APT Main Event (55,000 TWD)

The air crackled with anticipation at the APT Taipei 2025 series as the penultimate day of the record-breaking APT Main Event unfolded. From a field of 48 battle-hardened players, only nine emerged from seven hours of heart-pounding poker, each now tantalizingly close to etching their name into poker history.

The stage is set for the final table of the largest and richest Main Event in the APT’s 19-year legacy, with a staggering TWD 121,033,440 (~$3.7 million) prize pool up for grabs.

Leading the charge into the final day is Hong Kong’s Wayne Lam, who commands a towering stack of 17,925,000. A relative unknown with just $37,000 in career cashes and no prior APT cash, Lam has defied the odds, already doubling his lifetime earnings. Now, he stands on the brink of poker immortality, with the life-changing TWD 19,009,440 (~$586,710) top prize within reach. The weight of the moment hangs heavy, but Lam’s steely focus and fearless play have made him the man to beat.

Hot on the heels of Lam is Japan’s Rintaro Kagawa with 17,825,000, less than a small blind behind. Kagawa, no stranger to APT final tables, faces his biggest challenge yet, with a stage far grander than any he’s seen before. Rounding out the top three is Malaysia’s Owen Chong with 15,375,000. Chong closed today with momentum, eliminating Daehyung Lee in twelfth place and winning a crucial blind-on-blind battle against Nishant Kumar.

Representing Thailand is APT regular Kiwanont Sukhum, who enters the final table in eighth place. A master of short-stack play, Sukhum spent much of today near the bottom but navigated his way to the final nine. Sukham won three APT titles in six months, and has nearly $250,000 in career earnings, so he has the experience and resilience to make him a formidable contender.

Anchoring the chip counts is Vietnam’s Dang Thi Hue, with around 16 big blinds. Hue, a former APT Phu Quoc Main Event champion with a career-best $53,346 score, knows what it takes to conquer a high-pressure final table. Her opponents would be foolish to underestimate he, as she’s proven she can go all the way.

Day 4 Action

The APT Taipei Main Event saw 48 players return to the felt on Day 4, each vying for a spot at the biggest final table in APT history. The action was relentless from the first shuffle, with eliminations coming fast and fortunes shifting dramatically.

It took just a few hands for the first casualty of the day. Guolun Huang ran his pocket jacks into Yu Cheng Hsu’s pocket kings, sending Huang to the rail in 48th place. Huang was soon joined at the payout desk by John Panish (46th), Robert Nemeskeri-Kiss (42nd), Peter Kiem (41st), Sho Katsura (39th), and Tomoya Kuratani (35th).

Hong Kong’s Nicholas Go, fresh off a runner-up finish in the APT Superstar Challenge, entered today with an above-average stack and brought his signature charisma to the tables. However, his Main Event dream ended in 32nd place at the hands of Wobeng Lee. Go held the dominating hand preflop, but a brutal runout spelled the end of his remarkable run.

One of the standout stories of the day was Natural8 ambassador Kitty Kuo, who began Day 4 as the chip leader. Kuo’s day took a turn early in the second level when she doubled up Sukhum. The Thai pro’s top pair and flush draw held against Kuo’s pocket kings, marking the start of a downward spiral.

Kuo then lost a chunk of her stack to Marcus Law’s pocket aces and dropped more chips in a race against Kumar’s ace-king with her pocket sixes. The most devastating blow came against fellow Main Event winner Hue, who was all-in with ace-queen of clubs against Kuo’s pocket aces. A backdoor flush saved Hue, leaving Kuo reeling in the middle of the pack.

This Kitty didn't have nine lives though, as Kuo's hopes of winning a second Main Event were extinguished when her ace-six finished second best to Kagawa’s jack-five. Two jacks on the flop sealed her fate, and Kuo was sent to the cashier’s desk to collect her 21st place payout.

When the day progressed, the field thinned rapidly. After the dinner break, only 14 players remained. Powel Fang’s pocket kings were no match for Kumar's flopped nut flush, leaving Fang with a tenth of a big blind, a point of which he couldn’t recover. Law (13th), Lee (12th), and APT Taipei Poker Classic 2024 Main Event runner-up Abraham Ceesvin (11th) followed in quick succession, setting up the final table bubble.

The final hand of the day arrived when Anusorn Asiralertsiri of Japan became the last player eliminated on Day 4. Asiralertsiri’s pocket fours were in a race against Lam’s ace-queen, and while the flop favored the Sailboats, a queen on the turn ended his run in 10th place. With that, the final table of the largest APT Main Event in history was set, promising an electrifying final day as the remaining players battle for the coveted title and life-changing prize.

Play resumes at 11:15 AM on Saturday, May 3, where the final nine players will battle until one is crowned APT Main Event champion. There’s forty-nine minutes remaining in Level 34, and with the average stack at 38 big blinds, every decision will be magnified as the blinds continue to rise.

*includes APTC Main Event seat valued at TWD 350,000

The final table will be streamed with a 30-minute delay, ensuring fans can follow the action without spoilers. Live updates will remain in sync with the broadcast to provide a seamless experience.

With the final table of the largest APT Main Event in history set, the final day promises an electrifying battle for the coveted title and life-changing prize, here inside the Red Space venue in Taipei, Taiwan.

Play has stopped following the 10th place elimination of Asunorn Asiralertsiri. The final table has been formed and will return tomorrow to compete until the Main Event Champion is crowned.

Day 4 recap will be up shortly.

Anusorn Asiralertsiri went all-in on the button for his last 2,500,000 and big blind Wayne Lam snap-called from the big blind.

Anusorn Asiralertsiri: 4♥ 4♠

Wayne Lam: A♦ Q♦

The flop came 8♠ 3♥ 8♣ and the Thai supporters of Asiralertsiri were cheering him on. However, the poker gods threw a Q♠ on the turn to make them sigh. The despair was completed when the 2♦ hit the river, eliminating Asiralertsiri in 10th place.

With this elimination, play has stopped as the target of the final table of 9 was reached.

On the final table bubble, Owen Chong called from the small blind and Nishant Kumar checked out of the big blind.

The flop came down 8♠ T♠ 4♥ and Chong fired out a bet of 300,000. Kumar made the call.

The 9♣ fell on the turn and Chong continued to bet, this time for 800,000. Kumar raised to 2,000,000, which Chong called.

The river was the J♥ and both players checked. Chong tabled T♦ 9♦ for two pair and Kumar could only muck.

Abraham Ceesvin open-shoved from the small blind for 2,400,000 and Akira Takasugi defended in the big blind to put his opponent at risk.

Abraham Ceesvin: J♠ 2♠

Akira Takasugi: J♥ J♦

Takasugi dominated and held the lead throughout the board of 3♥ Q♦ 7♠ 8♥ 3♣ , busting Ceesvin in eleventh place for a payday of TWD 1,252,500 (~USD 38,660).

Owen Chong made it 500,000 under the gun before Nishant Kumar three-bet to 1,300,000 from the next seat. When it folded to Daehyung Lee in the big blind, he four-bet shoved for 1,700,000. Chong five-bet to 3,800,000, forcing Kumar to fold and the cards were flipped over.

Daehyung Lee: 2♠ 2♦

Owen Chong: K♠ K♥

Lee was in a lot of trouble and needed to find a deuce to keep his Main Event dream alive.

The dealer fanned out a flop of Q♥ 9♥ 6♥ , keeping Chong's Cowboys ahead.

The 5♥ on the turn gave Chong a flush draw, and left Lee with just one-out.

It wasn't meant to be for Lee as the 3♠ appeared on the river, and he was out in twelfth place for TWD 1,114,000 (~$34,380).

Marcus Law raised on the button for 2,600,000 - leaving 300,000 behind. Big blind Rintaro Kagawa mistook it for an all-in and threw in a chip to call.

Nevertheless, he matched the 2,600,000 and a flop of Q♥ 2♥ 4♣ was opened.

Kagawa then put in a stack of chips to cover Law. Law threw in a whole bunch of time banks and looked at the other table which also had an all-in situation.

Law waited until the hand on the other table was completed and if the other player would bust-out. Why? Simple answer - Pay jump.

When news of Powen Fang busting out was done, Law pushed in his chips.

Marcus Law: 8♠ 8♦

Rintaro Kagawa: A♥ J♥

Law was ahead but had to avoid the 15 outs of Kagawa.

The 2♠ on the turn kept Law ahead and hopeful, but the 4♥ river ended his run in 13th place.

Kiwanont Sukhum made it 500,000 to go from under the gun and Wayne Lam three-bet to 1,250,000 from the hijack. Sukhum then shoved all in for around 12,000,000. Lam also went all in for 6,450,000 after tanking for some time.

Kiwanont Sukhum: A♣ Q♠

Wayne Lam: A♥ K♥

Lam was ahead with a higher kicker. A flop came 5♠ 5♣ 7♦ , offering no help to Sukhum.

The dealer dealt the runout of K♠ 3♠ , improving Lam to a pair of kings and delivering him a humongous double-up.

With Powen Fang forced all-in from the big blind, Nishant Kumar made it 500,000 from the hijack and everyone else folded. The cards were turned over and Fang was at risk.

Powen Fang: A♣ 7♦

Nishant Kumar: K♠ T♦

This time Fang got it in good, but the K♣ 2♦ 9♠ flop put Kumar in the lead with top pair.

The rest of the board ran out J♦ T♣ , and Fang was out in fourteenth place for TWD 994,000 (~$30,680).

Wayne Lam opened the button to 500,000 and Akira Takasugi defended from the big blind.

The two checked through a flop of 8♣ 7♣ J♠ to see the 4♠ turn, where Takasugi checked to Lam, who then fired out 1,000,000. Takasugi came along for the ride.

When the T♦ fell on the river, it went check-check.

Takasugi tabled J♥ 9♣ for a rivered straight to rake in the pot as Lam tossed his cards into the muck.

Powen Fang called for his last 25,000 under the gun. Leong Iat Man shoved from the small blind with just Dang Thi Hue to get through in the big blind. Hue looked at her cards and then called for her last 2,000,000.

Powen Fang: 4♣ 2♣

Dang Thi Hue: A♦ 7♣

Leong Iat Man: K♦ 5♣

If Man won this pot the Main Event would be down to twelve players.

The board came down 4♦ 9♦ 2♥ T♣ 7♥ , which meant Fang stayed alive with two pair, and Hue doubled up with a pair of sevens.

Akira Takasugi opened the hijack to 500,000 and Anusorn Asiralertsiri shoved all in from the cutoff for 1,825,000. Takasugi called to put the Thai player at risk.

Akira Takasugi: 5♠ 5♥

Anusorn Asiralertsiri: 9♥ 9♣

The board rolled off 7♣ 6♣ 6♠ T♥ 8♥ , shipping Asiralertsiri a double-up.

Powen Fang came in with a raise to 500,000 from early position. Nishant Kumar called on the button, and Shinichiro Kano defended his big blind.

The flop came down a monotone 2♣ J♣ 3♣ and Kano checked. Fang bet 500,000, which only Kumar called.

Fang slowed down and checked the 9♥ turn, prompting Kumar to checke behind. The 4♠ hit the river and Fang bet 2,000,000.

Kumar burned through a time bank before he raised to 5,000,000. If Fang was to call and lose, he would be left just 25,000. After a few moments, Fang called, and Kumar turned over A♣ 6♣ for the nut flush to take down a huge pot.

Powen Fang made it 500,000 from the cutoff and Nishant Kumar called from the big blind.

When it checked to Fang on the K♥ K♠ 2♦ flop he put out a continuation-bet of 500,000. Kumar didn't take long to check-raise to 1,100,000.

Fang tossed in his time banks and thought for a while before he three-bet jammed for 3,500,000. Kumar thought it over briefly and then let go of his cards. Fang pulled in a much-needed pot.

Owen Chong opened to 500,000 from under the gun with Leong Iat Man calling from the hijack, and Daehyung Lee defending his big blind.

The dealer spread out a flop of 4♥ A♣ T♥ causing Lee and Chong to check. Man bet 300,000, which got a fold from Lee, but a check-raise from Chong to 1,300,000. Man made the call.

The 8♥ hit the turn and Chong checked. Man bet 700,000 and Chong called.

The 3♠ landed on the river. Two checks followed, and Chong took down the pot with A♦ T♣ for two pair.

Ryan Kim raised to 1,300,000 from the hijack with just 150,000 behind. Leong Iat Man three-bet to 3,000,000 from the button, and after the blinds folded, Kim tossed in his last 150,000.

Ryan Kim: K♥ J♦

Leong Iat Man: A♦ T♥

Kim was one of the shortest stacks left in the event and needed something from the dealer to stay alive.

However, the board came Q♠ 9♠ A♣ 6♥ 2♣ to give Man the winning hand with top pair. Kim goes out in fifteenth for TWD 994,000 (~$30,680).

Nishant Kumar made it 500,000 from the hijack and Dang Thi Hue defended her big blind.

When the flop came down 6♥ 7♥ 2♦ Hue started out with a check and Kumar bet out for 575,000. Hue folded and Kumar dragged in the pot.

Kiwanont Sukhum opened the hijack to 2,600,000 with 275,000 chips behind, and Abraham Ceesvin shoved all in for around 4,800,000 on the button. Sukhum then called off his last few chips, putting himself at risk.

Abraham Ceesvin: K♦ Q♦

Kiwanont Sukhum: 4♦ 4♥

Sukhum held the lead on the board of 8♥ 6♦ 7♥ 9♣ 3♥ , locking up a crucial double-up.

The remaining 15 players are off to get some grub and will be back in an hour.

Meanwhile here are some top chip counts:

Shinichiro Kano made it 400,0000 on the button and Powen Fang defended from the big blind.

The flop came down Q♣ 2♠ 7♥ and Fang check-called a bet of 300,000 from Kano.

The 8♠ turn checked through to see the 7♠ hit the river. Fang led out for 600,000 and was met by a raise to 2,000,000 from Kano. Fang quickly called and Kano turned over J♠ 3♠ for a backdoor flush. Fang could only muck his cards.

Kaihung Hu made it 1,375,000 to go from early position with 25,000 chips behind, and Abraham Ceesvin called in the hijack.

On the flop of 3♣ 6♣ 9♠ , Hu checked to Ceesvin, who fired out 200,000. Hu took out all his time bank cards and waited for around 3 minutes before he tossed his last green chip in the pot.

Kaihung Hu: A♠ Q♣

Abraham Ceesvin: 7♥ 7♣

Ceesvin had the lead with pocket sevens but still needed to fade an ace or queen to bust his opponent.

The dealer revealed a runout of K♠ 5♠ , bringing no help to Hu and sending him out of the field for a payday of TWD 874,500 (~USD 26,990).

Akira Takasugi opened from under the gun to 400,000 and only big blind Marcus Law defended to play.

The flop arrived: 5♠ 2♠ 8♠ and Law check-called Takasugi's bet of 300,000 to open a 3♠ turn.

Check-check and a 5♥ was dealt on the river. Law tapped over to Takasugi who put in 1,000,000. Law folded.

In the next hand, Abraham Ceesvin opened on the button for 450,000. Takasugi defended his big blind. Flop came J♦ 7♦ 4♠

Both checked to see a 8♣ turn. This time, Takasugi led out for 800,000. Ceesvin folded.

Marcus Law limped in from the small blind and Akira Takasugi checked over in the big blind.

The two checked through a flop of 9♣ 5♣ J♠ to see the 7♣ fall on the turn, where it went check-check again.

The 8♥ hit on the river, and Law check-folded after a bet of 500,000 from Takasugi.

Just 16 players remain in the record-breaking Main Event.

Future posts will now be delayed by 30 minutes to be synchronized with the live stream.

Shinichiro Kano made it 400,000 to go from the cutoff and Hazel Chui defended from the big blind.

Chiu knuckled the table on the 3♥ T♥ 9♣ flop, and Kano bet 350,000. Chui quickly check-shoved for 1,700,000, and Kano instantly called.

Hazel Chui: Q♣ T♣

Shinichiro Kano: K♥ J♦

Chu was ahead with top pair and had to avoid paint cards on the turn and river to survive.

The 2♦ hit the turn, but the J♥ fell on the river to give Kano the winner with a pair of jacks, sending Chui to the rail.

We didn't catch the action, but we'd like to acknowledge the deep run of Mean Ratanatabtim which ended in 18th place.

GG!

Owen Chong limped in from the small blind and Dang Thi Hue checked over in the big blind.

On the flop of T♠ 7♠ 6♥ , Chong chekced and Hue fired out 200,000. Chong tagged along.

When the 5♣ landed on the turn, it went check-check.

Chong fired out 400,000 on the 7♣ river, and it was enough to force Hue muck her hand.

We didn't catch the live action, but we did see Lat Man Leong with an all-in arrow beside his A♥ K♠ and the chips being shipped his way from Andrew Ong.

We asked Ong what he had and he said "Queens"

While the dealer was quickly wrapping the board, we did see an Ace on the turn, which gave Leong the win.

Shinichiro Kano open-shoved all in fro 2,825,000 from under the gun and Yuen Shan Chui also pushed all her chips for 4,375,000 in the pot.

Shinichiro Kano: A♦ T♦

Hazel Chui: J♠ J♦

held the chance to collect one elimination on the flop of K♠ 5♦ 4♦ . Her pocket jacks was even improved to a set on the J♥ turn, where Kano received a gutshot.

Unfortunately for Chui, the river came for Kano as it revealed a Q♦ , completing the Japanese player's straight to rake in a double-up.

Kitty Kuo shoved her last 3,000,000+ in the middle and monster-stacked big blind Rintaro Kagawa made the call.

Kitty Kuo: A♣ 6♥

Rintaro Kagawa: J♦ 5♦

Flop opened J♥ J♣ 9♣ giving Kagawa trips. The 8♠ had Kup drawing dead on the turn. The river 3♠ was a formality to seal her fate and end her chance to repeat as a Main Event champion.

Yu Xin Liu opened the button to 320,000 and Rintaro Kagawa three-bet to 1,000,000 from the big blind. Liu then shoved all in for around 3,950,000, which Kagawa called immediately.

Yu Xin Liu: A♦ K♠

Rintaro Kagawa: K♥ K♣

Liu had some hope to stay alive, however the board rolled off 7♣ 5♣ J♦ 3♣ Q♥ , offering him no help against Kagawa's pocket kings and sending him to the payout desk.

For sure there was an open, a three-bet... maybe even a four-bet.

We caught the action with cut-off Lat Man Leong with a bet 875,000 in front of him and big blind Abraham Ceesvin with the all-in arrow sit alongside his 2,390,000 stack.

Leong tanked and used a bit of time bank cards and wondered who discovered that pixie dust could make you fly before folding his hand.

Ceesvin let out a resounding "YES!" as he took down the pot.

Marcus Law opened the button to 320,000 and received two callers from the blinds, Shinichiro Kano and Owen Chong.

The blinds checked over the flop of 3♥ 9♣ A♦ , and Law continued for 250,000. Only Chong made the call.

Chong checked the K♥ turn to Law, who fired another barrel of 900,000. Chong tagged along.

When the board-pairing K♣ hit on the river, it went check-check.

Chong revealed 3♣ 3♠ for a flopped set of threes, leaving Law no choice but to muck his cards.

Wayne Lam raised to 320,000 from under the gun and Mean Ratanatabtim shoved all in from the small blind for around 800,000. Lam dropped in the call to put the Thai player at risk.

Wayne Lam: K♥ T♠

Mean Ratanatabtim: A♦ 9♠

Ratanatabtim maintained the lead on the flop of 3♠ 8♣ A♥ , improving him to top pair.

The turn showed a T♣ , offering some help to Lam, but it wasn't enough facing off Ratanatabtim's pair.

The river bricked off a 2♦ , locking up a double-up for Ratanatabtim.

Benson Xu raised to 1,700,000 from early position with just 25,000 behind. It folded all the way around to Powen Fang in the big blind, who looked at his cards, then shoved with the covering stack. Xu called and the cards were tabled.

Benson Xu: K♦ Q♠

Powen Fang: 2♠ 2♥

Xu was in a race against the deuces of Fang. If Fang won this pot he would be the first player to move up to over 10,000,000 chips.

There was no paint for Xu on the 8♠ 7♣ 5♥ 6♥ A♦ runout, meaning he was knocked out, and all of his chips were sent over to Fang.

We didn't catch all the action, but we did see A♠ A♣ in front of Hazel Chui and a board that showed 8♣ 3♥ T♦ J♥ J♠ along with an all-in button.

More importantly, a ton of chips were being shipped her way for a huge double-up.

Upon further research, we found out that she earned those chips from Yu Xin Liu.

Rintaro Kagawa made it 325,000 to go from middle position and Dang Thi Hue three-bet to 900,000 in the small blind. Kagawa made the call.

Hue made a bet of 600,000 on the flop of T♣ 2♦ 8♦ and Kagawa tagged along.

The K♣ came on the turn, and it went check-check.

Hue checked over the 5♦ river, where Kagawa sent a chunky bet of 1,000,000, sending his opponent into the tank.

After around 2 minutes, Hue finally released her cards.

The action folded to Kiwanont Sukhum on the button who went almost all-in for 1,200,000, leaving a 25,000 chip behind to protect his cards.

Big blind Abraham Ceesvin shoved all-in, covering Sukhum.

Sukhum threw in some time banks and looked around the room to see if anyone else was all-in. It was, after all, a significant pay jump from 24th to 23rd.

With no one going all-in, Sukhum threw in his last 25,000.

Kiwanont Sukhum: A♦ 4♠

Abraham Ceesvin: A♣ 8♥

While Ceesvin was ahead, the board completed T♥ T♠ 9♠ 7♥ A♥ to split the pot between the two.

In the next hand, Nopparut Piyatassakorn opened to 320,000 and Sukhum once again went almost all-in for 1,300,000, leaving 45,000 behind. Piyatassakorn declared all-in and Sukhum put in the remaining chips.

Kiwanont Sukhum T♠ T♣

Nopparut Piyatassakorn: A♥ J♦

The board completed 8♠ 8♥ Q♠ K♣ 6♦ to give Sukhum the double-up breakthrough on the second try, leaving Piyatassakorn with crumbs.

In the next hand, Piyatassakorn raised an almost all-in to 460,000, leaving 40,000 behing, but found no callers and he scooped the blinds.

And just when this writer blinked to write a report - Piyatassakorn busted out in 24th place.

The players are on another 15-minute break. 24 players remain and the seats have been redrawn, making things interesting with the reshuffle of faces andpositions to go against another.

In the last hand for Level 30, Dawid Smolka couldn't escape the fate of eliminaiton eventually.

Dawid Smolka moved all in from under the gun for 65,000 and was called by the blinds, Akira Takasugi and Yu Xin Liu.

Both players checked through the board of 9♦ A♣ K♥ 7♥ 9♦ to a free showdown.

Takasugi revealed 7♦ 8♠ for a pair of sevens against Smolka's T♦ 6♥ and Liu's J♦ 5♦ , sending Smolka out of the field.

Dawid Smolka opened the hijack to 250,000 and was jammed on by Marcus Law for 3,345,000. Smolka made the call to put Law at risk.

Marcus Law: A♦ Q♠

Dawid Smolka: J♠ J♣

Smolka picke up the lead with pocket jacks; however, the dealer delivered bad new as a flop came T♥ Q♥ 4♥ , improving Law to superior pair of queens.

The Q♣ turn even bloomed Law's pari to trips.

The river showed a 7♣ , leaving Smolka a short stack of 65,000.

Dang Thi Hue had all her 3,280,000 chips in the middle against the commanding stack of Kitty Kuo.

Dang Thi Hue: A♣ Q♣

Kitty Kuo: A♠ A♦

The flop came 5♦ Q♥ K♣ for Hue to pair the board and have a chance.

The T♣ turn made things interesting and gathered some "oohs."

The 4♣ on the river had Hue fist-pumping with a resounding "YES!" with the flush booking the win and cracking the aces.

Kitty Kuo, who has been in the thick of it, opened the button to 250,000 and was defended by Kiwanont Kukhum in the big blind.

Kukhum checked on the flop of K♣ 4♠ T♥ , and Kuo continued for 300,000. Kukhum made the call.

The Q♥ landed on the turn, and it went check-check.

When the 9♥ fell on the river, Kukhum checked to Kuo, who fired 500,000. Kukhum made the call.

Kuo revealed a straight with J♣ 8♣ , forcing Kukhum to muck his cards.

A flop revealed 4♠ J♣ 9♠ with around 650,000 chips in the pot when Nishant Kumar checked from the big blind and Daehyung Lee also knuckled it back in the cutoff.

Kumar fired out 215,000 on the board-pairing 9♣ turn and Lee made the call.

When an 8♣ hit on the river, instead of a check, Kumar tossed his cards directly into the muck and Lee took the pot.

Nishant Kumar raised to 875,000 from under the gun. Kitty Kuo thought it was a shove, and revealed her pocket sixes after the call.

After the dealer checked with the floor, action continued on the flop of 7♥ 8♣ A♥ , where Kuo check-called swiftly a shove around 980,000 from Kumar.

Kitty Kuo: 6♣ 6♠

Nishant Kumar: A♦ K♣

Kumar picked up the lead with a flopped top pair. A clean runout rolled off 2♣ 7♠ , delivering the sizable pot to Kumar

Kitty Kuo vs Daehyung Lee again.

There was a pot of 700,000 in the middle with a board that showed 2♥ 5♣ 3♦

Small blind Daehyung Lee checked his option and Kitty Kuo put out 400,000 past the betting line.

Lee then raised to 1,200,000. Kuo thought about it a bit and then moved all-in, covering the stack of Lee.

Lee threw his time banks in the middle for the dealer to pick freely, but he only ended up using one before mucking his hand and tapping the table to Kuo in recognition of "good play."

This round belonged to Kuo.

Marcus Law opened the cutoff to 240,000 and Dang Thi Hue defended from the big blind.

Both players checked through the flop of 6♠ 2♥ 3♣ .

Hue changed her pace on the 5♠ turn and fired out 200,000, which got the job done and collected the pot.

Daehyung Lee limped in from under the gun and Kaihung Hu checked over in the big blind.

A flop ran out Q♠ 6♦ 4♥ and Hu check-called after a bet of 150,000 from Lee.

When an A♣ hit on the turn, Hu checked to Lee, who fired out 350,000. This was enough to force Hu to release his cards.

Andrew Ong opened from under the gun to 250,000. Small blind Chun Lau raised to 1,400,000, leaving another 405,000 behind.

Ong tanked and eventually shoved all-in for 1,845,000 - slightly covering Lau. Lau made the call.

Chun Lau: J♠ J♦

Andrew Ong: T♦ T♣

Ong was disappointed that he was dominated. However...

The board opened 3♦ 2♠ T♠ and gave Ong a set. The runout of 5♥ A♥ sealed the deal and sent Lau out of the Main Event while giving One some much needed chips.

In the post-hand analysis of Ong, he mentioned, "I thought it was a smaller pair because it's such a huge raise."

But, of course, Ong was happy enough that the poker gods favored him on this hand despite his wrong read.

Alberto Morales risked his last 1,500,000 chips all-in against Ka Chuen Yip, who barely covered him by just a few thousand.

Alberto Morales: J♦ J♠

Ka Chuen Yip: A♠ A♣

The board ran out 9♣ T♠ 4♥ Q♥ 7♥ to eliminate Morales while giving the short-stacked Yip some breathing room.

Wayne Lam opened to 200,000 from the button, and Nicholas Go shoved his remaining 375,000 from the small blind. The big blind folded, and Lam made the call putting Go at risk.

Nicholas Go: Q♦ J♣

Wayne Lam: Q♥ T♣

Go leaped from his chair, shouting in his native tongue, as he faced the possibility of exiting the tournament.

Go had a commanding lead, with Lam dominated and needing help. But the poker gods had other plans as the flop came down A♠ Q♠ T♠ , giving Lam two pair and putting him in the lead.

The 6♠ on the turn gave Go a chance to chop the pot with a flush, prompting him to lean over the table, pointing at the space where the river card was to come, demanding a spade or a king from the dealer. However, the dealer didn't comply as they put the 7♣ on the river to seal Go's fate, eliminating in 32nd place.

Go wished his tablemates good luck as he exited the tournament area, marking the end of his Main Event run. Lam moved up to over 7,000,000 chips, and is one of the current chip leaders.

There was a pot of 1,000,000 in the middle with a board that showed T♦ 7♠ K♥ 9♠

Big blind Kitty Kuo checked her option and button Daehyung Lee bet out 460,000. Kuo called to open a 7♥ river.

Kuo checked and Lee pushed 1,300,000 in the middle. Kuo thought about it, but eventually folded.

Ryan Kim opened to 200,000 and Yu XIn Liu defended the big blind.

The flop arrived 5♥ 8♦ A♠ Liu check-called the 250,000 bet of Kim to open a A♥ on the turn.

Once again, Liu check-called - but this time for 450,000.

The Q♣ was peeled on the river and Liu checked again. Kim fired another barrel to 800,000. Liu folded.

Yu Hsien Lin shoved all in from the small blind for 585,000 and Marcus Law defended in the big blind to put his opponent at risk.

Marcus Law: K♥ 9♦

Yu Hsien Lin: A♥ 6♦

Lin held the lead on the flop of 2♠ 4♠ 2♣ , but still needed to fade many out to stay alive.

Howerver, the dealer quickly delivered the bad new to him as the turn came 9♣ , improving Law to a pair of nines and leaving Lin drawing thin.

The river bricked off 8♦ , busting Lin out of the field.

Dang Thi Hue made it 200,000 to go from the hijack and Kitty Kuo called in the cutoff.

A flop revealed 9♠ 9♦ T♠ and it went check-check.

When the Q♠ hit on the turn, Hue fired out 150,000, which was enought to get the job done as Kuo mucked her hand.

There was around 1,200,000 chips in the pot with a board that showed K♦ Q♠ 4♥ 5♠ 3♠

Big blind Kitty Kuo led out for 650,000 and Daehyung Lee made the call on the button.

Kuo flipped over K♥ 3♦ for two pair and Lee mucked while congratulation Kuo, "Nice hand.".

Kitty Kuo made it 300,000 to go from under the gun and Marcus Law shoved all in for around 1,935,000. Kuo dropped in the call to put her opponent at risk.

Kitty Kuo: K♠ 9♥

Marcus Law: A♥ A♠

Law dominated the lead on the flop of 9♠ 7♥ 2♠ even though Kuo paired a nine with the board.

A runout rolled off 4♥ A♣ , improving Law to a set and locking up a double-up to him.

There was 1,600,000 chips in the middle with a board that sowed K♦ 3♣ 5♦ 3♠

Small blind Owen Chong led out for 475,000 and UTG Yu Xin Liu made the call to show a T♦ river.

Chong applied the pressure and shoved all-in for 1,800,000 and Liu did not continue.

Kitty Kuo made it 200,000 to go from under the gun and Daehyung Lee three-bet to 350,000 in the small blind. Dang Thi Hue then cranked it up to 1,175,000 with 5,000 behind. Only Lee made the call.

On the flop of 9♠ T♠ 5♥ , Lee sent a small bet of 5,000 and Hue called off her last blue chip.

Dang Thi Hue: A♠ J♠

Daehyung Lee: T♦ 7♠

Lee picked up the lead with a flopped pair of tens. The 2♦ hit on the turn, and Hue was still looking for an ace or jack to stay alive.

The board decided it was not time yet for the Vietnamese namees player to leave as the river brought the help to her with a J♣ , keeping her tournament dreams alive.

Pongsapak Himathongkom open-shoved from the cutoff for 1,520,000 and Alberto Morales also moved all in for around 1,950,000 in the big blind.

Pongsapak Himathongkom: A♠ J♥

Alberto Morales: A♠ J♣

The board came clean T♦ 3♦ 7♣ 9♦ K♣ , making it a chop pot.

With 32 survivors stading in the field, the first 15-minute break time comes.

Nicholas Go opened the button to 160,000 and Abrahama Ceesvin three-bet to 320,000 from the small blind. Go made the call.

On a flop of T♠ 5♣ Q♠ , Ceesvin fired out 120,000 and Go tagged along.

When the 6♥ hit on the turn, Ceesvin sent another chunky barrel of 1,700,000, sending his opponent into the tank. After around 3 minutes, Go eventually opted to fold.

Ceesvin friendly showed A♥ K♥ , showing his bluff.

Looks like three-way all-ins are trending.

We jumped in on the action with another set of three cards on the table.

Pan Ming Lee: 5♥ 4♥

Sho Katsura: A♦ K♥

Shinichiro Kano: Q♣ 8♠

The board ran Q♦ 6♠ J♠ 9♦ 5♣ to give Kano the triple-up while eliminating Katsura and damaging Lee.

Akira Takasugi raied to 160,000 from the cutoff and Dawid Smolka shoved all in from the small blind for 1,408,000. Donghyun Lim also moved all in from the big blind for around 4,000,000. Takasugi called for his remaining chips.

Dawid Smolka: A♥ 9♣

Donghyun Lim: Q♠ Q♣

Akira Takasugi: K♦ K♣

Takasugi looked poised to scoop in a humongous pot with pocket kings on the flop of 5♣ 7♦ 4♦ .

However, the dealer sent an A♣ on the turn, improving Smolka to superior pair of aces.

The river bricked out a 6♥ , locking up a monstrous pot for Skolka and leaving Lim crippled with less than one million chips.

When we got to the table, the floor director was counting the chips to ship Lat Man Leong's way.

In front of Leong was the winning hand of K♦ K♠ with a board that showed Q♠ 2♣ T♦ 5♠ 6♥

According to Leong, Shiang Mu Huang had 9 8 off-suit.

The floor counted 3,495,000.

A board ran out 5♣ 6♣ 8♣ 7♥ with around 540,000 chips in the pot when Fore Morales checked over form the big blind. Ka Chuen Yip also knuckled it back in the hijack.

Morales fired out 450,000 on the 4♦ river, sending Yip into the tank. After long deliberation, Yip elected to release his cards.

Powen Fang opened to 120,000 and Robert Nesmeri-Kiss three-bet to 350,000. Small blind Peter Kiem went all-in for 1,530,000.

Everyone else folded.

While folding, Nesmeri-Kiss showed pocket sevens. Kiem was kind enough to return the favor and showed Kings.

Peter Kiem's power move pushed his stack to 2,150,000.

The start of day chip leader Kitty Kuo made it 65,000 from the button and Kiwanont Sukhum defended from the big blind with roughly ten big blinds behind.

When the flop came down 9♦ 2♣ 8♣ , Sukhum started out with a check and Kuo put out a continuation-bet of 225,000. Sukhum thought it over for a while and then check-jammed for 625,000. Kuo snap-called.

Kiwanont Sukhum: T♣ 9♣

Kitty Kuo: K♥ K♣

Sukhum flopped the world with top pair and a flush draw against two kings of Kuo. Sukhum took the lead on the 7♣ turn improving to a flush. Kuo, did have a redraw to a higher flush though.

The river was the Q♥ , which was safe for Sukhum, and he doubled through the Natural8 ambassador and only remaining APT Main Event champion left in the field.

There was a pot of 600,000 in the middle with a completed board of 6♥ 4♦ 2♣ 9♥ A♥

Big blind Shinya Matsuda checked his option to under the gun Donghyun Lim who bet 150,000. Matsuda made the call.

Lim showed A♦ J♠ and took down the pot, leaving Matsuda with 6BBs.

We didn't catch the hand, but Matsuda busted of the Main Event before the big blind got back to him.

Shiang Mu Huang opened to 120,000 and Rishi Mehra defended the big blind.

The flop arrived 9♦ 4♣ J♦ and Mehra shvoed his last 470,000 all-in. Huang snap-called even before the dealer could put the all-in button.

Shiang Mu Huang: 9♠ 9♥

Rishi Mehra: 7♦ 4♦

Board completed 4♠ 9♣ to keep it interesting.

At least, the story can be told that it was quads over full house.

A flop revealed 6♥ 5♠ 2♠ with around 350,000 chips in the pot.

Wayne Lam fired out 110,000 in the big blind and Owen Chong cranked it up to 410,000 from the cutoff, sending Lam into the tank. After long time, Lam opted to call.

Lam checked over the 5♥ turn to Chong who sent another hefty bet of 680,000, leaving Lam in a tough situation.

Lam eventually released his cards after long deliberation.

Donghyun Lim opened the cutoff to 120,000 and Nishant Kumar three-bet to 300,000. Lim made the call.

On the flop of J♠ A♠ 8♦ Lim check-called after a bet of 225,000 from Kumar.

When the 2♦ hit on the turn, Lim check-called again to a bet of 530,000 from Kumar.

After a Q♥ landed on the turn, it went check-check.

Lim revealed A♦ 9♦ for a flopped pair of aces to catch Kumar's bluff, who mucked the hand eventually.

Nicholas Go and Hazel Chui had all their chips in the middle with Chui at risk for her tournament life.

Hazel Chui: A♣ Q♥

Nicholas Go: A♠ 9♦

Board ran 3♠ T♣ 6♦ 3♣ 7♠ to give Chiu a much-needed double.

There was 600,000 in the pot beside a board that showed 5♠ 2♠ 5♥ 6♠

Nishant Kumar led with a 160,000 bet before Ka Chuen Yip shoved all-in for around 560,000. Kumar let it go.

A flop ran out T♦ 3♦ K♥ with around 250,000 chips in the pot when Shinya Matsuda checked over in the big blind and Donghyun Lim fired out 90,000 from middle position. Matsuda made the call.

The 4♥ hit on the turn, where Matsuda checked to Lim again, who then sent another bet of 350,000. Matsuda tagged along.

After the river showed 7♥ , Matsuda kept his strategy and checked. Lim delivered his third barrel of 250,000, which successfully forced the Japanese player to fold.

Owen Chong opened the button to 115,000 and John Panish shoved all in for 325,000 in the big blind, which Chong called to put his opponent at risk.

John Panish: A♠ 6♣

Owen Chong: K♥ K♠

Cong's pocket kings dominated the lead through a clean board of 5♥ 7♠ 2♥ 7♥ 9♠ , ending Panish's tournament dream in Day 4.

Nicholas go opened for 120,000 and Nopparut Piyatassakorn called. Shinchiro Kano re-popped to 420,000. Action came back to Go who jammed all in.

Both Piyatassakorn and Kano folded. Go threw an A♣ K♠ on the table and Kano confessed his folded Ace Queen.

Nicholas Go opened for 120,000 and Hazel Chui shoved all-in for 730,000.

Go took a moment before folding his A♠ J♠ for the table to see.

In the first 4-minute level, Hsu manages one elimiantion already.

Guolun Huang made it 100,000 to go from under the gun and Yu Cheng Hsu three-bet to 260,000. Huang then shoved all in for 1,470,000. Hsu made the call to put himself at risk.

Yu Cheng Hsu: J♥ J♠

Guolun Huang: K♥ K♣

Huang held the lead, but Hsu took it over soon as the flop ran out Q♠ J♦ 7♠ , leaving Huang's Cowboy powerless.

A runout bricked out 8♦ 3♦ , sending Huang to the payday desk early in Day 4.

Cards are in the air for APT Main Event Day 4. All players are on their journey toward the finaly table, guaranteeing a substantial payout of TWD 1,500,000 (~USD 46,300).

Day 4 of the TWD 55,000 Main Event at APT Taipei 2025 gets underway today at the Red Point Center’s Red Space, with just 48 contenders keeping their tournament run alive in the field after a gruelling Day 3 tested both stamina and skill.

With the absolute value TWD 19,009,440 (~USD 586,710), the iconic lion trophy, and a place in the APT history books up for grabs, the remaining players will battle through 60-minute levels — starting with only 4 minutes left in Level 26 — until just nine players remain to form tomorrow’s final table.

Outdistancing the rest as the chip leader is Natural 8 Ambassador — Kitty Kuo of Taiwan, who bagged up a dominating stack of 7,575,000 chips. Kuo catapulted to the top of the chip counts with a late-night surge, highlighted by a pivotal cooler where her bullets cracked Shinya Maeda’s cowboys. She is the only player to have eclipsed the 7,000,000-chip mark heading into Day 4.

Sitting in second place on the leaderboard is Taiwan’s Huang Mu Shiang, who amassed an impressive 5,205,000 in chips. Wayne Lam of Hong Kong rounds out the top three with 5,175,000 chips entering Day 4.

All three players carry over five million in chips and are well-positioned to apply early pressure as the action starts.

Four of the initial chip leaders from the opening flights fell short of Day 4, but the Day 2 pacesetter, Nicholas Go remains in contention with a healthy 2,350,000 in chips. Known for his expressive table presence, Go will be hoping the poker goddess Fortuna continues to smile on his run.

The field still features several experienced pros, among them three-time APT titlist Abraham Ceesvin (1,025,000), two-time APT titlist Robert Kiss (2,100,000), and Peter Kiem (1,095,000) – winner of the 2024 Taipei Poker Classic High Roller Double Stack.

*Plus an APTC Main Event Seat worth TWD 350,000

Action kicks off at 11:15 a.m. local time. Blinds resume at 25,000/50,000 with a 50,000 big blind ante, and survivors will whittle down the field for the final table, guaranteeing a minimum payout of TWD 1,500,000 (~USD 46,300).

Stay tuned there for key hands from Day 4 of the 2025 APT Taipei Main Event.