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Dinner Break

80% of the levels have been concluded and it is now time to fill the hungry stomaches. We see each other again in 75 minutes. There are still two more hours of poker left to be played today.
Ershov Doubles Through Ho
Gleb Ershov was all in for 45,300 on the button and Poseidon Ho called from the big blind to put his opponent at risk.
Poseidon Ho: A♠ K♣
Gleb Ershov: 3♠ 3♣
It was a classic coinflip and Ershov had a chance to stay alive. The dealer quickly delivered a board of 7♦ 9♥ 5♥ J♣ J♠, locking up a much-needed double up for Ershov.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
GE Gleb Ershov | 89,500(90 BB) |
PH Poseidon Ho | 13,000(13 BB) |
Family Pot!
First-to-act Charlie Chiu opened the action to 2,000, and in an unusual turn of events for tournament poker, all six players behind him called — creating a rare seven-way family pot.
The flop came down A♦ Q♦ 7♥, and after it was checked around to the button, Yuan Liu decided it was time to break up the party. He fired out a sizable bet of 12,000 into the pot.
That show of strength was enough. One by one, his opponents folded, and Liu scooped the pot uncontested.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
YL Yuan Liu (2) | 52,000(52 BB) |
Bold River Bet by Zhao Earns the Pot

Yao Zhao made it 2,100 to go from early position and Igor Kan three-bet ot 5,500 from the hijack. Yifan Cao called from the small blind, as did Zhao.
Action checked to Kan, who bet 5,000 on the A♠ 4♠ T♣ flop. Only Zhao came along.
When the T♦ hit on the turn, it went check-check. The river then showed a 2♥, and Zhao fired out 17,500, which was enough to take down the pot as Kan folded.
Yanagida Wins with Well-Timed River Barrel
Go Yanagida opened the action from middle position and received two callers: Guang Piao on the button and Yuan Liu in the big blind.
The dealer spread the flop: K♠ 9♦ 2♥. Yanagida fired a continuation bet of 3,500, which was called only by Piao.
The turn brought the A♣, and both players checked, slowing the pace.
On the 7♦ river, Yanagida ramped it back up with a sizable bet of 13,500. Piao went into the tank and burned a time bank before ultimately tossing his hand into the muck.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
GY Go Yanagida | 88,700(89 BB) |
GP Guang Piao | 61,000(61 BB) |
Cui Springs the Trap with Turn Check-Raise Shove

Quan Cui opened from early position and received a single caller in Poseidon Ho on the button.
The flop came down J♣ 6♠ 3♣, and Cui checked to Ho, who fired out a bet of 3,000. Cui made the call, and both players went to the turn.
The 9♦ hit the board, and once again, Cui checked. Ho kept up the pressure with a bet of 6,000—but this time, Cui sprung into action, moving all-in for his remaining 26,000 chips.
Ho took a moment but ultimately opted to fold, conceding the pot to Cui without a showdown.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
PH Poseidon Ho | 54,200(54 BB) |
CQ Cui Quan | 46,000(46 BB) |
No Call for Lee’s Big Bet on Paired Board

A borad ran out Q♠ Q♣ 2♦ 6♦ J♣ with aorund 12,500 chips in the middle. Min Sung Lee tanked for around 1 minute from the early posiiton and eventually sent a chunky bet of 10,800. Long Zhentao then responded with a fold and relinquished the sizable pot.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
MS Min Sung Lee | 69,500(70 BB) |
LZ Long Zhentao | 55,500(56 BB) |
Takimoto Turns Up the Heat with Rivered Straight

Yuta Takimoto made it 2,200 to go on the button and Wencheng Lin called from the small blind, as did William Li sitting in the big blind.
The action checked it through on the 6♥ T♣ 5♠ flop, and Lin checked over again on the 7♥ turn. Li then fired 2,000, which only Takimoto made the call.
Li fired out another bet of 4,000 on the 9♠ river, and Takimoto cranked it up to 13,000. Li called.
After Takimoto showed a rivered straight with Q♦ 8♥, Li mucked his cards.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
YT Yuta Takimoto | 89,000(111 BB) |
WL William Li (2) | 72,000(90 BB) |
WL Wencheng Lin | 68,000(85 BB) |
The Most Unexpected Chop

We picked up the action on the turn with the board reading J♠ 8♣ 3♣ A♣. American player Hal Rotholz, sitting in the big blind, led out with a small bet of 2,500 into a pot of roughly 7,000. Sho Katsura, on the button, responded with a raise to 7,700. Rotholz called to see a river.
The 9♦ completed the board, and both players quickly checked.
To the amusement of the table, both Rotholz and Katsura tabled the exact same hand — pocket deuces — resulting in a surprising chop on this board.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
HR Hal Rotholz | 92,000(115 BB) |
SK Sho Katsura | 68,000(85 BB) |
Li Wins the Four-Bet Cooler

Zhiqiang Zhang made it 1,800 to go from under the gun and Tong Li three-bet the hijack to 5,400. Zhang decided not to back down and sent a four-bet of 17,000. Li stuck around.
On the 5♥ J♦ 9♣ flop, Zhang shoved all in for 45,000. Li took no time to call off his remaining 27,500 chips.
Zhiqiang Zhang: K♠ K♥
Tong Li: A♣ A♠
Zhang only got two outs to stay alive, but the runout didn't send a king to rescue him as it revealed 6♥ 2♥, shipping the pot Li's way.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
TL Tong Li | 86,000(108 BB) |
ZZ Zhiqiang Zhang | 17,500(22 BB) |
Cao Pressure Enough To Not Need A River
The hand began with Yifan Cao opening from early position, picking up three callers behind him to create a multi-way pot.
The flop fell J♥ 8♠ 6♥, and Cao continued with a bet of 4,300. Only Yao Zhao, seated in middle position, stuck around.
The turn brought the 6♣, pairing the board. Cao kept up the aggression with a bet of 13,000. Zhao gave it some thought but ultimately released his hand, awarding Cao the pot without a showdown.
No Set, No Chance for Sorokin
With around 17,000 in the middle, a flop of 4♥ 6♠ Q♦ was dealt. Maxim Sorokin checked from early position. Ilia Drobin then shoved all in for 33,000 in the cutoff. Sorokin called off his last 27,500 chips, putting himself at risk.
Maxim Sorokin: 9♣ 9♠
Ilia Drobin: K♣ K♥
Sorokin was looking to spike a nine to stay alive, but the dealer sent a runout of 4♣ 5♦, sending him to the rail.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
ID Ilia Drobin | 70,000(88 BB) |
MS Maxim Sorokin | busted |
Tsang Runs Into the Rockets and Out of the Door
Kota Yamaguchi raised to 1,800 from under the gun only to be jammed by Dicky Tsang for 24,000. Yamaguchi took no time to drop in the call.
Dicky Tsang: A♣ K♠
Kota Yamaguchi: A♦ A♥
Tsang's Big Slick collied with Yamaguchi's pocket aces, leaving him drawing thin.
The flop came 4♠ 7♦ K♥, improving Tsang to a pair, but still not enough to best his opponent's hand.
A runout of 6♦ 8♦, sealed Tsang's fate out of the field.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
KY Kota Yamaguchi | 106,000(133 BB) |
DS Dicky Siu Hang Tsang | busted |
Break Time #3
Time flies by quickly today. Already, six levels have been played, and the players get another 15-minute refresher. A total of 202 entries have been recorded so far, though registration is still open until the end of level 10.
Wu's Jacks Denied by Xie's Queens

A flop showed 2♠ 5♦ 9♠ when there were already 7,500 chips in the middle, and Qian Wu bet 3,000 from the big blind. Kunlei Xie called from the cutoff.
The 4♠ hit on the turn and Wu sent another bet of 6,000. Xie came along to see the 5♥ river, where it went check-check.
Wu tabled J♥ J♠, hoping to collect the pot. However, Xie's Ladies stopped her when he turned over Q♣ Q♠.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
KX Kunlei Xie | 128,000(213 BB) |
QW Qian Wu | 17,000(28 BB) |
Kurtz's Bluff Gets Caught

William Li opened the button to 1,500 and Donald Kurtz called from the small blind.
On the 2♥ Q♠ 3♣ flop, Kurtz check-called a bet of 1,000 from Li. The 9♥ then fell on the turn, and it went check-check.
Kurtz changed his pace and fired 2,300 on the 4♣ river. Li called.
Kurtz tabled J♠ T♦ for a bluff, and it pushed the pot to Li who revealed a flopped pair of threes with 6♣ 3♠.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
JK Jacob Kurtz | 67,500(113 BB) |
WL William Li (2) | 61,500(103 BB) |
Set Over Top Pair Sends Chan to the Rail
The action began with Haibo Yang opening to 1,500 from middle position. Chak Chan, seated directly to his left, three-bet to 4,500, and Wei Chen cold-called on the button. Yang opted to fold, leaving the two to go heads-up to the flop.
The dealer spread T♦ 9♦ 7♥, and Chan continued with a c-bet of 3,500. Chen responded with a raise to 8,600. Without much hesitation, Chan moved all-in for roughly 30,000—and Chen snap-called.
Chak Chan: A♥ T♣ Wei Chen: 9♣ 9♠
Chan was drawing thin, and the runout of 4♣ 7♣ sealed his fate, sending him to the rail while Chen stacked the pot and is sitting now with a healthy stack halfway through the day.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
WC Weihang Chen | 110,000(183 BB) |
CH Chak Hei Chan | busted |
Liu Cracked by River Club

With around 4,000 chips in the middle, the flop revealed 4♣ 7♦ 2♣, and Chang Liu checked from the small blind to Do Auang Trinh, who bet 12,500 from early position. Liu stuck around.
When the J♥ hit on the turn, Liu checked to Trinh again, who then shoved all in for 37,300. After thinking for a while, Liu called to put his opponent at risk.
Do Auang Trinh: J♣ T♣
Chang Liu: 7♠ 7♣
Liu was far ahead with a set; however, his hope to collect one elimination was dashed by the K♣ river, improving Trinh to a flush and keeping him alive in the tournament.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
DQ Do Quang Trinh | 97,500(163 BB) |
CL Chang Liu | 27,000(45 BB) |
Nagasaka Is Having Himself A Day
Koji Nagasaka continues to build momentum, with his stack steadily climbing throughout the day. In this latest clash, we picked up the action on the flop, where the Japanese national Nagasaka had moved all-in from the button, easily covering his fellow countryman Naiki Noda’s remaining 17,000 chips. With around 20,000 already in the middle, Noda made the quick call.
Naiki Noda: 8♦ 8♥
Koji Nagasaka: A♣ 4♣
The flop showed 8♣ 6♣ 4♠, giving Noda top set but also offering Nagasaka a flush draw and a backdoor wheel draw. The turn brought the 9♥, changing nothing, but the river delivered the J♣, completing Nagasaka’s nut flush.
With that, Noda hit the rail, while Nagasaka extended his already impressive chip lead.
Same Hand, Same Result — Chop Pot

A flop came A♣ J♥ 5♦ with around 5,000 in the pot. Congya Zhang checked from the big blind and Yu Xin Liu bet 1,600 in the cutoff. Zhang called.
It went check-check on the K♣ turn and 9♥ river.
Zhang tabled A♦ 6♦ and Liu also revealed A♥, making it a chop hand.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
YX Yu Xin Liu | 77,500(129 BB) |
CZ Congya Zhang | 39,000(65 BB) |
Yip Yip Hooray
The hand began with Yixi Tang opening from middle position, before Seng Pang of Singapore three-bet to 5,500 on the button. Sitting in the small blind, Ka Yip cold-called the raise, and Tang also came along, creating a three-way pot.
The flop came down J♦ 7♠ 6♥. Action was checked to Pang on the button, who continued with a bet of 10,000. Only Yip made the call, sending them to the turn.
The turn brought another seven with the 7♣. Both players opted to check.
On the 3♥ river, Yip took the initiative and moved all-in, putting Pang to the test for his remaining stack. Without much hesitation, Pang folded, and Yip collected the pot without showdown.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
KC Ka Chuen Yip | 110,000(183 BB) |
PJ Pang Jun Dixon Seng | 29,700(50 BB) |
Straight Story: Manokharan Leads the River, Gets the Call

Murly Manokharan opened the action from late position and found two callers: Yulan Shen on the button and Shota Kawaguchi in the big blind.
The flop came down K♥ J♠ 5♦. Action was checked to Shen, who put out a small bet of 1,200. Only Manokharan made the call, while Kawaguchi got out of the way.
The T♣ landed on the turn, and Shen continued with another small sizing, this time 2,200. Manokharan called once again.
The river brought the A♠, completing straight possibilities. This time, Manokharan led out for 8,000, representing significant strength. Shen paused briefly before tossing in the calling chips.
Manokharan indeed had a straight, as he revealed a winning Q♣ T♥, rivering the straight.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
MM Murly Manokharan | 82,000(164 BB) |
SY Shen Yulan | 46,600(93 BB) |
River Jam Seals It for Zhang
Mingie Zhang opened the button to 1,100 and Dajia Chen three-bet to 4,000 from the small blind. Zhang callled.
Chen continued for 5,000 on the T♥ K♠ 9♦ flop, and Zhang cranked it up to 7,000. Chen came along.
Action went check-check on the 7♠ turn. When the 6♠ fell on the river, Chen checked over and Zhang shoved all in for 25,500. After tanking for a long time, Chen eventually returned his cards to the dealer.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
MZ Mingjie Zhang | 46,500(93 BB) |
DC Dajia Chen | 28,500(57 BB) |
Three Streets of Value for Sorokin

Maxim Sorokin raised in the hijack to 1,000 and Sarawoot Ratanatabtim called from the cutoff, as did Barton Wood in the big blind.
Wood checked on the 6♥ 8♠ 9♥ flop and Sorokin bet 1,300. Only Ratanatabtim stuck around.
Sorokin sent another bet of 2,200 on the A♦ turn and Ratanatabtim came along to see the 3♦ river. Sorokin fired a barrel of 3,100, and it still didn't deter Ratanatabtim from making the call.
Sorokin tabled T♥ T♦ and dragged in the pot as Ratanatabtim mucked.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
SR Sarawoot Ratanatabtim | 55,000(110 BB) |
MD Michael David Barton Wood | 48,500(97 BB) |
MS Maxim Sorokin | 42,000(84 BB) |
Xie Doubles At The Cost of Li's Tournament Life
The action started with Kookchunantoine Priniotakis opening from middle-position. Jun Li on the button made the call, before Kunlei Xie from China squeezed to 5,500 out of the small-blind. Both players made the call.
The flop came down Q♦ 7♦ 2♠ and the Chinese player continued with a bet of 7,000. The original opener folded, but Li quickly made the call.
Heads up to the 6♥ turn they went. On this, Xie barreled a hefty 20,000. After some thought, Li made the call. At this point, both players only had around 12,000 remaining in their stack.
The river was the 7♣ and Xie completed his aggression by putting the rest of his chips into the middle. Li felt he was invested enough and made the call, barely being covered by his opponent.
Jun Li: Q♣ J♣
Kunlei Xie: A♥ A♣
Player | Chips |
---|---|
KX Kunlei Xie | 95,000(190 BB) |
JL Jun Li | busted |
Japanese Chop Hand

Riku Matsuda opened to 1,000 from under the gun and Naoki Matsumoto three-bet to 3,000 in the hijack. Matsuda called.
Matsuda tapped the table on the J♠ 9♦ A♥ flop, and Matsumoto continued for 2,500. Matsuda then check-raised to 7,000 and received the call from his countrymate.
The Q♥ came on the turn, where Matsuda shoved all in for 25,000 and Matsumoto snap-called.
Naoki Matsumoto: A♠ T♦
Riku Matsuda: A♣ J♠
Matsuda was ahead with two pair while Matsumot had an open-ended straight draw. The river revealed a board-pairing Q♠, making it a chop hand.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
RM Riku Matsuda | 33,500(67 BB) |
NM Naoki Matsumoto | 29,000(58 BB) |
Hasegawa Gets Paid on the River

Do Quant Trinh opened the button to 1,200 and received the call from the blinds: Netnapit Muksatean and Ryo Hasegawa.
The blinds checked over the 4♥ T♦ A♠ flop and Trinh made a continuation-bet of 1,900, which only Hasegawa came along.
Both players knuckled it back on the 3♥ turn to see a 2♦ hit on the river, where Hasegawa bet 2,500 and Trinh called.
Hasegawa revealed two pair with T♣ 3♣ to take down the pot as Trinh folded.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
DQ Do Quang Trinh | 52,000(104 BB) |
NM Netnapit Muksatean | 21,500(43 BB) |
RH Ryo Hasegawa | 18,000(36 BB) |
Break Time #2
Break time! Time for the smokers among the players to get their nicotine. The rest may enjoy a breath of fresh air for 15 minutes.
Koji's River Fire Forces Fukutomi to Fold

Daniel So limped in from middle position and Nagasaka Koji raised to 1,300 from the cutoff. Shinya Fukutomi from the small blind called and So also tagged along.
The action checked to Koji, who bet 1,500 on the K♠ 7♠ K♥ flop. Only Fukutomi called to see an A♦ hit on the turn, where both players checked through.
The J♥ dropped on the river and Fukutomi checked. Koji then fired 10,000 to take down the pot as Fukutomi folded.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
KN Koji Nagasaka | 55,000(138 BB) |
DS Daniel So | 21,000(53 BB) |
SF Shinya Fukutomi | 20,500(51 BB) |
Liu Forces Fold with Big River Bet

Tatsuhiro Shodai raised to 900 from middle position and received the call from three players: Shotaro Kobayashi on the button, Yu Xin Liu from the small blind, and Ye Li in the big blind.
On the flop of :Qcc: J♥ 4♥, the blinds checked to Shodai, who bet 2,500. Only Liu tagged along.
Liu then sent a bet of 3,600 on the 9♦ turn, and Shodai called to see a board-pairing 9♠ hit on the river. Liu fired out 17,200, sending Shodai into the tank. After mulling it over, Shodai eventually laid it down.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
YX Yu Xin Liu | 68,000(170 BB) |
YL Ye Li | 22,500(56 BB) |
SK Shotaro Kobayashi | 14,000(35 BB) |
TS Tatsuhiro Shodai | 6,000(15 BB) |
River Fire from Noda
Naiki Noda raised to 1,000 from early position and Daniel So called in the hijack.
Noda check-called to a bet of 1,000 from So on the 7♦ T♣ 9♦ flop. After The K♠ fell on the turn, Noda check-called another bet of 1,000 from his opponent.
The 8♣ landed on the river and Noda changed his pace with a bet of 7,000. This was strong enough to received a fold from So and took down the pot.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
NN Naiki Noda | 37,500(94 BB) |
DS Daniel So | 22,500(56 BB) |
Kan Crushes Three-Way Showdown

One three-way all-in pot just played out and culminated in a double knockout.
Igor Kan opened the hijack to 1,000 and was called by Yuya Arito from the cutoff. Jiayu Huan then three-bet the button to 3,200. Kan and Arito made the call.
On the monotone flop of T♣ J♣ Q♣, the tension just got out of control. Kan checked to Arito first, who fired out 5,500 only to be jammed by Huang for 32,000. It took no time for Kan to shove with his covering stack, and Arito called off his last chips.
Igor Kan: 9♣ 7♣
Yuya Arito: Q♠ J♠
Jiayu Huang: 9♥ 8♥
Arito and Huang were in bad shape as Kan flopped a flush, overshadowing and Huang’s straight and Arito’s two pair.
A runout quickly came 3♠ T♠, sending Huang and Arito in the rail.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
IK Igor Kan | 134,000(335 BB) |
YA Yuya Arito | busted |
JH Jiayu Huang | busted |
Park With Important Double-Up
After an early-position open to 800 and a middle-position flat by Peterjeean Kwon did Seung Park three-bet to 4,600, leaving himself only 10,000 behind. The original opener folded, but Kwon made the call.
The flop came out K♦ K♣ 2♦ and Park moved all-in after Kwon's checked. Getting a good price, Kwon decided to make the call.
Seung Park: Q♠ Q♥
Peterjeean Kwon: 6♥ 6♣
The K♥ on the turn sealed Park's double-up. The river was inconsequential 4♣.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
SP Seungjae Park | 30,800(77 BB) |
PK Peterjeean Kwon | 18,000(45 BB) |
Yamaguchi’s Aggression Wins It on the Turn
Yue Sun opened the action from late position but was quickly three-bet by Japanese player Kota Yamaguchi. Sun made the call, and the two went heads-up to a flop of A♦ J♠ 5♦.
Yamaguchi continued with a small c-bet of 1,500, which Sun called without hesitation.
The turn brought the J♦, pairing the board and completing a possible flush. Despite the coordinated texture, Yamaguchi kept the pressure on, firing a second barrel worth 6,300.
The wet board and rising aggression were enough to convince Sun to fold, as Yamaguchi collected the pot without going to showdown.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
KY Kota Yamaguchi | 44,000(110 BB) |
YS Yue Sun | 38,000(95 BB) |
Priniotakis Extracts Value with Trip Sevens
We picked up the action on the turn, where Congya Zhang, on the button, bet 5,000 into a pot of 9,000. Sitting directly to her right, Kookchunantoine Priniotakis raised to 12,000. Zhang made the call, and the two went to a river.
The final board read: 7♥ 7♠ 3♥ 9♣ 2♥.
With just 6,000 chips behind, Priniotakis bet out for 11,000. Zhang went into the tank before eventually tossing in the calling chips.
Priniotakis revealed J♣ 7♣ for trip sevens, which was enough to take down the pot. Zhang sent her hand into the muck.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
KP | 61,000(153 BB) |
CZ Congya Zhang | 19,500(49 BB) |
Yamamoto Wins with Relentless Pressure posted 2 minutes ago by Life of Poker - Zoe
Yasuhiro Yamamoto raised to 1,000 from under the gun and Waheed Ashraf called in the hijack, as did the big blind player Zichuan Huang.
Huang checked the action to Yamamoto, who continued for 1,500 on the 4♠ 3♥ 8♥ flop. Only Ashraf made the call.
Yamamoto sent a bet of 4,200 on the Q♦ and Ashraf called to see a board-pairing 4♦ river. Yamamoto made his third barrel of 9,000 and it was enough for the pot.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
ZH Zichuan Huang | 75,500(189 BB) |
YY Yasuhiro Yamamoto | 56,000(140 BB) |
WA Waheed Ashraf | 40,500(101 BB) |
Top Pair Good for Sinuo at Showdown
With around 6,000 chips in the pot, a board ran out Q♦ K♠ A♠ 7♠. Sinuo checked from the small blind, Xinzhao Yuan in the hijack, and Shibuya Ruohei from the cutoff checked through.
The 6♠ landed on the river and three players opted to check to showdown.
Sinuo tabled A♥ 2♥ for top pair, and it was strong enough to let both of his opponents muck their hands.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
XS Xiao Sinuo | 43,000(143 BB) |
SR Shibuya Ryohei | 40,000(133 BB) |
YX Yuan Xinzhao | 38,000(127 BB) |
Yu Takes It Down with River Bet

Chzhen Evgenii raised to 1,000 from the small blind and Guo Di Yu defended his big blind.
Evgenii then bet 700 on the 6♥ K♣ T♦ flop and Yu tagged along. The 4♥ fell on the turn, where Evgenii sent another bet of 2,200. This didn’t deter Yu from making the call.
Evgenii changed his pace and checked over the 7♥ river to Yu, who fired out 7,500. After thinking for a while, Evgenii eventually folded.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
GD Guo Di Yu | 93,000(310 BB) |
CE Chzhen Evgenii | 30,000(100 BB) |
Good Turn for Zhao
The action began with Chinese national Yao Zhao opening from early position. A few seats over, Waheed Ashraf three-bet to 2,800, which Zhao called.
The flop came down Q♠ 9♣ 7♥. Zhao checked to the aggressor, and Ashraf followed up with a continuation bet of 2,200. Zhao called, taking them to the turn.
The 8♥ rolled off, and Ashraf continued his pressure with a bet of 8,000. Zhao wasn’t backing down—instead, he raised to 18,000. After a brief pause, the American made the call.
The river brought the potentially dangerous T♦, completing several possible draws. Both players decided to slow down and checked.
Zhao revealed 6♥ 5♥ for a turned straight, which was enough to take down the pot.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
YZ Yao Zhao | 75,000(250 BB) |
WA Waheed Ashraf | 17,500(58 BB) |
Button Pressures, Xu Endures

To respect the player’s willingness, no name would be shown for the button position.
The player on the button raised to 700 and Kookchunantoine Priniotakis called from the small blind. Yue Xu then put in a raise to 3,500. Only the button dropped in the call.
Xu check-called a bet of 1,300 from the button on the Q♥ A♠ Q♣ flop. The 3♦ hit on the turn, where Xu check-called again to a bet of 5,500 from the button.
Both players checked through the 5♦ river. Xu revealed a flopped pair of aces with A♥ T♠ and the button mucked his hand.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
KP | 47,000(157 BB) |
YX Yue Xu | 42,000(140 BB) |
37,000(123 BB) |
Triple Barrel, No Showdown

Shota Kawaguchi raised to 600 from middle position and Peterjeean Kwon called on the button, as did Yulan Shen in the big blind.
Shen checked over the 5♦ 8♠ A♥ flop to Kawaguchi, who then continued for 700, which both of his opponents stuck around.
Shen checked on the 9♣ and Kawaguchi fired again, this time for 2,000. Only Kwon came along to see a 5♣ hit on the river. Kawaguchi then sent a barrel of 3,500. This was enough to take down the pot as Kwon mucked.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
SK Shota Kawaguchi | 67,000(223 BB) |
PK Peterjeean Kwon | 37,000(123 BB) |
SY Shen Yulan | 35,000(117 BB) |
Manokharan's Great Ace Secures the Pot

Seung Jae Park raised to 900 from early position and Shota Kawaguchi called from the hijack, as did Murly Manokharan in the big blind.
Manokharan checked the flop of T♦ A♦ 8♥ and Park made a continuation-bet of 1,600. Kawaguchi folded and Manokharan came along.
Manokharan check-called a bet of 2,500 from Park on the Q♥ turn. Both players then checked through the 9♦ river.
Park revealed K♣ K♦, but it still couldn’t drag the pot his way as Manokharan tabled top pair with A♠ 4♦.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
SK Shota Kawaguchi | 49,000(163 BB) |
MM Murly Manokharan | 48,500(162 BB) |
SP Seungjae Park | 27,000(90 BB) |
Nut Flush Value: Drobin Gets Paid by Kurtz

We picked up the action on the turn, where American player Jacob Kurtz bet 5,000 into a pot of 10,500. Kurtz, seated in middle position, was called by Ilia Drobin of Russia on the button.
The river completed the board: Q♣ 7♣ 3♣ 6♥ 9♦.
Kurtz, first to act, continued his aggression with a bet of 8,000. Drobin responded with a raise to 25,000, putting Kurtz to the test. After a brief shrug, Kurtz tossed in the chips to make the call.
Drobin then tabled A♣ K♣ for the nut flush, leaving Kurtz with no choice but to send his cards to the muck.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
ID Ilia Drobin | 114,000(380 BB) |
JK Jacob Kurtz | 35,200(117 BB) |
Break Time
Two levels have been played, so the players get their first 15-minute breather. Already 81 players have registered themselves to this flight.
Shen's Ten Isn't Working
With around 1,000 chips in the middle, a flop came 3♥ 7♦ 8♥ and Yulan Shen bet 400 from the small blind. Seung Jae Park called in the big blind.
The two checked through the 3♠ turn to see a K♦ fall on the river, where Shen check-called a bet of 2,000 from Park.
Park tabled K♠ Q♦ quickly and successfully took down the pot as Shen turned K♣ T♣.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
SP Seungjae Park | 33,500(168 BB) |
SY Shen Yulan | 27,000(135 BB) |
Drobin's Ten Working Well

Ilia Drobin opened the cutoff to 500 and Sho Fujiki three-bet to 1,400 from the small blind. Drobin called.
Fujiki checked the 7♦ A♥ 4♥ flop to Drobin, who continued for 1,500. Fujiki check-called.
Both players checked through the T♦ turn and 8♦ river. Fujiki showed 5♦ 5♠, but it couldn’t best a rivered pair of tens from Drobin’s K♠ T♦.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
ID Ilia Drobin | 83,500(418 BB) |
SF Sho Fujiki | 36,500(183 BB) |
Yu Is Building Stacks
Guo Yu opened from early-position and got three-bet to 2,000 by the Japanese player Kozo Yamada. Yu made the call, and they went heads-up to the flop.
On J♦ 9♥ 5♠ both players elected to check. The turn came the 7♦ and after Yu checked again, Yamada bet out a pot size bet of 4,500. This was met with a raise to 14,000 by Yu. Yamada made the call.
The river was the 2♠ and Yu put Yamada effectively all-in by betting 30,000. The Japanese player was put in a really tough spot. After about a minute of deliberation, he decided on a call and put his remaining 23,000 chips into the middle.
Kozo Yamada: Q♠ J♠
Guo Yu: J♥ J♣
Player | Chips |
---|---|
GD Guo Di Yu | 96,000(480 BB) |
KY Kozo Yamada | busted |
Zhang Walking Out

Zhang was in good form to take down a double-up; however, the dealer sent him the bad news on a flop of T♥ 4♥ 8♠, improving Batbayar to a set.
Zhang still got a chance to stay alive, but the J♦ turn didn’t provide him with any help.
One queen can save Zhang’s tournament life, yet the river let him down as it revealed a board-pairing T♦, giving Batbayar even a full house and seeing Zhang out.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
BB Bayarkhuu Batbayar | 41,000(205 BB) |
ZZ Zhang Zhuoqun | busted |
Big Slick Versus Ace-Jack Ends in a Split

Alexander Lyan opened the hijack to 400 and Zhang Hao three-bet to 1,500 from the small blind. Lyan called.
Hao continued for 1,100 on the A♦ 3♣ 2♥ flop and Lyan snap-called to see the 4♥ turn, where Hao sent another barrel of 2,600. Lyan stuck around.
The board completed a wheel with the 5♦ river, and both players checked through.
Hao turned over A♣ K♠ while Lyan showed A♥ J♦. The two chopped the pot.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
LA Lyan Alexander | 42,500(213 BB) |
ZH Zhang Hao | 41,500(208 BB) |
Shin's Kings Can Beat Ace-High Board
After a middle-position open by Haiyu Xiao, also in middle-position, Woo Shin raised it up to 1,500. Toshiyuki Yamamoto on the button cold-called, and the original open raiser also went along.
The flop came out A♠ 7♥ 3♦ and surprisingly, all three players elected to check. The turn was the 4♠ and now Shin decided it was time to bet. He did so with a bet of 4,500, which was only called by Xiao. The river brought another 4♣ and both players were happy to check it down.
Woo Shin: K♥ K♦
Haiyu Xiao: 5♠ 5♣
Player | Chips |
---|---|
WH Woo Hyon Shin | 68,000(340 BB) |
HX Haiyu Xiao | 41,000(205 BB) |
So Bets Twice, Manokharan Folds
Murly raised to 600 from under the gun and Shibuya Ryohei called on the button, as did Daniel So in the big blind.
Three players checked through the K♠ 5♦ 4♥ flop to see the 2♠ turn, where So bet 600. Manokharan called, and Ryohei stepped aside.
The river brought a 7♦ and So sent another bet of 800, which was enough to take down the pot as Manokharan laid it down.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
MM Murly Manokharan | 44,000(220 BB) |
DS Daniel So | 41,000(205 BB) |
SR Shibuya Ryohei | 36,000(180 BB) |
Park With The Needed Double Up
We only picked the action up on the river, where, sitting on the button, Seung Park had moved all-in into a pot of 15,500 with his remaining 7,500 chips. The board read Q♥ 8♠ 3♠ 2♦ T♥ and Park's opponent Sho Katsura in the big-blind had a difficult decision to figure out whether his hand was good enough. Ultimately, he decided on a call.
Seung Park: 3♥ 2♠
Sho Katsura: Q♦ 9♠
Park's turned two pair gave him a double-up, though he is still fighting to come back to starting stack.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
SK Sho Katsura | 38,000(190 BB) |
SP Seungjae Park | 32,500(163 BB) |
Little Cooler Early On
Guo Yu opened up the action with an ealy-position open. Only the blinds wanted to see a flop, which came down A♦ Q♣ 3♦. The blinds checked and Yu put out a bet of 900. Only Igor Kan in the small-blind made the call.
The 3♦ on the turn brought in a potential flush, which made both players slow down and check. The river was another Q♠ and now Kan led out for 3,500. This was met by Yu with a raise to 12,600. Kan had a difficult decision, eventually he decided his hand was too strong to fold. Though, after he made the call, he was shown the bad news as Yu revealed A♣ Q♦ for a rivered full house. Kan showed K♦ Q♥. Unlucky river for the Russian player.
Shin Runner Runner Trips Wins Him A Nice Pot
This hand began with Maksim Seliuk opening from early-position. Woo Shin on the button, and Noa Aoki in the big-blind made the call. The flop came down Q♦ T♠ 4♥ and the original opener continued with a bet of 600. Both of his opponents made the call.
The action slowed down on the 7♣ turn as all three players elected to check. The river was another 7♦ and now the big-blind led out for 1,500. Seliuk made the call, but Shin had other plans, as he raised it up to 4,500. Nobody believed him, as both players made the call. Shin tabled over 7♥ 6♦ and his trips were good enough to win a decent pot early in the day.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
WH Woo Hyon Shin | 53,000(530 BB) |
NA Noa Aoki | 33,000(330 BB) |
MS Maksim Seliuk | 30,500(305 BB) |
Yamamoto's Nine Scores

Toshiyuki Yamamoto opened to 300 from under the gun and Seung Jae Park defended from the big blind.
Park then checked the flop of K♠ 3♣ 8♦ and Yamamoto made a continuation bet of 200. Park stuck around.
Both player checked through the T♥ turn to see a 9♣ fall on the river, where Park bet 700 and Yamamoto checked.
Park revealed a flopped pair of threes with 5♦ 3♥ while Yamamoto tabled a superior rivered pair of nines with A♠ 9♦ for the pot.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
YT Yamamoto Toshiyuki | 43,000(430 BB) |
SP Seungjae Park | 33,000(330 BB) |
Pressure from Tang's River Bet
Yixi Tan opened the button to 300 and received the call from the blinds: Tran Toan and Peterjeean Kwon.
Three players checked through the 6♠ Q♣ 6♥ flop to see the K♣ fall on the turn, where it checked to Tan, who bet 500. Toan called and Kwon stepped aside.
The J♦ came on the river, and Toan checked to Tang, who then bet 2,000. It was good enough to collect the pot as Toan folded.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
YT Yixi Tang | 38,000(380 BB) |
TT Tran Toan | 38,000(380 BB) |
PK Peterjeean Kwon | 37,500(375 BB) |
Tang Isn't Bluffing

Barton Wood opened the hijack to 300 and Yixi Tang called in the small blind, as did Tran Toan from the big blind.
The trio saw the 9♦ 3♣ Q♥ flop and checked through to see a Q♣ turn, where Tang bet 600. Only Toan tagged along this time.
The 7♠ filled out the board, and Tang checked. Toan then fired 2,500. Tang check-called before showing his winner Q♦ 9♥ for a full house leaving his opponent no choice but to fold.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
TT Tran Toan | 40,500(405 BB) |
MD Michael David Barton Wood | 40,500(405 BB) |
YT Yixi Tang | 36,000(360 BB) |
Kan's Straight Gets Him Early Chips
We picked the action up on the turn where, sitting in the big-blind, Igor Kan bet 3,500 into Naiki Noda on the button. The board read T♥ 9♠ 6♥ 8♠ and Noda made the call.
The river came the board pairing T♦ and Kan bet again, this time for 6,000. After some deliberation made Noda the call, just to be shown the bad news, as Kan tabled over 8♦ 7♥ for a flopped straight.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
IK Igor Kan | 50,000(500 BB) |
NN Naiki Noda | 36,400(364 BB) |
Early Chunky Bet for Katsura

A board ran out K♥ A♠ Q♦ 2♥ with 2,500 chips in the middle when Sergei Kim checked over from the big blind to Sho Katsura, who fired 1,500 on the button. Kim came along for the ride.
Kim then changed his pace on the 9♦ river and made a chunky bet of 6,500. But it didn't deter Katsura from cranking it up to 19,000, and it was good for the pot as Kim let go of his cards.
Player | Chips |
---|---|
SK Sho Katsura | 49,000(490 BB) |
SK Sergei Kim | 36,500(365 BB) |
Early Registration
Player | Chips |
---|---|
NA Noa Aoki | 40,000(400 BB) |
DC Dajia Chen | 40,000(400 BB) |
ID Ilia Drobin | 40,000(400 BB) |
JH Jiayu Huang | 40,000(400 BB) |
SK Sho Katsura | 40,000(400 BB) |
SK Shota Kawaguchi | 40,000(400 BB) |
SK Sergei Kim | 40,000(400 BB) |
CS Chun San Andrew Lee | 40,000(400 BB) |
VA Valery Anatolevich Li | 40,000(400 BB) |
LA Lyan Alexander | 40,000(400 BB) |
NN Naiki Noda | 40,000(400 BB) |
SP Seungjae Park | 40,000(400 BB) |
GG Guang Guo (2) | 40,000(400 BB) |
MS Maksim Seliuk | 40,000(400 BB) |
SC Song Chenghua | 40,000(400 BB) |
YT Yamamoto Toshiyuki | 40,000(400 BB) |
MZ Mingjie Zhang | 40,000(400 BB) |
ZZ Zhang Zhuoqun | 40,000(400 BB) |
MD Michael David Barton Wood | 40,000(400 BB) |
Cards Are in the Air
Shuffle up and deal has been announced and the cards are in the air for the first opening flight of APT Incheon Main Event.
KRW 2,500,000 APT Incheon 2025 Main Event Flight A Starts Today

The highly anticipated return of the Asian Poker Tour (APT) to Incheon is finally here! The KRW 2,500,000 ( ~US$1,800) Main Event at the APT Incheon 2025 gets underway today at 11am local time, boasting a massive KRW 2,500,000,000 ( ~US$1,080,279) guarantee.
The journey begins with Flight A, the first of four starting flights. Each player starts with 40,000 chips, battling through ten 60-minute levels to survive to Day 2 and keep their title dreams alive. All Day 1 flights will play 10 levels before concluding.
With late registration open until 11:30 PM local time and unlimited re-entries, players also have the strategic option to forfeit their stack before registration closes, allowing them to re-enter and take another shot at running up a stack.
Stay tuned for a full live coverage of today's flight!