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.

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.