TMT Main Event (9,000 TWD)

After a relentless 20 levels of high-octane poker action, the curtain has finally dropped on Day1D of the Taiwan Millions Tournament 17 (TMT17) Main Event. Out of a field of 618 entries, only 49 battle-hardened survivors have punched their tickets to Day 2. With a jaw-dropping NTD 32,500,000 (~USD 1,000,000) guaranteed prize pool up for grabs, the stakes have never been higher. Expect to see a flood of players returning for redemption in the upcoming heats, running from Friday, January 17th, through the weekend.

Leading the charge is none other than Hong Kong’s own Ka Chuen Yip also known as Michael Yip, who sits atop the chip count mountain with a staggering 1,270,000 chips (105BB). Yip’s journey to dominance was a rollercoaster of twists and turns, but he emerged victorious, clinching the top spot after a pivotal showdown against Deng Deng Kai. Yip’s daring all-in play sent Kai packing, boosting his stack to a formidable 590,000. His momentum didn’t stop there—later, in Level 20, Yip snapped up another huge pot, showing down trip eights to obliterate Jeong In Jae’s hopes, catapulting himself to the peak of the leaderboard. Michael Yip is currently the overall chip leader of all the day 2 qualifiers.

Among the notable names advancing to Day 2 are Jeffery Lee from the USA, carrying 410,000 chips (34BB), David Erquiaga from the Philippines with a solid 512,000 (42BB), and Korea’s Park Jae Yun, who bagged 365,000 chips (30BB).

Date/s: January 12, 15-20, 2025

Buy-in: NTD 9,000 (~USD 280)

Guarantee: NTD 32,500,000 (~USD 1,000,000)

Starting stack: 25,000

Day 1A - Early Bird: 901 entries, 136 ITM / 73 qualified

Day 1B Turbo: 400 entries, 60 ITM/ 32 qualified

Day 1C: 662 entries , 100 ITM / 53 qualified

Day 1D: 618 entries,93 ITM / 49 qualified

Day 1E: Friday, January 17

Day 1F Turbo: Friday, January 17

Day 1G: Saturday, January 18

Day 1H Turbo: Saturday, January 18

Day 2: Sunday, January 19

Day 3/ Final: Monday, January 20

as the dust settles on Day1D, the anticipation is palpable. With four more heats set to fire up this weekend, the stage is set for an epic showdown. Who will rise, who will fall, and who will claim the lion’s share of the million-dollar prize pool? Stay tuned as the action continues to unfold in TMT17’s Main Event!

Fan Yu (UTG+2) limps prompting UTG+3 to raise 25,000. Fan Yu calls while Q♣ 7♥ 9♦ . The players checks and the turn brings 3♥ . Fan Yu checks and UTG+3 bets 20,000 and Fan Yu raises all-in 420,000. UTG+3 folds handing the pot to Fan Yu.

UTG raised 16,000 pre-flop and Tsai Yu Fan (BB) called. The flop brings 5♥ 2♣ 5♠ . Yu Fan checks and UTG bet 18,000. This triggers Yu Fan to retaliate with an all-in raise of 70,000. UTG folds handing the pot to Yu Fan.

Chang Yu Chung (BTN) raised 10,000 and Fan Yu (SB) calls. The flop brings 9♦ 6♦ K♣ . Fan Yu checks and Yu Chang bets 10,000. Fan Yu calls to see the turn 9♠ . The players checks and the river brings J♥ . With another round of checks the players enter showdown. Fan Yu shows J♠ A♥ while Yu Chung mucks his hand.

Cobain Kuan opened 8,000 on the cutoff, joined by both players on the blinds to flop 5♠ Q♣ 6♦ . Kuan bet 11,000, weeding out none onto turn 8♥ . Fan Yu this time, led 28,000 and snap called for his remaining 109,000 after Kuan raised all-in.

Cobain Kuan A♠ A♣

Fan Yu 7♥ 4♥

Drawing dead with the rockets, Kuan dropped down to a short stack just as river 2♠ completed the board.