Australia's Julian Warhurst emerged victorious in the APTC Taipei 2025 Freezeout Championship Event, securing TWD 2,624,300 (~USD 81,754).

The Freezeout Championship kicked off yesterday with an impressive turnout of 303 entries, building a total prize pool of TWD 13,089,600 (~USD 407,776). After a full day of play, 93 survivors advanced to take their seats this morning.

The final day saw many hit the rail—ending several players’ last chance at APT glory in 2025 with this being one of the final events on the schedule. Fabian Rolli, Daisuke Ogita, and Romain Dours were among the early casualties.

The bubble loomed and after a short hand-for-hand phase, China's Jinlong Hu was the unlucky 40th-place finisher, just missing the cash after getting pocket fours in against pocket jacks.

Just 39 made the money, and Russia's Dmitrii Belikov was the first to lock up the minimum cash of TWD 90,300 (~USD 2,813).

Ngamsiri Asiralertsiri, Jihwan Oh, and Philemon Ip were among those who secured a cash but fell short of reaching the final table.

Singapore's Kim Wah Chiu narrowly missed the final table, finishing 10th for TWD 229,100 (~USD 7,340) after running into ace-king.

Akira Takasugi of Japan dominated for most of the event, entering the final table as the chip leader. He also led going into the final two tables.

Natural8 Ambassador and Taiwanese local Nevan Chang entered the final table in fourth position, but was first to bust after losing a key pot and then his tournament life to the Philippines’ Jason Magbanua. Chang got ace-king offsuit in against Magbanua’s pocket kings and found no help, sending him home in 9th place.

Despite getting a chip up, Magbanua was next out in 8th after his ace-king suited fell to Takasugi’s jack-nine offsuit when a jack landed on the flop—following a rare mis-click by Takasugi, who hadn’t seen the original open.

Swiss’s Dinesh Alt followed shortly after in 7th. Alt was ahead when Kuan Yu Chen called off his stack pre-flop, but both players bricked the board, and Alt exited.

Venezuela’s Andre Plaza Marcano ran into Julian Warhurst’s kings and couldn’t catch a flush draw, ending his run in 6th place.

Hugues Girard of France placed 5th after battling hard but finding no help against Takasugi’s ace-ten suited.

A big battle ensued for the podium positions, with Australia’s Justin Tsui appearing in almost every pot. Warhurst then secured a key double-up.

Taiwan's Kuan Yu Chen had been very quiet as one of the short stacks. Down to around five big blinds, he moved in with king-eight suited, but was eliminated in 4th place when Takasugi found a jack on the turn.

Three-handed play lasted over an hour, with all three players exchanging pots. Warhurst mounted a comeback from the short stack, climbing from 1 million to just under 3 million over a couple of levels.

Warhurst doubled again, leaving Japan's Akira Takasugi short, which led to his elimination in 3rd place. Tsui sealed the knockout holding seven-three offsuit against Takasugi’s king-eight suited.

Tsui entered heads-up play as the favourite. The pair knew each other well as cash-game regulars on the Melbourne circuit, and the duel was friendly and entertaining.

Their back-and-forth lasted nearly two hours. Early on, Warhurst’s momentum shifted and one double-up closed the gap.

Shortly after, another double-up put Warhurst far ahead when he flopped a flush draw and completed it on the turn.

Warhurst ran away with the lead, and despite a few small setbacks, he secured the crown, with Justin Tsui finishing runner-up after getting the last of his chips in with deuces against sevens.

Warhurst had earlier missed out on a lion in one of the first events of the Natural8 Cup Championships, placing 9th, making this win even more special.

Warhurst started the day late after sleeping through his alarm. “Maybe it was destiny,” he joked. He kept a steady pace throughout, staying near the top of the counts.

On the decision not to deal heads-up, he shared: “The two of us are good friends and a lot of our friends were here to watch us. We wanted to make it more exciting for them by quickening up the action and making it more luck-based. Me and Justin are very level players.”

The pair originally met in the Melbourne cash-game scene. “It was quite funny to be playing heads up with him in a tournament now, which is a different format,” Warhurst said.

Warhurst is the first player to ever win two mega lion trophies in the new-era APT tour. His first won one at the APT Summer Series in Da Nang in 2023, defeating a 22-player field in the Super High Roller 8 Max event. Comparing the two wins, he explained: “I enjoy freezeouts. The first one was a 21-man field, so this one feels a lot more special as it was 303 runners—much more difficult.”

He also ran deep in the Natural8 Cup Championship earlier this series: “The other freezeout didn’t go so well, as I don’t think I won a hand, so this was a nice change of pace.”

Warhurst now takes home one of the final trophies of the APT Championship 2025.

The final day of coverage begins tomorrow at 11:15 a.m., when the Mini High Roller and Trip Saver Championships conclude the APT Championship 2025 festivities. Stay with APT Live Coverage as we follow the action right down to the last card.

Justin Tsui threw everything he had at Julian Warhurst, but the damage from several costly double-ups proved too much to overcome. After being whittled down to just four big blinds, Tsui found a lifeline, doubling with A T against Warhurst’s T 2.

But the comeback was short-lived. In the next all-in showdown, Warhurst had him dominated from the start and sealed the deal, ending Tsui’s run in 2nd place.

Justin Tsui: 2♦ 2♥

Julian Warhurst: 8♣ 8♥

The board was 7♦ 5♥ K♣ Q♦ 5♣.

The duo, who are good friends, are currently sharing a rail.

For the majority of the final table, they stood behind Julian Warhurst, as the short stack.

After Warhurst secured two double-ups, to take the lead, the rail moved behind Justin Tsui on the other side of the table and one friend said, "We need to balance this out".

One continued with, "Every time he (Warhurst) has been all in, he's won with us behind him."

Play continued with Tsui losing a few small pots after a number of limp-check pots were checked to showdown.

Shortly after securing one double up, Justin Tsui limped for 160,000 and Julian Warhurst rised to 600,000. Tsui moved all in and covered Warhurst's remaining 4,260,000 stack.

Warhurst checked his hand and called.

Julian Warhurst: Q♥ T♥

Justin Tsui: A♥ 5♦

The 3♥ K♥ K♣ flop was pretty dry for both, and Tsui was holding.

An 8♥ turn didn't change anything either.

But that all changed and Warhurst scooped the pot as the dealer placed the Q♣ river. Giving him two pair.

Julian Warhurst is on a roll with two double-ups to cut the gap significantly between him and Justin Tsui.

The first double-up opened with a limp from Warhurst on the button and Tsui checked. Both locked horns on the flop 5♦ A♥ 6♠ with a 120,000 bet from Warhurst, check-raised by Tsui to 275,000. Warhurst answered with a shove, and Tsui snap-called.

Julian Warhurst: 7♠ 8♦

Justin Tsui: 3♥ 4♦

Both players were hunting for the straight, and both missed on the Q♣ turn and T♣ river. Warhurst's eight played for the first double-up.

A few hands after, Tsui shoved on the button and Warhurst snap-called.

Julian Warhurst: K♣ K♠

Justin Tsui: K♥ 8♥

When their hole cards were tabled, Tsui was shocked at Warhurst's cowboys which held throughout the uneventful board 5♥ Q♣ A♠ 3♣ Q♥.

Justin Tsui limped and Julian Warhurst raised to 240,000. Tsui called, taking the players to the flop.

An 8♣ T♥ 5♦ board saw both check to the 6 turn.

Warhurst checked, Tsui bet 350,000 and Warhurst called.

A J♠ river was checked to showdown, with Justin Tsui showing Q♦ 8♦ and taking the pot with a pair of eights.

Julian Warhurst had A♣ 9♥ and passed a pot to Tsui.

In the next hand, Warhurst limped and Tsui checked.

The 3♥ A♠ 5♥ flop was checked by Tsui and Warhurst bet 120,000. Tsui called.

A 5♣ was turned and Tsui check-called a 400,000 bet by Warhurst.

The K♣ river was checked down and Tsui showed K♣ 2♣, having just got there on the river, and Warhurst flicked his hand into the muck.

After a losing session, Julian Warhurst charged back, picking up multiple pots in succession to drive his stack over 3,600,000. Justin Tsui finally put a stop to the rush, triple barreling to a board of K♥ T♠ J♦ 3♠ to force Warhurst to fold.

The players decided to check the numbers again and for the second time, no deal was struck. Instead, play will continue with the blinds increasing at half pace.

Julian Warhurst limped the small blind and Justin Tsui checked the big blind.

The T♥ 9♣ T♦ flop saw both check to the 5♦ turn.

Tsui bet out 300,000 and Warhurst mucked.

In the next hand, Tsui limped and Warhurst checked.

The T♣ K♠ Q♣ flop was checked to the 3♣ turn.

Warhurst checked, Tsui bet 240,000 and Warhurst called.

A 9♦ river saw the players check it down with Tsui showing Q♣ 2♥ which was enough to take the pot.

Justin Tsui limped from the small blind and Julian Warhurst checked the big blind.

The A♣ 9♣ 6♥ flop saw Tsui bet 125,000 and Warhurst call.

A T♣ was turned and Tsui bet 200,000 Warhurst made it 475,000 and Tsui mucked.

Justin Tsui and Julian Warhurst are the final two players remaining in the Freezeout tournament.

Tsui was the clear leader going into play, holding over 10 million of the total 12 million chips in play.

Akira Takasugi limped in from the small blind then called big blind Justin Tsui's 350,000 three-bet. When the dealer fanned the flop 6♣ T♠ J♥, Tsui continued the aggression with another 350,000 bet. Takasugi called and they took a trip to fourth street.

The 8♠ turn was passed up by both for the board to complete with a 9♣ on the river. Takasugi announced all-in and without asking for a count, Tsui called.

Akira Takasugi: K♥ 8♥

Justin Tsui: 7♣ 3♦

Takasugi had mid pair but it was far behind Tsui's straight to end his bid for the title in 3rd place.

Julian Warhurst was back down to just under a million in chips after loosing a few pots pref-flop after getting re-raised and having to fold.

His time came when he opened jammed in from the small blind for his remaining 925,000 and got called by Akira Takasugi in the big blind.

Julian Warhurst: Q♠ T♠

Akira Takasugi: J♠ 9♣

The 4♦ 6♦ A♣ 8♥ 8♦ runout saw Warhurst keep his lead, securing a double and knocking down Takasugi.

Akira Takasugi opened to 250,000 from the small blind and Justin Tsui defended the big blind.

The 3♣ T♥ 5♠ flop was bet by Takasugi for 200,000 and Tsui called.

A 5♦ was turned and Takasugi bet 600,000. Tsui didn't shy away and paid to see the river.

The 7♥ saw Takasugi check, Tsui used a time bank before moving in a stack worth about 2,000,000.

Takasugi gave up the pot and passed a stack to Tsui.

The new level continued where it left off, with Julian Warhurst applying pressure on Akira Takasugi and Justin Tsui. One hand brought in a decent pot preflop with a raise from Warhurst on the button answered with a three-bet to 700,000 by small blind Takasugi. When Warhurst sent it back with a shove, Takasugi quickly let go of his hand.

The next two sizable pots, though, didn't go Warhurst's way as Tsui proved difficult to crack. The bigger pot started with a raise of 350,000 from Tsui on the small blind and Warhurst defended on the big blind.

Tsui continued for 250,000 on the flop of K♠ T♣ 6♦, and Warhurst called. Both players checked the turn 6♣ then checked again by Tsui on the river 3♠. Warhurst laid out a steal-bet of 550,000 but as quick as it landed on the felt, Tsui snap-called.

Warhurst flipped open 9♣ 8♣ bluff to lose a chunk to Tsui, who had A♠ Q♠ ace-high.

The remaining three players take a short break.

Action will resume at 11.50pm TST.

Julian Warhurst picked up a couple of pots to breach 3,000,000 in chips. The first was a limped pot that saw heavy action on a flop of J♣ J♥ 2♦ with small blind Warhurst betting 80,000, then calling big blind Akira Takasugi's 250,000 raise.

After both players checked the turn 9♠, Warhurst led again for 600,000 and took down the pot easily.

Moving in position, Warhurst opened 160,000 on the button and Justin Tsui defended on the big blind. After they both checked the flop 2♦ T♦ A♦, Warhurst fired 150,000 on the turn J♥, and the pot swelled with a call from Tsui. Both put the brakes on the river 6♠.

Tsui missed the flush with Q♦ 7♥ for Warhurst to claim the pot with K♣ 7♣ king-high.

Julian Warhurst opened to 160,000 and Justin Tsui defended the big blind.

The 4♦ 8♠ 5♦ flop was checked to the K♠ turn. Tsui checked, Warhurst bet 220,000 and Tsui made a quick call.

A J♦ was turned, Tsui checked again, Warhurst bet 550,000 and Tsui gave up his hand.

Kuan Yu Chen was folding a lot of hands throughout the final table, bleeding the blinds, and waiting for his chance to double.

He was down to just five big blinds when he moved all in for his remaining 435,000 on the button and saw Akira Takasugi call.

Kuan Yu Chen: K♥ 8♥

Akira Takasugi: Q♥ J♦

Chen was ahead and improved on the 4♦ 3♣ 8♦ flop.

But this all changed when the J♥ fell on the turn.

Takasugi ended on top after the dealer placed the 6♥ river, allowing him to regain some of what he lost to Warhurst just a few hands before, and sending Chen to the rail.

Julian Warhurst moved all in from the small blind for his remaining 985,000. Akira Takasugi peeled his cards back one by one to see if he was going to call.

He committed a stack and the players flipped their cards.

Julian Warhurst: K♦ 8♥

Akira Takasugi: K♣ 7♦

It was a close fight, with Warhurst just ahead.

The J♣ J♦ 5♥ 3♦ 4♥ runout didn't bring anything in for either player, and Warhurst got a clean double.

After Akira Takasugi lost the chip lead to Justin Tsui, he has been battling to regain control only to lose more to the new leader. In back-to-back hands, Tsui got the better of Takasugi to rise near 6,000,000 in chips.

The first hand was blinds versus blinds with Takasugi limping in and seeing the board cheap with Tsui checking. Both players checked it through the river for the board to reach its max, showing 5♠ 5♣ 3♣ 8♠ 2♠. Takasugi tried to steal for 260,000 but Tsui snap-called.

Takasugi revealed J♦ 6♦ bluff, Tsui also missed but earned the pot with better air of K♦ T♦.

On the next hand, Takasugi raised 120,000 on the button and both Tsui on the small blind and Kuan Yu Chen on the big blind topped up. All three checked through the flop Q♠ 4♣ K♥ for a free turn of 2♠.

Following two checks, Takasugi took a stab for 110,000 and only Tsui continued to the river K♣ where it was back to checking.

Tsui flipped over 8♦ 8♥ and won the pot with Takasugi mucking.

After being taken down a few pegs by Justin Tsui, Akira Takasugi limped from the small blind and Tsui raised to 210,000 from the big blind. Takasugi called, and the players saw a A♠ 5♣ J♥ flop.

Takasugi checked, Tsui bet 120,000 and Takasugi called.

Both checked the 8♠ turn to see the T♦ river.

Takasugi took the lead and bet 300,000. Tsui took a pause, before mucking his hand, passing some back Takasugi's way.

Justin Tsui and Akira Takasugi have been playing nearly every pot together this level, with little action from the other two players.

Tsui opened to 100,000 from under the gun, and Takasugi called from the big blind.

The 2♥ 3♣ T♠ flop saw both check to the 7♦ turn.

Takasugi bet out 200,000 and Tsui called.

The 5♦ river saw Takasugi push out 800,000 and Tsui used a time bank, before calling.

Takasugi showed J♣ 8♥ and Tsui called with T♥ T♦ for the set.

A few hands later, Julian Warhurst took a tumble from Tsui when he opened to 120,000 on the button and Warhurst three-bet to 340,000 from the big blind.

Tsui moved all in covering Warhurst's 855,000 remaining stack and Warhurst mucked.

In the next hand, Tsui opened to 120,000 and Takasugi called from the big blind.

The K♠ 3♠ 9♥ flop prompted Takasugi to check, Tsui to bet 90,000, and Takasugi called.

A A♣ was turned and Takasugi checked. Tsui put up 145,000 and Takasugi folded, handing more chips Tsui's way.

Hugues Girard was dealt his last hand with all of his chips sent Akira Takasugi's direction.

The hand first kicked off with a raise of 100,000 from Kuan Yu Chen at cutoff that Takasugi called at small blind. Big blind Girard followed with an all-in for 595,000 and while it was enough to push out Chen, chip leader Takasugi quickly called.

Hugues Girard: K♦ Q♥

Akira Takasugi: A♥ T♥

Girard needed all the help he could get as he was behind. Despite his rail calling out for some paint, no royalty found the board that finished off 3♥ J♣ 7♦ T♣ 8♣ to end his run in 5th place.

Justin Tsui opened 100,000 from the cutoff and big blind Akira Takasugi gave him action to see the flop of 4♦ 4♥ T♥.

Tsui continued for 60,000 and Takasugi stuck around with a check-call. The action repeated on the turn 4♣ with a bet of 160,000 from Tsu, check-called by Takasugi for the second time.

The 2♥ river completed the board, and once more, Takasugi led with a check. Tsui took time to decide on a bet then pulled out 650,000 from his stack. Unlike the past calls, Takasugi first tanked and after burning a time-bank, he called.

Tsui showed Q♥ Q♣ and claimed the pot with Takasugi sending his hand to the muck.

Girard had one of the shortest stacks going into the final table but laddered and currently sits within the final five.

He has been pressuring in the right spots and scooping the blinds, helping him maintain a stack.

He opened to 245,000 on the button and saw the blinds fold, taking him up to 545,000.

After an orbit, he had paid the blinds and lost some back.

He then raised to 320,000 from the cutoff leaving 200,000 behind and got up to 645,000.

Julian Warhurst opened to 100,000 on the button and Andre Plaza Marcano moved all in from the small blind for his remaining 825,000. Warhurst made a quick call, leaving not much behind, and the players went to showdown.

Andre Plaza Marcano: A♣ J♦

Julian Warhurst: K♣ K♥

The 7♣ 2♣ 5♣ flop saw Marcano pick up a nut flush draw, but the T♠ turn saw no change to the standings.

A 4♠ came on the river, keeping Warhurst good with a pair of kings.

The dealer counted out Warhurst's stack, just to ensure he had him covered, and once confirmed, left the table in 6th place.

Dinesh Alt struggled with a short stack and finally took a stand, but before doing so, it opened with a raise of 100,000 from Kuan Yu Chen on the button.

With only 545,000 behind, Alt defended on the big blind with a three-bet to 500,000, Chen answered with a shove to effectively put Alt all-in. Alt committed his last chips and when they flipped them over, he was in trouble.

Dinesh Alt: K♦ J♠

Kuan Yu Chen: A♥ K♣

Only a jack to keep Alt in the game, the board denied it as it landed 5♦ T♥ T♠ T♣ 4♣ for a full house to Chen and a 7th place finish for the Swiss pro.

The remaining 7 players take a short break.

Action will resume at 9.35 pm TST.

Dinesh Alt opened 80,000 from under the gun and found one caller in middle position, Akira Takasugi. After several folds, big blind Julian Warhurst shoved all-in for 495,000, sending Alt to the tank. Alt eventually opted out while Takasugi called to put Warhurst at risk.

Julian Warhurst: K♥ K♠

Dinesh Alt: 6♣ 6♠

At showdown, Warhurst's cowboys dominated and with the board running low 9♣ T♠ 2♥ 3♠ 3♥, he scooped the first double up of the final table.

Jason Magbanua opened to 60,000 from under the gun and action folded around to Akira Takasugi in the small blind who moved all in for his chip leading stack.

He didn't see that Magbanua had opened and was only looking to control the action of his neighbour Hugues Girard in the big blind.

Magbanua called for his remaining 800,000, and the players flipped their cards.

Jason Magbanua: A♣ K♣

Akira Takasugi: J♥ 9♠

Magbanua was happy to get in all the chips but ran unlucky on the T♦ 5♦ J♦ flop, seeing Takasugi pick up top pair.

Takasugi held the rest of the way on the 8♠ turn and 2♣ river, which saw to Magbanua's 8th place finish.

Just days ago, Nevan Chang captured the APTC Mini Main Event Championship, and he carried that momentum straight into the Freezeout Championship. A♠ the only player in today’s field chasing a second title, his run had been anything but steady, seeing his stack swing all day.

Entering the final table, Chang was the shortest and got it all in on top of Jason Kyle Magbanua's three-bet of 210,000. Initial raiser Akira Takasugi got out of the way while Magbanua made the small top up.

Nevan Chang: A♦ K♠

Jason Kyle Magbanua: K♣ K♦

Despite running into plenty of lucky breaks all day, the board didn't produce any for Chang this time as it ran 7♠ 3♦ 6♠ 6♥ Q♣ to finish in 9th place.

Top (left to right) Andre Plaza Marcano, Jason Magbanua, Hugues Girard, Nevan Chang, Dinesh Alt

Bottom (left to right) Kuan Yu Chen, Akira Takasugi, Justin Tsui, Julian Warhurst

Action has resumed on the final table, with Japan's Akira Takasugi holding the lead.

The remaining 9 players take a short break before combining to play at the final table.

Action will resume shortly.

Kim Wah Chiu will not be joining the final table, having just bitten the dust in 10th place with Justin Tsui delivering the axe.

The hand kicked off a min-raise from Tsui at under the gun that Chiu defended on the big blind with a three-bet to 200,000. Action back on Tsui, who tamed the heat with a call.

Chiu continued to barrel on the flop Q♥ T♥ A♥ for 300,000 and again Tsui called after burning through one time-bank.

No more counting for Chiu on the turn 2♣ with a jam for 760,000. Again, Tsui contemplated and then slid out the call.

Kim Wah Chiu: A♦ 6♦

Justin Tsui: A♠ K♥

Not only was Tsui's kicker far ahead, he also had Chiu dominated in chips, and he had the nut draw. The river 7♥ sealed Tsui's win to end Chiu's run one spot shy of the final table.

Andre Plaza Marcano opened to 60,000 from under the gun and Hung Chieh Lai moved all in from the small blind for his remaining 240,000.

Marcano called and the players went to showdown.

Hung Chieh Lai: Q♥ Q♠

Andre Plaza Marcano: K♦ T♣

There was a sweat on the T♦ 2♥ J♠ flop for both, with Lai looking at a backdoor straight, and Marcano picking up tens.

The K♥ turn saw Lai improve to an open-ended straight draw, but Marcano also now sat with two-pair.

The T♠ river saw Marcano end on a boat and Lai was left to hit the rail in 11th place.

Andre Plaza Marcano opened to 60,000 on the button and Dinesh Alt raised to 410,000 which was all but one chip from the big blind.

Marcano called and showed A♦ 9♠, but Alt wasn't all in.

The floor called for the flop to be dealt, and the players saw the 4♣ 2♣ Q♣.

Alt checked, Marcano bet 5,000 with Alt snap calling.

Dinesh Alt: 6♦ 6♣

Andre Plaza Marcano: A♦ 9♠

Alt held on the 5♣ turn and 3♠ river, securing himself a double.

Bao Qiang Ho just picked up a pot on an uncalled shove on the big blind to win Akira Takasugi's 50,000 open.

On the next hand, everyone folded to him on the small blind and he shoved again. This time, Andre Plaza Marcano called to put him on the ropes.

Bao Qiang Ho: 2♦ 2♣

Andre Plaza Marcano: A♦ 3♥

Upon revealing, Ho was flipping for his tournament and was quickly behind when the flop dropped an ace. The board proceeded to complete 4♦ A♣ 4♠ K♦ 8♣ to end Ho's run in 12th place.

Sai Hang Jason Chau min-clicked from under the gun and went to the flop with lone caller Akira Takasugi on the big blind.

Chau continued with a 50,000 bet on a board of 3♥ 7♦ 9♥ only to be challenged with a 150,000 check-raise from Takasugi. Chau put on his thinking cap and after using up a time-bank, he moved all-in for a total of 525,000. Within seconds, Takasugi called and they flipped them over.

Sai Hang Jason Chau: T♦ T♥

Akira Takasugi: 8♦ 6♦

Chau was ahead with his pair while Takasugi was looking to spoil it with an open-ended. The T♠ turn was exactly what Takasugi hoped for as he landed the straight but Chau also improved to a set and had outs to burn with a boat. It was not to be as the river brought a J♣.

In disbelief, Chau got up and took photos of the board while shaking his head in shock.

Adrien Favre-Felix had a wild ride within just a few hands of returning to the final two tables. He got in his 380,000 with pocket eights against Andre Plaza Marcano, who had pocket nines and went down to just 60,000.

He then got a double up, taking him back up to 170,000 after he moved all in with ace-five offsuit and was called by chip lead Akira Takasugi who was sitting with king-nine offsuit. Favre-Felix saw an ace on the flop which secured his seat for at least a little while longer.

The last hand he played saw him all in from the small blind and against Bao Qiang Ho in middle position, who covered him.

Adrien Favre-Felix: 4♦ 4♥

Bao Qiang Ho: K♥ T♣

The 3♠ 5♦ 3♠ flop was good, but Ho picked up a pair of tens on the T♥ turn.

A 6♦ river saw Favre-Felix hit the rail in 14th place.

Jason Magbanua opened from middle position and Kim Wah Chiu called from the hijack. Ori Kossonogi moved all in from the cutoff for his remaining 640,000 chips.

Jason Magbanua re-jammed from middle position, covering Kossonogi and Chiu got out of the way.

Ori Kossonogi: A♠ J♦

Jason Magbanua: A♦ A♥

Magbanua was behind after running into his opponent's pocket aces, and the 3♦ J♥ 2♦ 2♥ 2♣ runout didn't change anything.

Magbanua saw an exit after just a few hands into the new level after the dinner break.

Following a min-raise from under the gun, Julian Warhurst, two spots over, Christopher Mateo shoved. Down the orbit, Kim Wah Chiu peeked then jammed as well with a covering stack, and this was enough to push out Warhurst.

Christopher Mateo: A♥ Q♣

Kim Wah Chiu: T♦ T♠

With Chiu ahead with his pair, a coinflip was the best Mateo could hope for; however, the board did not produce any help running a low 4♣ 5♥ 5♣ 3♥ 3♣ to end his run in 16th place.

From early position, Akira Takasugi opened for 50,000 then called cutoff player Adrien Favre's 150,000 three-bet.

Both players saw a flop land 2♦ 2♥ 4♥ where Favre continued for 175,000 that Takasugi check-called to take them to the turn K♥.

Takasugi switched up and led out a light 150,000, Favre called, and the board completed T♠.

Takasugi dipped in again and this time emerged with a big bet of 900,000 that well covered Favre's stack who eventually opted to save it for another spot.

The final 16 resume action, with Akira Takasugi topping the counts.

The live seat draw can be found HERE.

The Final 16 players are on a 60-minute dinner break.

Action will resume at 6.52 pm TST.

Sai Hang Jason Chau moved all in from middle position for 360,000 and was called by Nevan Chang in the small blind.

Sai Hang Jason Chau: A♦ J♠

Nevan Chang: 8♣ 8♠

The sweat of the bust didn't last long, as Chau picked up top pair on the 6♦ A♣ Q♠ flop.

A 9♦ turn and T♦ river secured him a double up.

Action was caught as the dealer was awarding Hugues Girard the pot and Seho Kim was packing up. The board showed 4a 9♥ 7♦ K♥ Q♦ and Girard had A♠ K♦.

With this win, Girard crossed over a million while Kim went to the payout to collect TWD 161,000 (~USD 5,160) for his 17th place finish.

The field is now down to 16 players.

Recounted by one of the players, Kim Wah Chiu opened and Philemon Ip called then both saw a flop run Kx Qx 4x.

Both players checked for a free turn Tx, where heavy betting erupted, leading to Ip all-in showing Ax Jx straight and Chiu behind with Kx Tx two pair.

The river brought down another Tx to improve Chiu to a full house, which in turn sent Ip crashing out on a bad beat.

Jihwan Oh opened from the hijack and Akira Takasugi raised to 120,000 from the small blind.

Oh moved all his chips in bar one single 1,000, putting 293,000 at risk. Takasugi went along and called.

The players saw a 4♠ 8♦ K♦ flop and Takasugi snap raised to 5,000.

Oh took some time, stood from the table, and looked at the action around him.

There were 28 players remaining with a pay jump at 27.

His time ran out and there were no other all-ins in play, so Oh moved his remaining chip in.

Jihwan Oh: 9♥ 9♦

Akira Takasugi: A♠ T♠

Oh was looking strong on the 4♠ 8♦ K♣ flop, but Takasugi took on the T♦ turn.

There was no recovery on the 7♠ river, meaning it was the end of the road for Oh. Akira Takasugi sat back with a monster stack.

Alex Lynskey open-shoved from late position for 191,000 and was joined by small blind Pi-Ying Hsu after first using up two time banks. When they tabled their hands, Hsu had the better kicker.

Pi-Ying Hsu: A♦ J♠

Alex Lynskey: A♠ 9♦

Hsu was the one at risk and survived the low board of 3♣ 2♥ 7♣ 5♦ 8♦ to win the pot and send Lynskey down to just 5,000 as both players had about even stacks.

No action until the small blind Tao Wei Chang pushed for 209,000 that sent big blind Ori Kossonogi to the think tank. After counting and recounting his stack, Kossonogi risked his tournament life.

Ori Kossonogi: A♥ 2♦

Tao Wei Chang: J♥ 9♣

Kossonogi was ahead but still needed to dodge Chang's live cards. The 6♥ 5♥ 7♦ flop gave Chang more outs with a gutshot in effect. The turn K♠ was no help to Chang and neither was the river T♦ for Kossonogi to double through while Chang plunged to just over one big blind.

The first player to make the minimum cash of TWD 90,300 (~USD 2,813) was Dmitrii Belikov, who took 39th place. He was closely followed by Kai An Chuang in 38th, taking home the same prize money.

Chuyi Huang made the first pay jump, taking home TWD 102,100 with Ngamsiri Asiralertsiri taking home the same having been the most recent elimination, taking home 29th place.

Now just 30 players remain in the freezeout tournament, with a race to make the final table, with all eyes on the top TWD 2,624,300 (~USD 81,754) prize!

With the bubble now burst, each player had locked up at least TWD 90,300 (~USD 2,895).

Jinlong Hu open shoved his last 160,000 from early position but wasn't able to escape unscathed as Florencio Campomanes three-bet shoved in late position to successfully isolate the action.

Jinlong Hu: 4♠ 4♦

Florencio Campomanes: J♣ J♦

Hu was in big trouble with his pair needing to improve. However, the board favored the best hand, keeping the runout to a clean Q♦ T♠ 2♣ 5♣ 7♠ for Campomanes to ship it and Hu to ship out as the stone cold bubble.

Nevan Chang opened to 300,000 from middle position and Chuyi Huang called off his remaining 119,000 for his tournament life.

Chuyi Huang: K♥ K♦

Nevan Chang: T♣ 9♣

Huang was looking strong, and the low 3♦ 5♦ 2♠ flop was good for Huang.

A 9♦ turn gave Chang some chance, but Huang stayed alive on the stone bubble as the 5♥ river was placed.

The first all-in showdown during the bubble round kicked off with everyone folding to the small blind Hung Chieh Lai who limped in.

Bao Qiang Ho on the big blind took a peek then raised to 40,000. Lai answered back with a three-bet to 100,000, and Ho shoved his big stack of around 700,000. Lai was unfazed and snap-called.

Hung Chieh Lai: A♠ A♥

Bao Qiang Ho: J♦ 4♣

With a crowd of players leaning in, the flop ran clean 5♦ 8♣ 3♦, keeping Lai comfortably ahead. The turn brought the A♦, to strengthen Lai to a set but not out of the woods yet, as Ho picked up a bundle of outs for the flush and a wheel draw.

When the dealer burned the river it was a harmless 7♠, bringing a big sigh of relief for Lai who secured a well-deserved double up.

With 40 players remaining, the floor has announced that hand for hand is now in play.

Just 39 players will make the money.

On the soft bubble, Mark Sia min-clicked from under the gun and went flop-hunting with caller Hugues Girard on the button.

When the dealer fanned J♦ 6♥ 2♦, a barrage of bets followed, starting with a 20,000 bet from Girard that Sia check-raised to 60,000. Girard challenged back with a three-bet to 100,000, then Sia four-bet shoved. Girard snap-called and their hole cards were tabled.

Mark Sia: K♦ K♥

Hugues Girard: Q♦ J♣

Sia’s overpair had Girard’s top pair in a chokehold, and it stayed that way through the 6♠ turn until the dealer ripped off a brutal J♠ river, giving Girard a full house and sending Sia crashing out on a nasty a bad beat.

After the hand, Girard was moved to Nevan Chang's table, who saw the incoming big stack and joked, "wrong table!" getting a laugh from everyone, including Girard.

With the field down to 40 players, it was now bubble time.

On the soft bubble, Seho Kim raised from under the gun for 57,000 leaving just 1,000 behind. At hijack, Sean Ooi shoved 158,000 and everyone passed it up for action to swing back to Kim.

Ooi chimed, "fold, fold, fold, you are drawing dead. I have a strong hand." But Kim did the opposite, tossing in his last chip.

Seho Kim: A♣ 9♠

Sean Ooi: A♦ K♥

Ooi was right, his hand was strong but only momentarily as the flop of 9♥ 7♦ 3♦ improved Kim's lower kicker to a pair. With the turn 3♠ and river 2♠, Kim survived and pulled in the double up.

With the money just three spots away, Bao Qiang Ho opened from under the gun and got called by by small blind Hugues Girard. Big blind Chih Wei Yang took a peek and jammed around 133,000, this got a quick fold from Ho while Girard called to put him at risk.

Chih Wei Yang: J♠ J♥

Hugues Girard: A♣ Q♠

Yang's hopes vanished immediately when a queen landed on the flop, and with the board running out 8♥ Q♦ 2♠ 5♦ 4♠, he was eliminated to bring the field down to 41 players.

Just after the break, there were just four players who needed to fall before the tournament was in the money.

Darius Neagoe came up short after getting in his remaining chips against Kim Wah Chiu.

Neagoe opened to 105,000 from the button, leaving one 1,000 yellow chip behind.

Chiu moved all in from the small blind and Neagoe took a look around the tables in the room before flicking in his last chip.

Darius Neagoe: A♣ K♠

Kim Wah Chiu: A♦ J♠

Neagoe was ahead on the T♦ 8♣ 9♠ flop, but Chiu picked up a pair on the J♦ turn, which saw to Neagoe's elimination.

The 6♦ river didn't change anything and Chiu stacked up after the hand, with Neagoe narrowly missing out on making the money.

The remaining 43 players take a short 15-minute break.

Action will resume at 3.45pm TST.

Jinlong Hu was all in on the button for 102,000 and called by Florencio Campomanes in the big blind, who left himself with 200,000 behind, not at risk.

Hu Jinlong: K♠ 6♠

Florencio Campomanes: A♠ 3♠

Jinlong was behind the whole way on the 4♣ 3♣ 8♦ flop, and 7♥ turn, but just got there with a 6♦ on the river for a better pair.

On the table just across, Nevan Chang was counting out his new stack after just doubling up with pocket aces from the hijack against Teng Yang Hoo's queens.

Nevan Chang: A♥ A♠

Teng Yang Hoo: Q♦ Q♥

Chang held and saw an easy double on the 3♥ 3♠ 4♥ T♥ J♣ runout, putting him amongst the leaders heading towards the bubble.

Three hands after Stanislav Zegal gave Michael Allen a boost, he paid out again, this time it was Nevan Chang benefiting. It was an all-in preflop situation with Chang three-bet shoving at the cutoff and Zegal calling from the hijack.

Nevan Chang: A♥ Q♣

Stanislav Zegal: A♦ J♠

Chang was visibly excited seeing he was ahead, and with the board staying on his side, completing 8♦ Q♠ 7♣ 4♥ J♥, Chang climbed back into shape.

Michael Allen was down to crumbs and put it all out front after everyone folded to him on the button. Next to act, Stanislav Zegal also liked his cards and pushed to successfully isolate Allen with big blind, Nevan Chang opting out.

Michael Allen: A♥ T♠

Stanislav Zegal: 8♦ 8♥

With Zegal ahead with a pair, it was the best situation Allen could hope for with overcards for a coinflip. The board quickly improved Allen on the flop of T♦ 3♥ J♥ and Chang cheered him on.

However, a scare came on the turn with the 9♦, adding an open-ended to Zegal's out. While Chang verbally feared for Allen, saying "noooo", the river heeded the call and dropped a 6♦ for a safe landing for Allen and a double up.

Alexander Lynskey was upping the pressure on the small stacks on his table as the bubble loomed.

Lynskey opened to half his stack, 225,000 on the button, covering both Dylan Foster and Jason Magbanua in the blinds. Foster and Magbanua mucked, allowing Lynskey to climb up further in the counts.

A few hands later, Dinesh Alt, was all in. Alt had taken a tumble from being one of the chip leaders, to sitting with just under average stack.

Alt got through his 220,000 jam from under the gun as the players folded around the table, allowing him to pick up the blinds.

With just 4 people until the money bubble, some tables are taking their time to act.

Action folded around to Tao Wei Chang, who tanked and then limped from the small blind.

Ori Koosonogi took some time before checking the big blind.

The 5♣ 7♠ A♠ flop was checked by Chang, after a long pause. Koosonogi then did the same.

A 9♣ turn saw another 30 seconds go by before Chang checked.

Koosonogi bet out 31,000 and Chang folded.

Early position player Stanislav Zegal opened with a min-raise and watched everyone fold around until it reached big blind, Adrien Favre, who defended with a jam. Without wasting a breath, Zegal snap-called for his tournament life.

Stanislav Zegal: A♠ K♣

Adrien Favre: A♣ Q♦

Zegal was ahead and in prime shape to scoop a big double up. The board cooperated as it spread a flop of K♥ 4♦ 5♠, sending Zegal far ahead with top pair. A scare card appeared on the turn with the T♥ giving Favre a draw. However, the river 6♠ denied Favre's hope of a bad beat to pay Zegal the maximum.

From middle position, Kilian Kramer min-clicked and was denied the blinds and ante when Chien Yu Lin defended her big blind.

Kramer continued to charge, firing 11,000 on the flop 7♥ 2♣ 6♠ and another 22,000 on the turn K♥. Lin kept up and check-called both.

This took them to the river where a 2♠ showed up. Lin checked again, Kramer unloaded his stack of 62,000, sending Lin to the tank, who just had 37,000 behind. Lin used up a time-bank, and with the money drawing near, she opted to preserve her remaining chips.

The field becomes shorter as the levels increase.

A number of players have hit the rail, with just 49 remaining.

After just securing a double up, Jaiwei Mao was among those to miss out on making the money, along-side Cheruku Abhijith.

Other who have recently exited include: