NLH Master (15,000 TWD)

Kai Hung Hu defended his big blind against Chan Sim's 80,000 open, and check called for his last 20,000 on flop A♥ 6♦ 6♠.

Chan Sim Q♦ Q♠

Kai Hung Hu 9♦ 4♦

Drawing only to a runner runner, Hu exited the arena shortly after turn 2♣ and river A♦ completed the board.

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.

Fresh off the break, Kai Hung Hu opened on the cutoff and went on to risk his entire 250,000 against Koji Matsumoto for a flip.

Board 6♣ T♠ 4♦ K♠ 6♥ paired up Hu's overcards, leaving Matsumoto crippled down to a single big blind.

Kai Hung Hu opened 30,000 utg, joined by two other players onto flop Q♣ 6♠ T♦ . Hu continued for 25,000, check called by Zheng Xuan Cai on the small blind. On turn 9♦ , Zheng took the lead for 100,000, and successfully convinced Hu to lay it down.

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.

Kai Hung Hu opened utg and called off Hao Hsiang Yeh's all-in for 105,000 total.

Dominated, Hu turned the tables, having spiked his two outer on board T♠ 7♦ 9♣ 4♦ 7♥ to deliver the elimination.

Zheng Xuan Cai opened utg and called 20,000 more following a raise from Kai Hung Hu. On flop 9♥ Q♠ 7♣ , Zheng check called another 40,000, and went on to lead 130,000 on turn J♣ . Hu took a minute and eventually laid it down.

Chan Sim defended his big blind against Kai Hung Hu's hijack open, and went on to check jam 92,000 on flop K♠ 2♦ Q♣ . Hu called off with midpair J♣ Q♦ and found himself behind Chan's pair of kings K♥ T♣ . No help for Hu arrived on either turn 5♠ or river 6♠ , awarding Chan the full double up.

This Wednesday is about to get more exciting with another TMT highlight set to crown a winner! Two NLH Master heats ran through to start the week and attracted a 521-strong entry field, easily breaching its initial NTD 4,000,000 (~USD 120,800) guarantee. Well over the expected turnout, 79 players are due to return to battle in a bid to claim the lion's share of the NTD 6,822,500 (~USD 206,045) prize pool.

Both flights played down to ITM, where all 79 runners have secured a minimum share of NTD 30,000 (~USD 920). The main attention however, remains to be on the million dollar NTD 1,048,500 (~USD 31,665) listed top prize, where one will rise to claim later this evening.

Local runner Zheng Xuan Cai topped the initial flight with a massive 884,000 (147 BB) chip count, more than enough to come in as the Day 2 overall frontrunner. Denmark's Michael Kim Falcon on the other hand, shipped the lead over yesterday's games and brings in a mighty 784,000 (131 BB) to take the second spot. Next in the running, Jun Zhong Wang sits at quite a distance with 526,000 (88 BB), rounding up the top three counts.

Action will resume at 11:00 sharp, right at CTP Asia Poker Arena, Taipei! Stay tuned for updates as SMP brings you all the latest directly off the floor.

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

Top Ten Day 2 Qualifiers