APT Main Event (55,000 TWD)

Day 2 of Taiwan’s largest-ever international poker tournament — and the richest APT Main Event in history — has come to a thrilling close. Leading the charge into Day 3 is Hong Kong’s Nicholas Go, who topped the counts with a commanding 1,280,000 chips, becoming the only player to cross the 1-million mark after seven hours of intense poker action against some of Asia’s best.

A total of 830 players returned for Day 2, all vying for a place in the money. By the end of play, 375 players had secured seats for Day 3, each guaranteed a payout of TWD 85,000 ($2,620). But with a top prize of TWD 19,009,440 ($586,710) and an APTC Main Event seat up for grabs, the real battle is just beginning. Among those advancing are 76 online qualifiers from N8, who also made it into the money.

Following Go are Taiwan’s Yu Chun Wu with 932,000 and South Korea’s Juyub Lee with 871,000.

The bubble burst within the first hour of play, thanks to the high concentration of short stacks. The unfortunate bubble boy was David Berlin from Lithuania, who went all-in on a completed board after pairing his ace-king on the flop. However, Taiwan's Chun-Yu Wu had rivered two pair with queen-three suited, leaving Berlin just shy of a cash.

Go started the day with the second-largest stack, but vaulted into the lead after a dramatic hand against Germany’s Rene von Reden. Go held pocket aces against von Reden’s kings, and a flopped set sealed the elimination of the German in stunning fashion. After narrowly missing an APT Lion Trophy in the Superstar Challenge — where he finished runner-up — Go is now firmly in contention for redemption, and the ultimate prize.

Other notable contenders include Super High Roller champion Quang Minh Nguyen (602,000) and Superstar Challenge winner Biao Ding (119,000). While not among the top stacks, both players are riding hot streaks and could easily become factors late in the tournament.

A number of APT champions have also advanced to Day 3. Among them are John Matsuda (815,000), Tom Henricus Verbruggen (448,000), Daniel Neilson (444,000), Martin Michael Sedlak (349,000), David Erquiaga (149,000), John Tech (95,000), and Lester Edoc (44,000). Though some are short-stacked, their experience, discipline, and tournament instincts could prove pivotal as the field tightens.

Adding to the already stacked field, a number of well-known names have also qualified online, including Kitty Kuo (1,279,436), Abraham Ceesvin (321,928), Thanisorn Saelor (117,718), Punnat Punsri (114,256), Sean Ooi (105,748). Their presence ensures the road to the final table will be anything but easy.

Day 3 resumes at Level 18 and will play through 10 levels or until the field is reduced to 48 players — whichever comes first. Before cards go in the air, APT will raffle off an APTC Main Event seat worth TWD 350,000 to all players who entered the APT Taipei 2025 Main Event.

Join us again tomorrow as we continue live updates straight from the tournament floor and get closer to crowning the next APT Main Event Champion.

The surviving 375 players have all earned themselves a payday and are currently bagging up their chips.

Stay tuned for a recap of the day's action!

By the time the TV cameras and announcers reached the table, the board was already out and showed 8♥ 6♥ A♠ 3♦ Q♠ . David Berlin was all-in and at risk, with Chun-Yu Wu having made the call on the river in an attempt to bust him. Once given the all-clear by the production team, the players revealed their hands:

David Berlin: A♥ K♦

Chun-Yu Wu: Q♥ 3♥

Berlin’s Big Slick had the advantage on the flop, but you can never discount the reliable backdoor two-pair draw, and Wu was the one who managed to hit it. Cheers and a round of applause filled the room as the remaining 375 players secured their spots in the money of the largest and richest APT Main Event ever. Berlin, the unfortunate bubble boy of the tournament, took a video of his exit hand and quietly left the room.

Seungyeol Kim made it 15,000 from middle position before Kimiaki Nakamura three-bet to 45,000 from the hijack. When it got back to Kim he did some inventory, and then shoved all of his 110,000 into the middle. Nakamura happily called.

Seungyeol Kim: K♣ K♠

Kimiaki Nakamura: A♥ K♥

Kim was ahead with Cowboys, but Nakamura had an ace and hearts working for her.

The dealer fanned out a flop of A♦ Q♣ 8♥ to which a roar was heard from the rest of the field, as they knew Kim was likely to bust, sending everyone just one more elimination away from the money.

The turn was the 3♦ , leaving Kim with one out heading to the river.

There was no miracle for Kim as the 6♥ rolled off on the river, and he was out in 377th place. The next palyer eliminated would be the last to leave empty-handed.

Ki Bum Park got his last 100,000 into the middle from the big blind, with Ryan Plant making the call with a covering stack to try and bust him.

Ki Bum Park: J♣ J♥

Ryan Plant: A♣ K♦

If there was ever a time for Park to win a race it was now, on the soft bubble of largest APT Main Event in history.

However the board ran out 3♥ K♣ 6♠ 8♦ 4♠ to give Plant the winner with a pair of kings, sending Park to the rail in 378th place.

Everyone was now just two more eliminations away from the money.

Tension filled the air at The Red Space as hand-for-hand play was in progress with only three players left until the money.

Yeow Chong was all-in for his tournament life and found a caller in Shuzo Sekine.

Yeow Chong: A♦ A♥

Shuzo Sekine: K♣ K♠

The drama was short-lived as the window card delivered salvation—Chong flopped a set on 3♣ A♠ 6♥ . The runout of T♣ T♠ improved his hand to a full house, securing a crucial double-up just shy of the bubble

With just over ten players left in the money, Daniel Neilson turned up the heat at his table, applying constant pressure with repeated open-raises to 12,000—almost every hand.

Eventually, Yu-Sung Chen, seated in the big blind, decided to challenge Neilson’s middle-position raise with a call. The dealer fanned a flop of T♥ 6♥ J♠ , and after a check from Chen, Neilson continued his aggression with an 11,000-chip bet—enough to take the pot uncontested once again.

Neilson’s tablemates had grown so accustomed to his relentless raising that on the very next hand, they didn’t even notice he had folded under the gun. When players waited for him to act, Neilson playfully mimed a 12,000-chip raise, drawing laughter all around.

Avadha Shah opened to 12,000 from middle position, only for Jacob Ikuma to raise to 225,000 from the hijack. Daehyung Lee then called for all of his 222,000 from the big blind, and Shah committed his remaining 100,000, creating a three-way all-in with two players at risk.

Avadha Shah: K♠ K♥

Daehyung Lee: Q♠ Q♦

Jacob Ikuma: 6♥ 6♠

Ikuma had the largest stack and was in a position to send two players to the rail if he could hit a six. The flop came down Q♣ 7♣ T♣ , putting Lee in the lead with top set. The turn brought a 7♥ , giving Lee a full house and leaving Ikuma drawing dead. Shah still had a chance if a king hit on the river, but the card was the 3♥ .

Lee took down the entire pot, eliminating Shah from the tournament, and moving the remaining players in the tournament one step closer to the money.

With 380 players remaining, the Main Event is now hand-for-hand until five more players are eliminated.

The action folded to Yukako Hiroi in the cutoff, who raised to 12,000 and picked up a caller in Chun Hin Lee from the big blind.

Lee checked the A♥ J♣ 9♦ flop, prompting a continuation bet of 11,000 from Hiroi. Lee called.

The T♦ turn and 3♠ river were checked through, and Lee tabled A♦ T♠ for top two pair.

Hiroi mucked her hand as the pot was pushed Lee's way.

With 407 players remaining and 375 making the money, the bubble edges closer. Players are now on a 15-minute break before returning to action.

Action folded around to Kuan Yu Chen in the small blind, who raised to 15,000. Ori Kossonogi defended his big blind to see a flop of 9♥ Q♥ 9♦ .

Chen kept up the pressure with a 12,000 continuation bet, and it was enough to push Kossonogi off the hand.

The hand was already underway with the tournament dealer throwing Nicholas Go a one-hand penalty for acting out of turn.

Action happened with Sergeev Aleksandr limping under the gun and Zhiyu Wang on the button raising to 15,000. Go in the big blind, snap called out of turn which was what got him the one-hand penalty. But Johnson Lim went all-in in small blind. After much discussion with the tournament director, Go folded his hand and left the table.

Aleksandr mucked his hand but Wang made the call, putting Lim at risk and taking both players to showdown.

Johnson Lim: A♠ J♥

Zhiyu Wang: K♦ K♥

With a 70% chance to win Wang seemed very confident of winning the hand, giving Lim a friendly tap of the table for good luck. But Lim started packing when the flop came T♥ T♦ 6♣ . The runout of 9♠ and 3♠ didn't help him at all. He finished packing as the deal completed and left table as Wang scooped the pot.

The hand was already in motion on a flop of J♦ J♥ 4♠ . Action checked to David Erquiaga, who led out for 6,000. Shuzo Sekine, seated to his right and the only other player in the hand, made the call.

On the J♣ turn, Sekine checked again, prompting a 12,000 continuation bet from Erquiaga, which he once more called.

The river brought the A♠ , and the pattern continued—Sekine checked, and Erquiaga fired a hefty 80,000. After a brief pause, Sekine tossed in the call.

Erquiaga confidently tabled J♦ T♦ for quads, prompting an immediate muck from Sekine.

Biao Ding in lowjack opened for 10,000 and got a caller in Yu Liu in big blind.

The flop dropped 4♥ 6♥ 8♠ .

Liu checked allowing Ding to continue with 7,500. Liu checked and continued checking the K♦ turn. Ding followed suit giving both players a free river.

Liu bet out the 6♣ river and Ding called.

Liu tabled Q♦ T♣ Ding showed A♥ J♦ and won the pot with Ace high.

The action folded round to Chien-Hua Lo who raised to 12,500 from the small blind, and was called by Chun Hin Lee who defended his big blind.

Lo fired off a 9,000 continuation-bet following the K♦ 6♣ 8♥ flop, which Lee called again.

A third barrel of 30,000 after the T♥ turn proved too much for Lee, who reluctantly let the hand go.

Peter Kiem opened to 10,000 from early position and picked up three callers, going four ways to a flop of 9♠ A♥ J♥ .

Kiem continued for 16,000 and only Benson Xu, on the button, stuck around.

The J♣ turn paired the board, and after Kiem fired again for 35,000, Xu gave it up.

“Show us the ace!” said another player, prompting Kiem to reveal A♦ Q♣ for top pair.

Thongwigitr Bannawich moved all in for his remaining 25,000 chips from early position and was called by Kuo Wei Kao in the big blind. The cards went on their backs:

Thongwigitr Bannawich: K♥ Q♥

Kuo Wei Kao: A♦ 9♣

Bannawich was the one at risk, but the dealer fanned out a 2♥ 5♥ 8♥ flop, giving him a flush and leaving Kao drawing dead.

The K♠ and A♠ on the turn and river changed nothing, securing the double for Bannawich.

Two tables away, Nicholas Go could be heard shouting, "Aces vs. Kings! Aces vs. Kings!" Getting the attention of media.

The action was picked up with both Go and Rene von Reden on their feet with their cards and chips in the middle of the felt for a showdown.

Nicholas Go: A♠ A♦

Rene von Reded: K♠ K♣

After getting media attention, Go started calling out cards that would not crack his aces. Other players were excitedly commenting that they haven't seen pre-flop betting that had reached six-betting and seven-betting which apparently happened before the showdown.

Von Reden could just look on at everyone, smile at all the kerfuffle and video everything on his phone. The dealer, finally, flopped 5♣ 6♥ 3♥ .

The ruckus continued and so did the dealer with a 4♣ turn giving von Reden more outs, including a chance to split the pot if the board made a straight. Go started shouting louder.

Finally, the river A♥ gave Go a set sealing his victory and evoking a loud cheer from the player, "I'm the new chip leader!"

Von Reden left the table as the players continued to talk about the hand.

He Lin Jia had raised to around 25,000 from the cutoff, which was met with a shove to the tune of around 88,000 by Gregory "Greg Goes All In" Liow in the small blind.

"I F***** up!" Liow exclaimed as the two turned over their cards.

Gregory "Greg Goes All In" Liow: K♣ T♣

He Lin Jia: A♠ Q♦

However, as the flop came out 7♦ T♦ 5♥ , Liow's spirit lifted as he took the lead.

A further 5♦ on the turn and T♠ on the river improved him to a boat, doubling his stack.

"Is this going on the website? Say I played bad!" He quipped.

First to act, Kimiaki Nakamura opened to 8,000 and the action was folded all the way around to the two players to his right, James Mendoza in the small blind and Greg "Greg Goes All-in" Liow in big.

Mendoza led out with 12,000 on the flop of 9♣ T♠ 8♣ . Without hesitation, Liow goes all-in making Nakamura fold.

Mendoza and Liow have a little bit of an exchange with Liow ending the chat with, "you can fold."

But Mendoza didn't need the advice of Liow and made a one chip call putting Liow at risk and taking them to showdown.

Greg Liow: 6♥ 7♥

James Mendoza: Q♦ 9♦

Mendoza should have listened to Liow as his pair and gutshot were far behind Liow's made straight. Upon seeing this Mendoza started setting his chips aside to match Liow's all-in.

The turn Q♣ did give Mendoza further outs but the 2♦ river sealed Liow's double up.

The hand was already underway with Gilsoo Kim in lowjack and Sriram Arun in hijack waiting for the dealer to deal the flop in a pot of around 120,000. It was essentially an all-in for Kim as he had only 2,000 left behind.

The flop came 2♥ 4♥ 4♦ and Kim threw in the last four 500-chips in the middle of the table. Arun snap called putting Kim at risk and bring them to a showdown.

Gilsoo Kim: A♣ 6♣

Sriram Arun: T♠ T♥

Arun was ahead with his pocket pairs but Kim was hoping for an ace or a backdoor straight to win the pot.

The turn 5♥ and 7♣ river didn't improve Kim's hand ending his run in this milestone main event.

Acting from the big blind, Ryan Kim moved all in for around 100,000 chips and found a lone caller in Boon Tan from the small blind.

Ryan Kim: A♥ A♣

Boon Tan: A♠ 9♠

Kim was in prime position to double up with pocket aces, and the board ran out 9♥ 4♦ 7♥ 5♥ 7♠ .

His top two pair held firm, securing the pot and taking a sizeable bite out of Tan’s stack.

Liang Sheng Yeh opened to 8,000 from early position and was met with a three-bet to 15,000 from Ken Doi in the small blind. After a brief pause, Yeh made the call.

On the flop of 8♠ K♦ J♥ , Doi continued with a bet of 25,000. Yeh considered his options but ultimately gave up the hand.

Players are having 15-minute break now.

Kwun Ngan opened the cutoff to 8,000 and Nontapat Wattana called in the small blind, which Manig Loeser three-bet to 20,000 from the big blind. Ngan called for his 13,900 chips, and Wattana also came along for the ride.

The action went check-check on the flop of 6♠ Q♦ 5♣ .

When an 8♣ hit on the turn, Wattana fired out 20,000, forcing Loeser to step aside.

Nontapat Wattana: J♣ T♣

Kwun Ngan: K♠ 9♠

Ngan’s king held the lead but Wattana had lots of outs.

The river bricked out a Q♠ to save the Hong Kong player’s tournament life with the sizable pot.

UTG Sing Wen Chen and small blind Joshua Figuerres were competing for a 35,000 pot looking at a board of 9♠ 7♠ Q♣ T♠ 7♥

Figueress tapped his option over to Chen who fired out 25,000. Figuerres just called.

Chen showed A♠ 9♦ for a pair of nines while Figuerres showed K♠ J♣ for a straight.

Shu Leung Yau raised to 6,000 from early position and Yuki Nakadda three-bet to 16,000 on the button. Yau called.

The action went check-check on the flop of T♥ J♥ T♦ , and both players also knuckled it back on the T♣ turn.

When the 5♦ hit on the river, Yau fired out 15,000 and Nakada called.

Yau showed A♠ K♦ and Nakada also tabled Big Slick with A♦ K♣ to make it a chop pot.

Yuichi Sumida shoved his last 45,000 or so all-in and Jie Chen put in a chip to signify the call.

Sumida showed A♦ T♣ versus the more dominant A♥ K♦ of Chen.

The board completed 9♠ J♦ 9♦ 3♣ A♣ to give the win to Chen and the exit to Sumida.

Bo Jyun Guo opened the cutoff to 11,000, only to be jammed on by Kazuhiko Yotsushika on the button for 27,400. Guo called for his opponent at risk.

Kazuhiko Yotsushika: Q♦ J♠

Bo Jyun Guo: A♦ 2♥

Guo picked up the lead with an ace, but soon the dealer sent bad news to him as the flop came 4♥ Q♥ 5♣ , improving Yotsushika to superior pair of queens.

The runout rolled off 5♠ T♣ , delivering Yotsushika a double-up to keep his tournament run.

Yan Jie Wu and Keito Kawakami were looking at a board of Q♣ 6♥ A♣ 8♠ beside a pot of nearly 90,000.

Wu had shoved his last 69,000 chips all-in and Kawakami slowed too make a decision. Not only did Kawakami tank, he went into deep thought and drifted into dreams of cupcakes and afternoon snacks ad probably had an out of body experience that the table had to call attention to the floor director.

The floor gave him 30-seconds and counted down until the last second before Kawakami came back to his body and pushed his cards forward to the muck.

Hua-Wei Lin min-raised from early postion with Choi Ho Ming calling on the button, and Masaki Kunimoto calling from the big blind.

The flop came down 3♦ 8♦ A♥ , prompting Kunimoto to check. Lin fired a continuation-bet of 5,000, which only Ming called.

When the K♠ landed on the turn Lin continued with a bet of 11,000. Ming thought for a few moments, and then made the call.

The 5♠ dropped on the river and Lin shoved for 38,900. Ming got a count from the dealer and thought it over for quite some time, before eventually, tossing his cards into the muck.

A flop ran out J♣ 8♠ J♦ with 27,000 chips in the pot when Powen Fang checked over from the big blind, and Luke Dainton led out for 9,000. Fand tagged along.

The action went check-check on the Q♦ turn and K♠ river.

Fang tabled 8♣ 5♦ for flopped pair of eights while Dainton revealed 7♦ 8♦ , making it a chop pot.

In a battle of the blinds... Small blind Long Lam Kim and big blind Bawoo Hyun Shik Yun were looking at a board of 6♠ K♥ 5♥ K♣ T♦ with a pot of 28,000 in the middle.

Kim bet out 40,000, covering Yun's stack. Yun thought hard, but decided to fight another day.

Kazuki Okada raised too 5,000 from early position and Nobuaki Sasaki three-bet to 12,00, which Hei Chan four-bet to 28,000. Okada shoved all in for 93,000 and Chan called.

Hei Chan: A♠ K♣

Kazuki Okada: A♦ A♥

A nightmare scenario for Chan though he did receive a gutshot on the flop of 9♦ Q♥ T♦ . However, the runout came Q♣ 8♠ locking up a double-up for Okada.

Assem Koizumi and San Chun Wong were competing for a pot of over 90,000 with a board that showed T♠ 5♥ 9♥ A♥ 8♠

Koizumi tapped his option to Wong who fired all-in for 48,900. Koizumi tanked before throwing in a chip to make the call.

Wong showed J♥ T♥ for a flush while Koizumii showed A♣ T♣ for a losing two pair.

Benjamin Jacobs raised to 5,000 and small blind Lichun Wang shoved all-in for 26,800. Big blind Tsu Lin Tsao made the call and Jacobs stepped out of the way.

Lichun Wang showed K♣ Q♦ versus the 9♦ 9♣ of Tsao.

The board completed K♠ Q♣ 2♥ 4♥ J♥ giving Wang double pair to double up.

A board ran out 5♥ A♠ 3♦ T♠ with around 26,500 chips in the pot when Minseok Kim checked from the big blind, and Wutirai Phraikhieo also knuckled it back from early position.

The 4♦ hit on thr river, and Kim fired out 13,000. Phraikhieo called.

Kim turned over a rivered pair of fours 6♥ 4♥ , but it wasn’t enough against flopped top pair of aces from Phraikhieo’s A♥ J♦ .

The floor has announced that Day 2 will continue until the money bubble bursts. At that point, the remaining players will bag up their chips and return tomorrow, Thursday, May 1, for Day 3, which will begin at 11:15 AM.

Everyone who returns tomorrow will be guaranteed a minimum cash of TWD 85,000 (~$2,620). Additionally, at the start of tomorrow’s proceedings, a lucky draw for an APT Championship Main Event ticket worth TWD 350,000 will take place, with one lucky player selected at random from the 2,547 entries, regardless of whether they are still in the tournament or have already busted.

Action folded to Wisinee Tanpichai on the button and she shoved her last 20,200 all-in. Small blind Koshiro Nakamura was tempted, but folded. Big blind Sunghak Lee looked a bit interested, but didn't defend the big blind to award Tapinchai some survival blinds.

Kim Wah Chiu opened the cutoff to 5,000 and Daniel Neilson called on the button.

Chiu checked the flop of 7♥ 3♦ 8♠ to Neilson who bet 4,000. Chiu tagged along.

The 7♠ came on the turn and it went check-check.

When the 8♣ hit on the river, Chiu fired out 9,000.

“I really don’t know,” said Neilson while taking a look at his opponent. After a while, he made the call.

Chiu tabled J♥ 9♠ for jack-high facing off against the queen-high from Neilson’s Q♥ T♣

“Queen high, nice call,” praised Chiu.

A pot of 12,000 was in the middle with a flop that showed 5♥ 9♦ A♣

Big blind Koshiro Nakamura led out for 9,200 and Ka Chun Yuan raised it to 19,700.

Nakamura repeatedly kept looking at his cards and at the board, but nothing changed, and he eventually gave up, awarding the pot to Yuan.

The board showed 4♥ 9♣ 7♦ 2♠ A♣ beside a pot of around 60,000.

The all-in triangle was pointed Po Kai Peng's way with A♠ A♥ in front of him. On the opposite side of the table, Zirui Hang had 4♠ 4♦ in front of him, counting off around 40,000 more chips to double Peng up.

Very unfortunate for Hang.

Bharath Jayaram opened the hijack to 5,000 and Wey Wo Yeung shoved all in from the cutoff and Jayaram snap-called.

Bharath Jayaram: A♥ Q♠

Hey Wo Yeung: 2♠ 2♦

Yeung was hoping to survive in the flip, however, the board rolled off 5♣ Q♦ 9♠ 4♣ 5♥ , improving Jayaram to superior pair of queens and eliminating Yeung from the field.

Wing Po Liu had all his chips in the middle for around 22,500 and Rene von Reden called from the small blind.

Wing Po Liu: K♥ Q♠

Rene von Reden: A♦ K♣

Von Reden maintained the lead on the flop of A♣ K♠ 3♥ , improving him to two pair and leaving Liu drawing thin.

The poker god had chosen the Von Reden’s side and bricked out a runout of 6♦ 8♥ , sending Liu out of the tournament.

Small blind Kiyoung Kim, big blind Benjamin Jacobs and Yu Cheng Hsu were competing for a pot of 21,400 with a board that showed 2♦ 5♥ 7♦ 7♥

Kim bet out 6,500 and Jacobs raised it to 16,000. Hsu took his time before finally giving up and Kim had to peek at his cards awhile before finally letting go.

Eliminations are trending. Some of the recent busts include: Alexander Wice, Hirashi Yoshimoto, Ming Chen Lu, Yan Zhi Wang, Gene Chan, Jen Liu, Shih Chung Lin, Jia ZIan Zhu, Ryan Gebow, Tharit Nanthana, Chak Lem Tsang, Chi Jen Chu, Tammy Ang, Hyuk Sup Kim, Chi-Kwon Li, Lin Bowei, Yu Chen Yung, Jaemoon Seok, Tsun En-Yeh, Tony Huang, Daniel Lim, Christopher Park, Hung Chieh Lai, Fu Bang Huang and Yen Han Chen.

Players are having the first 15-minute break now. Blinds will resume at 1,200/2,400 with a 2,400 big blind ante in Level 13.

A board ran out 9♣ A♦ 4♦ J♦ with around 15,000 chips in the pot when Feng-Yi Yeh checked in the big blind and Assem Koizumi also knuckled it back from under the gun.

A 6♠ landed on the river, where Yeh checked to Koizumi, who fired out 16,500, sending his opponent into the tank. After long time, Yeh eventually made the call.

After Koizumi tabled A♣ K♠ for top pair of aces, Yeh tossed his cards into the muck.

Phanlert Sukonthachartnant opened to 4,000 and Alexander Lysnkey three-bet to 16,000. Mikael Andersson called.

Action came back to Sukonthachartnant who pushed in a stack of 75,000 chips. Both Lynskey and Andersson folded.

Action folded to the blinds and small blind Phanlert Sukonthachartnant opened to 4,000. Big blind John Matsuda three-bet raised to 15,500.

Sukonthachartnant folded and Matsuda showed the table K♠ K♣

Yu Hsien Lin made it 4,000 to go from early position and Takashi Taniguchi called on the button.

Lin checked on the flop of T♠ 5♠ 3♥ to Taniguchi, who led out for 5,500 and Lin came along.

Lin checked over the 4♥ turn again to Taniguchi, who fired out a chunky bet of 12,500 this time. Lin tagged along after thinking for a while.

When the 6♦ hit on the river, Lin changed his pace and fired out 50,000 to successfully force his opponent muck the hand.

Hiroyuki Makino and Jhon Hendri were looking at a flop of 5♥ Q♠ 6♠ with a pot of around 11,000. Hendri tapped over to Makino, who fired 5,000. Hendri called and both saw a 7♣ turn.

Hendri check-called the 11,000 bet of Makino to open a 3♣ on the turn. Hendri checked and Makino checked back.

Hendri peeled open 4♦ 4♣ for a rivered straight while Makino mucked.

Chiu Lit Mui opened to 4,000 from middle position and Ho Yan Yeung defended in the big blind.

A monotone flop ran out K♦ A♦ 3♦ where Yeung checked to Mui, who continued for 2,000. Yeung called.

When the board-pairing K♠ hit on the turn, it went check-check.

Yeung delivered a bet of 6,000 on the Q♣ river, and it got the work done as Mui released his cards.

Adam Greenlee opened the button to 4,000 and Jaso Lau defended from the big blind.

On the flop of 6♠ 4♠ 6♣ , Lau checked to Greenlee who continued for 2,500. Lau cranked it up to 7,700 and Greenlee called.

When the T♥ came on the turn, Lau fired out 15,800 and Greenlee came along.

The river showed a K♦ , which Lau randomly grabbed on pile of blue stack as a shove for around 97,000. Greenlee snap-called for his remaining 15,100 chips.

Greenlee showed 7♦ 6♦ for flopped trip sixes facing off against a bluff from Lau’s 5♥ 2♥ to rake in the sizable pot.

It can't be helped. The field has to thin and only the stronger - or the luckier - move on. Some recent busts include:

Mikiya Kudo opened from the hi-jack to 3,200 and David "Spade" Erquiaga three-bet to 9,500 from the cut-off.

Action folded back to Kudo who four-bet to 30,500. Erquiaga played with his chips a bit and then counted off 68,000 to push across the betting line.

Kudo folded.

Erquiaga showed Ten Nine off-suit as he pulled in the pot.

Changgyu Choe opened to 3,200 from early position, with Christian Cheng making the call from middle position. After it folded to Nicholas Go in the small blind, he squeezed to 18,000. Choe folded, but Cheng called to see a flop.

The flop came a monotone J♦ 3♦ 8♦ , and Go led out with a continuation-bet of 15,000. Cheng took his time, eventually making the call.

The 4♣ hit on the turn, and Go fired again, this time for 25,000. Cheng, with about 60,000 remaining in his stack, went deep into the tank. He stared down Go, who remained focused on the board. After a long pause, Cheng reluctantly folded, and Go showed just the Q♦ .

Just over twelve hours ago, Go was battling heads-up for the APT Superstar Challenge title. Despite holding the chip lead briefly, he ended as the runner-up to Biao Ding. Go walked away with a career-best score of TWD 9,244,000 (~$286,210) and now is seated in Day 2 of the Main Event with one of the biggest stacks in the room, surely oozing with confidence after such a good result in one of the toughest tournaments.

Indonesian-born American poker pro John Juanda has a seat at the main event. The multiple WSOP bracelet winner who has over USD 25 million in total live earnings made a late registration before the start of Day 2 and is now part of the historic main event.

Good luck!

In Hon Song made it 3,200 to go from under the gun and Kit Loi three-bet to 10,000 from early position. Son then moved all in for 41,600, which Loi called quickly.

In Ho Song: A♠ K♦

Kit Loi: T♥ T♣

Loi held the lead in the flip when the flop ran out 8♥ 5♦ Q♠ . The turn showed a J♥ , offering Song a straight draw, who still had live outs for the next cards.

Fortunately for Song, the river carried out good news with a K♥ , improving him to a superior pair of kings to scoop a much-needed double up.

Loi is now on the edge of elimination with only 4,000 chips.

Dinesh Alt opened to 3,200 from mid-position and Jintae Yang raised to 9,000 in the cut-off. Action came back to Alt who pushed in 75,000 to put Yang all-in. Yang made the call, pushing his last 40,000 in the middle. ALt showed A J but was behind Yang's A Q The board ran T 5 9 K 5 to give Yang a double-up.

Sumit Sapra made it 3,200 to go from under the gun and Sho Katsura three-bet to 7,500 from early position. Sapra called.

On a flop of T♥ J♣ T♣ , Sapra check-called after a continuation-bet of 4,500 from Katsura.

When the A♥ hit on the turn, Sapra checked over again and Katsura sent another barrel of 15,000, sending his opponent into the tank. After long consideration, Sapra released his cards reluctantly.

Joshua Tan opened the hijack to 3,200 and Kim Wah Chiu called on the button.

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

When the 4♣ hit on the turn, Tan check-called after a bet of 4,000 from Chiu.

The river brought a 2♦ and Tan check to Chiu again, who then fired out 8,000, which got the work done as Tan tossed his cards into the muck.

The action was picked up on the turn with a board showing Q♣ 2♠ K♠ 7♣ and around 7,000 chips in the pot. Masatoshi Akasaka bet 3,200 in the small blind and Chiu called from the big blind.

When the 2♣ came on the river, Akasaka fired out 9,000 and Chiu called immediately.

Akasaka showed T♠ 4♠ for a bluff while Chiu tabled a flopped pair of queens with Q♥ J♠ to collect the pot.

John Matsuda opened from eawrly position to 3,200 and Herry Lian caleld from the button. Small blind Shi Wei Tao jammed all-in for 31,200 and big blind Chang Hau Huang went over the top to shove.

Matsuda and Lian got out of the way to leave the two for a showdown.

Tao showed T♠ T♣ against Huang's 9♠ 9♥

The board came 3♦ 2♦ 8♥ J♠ K♠ to award Tao a double-up while denting Huang.

Lyla Ho raised from under the gun to 3,500 and Supanat Rojsukthavorn called from the cut-off. Both players were shown a flop of 5♦ 8♥ 9♦

Ho continued with a 3,200 bet and Rojsukthavorn matched to see a 9♥ turn. Both checked to see a A♠ river. Both checked again.

Ho revealed K♥ Q♠ and Rojsukthavorn mucked, awarding Ho the pot.

Some of the players who had the misfortunte of busting out within 30 minutes in Day 2 include: Yu-Feng Cheng, Tiang Man Tam, Maurice Jeevanji, Mn Lok Chan, Matthew Ledger, Chi Jen Chen, Gemmy Quach, Furi Homma, Murly Manokharan, Chi Ngong Tang, Yan Yan, Tetsuya Fujiwara, Chang Fu Hung and Douglas Lui.

Shortstacked Seokyung Lee shoved his last 16,900 with A♠ K♦ and was matched by Jun Lim holding 4♣ 4♦

A king spiked on the turn to give Lee a much-needed double-up.

The players are in their seats, and cards are in the air, the Main Event Day 2 has started!

All eyes are firmly on the Red Point Center’s Red Space for the TWD 55,000 Main Event Day 2 as a historic record has been written in the book, marking monumental achievement for the future. After four opening flights, the event has drawn a game-changing field of 2,407 entries, smashing the previous benchmark of 2,350 entries set at 2023 Hanoi Billions and writing a new chapter in APT history.

With late registration open until the start of Day 2, the turnout is expected to surge even higher, giving hopefuls one last chance to jump into this record-shattering Main Event. The TWD 70,000,000 guarantee has been already beaten easily and the prize pool will be finalized later today.

After navigating through three intense days of starting flights and outlasting thousands of entries, 897 survivors will come together for the first time at the venue to battle it out in Day 2.

Sitting atop the leaderboard is Taiwan’s Wu Chun Yu, who bagged a dominating stack of 469,200 chips from Flight A. He is the only one player so far to break the 400,000-chip mark. Second in chips is Hong Kong’s Nicolas Go with 338,900, also from Flight A. Rounding out the podium positions in third is Taiwan’s Sing Wen Chen, who ended the flight with 330,000 in chips.

These top stacks will face stiff competition from the likes of former APT Main Event champion Rene Von Reden (245,900) and Daniel Lee (146,000), both making strong bids for another champion title.

Other notables still in contention include two-time APT titlist Daniel Neilson (136,000), APT Phu Quoc 2024 High Roller champion Jason Lau (129,400), multiple APT titlist Kyosuke Nagami (39,000), Australia's Alexander Lynskey (81,700), multiple APT titlist John Tech (52,100), Japan's Shinya Maeda (46,100), and APT host and double title winner Gregory Liow (33,700).

Cards get underway at 11:15 a.m. local time with blinds resuming at 800/1,600 and a 1,600 big blind ante. The top objective for players today is to play through 60-minute levels and thin down the field until reaching the money bubble.