Warm Up Mystery Bounty

"I’m honored to be the champion of the first event of the Players Series. For every championship, I have to be so grateful. I know you need a lot of hard work in everything to accomplish this.”, commented Yang following his win.

After a grueling ten hour grind across the Warm Up Mystery Bounty Final Day festivities, Taiwan's own Daniel Yang emerged triumphant over the final rounds and banked the largest payout on the list at NTD 500,000 (~USD 15,375). His latest feat comes as a second career win, his first one being at the same venue just a couple months ago. Yang's road to victory was smooth sailing, having entered the final table with the lead after busting compatriot Yu Chen Huang in 10th place finish.

"Three people left for an hour, the chips went back and forth. In my hand against Won Bae, I checked back the turn. So that's why I got to see the river, and if I stretched the turn he might just jam, and I just wouldn't see the river. When the river came, I hit a straight and busted him out. I think that was the most crucial moment."

While Yang lost a few showdowns, the Taiwanese runner easily recovered by taking it postflop and remaining aggressive. Yang eliminated his final three opponents and closed out the win in quick fashion, earning him another substantial score right in time for the PS Main Event games. In addition to his notable payday, Yang also racked up nine bounty tokens, bringing up his total winnings to NTD 697,000 (~USD 21,435).

Yang only began his tournament career early this year and has already banked over USD 200,000 in total live earnings, with more to be expected as the country continues to be a hotbed for live poker.

Warm Up Mystery Bounty

Date/s: December 13-15, 2024

Buy-in: NTD 12,000 (~USD 380)

Guarantee: NTD 4,000,000 (~USD 123,040)

Entries: 366

Prize pool: NTD 2,667,000 (~USD 82,025)

Bounty pool: NTD 1,333,000 (~USD 41,000)

ITM: 55 places

Final Table Results

Right on the third hand, Daniel Yang finished off Chia Lin across the final duel after he called off Lin's shove preflop for 2,200,000, and ran two pair on board 3♣ 9♠ Q♦ 6♥ K♣ .

With 1,200,000 in the middle spread out on board 5♠ 6♥ T♦ K♦ Q♠ , Won Bae led for 900,000 and called for his remaining 1,500,000 after Daniel Yang pushed all-in.

Yang revealed the nut straight A♠ J♣ and sent Bae's two pair K♠ 6♦ towards the muck.

Daniel Yang opened to 500,000 on the button and was joined by Won Bae on the small blind. On board 4♠ 3♣ 8♥ Q♥ , Yang double barreled - 400,000 and 1,000,000, leaving Bae unable to continue by the second bet.

Chia Lin raised all-in on the button for 2,250,000 and faced chip leader Daniel Yang's ace-high for a race.

At risk, Lin quickly landed the advantage on board K♥ J♥ 4♥ 2♠ 3♠ with top two pair, more than enough to secure the double up and steal the lead.

Won Bae opened on the button yet folded after Daniel Yang fired a three bet on the big blind.

On the next deal, Bae raised 650,000 on the big blind, and folded once more after Yang limp jammed his big stack in.

Daniel Yang defended his big blind against Won Bae's button open and went to battle on flop J♠ 3♦ A♥ . Action was checked through to turn J♦ , where Yang led 450,000. Bae paid the price but decided to lay it down after Yang pulled a final 1,200,000 on river 8♠ .

Daniel Yang opened to 400,000 on the small blind, called behind by Won Bae. On flop A♠ 7♠ 3♠ , Yang continued for 250,000, and called 250,000 more following a raise from his opponent. Both checked turn 5♠ through to river J♦ , where Yang led 700,000. Bae put in the call, and shipped the pot with a straight 6♥ 4♦ as Yang revealed two pair A♦ J♣ .

Kristof Segers defended his big blind against Daniel Yang's utg open and got tangled up on flop 9♦ 9♠ 5♦ . Segers risked his 1,150,000 behind with T♠ 5♠ and was in rough shape after Yang flipped over K♠ K♣ . Turn A♠ and river 8♣ changed nothing, sealing Segers elimination entirely.

Action folded to Kristof Segers on the small blind, who raised all-in. Daniel Yang right behind, risked his 2,145,000 stack and stood to be in great shape for a double up.

Board A♥ Q♠ 6♦ 7♦ 7♥ offered no surprises, shipping Yang the pile of chips with top two pair.

Kristof Segers opened 160,000 on the hijack, called behind by Daniel Yang. Segers check called 125,000 on flop K♦ 2♦ 2♠ , but was left unable to proceed after Yang barreled a heftier 400,000 on turn 8♠ .

A pot of 760,000 brewed between Daniel Yang on the button and Jacob Yin on the big blind, across board 7♣ J♥ K♥ Q♣ 2♦ . Yin led all-in for 850,000 on the river, leaving Yang to use up two time banks. Yang eventually decided to let it go, shipping Yin the boost.

The Warm Up Mystery Bounty games have whittled down to its final nine players with local runner Daniel Yang holding down the lead. Each remaining contender is now guaranteed in NTD 55,800 (~USD 1,715) in winnings, and a chance to claim the NTD 500,000 (~USD 15,375) top prize!

Yu Chen Huang risked his last 800,000 with J♥ T♥ on the button, and faced Daniel Yang's A♦ Q♦ .

Board K♠ 4♠ 7♦ 4♣ 5♣ missed to pair up either player, leaving Yang's ace-high good for the take down.

Masataka Setoguchi shoved all-in for 450,000 against Daniel Yang's hijack open and saw the latter make the call.

Running behind, Setoguchi gained more outs on flop K♠ K♦ 3♦ , but ultimately bricked the runout 2♣ 9♣ , shipping Yang the one million in the middle.

Chih Chang flicked in his last 70,000 and was called by Daniel Yang on the button.

Attempting to hang on, Chang failed to do so after missing board 9♥ Q♥ 6♥ 2♣ 3♠ entirely.

With 230,000 in the middle across board 5♣ 9♥ 6♦ 4♥ 9♠ , Yu Chen Huang on the small blind, led for 65,000. Daniel Yang right behind, tank called with king-high K♣ 2♥ , and shipped the pot after Huang revealed Q♠ J♣ .

Daniel Yang opened utg+1, raised by Yung Yang to 70,000. Won Bae on the small blind, bumped it up further to 158,000, and picked up the pot uncontested.

Yu Chen Huang defended his big blind against Daniel Yang's button open, and check called another 20,000 on flop Q♥ 5♥ 5♣ . On turn 3♠ , Huang led for 20,000, raised by Yang to 85,000. Chen completed and paid out a final 165,000 on river T♠ , only to muck as Yang revealed trip fives J♣ 5♠ .

Daniel Yang opened to 25,000 on the cutoff and was met with an 80,000 three bet from Yuting Chen on the small blind. Yang came back for 180,000, enough to push Chen out of the pot.

Forced all-in on the big blind for his last 10,000, Sin Lan Chen was at risk right on bubble time against button raiser Daniel Yang.

Board A♣ 5♦ 7♥ T♠ J♣ offered no help for Chen, eliminating him as the flight's stone cold bubble.