APT Main Event (2,500,000 KRW)

At the start of the penultimate day of the KRW 2,500,000 APT Incheon Main Event, 48 survivors returned to Paradise City Casino, all with one goal in mind — to etch their names in APT history, as the APT’s Largest Korean Main Event played out.

With an impressive turnout of 1,281 entries, the tournament smashed its KRW 1,500,000,000 guarantee, generating the tours' richest-ever Korean prize pool of KRW 2,766,660,000 ($2,000,477).

A mouth-watering KRW 483,890,000 ($349,885) top prize awaits the eventual champion.

Adding even more excitement, the top three finishers not only score life-changing payouts but also a seat at the APT Championship Main Event, each worth KRW 13,830,000 ($10,000).

Outmaneuvering 60-minute levels with wits, guts, and grit, the field has been whittled down to the final nine, who now prepare for another action-packed day on Saturday. August 9. Each of them is guaranteed a minimum payout of KRW 35,750,000 (~$25,850).

Leading the final table is China’s Junjie He, who came into the day as the eleventh-largest stack and steadily clawed his way to the top of the leaderboard. He enjoyed a late-night surge right after the 15-minute break by doubling up through 11th place finisher Hang Xu, pairing an ace against Xu’s pocket eights.

Within two hours, He knocked out Satoshi Tateuchi in 12th place with ace-king, beating the Japanese player’s ace-deuce.

To finish his day in winning fashion, He sent Haohui Ma to the rail in tenth by flopping Broadway to conclude the days' poker action, ending with a stack of 13.2 million as the runaway chip leader.

Chasing in second place is Thailand’s Anusorn Asiralertsiri with 8,625,000 chips. Rounding out the top three is Japan’s Kuroda Kiyoto with 8,325,000 chips.

With strong players like three-time APT title winner Thanisorn Saelor (7,600,000) also in the mix, they cannot afford to let their guard down.

With the tense atmosphere palpable from the start, the returning 48 players showed their aggression as they battled for glory and a spot among the finalists. Over nine grueling hours of play, many notable players saw their hopes dashed.

Former APT tournament director Lloyd Fontillas came into the day with the second-largest stack. However, his momentum was halted in a hand against Bin Li when his bullets were cracked by Li’s ten-four.

Fontillas eventually exited in 22nd place when his pocket nines went up against Okumiya’s Big Slick.

After a rollercoaster ride of a day, former frontrunner Abraham Ceesvin eventually finished in 17th place. The final stop on Ceesvin’s ride came against Naoki Ota, whose pocket kings hit a set, putting an end to the Singaporeans tournament run.

Start-of-day chip leader, Rishi Mehra made the final sixteen but could go no further, his ace-three losing out to Okumiya’s rivered flush.

The tournaments' sole remaining female player, Ayaka Honke, finished her day in 13th place after going all in with ace-king against Asiralertsiri’s ace-ten. The deck favored the Thai player’s ten over her king, and just like that, the Japanese player was sent to the rail.

*Plus an APTC Main Event Seat valued at KRW 13,830,000 (~$10,000)

Final table action kicks off at 11:15 a.m. local time tomorrow, with action resuming to Level 31 (80,000/160,000 and a big blind ante).

as usual, it will be streamed with a 30-minute delay to avoid spoilers for poker fans.

With the final table of the richest APT Main Event in Korean history now set, the final day promises an electrifying battle for a career-defining title and a life-changing prize inside Paradise City Casino.

The Final Table for the Main Event of APT Incheon 2025 Main Event is set. The remaining 9 players will come back tomorrow at 11:15am to battle it up. A recap of today's action will be published here shortly.

Junjie He opened to 400,000 from under the gun, and Haohui Ma three-bet to 2,900,000 from the small blind. He then shoved all in with his covering stack, and Ma called off his remaining chips.

Haohui Ma: A♠ T♠

Junjie He: A♥ Q♠

He’s superior kicker gave him the lead and he pulled further ahead on the K♣ T♦ J♥ flop, which improved him to a Broadway and left Ma drawing thin.

The deck pushed the pot to He's way in unwavering fashion as it delivered a runout of 6♥ 7♠, finishing Ma's deep run in 10th place for a payout of KRW 29,840,000 (~$21,575).

It folded around to Naoki Ota, who moved all for 3,000,000 in late-position. Hang Xu, having 1,000,000 less in his stack, made the call from the big-blind.

Hang Xu: A♠ K♦

Naoki Ota: 5♦ 5♠

The board ran out 9♣ 8♣ 2♥ 4♦ 7♥ and Ota won the important flip to bust out Xu shortly before the final table.

Junjie He opened from late-position, and Satoshi Tateuchi defended his big-blind. The flop came down A♥ 8♠ 6♣ and He put out a continuation bet of 200,000. To this, Tateuchi responded with an all-in for 2,400,000. He quickly made the call, easily covering his Japanese opponent.

Satoshi Tateuchi: A♠ 2♥

Junjie He: A♣ K♦

Only a deuce could have helped Tateuchi, but no help arrived for him on the 6♠ turn and 5♦ river. Tateuchi gets rewarded with KRW 26,680,000 for amazing run at this Main Event.

Mingyang Na shoved all-in for 1,700,000 on the button. Daniel Lee jammed all-in for 3,200,000 on the small blind to isolate.

Daniel Lee: 4♥ 4♣

Mingyang Na: Q♥ 9♥

Board: J♥ 3♣ J♣ 9♠ 8♦

Na paired his nine on the turn and held on to make a crucial double-up while doing big damage to Lee's stack.

Anusorn Asiralertsiri raised to 400,000 from UTG+1. Ayaka Honke three-bet to 800,000 on the small blind. Asiralertsiri made the call.

Flop landed 7♦ 5♠ T♣

Honke fired out 550,000 and Asiralertsiri made the call.

The turn showed a 4♣ . Honke jammed all-in for her last 2,300,000.

Asiralertsiri threw in a few time banks and made the call.

Ayaka Honke: A♦ K♥

Anusorn Asiralertsiri: A♥ T♥

Asiraletsiri was ahead with a paired ten. Honke needed a king, but the river came J♦ , sealing her fate as the 13th place finisher.

Hang Xu opened the hijack to 320,000 and Thanisorn Saelor called in the cutoff.

Both players checked through the 8♠ 2♦ 5♦ flop to see a board-pairing 2♦ hit on the trun, where it went check-check again.

When the 4♥ river completed the board, Xu fired out 225,000 and Saelor snap-called.

Saelor tabled A♠ Q♠ for ace-high, and it was good enough for the pot as Xu laid it down.

Junjie He shoved all in fro 1,755,000 from under the gun and Hang Xu called in the big blind.

Junjie He: A♦ 7♣

Hang Xu: 8♦ 8♥

Xu held the lead with pocket eights, but it couldn't extend on the J♥ A♥ 9♠ flop as it improved He to top pair.

Xu didn't receive any help on the Q♣ 5♥ runout and shipped a double-up to He

Hang Xu opened the cutoff to 320,000 and Naoki Ota defended his big blind.

On the flop of 9♥ 8♥ K♣, it went check-check.

Ota then check-called a bet of 380,000 from Xu on the 6♦ turn.

When the 8♦ fell on the river, Ota check-called again another barrel of 550,000 from Xu.

Ota mucked his hand after seeing Xu revealed top pair of kings with K♦ T♠.

13 players still remain with four more eliminations left before Day 4 concludes.

Junjie He shoved all-in for his last 1,700,000 chips. Thanisorn Saelor made the call on the big blind.

Junjie He: K♠ T♠

Thanisorn Saelor: T♥ T♦

Board: 9♦ J♣ 7♠ 5♦ 8♣

Both players make a straight and chop the pot. He survived.

Kuroda Kitoyo raised to 240,000 from under the gun and Anusorn Asiralertsiri defended his big blind.

The two checked through a board of 9♥ J♥ 9♣ 8♦ 4♥ and took it to a free showdown.

Asiralertsiri revealed A♣ 8♣ for a pair of eights to best Kitoyo's A♥ Q♣.

Bin Li limped in from the small blind and Ayaka Honke checked in the big blind.

Li check-called a bet of 120,000 from Honke on the 4♥ 4♦ 9♦ flop to see a K♠ fall on the turn, where Li check-called again a bet of 225,000 from Honke.

When a Q♦ filled out the board, Li checked over and Honke sent her third barrel of 400,000, prompting a fold from Li.

Daito Yamashihta opened to 240,000 from the hi-jack and Thanisorn Saelor made the call from the cut-off.

Both players were shown a flop of T♣ 9♥ 2♣ . Yamashita fired 350,000 and Saelor moved all-in for 3,100,000. Yamashita called, risking his last 1,600,000.

Daito Yamashita: J♥ J♦

Thanisorn Saelor: K♣ 8♣

The turn gave a Q♣ , giving Saelor the flush. The A♦ on the river was a formality, eliminating Yamashita in 14th place.

Ma Haohui shoved all-in from under the gun for his last 1,400,000. Junjie He jammed all-in on the small blind for 2,900,000 to isolate.

Ma Haohui: A♦ K♣

Junjie He: Q♥ Q♦

Board: 7♣ T♥ A♣ 2♥ K♠

Haohui flopped top pair then rivered two-pair to ensure a crucial double up while doing huge damage to He's stack.

Anusorn Asiralertsiri opened it up from early-position and Mingyang Na defended his big-blind. The flop came down K♦ 5♣ 4♠ and the Thai national Asiralertsiri continued for a small sizing. Na made the call.

The turn was the 2♦ and both players elected to check.

The J♥ compled the board on the river and Na led out for 650,000 into a pot of around 800,000. Asiralertsiri briefly thought about his decision and then made the call.

Mingyang Na: A♦ 6♦

Anusorn Asiralertsiri: A♥ Q♦

Great call by Asiralertsiri, who catches Na's hand in the cookie jar.

Kouki Okumiya opened to 240,000 from the hijack and Bin Li called in the cutoff. Mingyang Na then shoved the small blind for 1,965,000. Only Li dropped in the call.

Mingyang Na: A♥ J♥

Bin Li: 8♦ 8♠

Li held the lead with pocket eights but couldn’t extend his dominance as a flop came J♣ 7♦ 5♥, giving Na a flopped pair of jacks.

The dealer quickly revealed the runout of Q♦ 3♦, locking up a double-up for Na.

Short-stack Mingyang Na moved all-in from early-position. Daniel Lee next to him, called the 735,000 chips. Kuroda Kiyoto in late-position then isolated Na by moving all-in himself, easily covering Lee. The American professional had to let his hand go, stating he had pocket eights.

Mingyang Na: A♠ J♠

Kuroda Kiyoto: K♠ K♥

The board ran out favorable for Na, as it came A♦ 8♥ 5♦ A♣ Q♦. Especially, considering Lee's holding, Na can be more than happy to still be alive in this tournament.

Kouki Okumiya limped in from under the gun and Kuroda Kitoyo checked over from the big blind.

Both players checked through a board of 4♠ J♠ 6♦ T♣ 9♥.

After seeing Okumiya reveal A♣ 9♠ for a rivered pair of nines, Kitoyo tossed his cards into the muck.

Naoki Ota opened for 200,000 on the cut-off. Ma Haohui three-bet to 525,000 on the button. Ota made the call.

Both playes were shown a flop of K♣ J♣ Q♦

Ota checked. Haohui fired 250,000. Ota then shoved all-in for 1,500,000.

Haohui tanked before mucking his hand, awarding Ota the big pot.

Daniel Lee opened the hijack to 200,000, only to be three-bet to 500,000 by Kouki Okumiya from the small blind. Lee then shoved all in for 1,445,000 and Okumiya dropped in the call.

Kouki Okumiya: A♠ 6♠

Daniel Lee: A♦ J♥

Lee held the dominance with a superior kicker jack and looked set to score a double-up, staying in front on the A♣ K♦ 5♦ flop.

The dealer quickly revealed a runout of 4♥ Q♠, securing the pivotal double-up for Lee and keeping him away from the elimination cliff.

Horace Chun shoved all-in for 950,000 on the hi-jack. Small blind Satoshi Tateuchi jammed for 3,600,000 on the small blind to isolate.

Horace Chun: 5♦ 5♣

Satoshi Tateuchi: T♠ T♦

Board: 8♣ 4♠ 2♣ 6♣ 8♠

Tateuchi's tens hold to eliminate Chun in 15th place.

Daniel Lee made it 200,000 to go from middle position and Ayaka Honke three-bet to 550,000 in the big blind. Lee made the call.

Both players read a flop of 7♠ 9♦ 8♦, and Honke continued with a bet of 250,000. Lee then put in a raise to 600,000, sending Honke into the tank. After mulling it over, she responded with a call.

The two checked through the 4♣ turn to see a Q♥ fall on the river, where Honke sent a bet of 800,000. It was hefty enough to prompt a fold from her opponent.

The only female player is steadily building her stack.

Ma Haohui opened to 200,000. Daito Yamashita three-bet to 550,000. Haohui then shoved all-in for 2,000,000.

Yamashita threw in a few time banks before finally laying it down. Haohui chipped up significantly without showdown.

With only 690,000 left in his stack, Mingyang Na moved all-in from late-position. Rishi Mehra in the big-blind made the call, barely covering Na's stack.

Mingyang Na: 8♦ 6♦

Rishi Mehra: J♦ 9♣

On K♠ T♥ 4♦ T♣ it all looked like Na will be heading for the exit, but the 8♣ hit the river, keeping him alive, while crushing Mehra's dreams for the title.

16 players remain and will take a short break.

On the very last hand of Level 28, just before the players took a 15-minute break, the Singaporean player Abraham Ceesvin was eliminated, leaving the final 16 players standing.

Ceesvin went all in for 395,000 from the cutoff, only to be jammed by Naoki Ota in the big blind for approximately 1,230,000.

Abraham Ceesvin: A♦ T♠

Naoki Ota: K♦ K♥

The dealer dashed Ceesvin’s hopes of survival as the flop came 6♠ 4♥ K♠, giving Ota a set and leaving Ceesvin drawing thin.

A dry runout of 9♥ Q♣ sent Abraham to the rail in seventeenth place, earning a respectable payout.

Mikael Andersson shoved all-in for 505,000 on the button Small blind Ayaka Honke called and Horace Chun defended the big blind.

The flop arrived 3♥ 4♦ 8♥ and Honke shoved all-in for 2,000,000. Chun stepped down to leave Andersson and Honke for the showdown.

Mikael Andersson: K♥ 7♥

Ayaka Honke: 8♦ 8♣

Honke led with a set of eights. The runout completed 7♠ J♣ , ensuring the knockout of Andersson in 18th place.

Ma Haohui opened for 160,000 on the hi-jack and Thanisorn Saelor defended the big blind.

Flop arrived 3♦ 2♦ 6♣

Saelor led out for 220,000 and Haohui made the call to open a 8♥ on the turn.

Saelor bet another 500,000 and Haohui called to show a 7♥ on the river.

Saelor shoved all-in for 2,600,000, covering Haohui's stack. Haohui tanked, threw in a few time banks, wondered if aliens really built the pyramids and folded his K♠ K♥

FYI, Saelor had 2♥ 2♣ for a set.

Abraham Ceesvin raised the cutoff to 525,000, leaving himself just 10,000 chips behind. Daito Yamashita then grabbed a pile of white chips forward, re-raising to around 1,780,000 from the big blind. Ceesvin quickly called off his remaining chips.

Abraham Ceesvin: A♥ 2♥

Daito Yamashita: A♠ 3♠

The deck ran out a clean board of 6♠ 4♥ K♠ 9♥ Q♣, resulting in a chop pot for both players.

The Thai national Anusorn Asiralertsiri opened it up from late-position, and Bin Li defended his big-blind.

The flop came out K♣ J♠ 3♦ and Li checked it over to his opponent, who put out a continuation bet worth 125,000. Li made the call.

The turn was the 2♣ and Asiralertsiri continued his aggression with a bigger bet of 400,000. Li did not go anywhere and quickly made the call.

The flush completing 7♣ hit the river, and the Thai player completes his triple barrel with a hefty bet of 1,000,000. This was enough to make his opponent fold and win the pot without showdown.

Ayaka Honke opened for 160,000 on the button and Thanisorn Saelor jammed all-in on the big blind for 5,100,000. Honke made the call, risking her last 1,300,000.

Thanisorn Saelor: A♦ J♣

Ayaka Honke: T♠ T♦

Board: 5♥ T♥ 5♣ 4♠ 8♠

Honke flopped a full house and held on to make a massive double up.

Rishi Mehra open-shoved for 1,060,000 from under the gun and Mingyan Na called from the big blind.

Mingyan Na: A♠ 4♠

Rishi Mehra: A♦ Q♦

Mehra was ahead with the better queen kicker and hoped to double up; however, the board ran out 4♥ T♠ 8♦ 8♣ T♥, resulting in a chop pot for both players.

The action started with an early-position open by Bin Li. Both the blinds made the call.

The flop was K♦ 7♠ 4♣. It got checked over to Li, who continued with a bet of 200,000. Only Kouki Okumiya, in the small-blind, made the call.

The turn was the 6♦ and this time both players elected to check. The river came the A♥, Okumiya checked once more, and Li thought about his decision. Ultimately, he decided to check back and lose to Okumiya's K♥ J♥.

First-to-act player Hang Xu opened it up and Kento Nasu defended his big-blind. The flop came down J♣ 6♦ 3♦ and, after Nasu's checked, Xu continued with a bet of 105,00, which quickly got called.

The turn brought the 2♣ and Xu continued his aggression with a bet of 300,000. His Japanese opponent once more made the call.

The river was the 7♠ and now Nasu turned the tables by moving all-in for 595,000 chips. Xu knew he could never fold his hand, so he threw in the calling chips.

Kento Nasu: 7♥ 6♣

Hang Xu: 3♠ 3♣

Nasu rivered two pair and went for value. Unfortunately for him, Xu had flopped a set and busted him in 20th place.

Ma Haohui opened for 160,000 on the cutoff. Big blind Horace Chun shoved all-in for 2,500,000 and Haohui called for his last 1,100,000.

Ma Haohui: K♦ K♣

Horace Chun: 6♠ 6♦

Board: 7♦ 3♥ 8♥ 7♥ 4♦

Haohui's kings held and made a huge double-up while crippling Chun.

Horace Chun opened to 120,000 on the button and Thanisorn Saelor matched from the msall blind.

Both players were dealt Q♥ J♥ T♠ on the flop. Both checked to open a A♥ on the turn.

Both checked again to open a A♦ on the river. Saelor fired 250,000 and Chun called.

Saelor showed K♦ 6♦ for a straight while Chun showed A♠ 8♦ for trip aces.

After a few hands, Lloyd Fontillas was all in again against Kuroda Kiyoto.

Fontillas shoved from under the gun for about 375,000, and Kiyoto called from the hijack.

Kouki Okumiya: A♣ K♦

Lloyd Fontillas: 9♥ 9♣

Fontillas looked set to double up, but the dealer brought bad news with a flop of 2♦ J♦ K♠, giving Okumiya a pair of kings.

The turn was a 3♦, leaving Fontillas needing a nine to stay alive.

However, the 8♦ on the river completed the board and ended the former APT tournament director's tournament run on Day 4.

Thanisorn Saelor raised to 120,000 from under the gun and Naohiro Matsuda matched from the next seat.

Both were shown a flop of 8♥ J♥ A♦

Saelor fired 200,000 and Matsuda called to see a 6♥ turn.

Saelor fired another 300,000. Matsuda peeked again at his cards, threw in a time bank chip and made the call.

The river threw in a 9♦ . Saelor bet 1,600,000, covering the stack of Matsuda. Matsuda tanked again and eventually mucked.

Lloyd Fontillas in the hijack found himself all in against Kuroda Kiyoto from the big blind.

Kuroda Kiyoto: K♦ 5♣

Lloyd Fontillas: K♥ J♥

Kiyoto was in bad shape to score an elimination and got no help from the dealer as the board ran out Q♣ K♣ 7♥ T♦ 3♠, shipping the pot to Fontillas.

We picked the action up on the turn where middle-position player Hang Xu bet 225,000 into a pot of around 480,000. Late-position player Satoshi Tateuchi made the call.

On the river, the board read Q♣ 9♣ 7♠ T♥ 9♠ and Xu bet out 625,000. His Japanese opponent went deep into the tank. Eventually, he decided to make the call.

Hang Xu: K♦ 8♦

Satoshi Tateuchi: A♦ T♦

Great call with second pair by the Japanese player, who continues to built his stack after his double-up shortly before.

Vladmimir Munits shoved all-in from under the gun for his last 310,000. Horace Chun made the call

Vladimir Munits: A♦ 4♣

Horace Chun: T♥ T♦

Board: 3♥ T♣ J♥ 4♥ 2♥

Chun flopped a set and improved to a flush, eliminating Munits.

Hang Xu opened the action, and Abraham Ceesvin three-bet to 300,000 from late position. Sitting next to him on the button, Satoshi Tateuchi moved all-in for 895,000. Xu quickly got out of the way, and Ceesvin snap-called.

Satoshi Tateuchi: A♣ K♣

Abraham Ceesvin: A♦ K♥

“Freeroll for you,” Ceesvin remarked upon seeing Tateuchi’s suited hand—and the poker gods seemed to agree. The flop came out 6♣ 3♣ 2♠, giving Tateuchi a flush draw.

Sure enough, the 9♣ hit the turn to complete the flush, leaving Ceesvin drawing dead. The river 2♥ changed nothing.

A brutal spot for Ceesvin, while Tateuchi scores a massive double-up at his expense.

Action folded to the blinds. Small blind Naohiro Matsuda limped to 60,000 and big blind Junjie He raised it to 225,000. Matsuda met the bet.

Both players were shown a flop of 3♣ T♥ 3♦ . Both checked to open a A♦ on the turn.

Matsuda checked and He fired 200,000. Matsuda mucked and He flashed the A♣ before returning the cards to the dealer.

Sinuo Xiao raised the cutoff to 425,000 and Daito Yamashita three-bet the button to 500,000. Xiao then shoved all in and was snap-called by Yamashita.

Sinuo Xiao: 7♣ 7♠

Daito Yamashita: J♦ J♣

Yamashita stayed in front on the Q♠ 8♠ 5♥ flop. The dealer quickly sent a 6♦ on the turn, where Xiao received an open-ended straight draw.

However, the river bricked out the K♣, sending Xiao to the rail.

Abraham Ceesvin shoved all in for 860,000 from middle position, and Kento Nasu called from the big blind.

Kento Nasu: A♠ T♦

Abraham Ceesvin: A♦ J♥

A clean board of 4♠ 5♣ K♠ 9♣ 8♦ locked up a double-up for Ceesvin, reigniting his momentum as he continued building his stack steadily.

Van Tuan Pham was all in from the small blind for around 640,000, and Kouki Kokumiya called from the big blind.

Van Tuan Pham: K♣ 6♦

Kouki Kokumiya: 5♦ 5♥

Kokumiya stayed ahead with pocket fives on the A♦ 4♣ 2♦ flop, though Pham still had hopes of surviving.

The dealer completed the runout with Q♥ 3♥, giving Kokumiya a straight and sending Pham out of the field.

It folded around to short-stack Alex Lindop, who moved all-in for 760,000 from the button. Tsubasa Matsukawa in the small-blind made the call, and Lindop's tournament life on the line.

Alex Lindop: A♠ 4♥

Tsubasa Matsukawa: A♥ Q♠

The board ran out K♣ J♣ 2♠ 9♠ K♦ bringing no help for the British professional. We are down now to the final three tables - meaning there will be a table redraw.

26 players remain and are on a short break.

Mikael Andersson shoved his last 400,000 all-in from the hi-jack Anusorn Asiralertsiri made the call on the button.

Anusorn Asiralertsiri: K♣ J♥

Mikael Andersson: A♥ K♦

Board: 9♠ 9♦ 2♣ 5♣ 8♠

Andersson's big slick held and doubled up.

Rishi Mehra opened to 100,000 from the hi-jack and Mikael Andersson matched from the small blind.

Both players were shown a flop of 8♦ 3♣ T♠ . Andersson check-called the 100,000 bet of Mehra.

A J♦ came on the turn. Andersson checked and Mehra shoved all-in for 800,000. Andersson tanked before throwing in a chip for a call.

Rishi Mehra: K♠ K♦

Mikael Andersson: A♠ T♦

Andersson had a pair of tens while Mehra was ahead with kings. The river was a 2♠ and Mehra doubled-up while crippling Andersson.

According to Lloyd Fontillas and Bin Lin, one wild hand just played out between these two players.

The flop came K♦ 6♦ 4x, and Fontillas checked from the small blind to Lin, who bet 1.5BB on the button. Fontillas called.

The turn brought the board-pairing 4♠, and Fontillas check-called again to a bet of 4BB from Lin.

When the 8x hit the river, Fontillas stuck with his strategy and check-called Lin’s third barrel of 16BB.

Fontillas tabled pocket aces, looking ready to scoop the sizable pot, but Lin flipped over T♥ 4♥ for trip fours to take it down with three streets of value.

Naoki Ota opened to 100,000 from the cut-off. Rishi Mehra three-bet to 250,000 on the big blind. Ota matched.

Both players were shown a flop of Q♥ A♣ 6♣

Mehra bet 150,000 and Ota raised to 350,000. Mehra snap-folded.

Short stack Katsunori Takeuchi opened from middle-position, and Naohiro Matsuda defended his big-blind with a similar stack. The flop came out K♦ K♥ J♦ and both players elected to check.

The turn was the 3♥ and Matsuda led out for 80,000. Takeuchi made the call. At this point both players only had around 400,000 chips left in their stack.

The 5♠ completed the board, and the big-blind moved all-in for 430,000. Takeuchi did not look happy, but decided his hand was too strong to fold.

Naohiro Matsuda: K♠ Q♦

Katsunori Takeuchi: A♠ A♦

Tough beat for Takeuchi, who only was left with crumbles after this hand.

Xu Hang opened to 100,000 from UTG+1 and Mikael Andersson matched from the cut-off. Yuki Sakai then jammed all-in for 1,400,000 on the small blind.

Xu Hang then jammed all-in for 2,800,000 and Andersson stepped down.

Xu Hang: A♥ K♦

Yuki Sakai: A♣ Q♦

Board: 3♦ 2♦ 7♠ 8♣ 6♣

Abraham Ceesvin opened from early-position and got three-bet to 150,000 by Kuroda Kiyoto next to him. Short-stack Jin Wang then moved all-in for 130,000 from middle-position. The preflop action did not stop there as Anusorn Asiralertsiri cold-fourbet to 350,000, also in middle-position. This was enough to make the others fold, and give Wang a great chance to multiply his stack.

Jin Wang: K♣ K♥

Anusorn Asiralertsiri: 9♣ 9♠ The flop came out great for Wang, as it was K♠ 8♥ 2♠. The turn was the T♠ and river A♦. And just like that is Wang fully back in contention.

Naohiro Matsuda opened from middle position and was called by big stack Bin Li in the big blind. The flop came down A♦ A♠ 9♦, a board that typically favors the preflop raiser. Li checked, and Matsuda followed through with a standard continuation bet of 60,000.

Surprisingly, Li responded with a check-raise to 160,000. Matsuda, unfazed, made the call.

The turn brought the 2♠, and this time Li slowed down, checking the action. Matsuda seized the opportunity to regain control of the hand and bet 260,000. Li, having taken his stab on the flop, opted to fold and surrender the pot.

Abraham Ceesvin raised the hijack to 110,000, and Ryuya Nakai shoved the big blind for around 1,100,000. Ceesvin called off his remaining chips, putting his tournament life on the line.

Abraham Ceesvin: K♥ Q♥

Ryuya Nakai: A♦ J♣

Nakai took the lead on the 6♥ A♣ J♥ flop, improving him to top pair, while Ceesvin picked up a flush draw.

The turn brought the 4♣, completing Ceesvin’s flush and securing him the double-up.

The K♠ river completed the board and sent the pot Ceesvin’s way.

Huang Lifu shoved all-in for his last 255,000 from under the gun and Yuki Sakai defended the big blind.

Huang Lifu: A♥ 3♥

Yuki Sakai: A♣ K♦

Board: 9♦ 7♦ 4♠ 5♣ 4♣

Sakai's big slick held and eliminated Lifu.

Huang Lifu shoved his last 595,000 from UTG+1 and big blind Naoki Ota also went all-in for 340,000.

Huang Lifu: 9♠ 9♥

Naoki Ota: A♣ 9♦

Board: J♣ K♣ T♣ 4♣ 2♦

Lifu looked dominant, but Ota was able to make a flush to survive and crippled Lifu.

Mikael Andersson opened to 100,000 from under the gun and Vladimir Munits three-bet to 275,000 on the big blind.

Andersson four-bet all-in for 925,000 total. Munits made the call.

Vladimir Munits: 8♥ 8♣

Mikael Andersson: A♥ A♦

Board: 7♣ 8♦ 3♠ K♦ A♠

Munits flopped a set, but Andersson found a miracle river to make a set of his own to beat Munits and make a huge double up.

Horace Chun raised to 80,000 from UTG+1 and Yuki Sakai defended the big blind.

The flop came K♦ 6♣ 9♣ . Sakai check-called the 75,000 bet of Chun to open a 4♥ on the turn.

Sakai check-called again for 175,000 to see a A♠ on the river.

Sakai checked and Chun triple-barreled 325,000, forcing Sakai to fold.

Kazuhiro Shirasawa went all in from the small blind for around 1,600,000 and was called by Kuroda Kiyoto in the big blind.

Kazuhiro Shirasawa: A♠ J♦

Kuroda Kiyoto: K♦ K♥

Kiyoto picked up the lead with pocket kings, though Shirasawa still had hopes to stay alive.

Kiyoto maintained his dominance on the flop of 8♦ 2♦ 6♠.

When another K♠ jumped on the turn, Shirasawa’s hope dashed.The 8♣ came on the river, closing the hand for Kiyoto in a much satisfying way as it completed his full house.

Yuki Sakai opened to 80,000 from the hi-jack and Rishi Mehra three-bet to 225,000 on the small blind. Sakai then shoved all-in for 650,000. Mehra made the call.

Rishi Mehra: A♥ K♣

Yuki Sakai: A♣ 5♣

Board: Q♣ J♣ 3♦ 4♠ 5♠

Sakai rivered a pair to make a crucial double up.

Cheng Cheng shoved all in for 405,000 in the cutoff and was put at risk by Bin Lin from the small blind.

Cheng Cheng: K♠ J♠

Bin Li: A♥ K♣

Cheng was on the edge of knockout and couldn’t get much help on the board of 2♣ K♥ Q♥ 5♣ 4♦, sending him to the rail.

Zhao Nan opened to 80,000 from UTG+1 and Horace Chun jammed all-iin for 1,300,000 on the big blind, putting Nan at risk. Nan made the call for his last 840,000.

Zhao Nan: J♦ J♣

Horace Chun: A♣ K♥

Board: K♦ J♥ 5♥ T♠ Q♥

Nan flopped a set, but Chun caught up with a runner-runner to make a straight, eliminating Nan.

Abraham Ceesvin raised to 80,000 from under the gun, only to be jammed by Tae Hoon Han from the cutoff for 460,000. Ceesvin called.

Tae Hoon Han: A♠ T♠

Abraham Ceesvin: A♥ K♣

Ceesvin was ahead with kicker king and stayed in front on the flop of 5♠ 6♦ J♠, giving Han a flush draw.

The dealer revealed a 9♦ on the turn. Despite being on the edge of elimination, Han still had many outs to stay alive.

The deck delivered the T♣ on the river, flipping the script for Han and improving him to a pair of tens, which was good for the pot.

Ceesvin was left with only 135,000 chips in hand.

Action folded around to Hang Xu on the button, who opened to 200,000 from a stack of 525,000. In the small blind, fellow Chinese player Long Zhentao moved all-in, barely covering Xu. After a brief pause, Xu called, saying he was "ready to gamble."

Hang Xu: Q♠ 9♠ Long Zhentao: J♦ J♣

The flop came down K♠ J♥ 4♥, giving Zhentao top set and leaving Xu in rough shape, needing a gutshot to survive.

The Q♣ on the turn gave him a pair, but it wasn’t enough. Then came the miracle T♥ on the river, completing Xu’s straight and keeping his tournament hopes alive in dramatic fashion.

Kouki Okumiya raised to 80,000 from middle position and Tsubasa Matsukawa defended his big blind.

Matsukawa check-called a bet of 80,000 from Okumiya on the A♣ 9♥ 8♥ flop.

It went check-check on the 5♦ turn. When a T♠ landed on the river, Matsukawa fired 80,000, and it was enough to take down the pot.

It folded around to Japanese player Katsunori Takeuchi on the button, who opened the action. Thanisorn Saelor made the call from the big blind.

The flop came down T♥ 9♣ 2♥, and after Saelor checked, Takeuchi fired a bet of 100,000. Saelor responded with a check-raise to 300,000, which Takeuchi called.

The turn brought the board-pairing 9♦, and Saelor moved all-in for 870,000, putting maximum pressure on his opponent. With a nearly identical stack, Takeuchi went deep into the tank and eventually folded after using a time bank.