NLH Master (15,000 TWD)

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

Tai Yu Cheng opened 275,000 utg, followed by two all-ins behind - Jonty O'Brien (1,150,000) and Lance De Vera (3,275,000). Cheng made the final call, risking half his stack for a three way showdown.

Cheng instantly flopped the nut flush on board 2♦ 5♦ 7♦ 2♣ 3♠ , delivering the double bust just as the runout completed.

Down to his last 475,000, Jonty O'Brien got it in on the big blind and faced button raiser Tai Yu Cheng at showdown.

O'Brien easily secured the double up, having landed top pair on board 2♦ 4♦ 9♥ 6♠ 7♥ for another run at the title.

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 opened 250,000 on the small blind, called behind by Tai Yu Cheng. On board A♥ 8♦ 3♠ 6♦ Q♦ , De Vera triple barreled - 300,000, 450,000, and a final all-in for 1,925,000. Tai check called two streets yet laid it down after De Vera proceeded with aggression.

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.

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.

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.

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

David Erquiaga shoved 560,000 against Tai Yu Cheng's hijack open and saw the latter put him to the test.

In terrible shape, Erquiaga's move cost him his tournament life after completely missing to connect with board 3♣ Q♣ 4♠ Q♠ 4♦ for his elimination.

Park Jaehyung defended his hijack open and called a 180,000 three bet from Tai Yu Cheng on the button. Action on board K♦ Q♣ J♦ 5♦ K♥ was checked down to the river, where Park led 330,000. Cheng raised all-in for 365,000 more, convincing Park to save his chips.

Tai Yu Cheng defended his big blind vs Park Jaehyung's button open, dealing flop 2♠ 2♣ 7♦ . Action checked round to turn 5♥ , where Cheng check called another 80,000. Both players checked down river 5♠ , revealing Cheng's 9♦ 8♦ , no good against Park's two pair king kicker K♦ 4♦ .

Tai Yu Cheng opened 60,000 on the button and faced a 180,000 three bet from Lance De Vera on the big blind. Cheng decided to four bet shove his big stack in, only to be snap called by De Vera for his entire 845,000.

Crushed against the rockets, Cheng forked over nearly half his stack as board 9♦ 6♣ J♠ 6♦ J♦ sealed his fate.

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.

Tai Yu Cheng opened 22,000 utg+1 and was joined by Yuhsiu Chou on the big blind. Cheng continued for another 26,000 on flop 8♥ 8♠ T♠ , and called a click back to 52,000 from his opponent. Chou fired his last 48,000 on turn 8♦ , snap called by Cheng with a boat.

Yuhsiu Chou K♠ J♠

Tai Yu Cheng Q♦ T♥

River 5♦ made no difference, allowing Cheng to add more chips to his already healthy stack.

Tai Yu Cheng opened utg and called a 51,000 three bet from Michael Kim Falcon behind. On board 8♠ Q♠ 4♥ 7♥ , Falcon double barreled 54,000 and an all-in for 405,000, with Cheng check calling both streets.

Michael Kim Falcon J♥ T♥

Tai Yu Cheng 8♥ 8♣

Falcon at risk with a combo draw, found none of his outs appear on river 6♠ , eliminating him from the NLH Master games entirely.

Tse Chun Hong pushed 82,000 utg, called by Tai Yu Cheng on the button. Michael Kim Falcon raised to 200,000 on the big blind and called off the rest after Cheng moved all-in for 457,000 total.

With the best hand in poker, Cheng remained ahead all the way through 4♦ 4♥ 5♥ 9♣ T♠ , shipping the one million pot towards his way.