TMT Main Event (9,000 TWD)

Tension is high across CTP Asia Poker Arena with today marking the last chance to qualify for the TMT Main Event games. The seventh flight across the lineup, TMT Main Event G, drew in the largest turnout of all with a staggering 1,276 entries, double of the regular showing the past few days. By the time registration closed, half of the field remained on their seats, truly testing the capacity of Asia's largest poker room.

Twelve hours of play ran through before the heat died down with local runner Liang Hao Lin stacking atop the charts. Liang stepped out into the lead by evening time after cracking Jonty O'Brien's pocket aces with king-queen. The local runner managed to maintain this advantage across the final four levels and brings in a 766,000 chip count onto Day 2. Joining Liang at the summit are fellow Taiwanese players Jian Hong Chen (729,000) and Shi Rong Wang (691,000), both comfortably stacking more than double the average stack.

Other Asian regulars who made it across today's Day 1G include Taiwan's Chien Chih Weng (410,000), Po Ching Lee (322,000), and Kai Hung Hu (283,000), Hong Kong's Man Hang Tse (316,000), and South Korea's Jong Bea Jang (193,000).

Also remaining at the pinnacle of the Day 2 leaderboard is Day 1D chip leader Ka Chuen Yip with a chip count of 1,270,000 over the field. A total of 421 onsite runners have since qualified for tomorrow's battle, with more to follow as the final flight unfolds.

TMT Main Event action resumes this Sunday, January 19th at 10:00 sharp with play set to conclude once 45 players remain. Stay tuned for updates as SMP brings you all the latest directly off the floor.

TMT Main Event 17

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: 769 entries, 116 ITM / 62 qualified

Day 1F Turbo: 623 entries, 94 ITM / 50 qualified

Day 1G: 1,276 entries, 192 ITM / 103 qualified

Day 1H Turbo: Saturday, January 18

Day 2: Sunday, January 19

Day 3/ Final: Monday, January 20

Jonty O'Brien happily committed his entire 130,000 stack preflop with A♦ A♣ and was in great shape for a double up against Lin Liang Hao's K♥ Q♣ .

The board K♥ 2♥ 9♠ Q♠ 8♠ however, ran Lin two pair, earning him the overall lead just as O'Brien headed out the door.

Player utg open shoved 16,000, called by Lin Liang Hao on the button. Big blind reshoved 79,000 and Lin snap called the rest for a three way showdown.

Lin Liang Hao A♦ A♠

UTG K♣ 3♣

BB K♥ Q♥

Both players at risk found no hope on board A♣ 9♥ 8♦ 4♦ 2♣ , knocking them out of the running entirely.

Up against an early open and a call, Lin Liang Hao on the button, sent out a 4,600 three bet, and saw both opponents continue to flop 9♦ 7♠ 2♥ . Initial raiser Chin Chia Lin checked, followed by an all-in for 13,100 from player next to him. Lin snap shoved behind and headed to showdown as Chin threw in the fold.

Lin Liang Hao T♥ T♠

UTG+1 9♠ 8♠

A huge favorite, Lin was left in no sweat as the runout A♣ J♣ , sealed the win for his pocket pair.