500 (~USD 8,350)

Meanwhile, Seng Yong Tan, Vincent Huang, Chung Ching Cheung, Yuan Hsu Lee and Jintae Yang were able to pay jump and cash for TWD 650,200 (~USD 20,840)

The remaining players are still guaranteed at least TWD 650,200 (~USD 20,840) with the next pay jump coming in 55th place for TWD 727,800 (~USD 23,325)

To find out the specific places they were eliminated, you can check out the Official Payout Page.

Soohak Eo opened to 20,000 first to act and Alexandru Papazian defended his big blind.

Papazian check-called a 15,000 bet from Eo on the 8♥ Q♣ 7♥ flop and a 35,000 bet from Eo on the J♦ turn.

Both players checked on the 8♣ river and Papazian tabled J♣ 9♣ for jacks-up. Eo slid his hand into the muck and Papazian added to his stack, which now sit at 1,500,000 — nearly three times the average.

Players in the field have been sent on their third 15-minute of the day.

Level 19 was largely dominated by the money bubble, which saw a comination of beats and double-ups before bursting — guaranteeing everyone remaining a payout of at least TWD 572,500 (~USD 18,350).

Following the bubble, a flurry of eliminations saw the field cut down to 68 remaining.

• Rotholz Survives on the Bubble
• Eo Catches Miracle Flop to Double Through Massimov
• Aces no Good as Shinya Maeda Bubbles the APTC Main Event
• Droppin Like it's Hot
• O'Dwyer Gets Coolored Out of Contention

Nishant Sharma, in the big blind, checked the board of 9♣ 3♣ 7♣ J♥, with around 60,000 in the middle. Daniel Neilson, to his immediate left, fired 22,000 which Sharma called.

The river 7♦ fell and Sharma donked 12,000. Neilson pushed his whole stack worth 105,000 leaving behind one 1,000-chip. Sharma called.

Neilson tabled A♦ K♣ for ace-high and Sharma showed T♠ 8♣ for a straight.

Entering the big blind, Neilson was automatically all-in with 1,000. Action folded to Nai Yuan Hu, who raised to 16,000. With action folding around, Hu and Neilson went to showdown.

Daniel Neilson: 5♠ 3♦

Nai Yuan Hu: 7♥ 7♠

The board ran 4♥ Q♣ A♥ Q♦ 3♣ and although Neilson river a pair, it still didn't beat Hu's pockets. Neilson left the table as Hu scooped the pot.

John Costiniano of the Philippines sat on the small blind and was up against Taiwan's Yu Yung Lin on the cutoff.

Both players had a pot of around 60,000 in front of them beside a board that showed K♠ 9♣ A♦ T♦ A♠.

Constiniano led out for 35,000 and Lin gave some thought and made the call.

Costiniano showed K♣ 2♣ for two pair kings and aces, but was no match for the A♣ 8♦ of Lin, which made trips on the river.

Sutipong Popitukkul was on the big blind and was up against Dylan Foster from under the gun.

The pot had built to 36,000 with a flop that showed 6♠ K♣ 2♦.

Popitukkul check-called the 12,000 bet from Foster to open a A♥ turn.

Popitukkul checked and Foster muscled a bet of 42,000. Popitukkul took one last look at his cards before sending it to the muck.

Chung Ching Cheung opened for 16,000 and got re-reraised by Foo Hsien Loong for 40,000. After burning a time bank, Cheung called.

The dealer fanned Q♣ 2♠ 3♥. Loong fired 30,000 after a check. Cheung burned a time bank but reluctantly folded and asked, "If I went all-in pre-flop would you have called?"

With an affirmative answer, he move on to the next hand.

Action folded around to Kevin Tang on the cut-off, who shoved all-in for his last 130,000.

Nishant Sharma made the call from the button and the blinds stayed out of the way.

Kevin Tang: A♠ 8♥

Nishant Sharma: K♥ J♦

The flop came 6♦ 8♠ 3♥ to give Tang top pair.

Tang held on as the runout fell 6♥ 2♦, securing a double-up from Sharma, who was left with crumbs.

Matas Cimbolas opened from middle position and it was folded to Steve O'Dwyer, who shoved for his last 170,000 on the button. Action went back around to Cimbolas, who quickly announced a call to put O'Dwyer at risk.

Steve O'Dwyer: Q♣ Q♥

Matas Cimbolas: K♣ K♠

It was a cooler for O'Dwyer, and the 3♠ T♦ 4♠ K♦ 7♦ runout needlessly improved Cimbolas to a set of kings to send O'Dwyer out with a min-cash for TWD 572,500 (~USD 18,350).

Paawan Bansal, under the gun, open-shoved all-in for 10,000 and received another all-in from middle position Joris Michl for 135,000. Hao Shan Huang on the button was about to make a 52,000 raise unaware that there was an all-in bigger than Bansal's.

Without letting go of his chips, the dealer explained the situation. Huang released them for a call, putting both Bansal's and Michl's tournament life on the line.

Paawan Bansal: Q♥ 7♠

Joris Michl: 6♠ 6♥

Hao Shan Huang: A♦ K♠

Michl was eyeing a much-needed double-up after flopping a set on the 3♦ 8♥ 6♦ board. But the K♦ on the turn gave Huang a wave of new outs. Wide-eyed, Michl watched his chance to double evaporate as the 2♦ hit the river.

Bansal, thrilled to have secured a cash, left the table smiling as Michl headed to the payout counter.

Just moments after the bubble burst, the eliminations came fast and furious with the 95 "in-the-money" players dropping down to 80 in a blink of an eye.

Some of those who have taken the min-cash of TWD 572,500 (~USD 18,350) and ran include Isaac Phua, Kok Wei Teoh, Pansit Chitsaardkul, Hal Rotholz, Miyagi Toomo, Oliver Lirio, Sukhrat Massimov, Frank Cucchiara, Roman Hrabec, Fabian Gumz, Benjamin Pocket, Wait Kit Lo and Rudy Halim.

You can check the Official Payout Page to find out what places they busted out.

Paawan Bansal was over the moon when the bubble finally burst—so much so that the entire Table #86 erupted in celebration with him, offering high-fives and congratulations.

His roller-coaster story began on Hand #4 of hand-for-hand play, with 98 players left and only 95 guaranteed a payout.

Hao Shan Huang opened to 17,000 and Bansal called to see a flop. The dealer spread T♥ Q♣ 5♠. Huang continued for 18,000 and Bansal made the call once more.

Both players checked the A♥ turn, and on the 6♦ river, Huang eyed Bansal’s remaining stack before firing 52,000.

Unfazed, Bansal raised to 165,000, leaving himself with just 10,000 behind - one big blind’s worth of hope. Huang called.

Bansal tabled J♥ J♣, only to see Huang reveal A♦ 2♠. He looked momentarily deflated, but the table rallied around him, assuring him he could still survive the bubble, and with patience, he did.

After locking up the min-cash, Bansal beamed, saying, “Except for the winner of this event, I feel like the luckiest man alive. Queen-five winning over pocket aces… doesn’t happen that often. These two 5,000-chips are now worth USD 19,000.”

On the fifth round of hand-for-hand play, John Constiniano shoved from early position and just behind him, Shinya Maeda called all in for his last 137,000. Everyone else got out of the way as media and onlooks crowded the table to await the outcome.

Shinya Maeda: A♠ A♦

John Constiniano: Q♣ 5♥

It looked to be an easy double up for Maeda, much to the dismay of everyone else in the field, as he had Constiniano's rags drawing slim.

The Q♠ 8♦ 6♦ flop paired Constiniano's queen, which got a collective "Oooooo!" from spectators as Maeda wasn't out of the woods yet.

Anticipation built as the tournament director ordered the dealer to bring a turn, which came the 5♠ — improving Constiniano to two pair and vaulting him into the lead as the crowd erupted.

It wasn't over, however, as Maeda still had two-pair and trips out. The dealer then flipped over the 2♦, a total blank to eliminate Maeda in heartbreaking fashion and bring an end to the bubble.

There was an open from Eisuke Katsuren from middle position and Jaesung Lee shoved 90,000 from the small blind. When it got back to Katsuren, he called.

Jaesung Lee: J♦ J♣

Eisuke Katsuren: A♠ K♠

Lee was the at-risk player, and his jacks survived the flop of 4♣ 3♦ 6♠. Standing with his hands together and praying, Lee's prayers were not answered as the K♣ landed on the turn, which left him one card away from elimination.

Only a jack could save Lee, but the T♥ river didn't deliver any, meaning he made his way to the exit in 97th place, two off the money.

Jen Li Liu risked his Main Event championship with A♦ Q♠ and was called by Jun Chun, who tabled A♣ K♦.

The board ran 5♦ 8♠ T♣ 9♠ 4♥.

Liu failed for find any of his outs and was sent to the rail in 98th place, short of the payout circle.

On the very next hand after Sukhrat Massimov doubled through Chi Ngong Tang, Soohak Eo shoved for his 118,000 from the hijack and was called by Massimov, who had a slightly covering stack.

Soohak Eo: A♥ 4♥

Sukhrat Massimov: A♠ A♣

It was the worst-possible matchup for Eo, who found himself absolutely crushed against Massimov's rockets.

However, the flop brought 4♦ 3♥ 4♠, which got a varied reaction of gasps and groans from onlookers as Eo pulled into a commanding lead after flopping trips.

The 7♦ turn left Massimov drawing to the last remaining ace in the deck, but it wasn't meant to be as the 5♣ river bricked out — awarding a crucial bubble double to Eo in unbelievable fashion.

Massimov was left with just 15,000 following the brutal beat.

Hand-for-hand play has begun with 3 players needing to bust before the bubble.

Sukhrat Massimov of Kazakhstan risked his last 60,000 chips and was looked up by Chi Ngong Tang of Hong Kong.