APT Main Event (55,000 TWD)

Tsz Ping Hai raised to 2,800 from early position, receiving calls from Aleksandr Sergeev in middle position and Chi-Ying Lin in the small blind.

All three players checked the 4♦ 9♦ 6♣ flop.

The 4♠ turn saw both Lin and Hai check, but Sergeev had other plans, betting 5,000 into the pot. Hai quickly folded, while Lin made the call.

The river came A♣ , and Lin checked once more. When Sergeev reached for his chips, Lin swiftly folded, leaving all cards face down.

Alexandr Sergeev raised to 2,400 from early-position and Jerico Padilla three-bet to 5,500 on the hi-jack.

Action folded around to Sergeev who declared all-in. The dealer counted the chips for 74,000. Padilla asked, "Really 74,000?"

Padilla shrugged and folded. He explained to Sergeev in between hands - "that's exactly how much chips I had left"

He Lin Jia raised to 1,000 from the small blind and Sergeev Aleksandr defended in the big blind.

Both players checked through a flop of Q♣ J♠ 9♣ , bringing up flush and straight draw possibilities.

The 3♥ hit on the turn and it went check-check again.

When the river showed a 6♣ , Jia sent a mall bet of 600, and it was enough to get the job done as Aleksandr released his cards.

117 seats have been filled so far in the first flight of the APT Taipei 2025 Main Event with more expected to follow while registration is still open.

It really is becoming an international spectacle with so many countries represented. We have the likes of Sergeev Aleksander from Russia, Tsz Chan from Hong Kong, Eugene Chen frmo Singapore, Nicolas Burgevin from France, Minh Dao from Vietnam, Killian Wolfgang Eisend from Germany, Kaito Hirai frmo Japan, Ran Ilani from Israel, Paul Hong from New Zealand, Ho Lam Ji from Malaysia, Gang Kapil from India, Wai Cheng Keong from Macau, Juhwan Kim from South Korea, Matthew Ledger from the UK, David Van Noy Jr. from the USA, ALbert Nguyen from Canada and of course the local Taiwanese also heavily represented.

We have yet to wait for the Australians and the Philippine contingent to make their presence felt.

But certainly, the Main Event is turning out to be an international affair as can be expected.