NLH Master (15,000 TWD)

After an intense eleven-hour battle, Ha Seong Min's determination paid off with a victory at today’s NLH Master games. Ha triumphed over a massive field of 521 entries and secured a career best score of NTD 870,000 (~USD 26,275) for his impressive display. In addition to his winnings, Ha earned his first ever TMT trophy, proudly resembling the map of Taiwan.

Only 79 runners returned to the felt this Wednesday, January 15th, each guaranteed a share of the NTD 6,822,500 (~USD 206,045) prize pool. By midday, more than half the field had already been eliminated with Ha stacking atop the charts. The South Korean contender stormed to the lead as the final three tables approached after a mishap from Day 2 frontrunner Zheng Xuan Cai awarded Ha an eighty big blind pot straight away. Ha carried this advantage all the way through the final table, allowing him to kick off the action with a third of the chips in play in arm.

With a commanding position, Ha extended his lead even further, having delivered the first three eliminations by the first hour. His momentum however, soon hit a major bump following five costly showdowns that saw his stack dip below the average. Despite the setback, Ha’s aggression allowed him to bounce back in the game with Australia's Jonty O'Brien bearing the brunt of it. Local runner Tai Yu Cheng on the other hand, managed to catch a double bust, eliminating both Lance De Vera and O'Brien in third and fourth place respectively, to come into heads up play with a 20 big blind lead.

The final two contenders agreed to an ICM deal right before the duel began, guaranteeing Cheng a bigger payout of NTD 919,500 (~USD 27,770) and only the trophy left to be decided. It took just half an hour for Ha to clinch the win, with the final hand seeing his pocket sixes hold over Cheng's queen-nine of spades.

Reflecting on his triumph, Ha related to the SMP Team that he feels proud of this recent feat and had an undeniably great experience at the world-class venue (CTP Asia Poker Arena) .As for his celebration, Ha plans to toast his victory with friends over drinks - a well-deserved moment to remember in time!

NLH Master

Date/s: January 13-15, 2025

Buy-in: NTD 15,000 (~USD 460)

Guarantee: NTD 4,000,000 (~USD 120,800)

Prize pool: NTD 6,822,500 (~USD 206,045)

Entries: 521

ITM: 79 places

Final Table Results

Tai Yu Cheng raised all-in on the button for 2,500,000 and was called by his opponent, Ha Seong Min.

Gunning for overcards, Cheng found one on board Q♦ T♦ 8♥ K♠ but had his hopes quickly swept away as the river 6♦ landed a set for Ha to close the games.

Another limp pot saw a flop of 2♠ 6♦ 6♥ . Action checked round to turn Q♣ , where Ha Seong Min bet all-in. Tai Yu Cheng called off his last 1,100,000 with 8♥ 2♦ and was ahead against Ha's 9♣ 4♣ . River A♠ made no difference, shipping Cheng the win with two pair.

Tai Yu Cheng limped on the button once more and was met with a raise to 400,000 from Ha Seong Min. Cheng stood his ground and shoved 2,375,000 in, and picked up the pot uncontested.

Tai Yu Cheng limp called 350,000 on the button, revealing flop 6♣ 6♦ 2♥ . Both checked it through to turn 4♦ , where Ha Seong Min bet 250,000. Cheng failed to continue once more, earning Ha another pot.

A limp pot dealt a flop of 5♦ K♥ 7♣ , where Tai Yu Cheng fast tracked the action with a check raise to 400,000. Ha Seong Min continued to turn 9♦ , and called another 650,000. On river 8♥ , Cheng barreled a final 1,450,000, and was snap called by Ha with a straight 6♦ 2♦ , good against Cheng's single pair J♦ 8♣ .

Tai Yu Cheng limp called 425,000 on the button, and faced a 150,000 continuation bet on flop T♠ K♠ 2♥ . Cheng quickly gave it up, shipping Ha Seong Min the boost.

The two remaining players have agreed to an ICM deal with Tai Yu Cheng taking the bigger share off of the NTD 6,822,500 (~USD 206,045) prize pool. Play will continue with only the TMT trophy left at stake.

Adjusted Payouts

Tai Yu Cheng - NTD 919,500

Ha Seong Min - NTD 870,000

NLH Master action is down to heads up with Taiwan's Tai Yu Cheng holding the advantage against South Korea's Ha Seong Min.

Chip Counts

Remaining Payouts

With 1,200,000 in the middle across board 7♠ Q♦ 9♠ T♣ K♠ , Ha Seong Min led all-in for his last 2,375,000 and was called behind by Jonty O'Brien. Ha showed a flush T♠ 8♠ , crushing O'Brien's broadway straight A♦ J♠ entirely.

Tai Yu Cheng open shoved 2,525,000 on the button and was challenged by Ha Seong Min on the small blind.

Up for a flip, Cheng's pocket pair held on board 6♣ 4♥ 2♣ 7♠ 8♣ , shooting him back up the counts.

Lance De Vera open jammed 1,325,000 utg and was called by Ha Seong Min on the button.

In for a race, De Vera's suited ace pulled through on board 5♦ K♦ A♥ 3♦ 3♥ , leaving Ha to pay up a fourth time around.

Tai Yu Cheng shoved 1,825,000 from the big blind against Ha Seong Min's utg open, and saw the latter make the call.

A pocket pair battle, Ha's eights were no match against Cheng's cowboys all the way through A♥ 7♥ Q♣ 2♣ 9♣ , costing Ha another 18 big blinds off his stack.

Ha Seong Min shoved all-in against a late position open and saw Jun Yu Du behind, call off his remaining 550,000. Initial raiser opted out, and the two ran board 8♦ 2♠ 2♣ A♦ Q♠ . Du's pocket pair held for the win, earning him the much needed double up.

Tai Yu Cheng pushed 925,000 on the small blind and saw Ha Seong Min rise to the challenge.

Flipping for his tournament life, the suspense disappeared straight away after Cheng flopped a set on board A♥ J♥ 8♣ 5♣ 9♠ to secure the advantage.

Lai Hsuan Yu opened 200,000 utg and was met with a 650,000 three bet from Ha Seong Min on the small blind. Lai answered with an all-in for 1,725,000 total, snap called by his opponent.

A huge underdog, Lai failed to catch up on board 9♣ 2♣ 8♠ 7♦ J♣ , sending him out a few places shy of a podium finish.

Chan Sim pushed his last 575,000 in on the cutoff and was looked up by Ha Seong Min right on the big blind.

Sim dominated, exited the final table shortly after board 5♣ J♠ 8♥ J♣ 3♦ turned up on the felt.

Lance De Vera opened 200,000 utg but tank folded after table captain Ha Seong Min raised the stakes to 550,000.

Hung Chang Lin went with K♠ 6♦ for his last 505,000 and was put to the test by Ha Seong Min with Q♦ T♥ .

Looking to double up, Hung instead headed for the rails as the river J♦ 3♠ 2♦ J♣ Q♥ landed two pair for Ha to take him out.

Ha Seong Min opened to 160,000 and called Jonty O'Brien short stack shove for 600,000.

Board 9♣ 5♠ 8♣ 8♠ 4♦ missed to connect with either player, leaving O'Brien's ace-high good for the takedown.

Tai Yu Cheng defended his big blind against Ha Seong Min's utg open and headed to flop Q♠ 8♦ 7♣ . Action checked round to turn 2♠ , where Ha bet 90,000. Tai check called one street and arrived at showdown shortly after Ha checked back river 2♦ . Tai showed A♦ 8♥ , good enough to win the pot.

Following eight hours on the floor, the 78-player NLH Master Day 2 field is officially down to its final eight players with South Korea's Ha Seong Min in the lead. Ha has been stacking atop the counts since the last three tables, and has continued to extend his lead further level after level. Each final table contender is now guaranteed NTD 154,000 (~USD 4,700) in winnings, backed by a chance to claim the NTD 1,048,500 (~USD 31,985) top prize!

NLH Master

Date/s: January 13-15, 2025

Buy-in: NTD 15,000 (~USD 460)

Guarantee: NTD 4,000,000 (~USD 120,800)

Prize pool: NTD 6,822,500 (~USD 206,045)

Entries: 521

ITM: 79 places

Day 1A: 231 entries / 35 qualified

Day 1B: 290 entries / 44 qualified

Day 2/ Final: 79 players

Final Table Chip Counts

Ha Seong Min opened 120,000 on the cutoff and was priced in to call after Ka Shun Tsang moved all-in behind for 265,000 total.

Tsang at risk, headed out shortly after board Q♦ J♠ 6♠ Q♠ 2♣ ran a flush for his opponent.

Action folded to Jun Zhong Wang on the small blind, prompting him to push 570,000 in. Ha Seong Min afforded the call and put Wang at risk.

Running a race, Ha's momentum remained unbeatable, crushing his opponent swiftly with two pair on board Q♣ 5♣ 2♦ 9♥ T♥ .

Ha Seong Min defended his big blind vs a 150,000 button open from Lance De Vera, and went on to check jam on flop Q♥ 5♣ 4♦ . De Vera tanked and eventually let it go, open folding J♠ J♣ .

Ha Seong Min completed his big blind vs Lai Hsuan Yu's early open, and check called 75,000 on flop 9♣ A♠ 5♠ . Lai barreled another 200,000 on turn 8♠, and called 300,000 more following a check raise from Ha. Lai however, quickly gave it up on river 2♦ after Ha pulled the trigger with an all-in.

Ha Seong Min opened 50,000 utg+1 and was met with a 125,000 three bet from Kai Hung Hu behind. Koji Matsumoto flicked in his last 40,000, followed by another raise from Ha to 500,000. Hu tanked and eventually decided to fold, leaving the two to showdown.

Board 2♣ 3♦ 4♠ K♣ K♦ kept Ha's ladies ahead all the way through, knocking Matsumoto from the running.

Up against a button open and a call from Ha Seong Min, Zheng Xuan Cai on the big blind, squeezed all-in for over a million in chips. Ha called off his entire 766,000 with a premium pair, alarming bells on the table with 80 big blinds right in the middle.

Board J♣ 2♣ 5♥ A♦ 8♦ offered no help to Zheng's demise, sending him plummeting down below the average stack.

Ha Seong Min opened to 24,000, followed by a 72,000 three bet from Kai Hung Hu on the button. David Erquiaga on the small blind, made it 175,000 to go and picked up the pot uncontested.

Kiwanont Sukhum opened utg+1 and called off for his entire 98,000 after Ha Seong Min put in a hefty raise.

In search of an ace, the board K♥ J♦ K♣ 4♥ 3♦ felted none, earning Ha the pot with his pocket pair.