NLH Master (15,000 TWD)

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.

Lai Hsuan Yu raised all-in on the cutoff and saw Jonty O'Brien call for his 1,375,000 stack a seat after.

Board Q♣ 9♦ 7♦ K♠ T♥ ran a once card straight for O'Brien, costing Lai a huge chunk off his stack.

Lance De Vera opened 185,000 utg, and was met with a raise to 440,000 from Lai Hsuan Yu on the button. De Vera four bet jammed the rest, pushing Lai out of the action instantly.

Lai Hsuan Yu opened on the cutoff and was met with a 760,000 three bet from Lance De Vera on the big blind. Lai responded with an all-in for 1,550,000, called by De Vera.

A flip for 40 big blinds, board 6♥ 5♥ 3♠ Q♠ A♥ went in favor of Lai's overcards, allowing him to hold on to his seat.

Chan Sim opened 120,000 utg, followed by a 300,000 three bet from Tai Yu Cheng behind. Lai Hsuan Yu on the small blind, pushed all-in for 1,010,000 total, and shipped the pot unchallenged.

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

Park Jaehyung committed 180,000 on the button, leaving himself 5,000 behind. Lai Hsuan Yu on the small blind, made the call and flicked in the rest on flop K♦ 3♦ 3♠ .

Lai Hsuan Yu K♦ 9♣

Park Jaehyung A♠ Q♥

Park, in need to catch up, failed to do so on runout 8♥ 6♣ , cutting his hopes of an NLH Master victory.

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.

Hsuan Cheng Lai open shoved 660,000 on the hijack and saw Lai Hsuan Yu on the button, push likewise, slightly covering his opponent.

In for a flip, Lai's overcards quickly paired up on board K♦ J♥ J♣ J♦ T♣ , sending Hsuan's pocket pair towards the muck.

Lai Hsuan Yu limp called for his remaining 310,000 on the small blind after Tai Yu Cheng raised all-in right behind.

Tai a huge underdog, flopped some hope with a straight draw on Q♦ T♠ 5♠ . The runout A♠ T♦ , however bricked for the big stack, earning Lai the pot with two pair.

Feng Wen Chen defended his big blind against Lai Hsuan Yu's 30,000 open, and check called another 40,000 on flop A♠ 9♠ T♣ . On turn 3♥ , Feng found no way to continue after Lai put him all-in.