TMTC Main (35,000 TWD)

Day 1c was expected to be the largest of the four opening flights in the Taiwan Millions Tournament Championship (TMTC) Main Event, and it delivered with 342 entries accumulated by the time registration closed inside the Asia Poker Arena.

Including the 174 that entered Day 1d, it means the total number of entries in the Main Event stands at 1,054, and the NTD 30,000,000 was crushed with the fantastic turnout.

A total of 52 players punched their ticket into Day 2, and a further 27 spots are available from Day 1d, which means 161 players should be returning for the second day of play on Sunday, October 26, at 11 a.m.

Chip Counts will be posted when they become available.

It was Hon Cheong "Ivan" Lee whose departure locked up the rest of the field a payday as his elimination in 53rd was met with cheers around the room. Lee had less than three big blinds in his stack, and his king-queen couldn't overcome the ace-seven of Nhu Hai Le, who bagged a near seven-figure stack for Day 2.

Play will resume on Day 2 with a few minutes remaining in Level 17 (5,000/10,000/10,000), and is scheduled to play down to the final table. The level duration will be bumped up to 50 minutes on Day 2, before increasing again to 60 minutes for the third and final day.

Keep it right here with Somuchpoker to see who has what it takes to reach the final table.

That’s a wrap for Day 1c! Stay tuned for a full recap of the day’s action, including the chip counts and highlights from the tables.

Nhu Hai Le raised the button to 22,000, and Hon Cheong Lee shoved all in from the small blind for 27,000. Le made the quick call to put his tablemate at risk.

Hon Cheong Lee: K♣ Q♣

Nhu Hai Le: A♦ 7♠

Lee’s king-high ran into Le’s ace-high. The flop of 4♠ 9♦ T♠ kept Le in front, while Lee picked up a gutshot straight draw.

The turn 2♥ gave no help to Lee, though he still had plenty of outs to survive.

Unfortunately for him, the river brought the 2♦, pairing the board and sealing his fate. Hon Cheong Lee was eliminated as the Flight C bubble boy.

Jeeweon Kim was forced all in for his remaining 5,000 from the small blind against Tao We Chang from the big blind.

Jeeweon Kim: T♠ 2♦

Tao We Chang: 8♣ 8♦

Kim’s ten-high trailed Chang’s pocket eights but still had some hopes to survive. The dealer spread a J♦ 9♥ 4♠ flop, giving Kim a backdoor straight possibility.

The Q♠ on the turn added more outs for Kim to extend his run, but the river J♠ failed to deliver, sealing his fate in 54th place as Chang’s eights held firm.

The action was picked up with a pile of chips already in the middle as Mark Rivera moved all in on the button for 114,000, and King Puimast called from the big blind.

Mark Rivera: A♠ 8♦

King Puimast: A♣ Q♣

Puimast’s queen kicker had him in control from the start and stayed ahead through the 4♠ 5♥ 3♣ 7♥ 3♣ board, eliminating Rivera from the field.

With Rivera’s bustout, the remaining 54 players have now entered bubble time.

Hon Cheong Lee raised the cutoff to 16,000, only to be jammed by Cheng Chih Cheng in the big blind for 98,000. After thinking for a while, Lee dropped in the call to put Cheng at risk.

Hong Cheong Lee: A♠ T♥

Cheng Chih Cheng: K♦ K♣

Cheng's Cowboys dominated the lead against Lee's ace-high and held control on the 7♠ Q♥ K♠ flop, improving him to a set, while Lee picked up a gutshot.

The deck revealed a runout of 4♣ 4♥, giving Cheng a boat for his tournament-extending double-up.

Fang Kai Yang open-shoved for around 85,000 from the small blind, and Shun Yi Zhen snap-called in the big blind.

Fang Kai Yang: K♠ 3♣

Shun Yi Zheng: K♥ Q♥

Zheng picked up the lead with a stronger queen kicker and improved to a pair of queens on the T♥ Q♦ A♣, leaving Yang drawing thin.

The turn showed a 3♠, connecting with Yang's three, but it was still no match for Zheng's pair.

Unfortunately for Yang, the river came a 9♣, sending him to the rail.

Jyun Huang opened the button to 12,000 and Chengnan Tseng called from the small blind.

Tseng check-called on the 4♣ Q♠ 4♥ flop after Huang continued with a bet of 6,000. Action went check-check on the 3♣ turn.

When a J♣ filled out the board, Tseng bet 15,000, prompting a fold from Huang.

Chang Hyun Kim opened to 12,000 from under the gun and received calls from the blinds: Kento Shimizu, and Lester Edoc.

The blinds checked over the 7♥ J♣ T♦ flop to Kim, who continued for 15,000. Shimizu and Edoc called.

The trio checked through the 8♥ turn to see a K♣ river. Shimizu and Lester checked. Kim fired 30,000, which only Shimizu tagged along.

Kim tabled a straight with 9♦ 9♠, leaving Shimizu no choice but to fold.

With a pile of chips already in the middle, Soobum Kim shoved all in for 34,500 from the cutoff. Soo Hak Eo made the call from under the gun, putting his tablemate at risk.

Soo Hak Eo: K♥ T♠

Soobum Kim: A♦ 4♠

Kim was ahead with ace-high against Eo’s king-high and improved to top pair on the monochrome A♣ 9♣ 3♣ flop, leaving Eo drawing thin.

The 9♥ on the turn sealed the deal, leaving Eo drawing dead. The river 5♣ came as a formality, locking up the double-up for Kim.

Hung Chiao Lai raised from middle position, only to be shoved on by In Jung Su from the hijack for 24,000. Frank Cucchiara called from the big blind, while Lai stepped aside.

Hung Chiao Lai: Q♥ 8♦

Frank Cucchiara: A♦ K♦

Cucchiara took the lead with ace-high and extended his dominance on the 4♦ A♣ 7♣ flop, improving to top pair. The turn brought some hope for Lai with a Q♦, pairing his queen; however, he still needed the deck to grant him more strength to stay alive.

Unfortunately for Lai, the river delivered another A♠ for Cucchiara, giving him trip aces and allowing him to rake in the pot in style.

Rene Mar David opened to 8,000 from under the gun and Hao Jiang Jhih called from the hijack.

David continued for 13,000 on the T♥ 8♥ 7♦ flop and Jhih stuck around to see the K♣ fall on the turn, where David sent another bet of 30,000. Jhih called.

When a Q♦ rolled off on the river, David kept his aggression with his third barrel of 60,000, which successfully pushed Jhih out of the pot.

Issac Phu open-shoved for 14,000 from under the gun and Hung Chiao Lai called in the hiajck, as did In Jung Su from the cutoff.

A flop came 2♥ T♠ J♠, and Lai led out for 15,000. Su stepped aside, leaving Phu at risk against Lai.

Issac Phu: A♠ 5♣

Hung Chiao Lai: A♦ A♣

Lai dominated the lead with pocket aces. The deck sealed Phu's fate in brisk fashion with a runout of 5♦ 4♣, pushing the pot Lai's way.

Issac Phua limped in from early position and Soo Hak Eo shoved for 77,000 in the hijack. Phua dropped in the call to put his tablemate at risk.

Issac Phua: A♥ Q♦

Soo Hak Eo: 7♥ 7♣

Eo picked up the lead with pocket sevens and maintained his dominance on the 5♥ K♠ 9♠ flop. The turn then brought a 7♦, improving Eo to a set and leaving Phua drawing dead already.

The river came as a formality with a 6♣, shipping the pot Eo's way.

John Niko Costiniano raised the button to 6,000, only to face an all-in shove from Lester Edoc in the small blind for 68,500. Costiniano made the call to put his tablemate at risk.

Lester Edoc: A♣ 7♥

John Niko Costiniano: Q♠ Q♣

Costiniano was ahead with his pocket queens, but Edoc quickly turned the tide on the 9♦ A♦ 3♠ flop, connecting with his ace.

The dealer delivered a 7♠ on the turn, blooming Edoc's top pair to two pair and leaving Costiniano drawing very thin.

The river showed a 6♣, sealing a double-up for Edoc and leaving Costiniano on the brink of elimination.

Taeyoung Kim limped in from the small blind and Chien Fa Chou checked in the big blind.

Both players tapped the table on the A♦ 6♠ 4♣ flop to see a board-pairing 4♥ turn. Chou check-called a bet of 5,000 from Kim.

The river carried out a 6♣, action went check-check. Kim turned over K♦ 5♦, while Chou revealed 5♣ 2♠, making it a chop pot.

Keith Ho made it 6,000 to go from the hijack and Soobum Kim defended his big blind.

Action went check-check on the 7♠ 9♦ K♦ flop, and Kim led out for 5,500 on the 6♦ turn. Ho stuck around.

Kim fired again on the 5♣ river, this time for 18,000. It was good for the pot as Ho let go of his cards.

Wei Sheng Lin opened the hijack to 5,500 and Ki Hin Lee called from the cutoff. Po Chia Liao then shoved for 19,500 from the small blind. Lin stepped aside and Lee made the call to put his opponent at risk.

Po Chia Liao: Q♥ J♥

Ki Hin Lee: 6♣ 6♥

Lee picked up the lead with pocket sixes and held control on the A♠ T♦ 9♦ flop, while Liao got a gutshot. The turn showed a 5♠, and Liao still had many outs to stay alive.

Unfortunately for Liao, the deck terminated his tournament life with a board-pairing 5♣ river, shipping the pot Lee's way.

Day 1c was the largest yet in the TMTC Main Event, racking up 342 entries through the nine levels of registration.

That means that there are a whopping 52 spots available in Day 2 and the money. Right now, there are 132 players still with chips in front of them, so the field needs to be cut significantly before there is any sign of the money bubble.

Ricky Chang opened to 4,500 from under the gun and Chih Wei Cheng called from middle position.

Chang made a continuation-bet of 5,500 on the 6♣ 4♣ 4♠ flop and Cheng stuck around to see a board-pairing 6♠ fall on the turn, where Chang check-called after Cheng bet 7,000.

When another 4♥ landed on the river, the board completed a full house, making a chop pot highly likely. Both players then checked to a free showdown.

Chang tabled A♥ 3♦, while Cheng revealed 3♥ 2♥, and the two ended up splitting the pot.

Yi Seung Yong limped in from the small blind and Jeeweon Kim checked over in the big blind.

Yong check-called on the 2♣ 2♦ 5♦ flop after Kim led out for 4,000. Yong kept his pace and check-called again on the J♠ turn, this time for 7,500.

When a 9♣ rolled off on the river, Yong checked to Kim again, who sent his third barrel of 15,000. Yong snap-called.

Kim flipped 6♣ 4♠ for a bluff, and Yong slammed a flopped pair of fives with 7♠ 5♥ to rake in the pot.

Chang Hyun Kim made it 4,000 to go from middle position and Nevan Chang defended his big blind.

Both players checked through the 8♠ Q♦ 4♦ 6♣ 2♣ board. Kim quickly revealed ace-high with A♣ K♥ to drag in the pot as Chang mucked.

Sang Hyun Choi opened the button to 3,000 and Tao We Chang called from the small blind.

Chang check-called on the J♦ Q♥ 5♦ flop after Choi continued with a 3,000 bet. Action went check-check on the T♣ turn.

The deck then revealed a 9♦ river, and both players decided to knuckled it back again.

Chang quickly tabled for a flush with 8♦ 6♦ to beat Choi's straight with K♠ 6♥.

Bong Lu opened the button to 3,500 and Chengnan Tseng called from the small blind, as did Wei Sheng Lin in the big blind.

The blinds checked over the 7♠ K♥ 6♣ flop, and Lu continued with a small bet of 1,500. Tseng called, and Lin folded.

The dealer then delivered a T♣ on the turn, where Tseng check-called after Lu bet 20,000.

When an 8♠ hit on the river, both players checked to showdown. Tseng quickly tabled K♦ 9♦ for a rivered straight and took down the pot as Lu mucked.

Soohak Eo opened the cutoff to 2,500, and John Niko Costiniano called from the small blind, as did Nhu Hai Le in the big blind.

On the 8♦ 3♣ 8♠ flop, the blinds checked to Eo, who continued with a bet of 3,000. Only Costiniano tagged along.

Both players checked through the 3♥ turn to see an A♠ river. Costiniano then shoved for 28,300. Eo snap-called.

Costiniano revealed his pair with 2♥ 2♦, but it was cracked by Eo's turned full house with J♥ 8♠.

Chin Yu Lim made it 2,500 to go from the hijack and received calls from the blinds: Yu Shen Cheng and Yuan Jui Chang.

Three players checked to the river on the 9♦ 6♣ 4♣ T♥ A♦ board, where Cheng changed his pace with a bet of 7,000. It was enough to push his two opponents to fold.

Chin An Chang made it 2,000 to go from early position and got himself three callers: Su Hang in the hijack, King Puimast on the button, and Denny Kruezi from the big blind.

Four players tapped the table when they saw the 8♥ 8♣ 7♥ flop. The dealer then revealed a 3♦ on the turn, where action checked to Hang, who led out for 2,500. Only Puimast stuck around.

The river brought a board-pairing 7♦, and Han fired out another barrel of 7,000. After thinking for a while, Puimast eventually laid it down.

Keith Ho opened to 2,000 from under the gun, and Seungmook Jung three-bet to 6,000 from middle position. Duhan Lee defended his big blind. Ho also made the call.

The trio checked to the river on the board of 7♥ 7♣ Q♣ 3♣ 4♥, where Lee changed his pace with a bet of 10,500. It forced his two opponents to fold.

While Day 1c of the Main Event trickles on with 186 entries so far, which is setting a rapid pace and presumably will be the largest flight of the four, plenty is going on inside Asia Poker Arena.

Most notably, the WPF Ladies Championship has reached the final table.

• Sunhwa Park - 7th
• Tan Wan Ning
• Ma Arlene Rivera
• Maon Oroku
• Yen-Hsi Chen
• Yu Shan Chen - 9th
• Shiang Yun Hwang - 8th
• Sin Lan Chen
• Kylie Chong - 6th

Currently, five players are remaining in the hunt for the title, and you can follow all of the action on the CTP Club Twitch channel as they chase the NTD 254,000 top prize.

Sin Lan Chen holds the chip lead right now, but can she close it out?

There is also an NTD 30,000 High Roller that kicked off at 2 p.m., which currently has 20 runners at the end of its second 30-minute level.

A reminder that Day 1d of the Main Event starts at 6:30 p.m. and is the last chance that players have of making it into Day 2.

Shu In Li made it 1,700 to go from middle position and Martin Tosoni three-bet to 4,600 in the hijack. Hsian Chen then cold four-bet to 15,500 from the cutoff, prompting folds from his two opponents successfully.

Shu In Li opened to 1,600 from under the gun, and Chien Fa Chou three-bet the button to 4,800. Li four-bet to 10,200. Chou dropped in the call.

On the A♣ 7♣ 6♠ flop, Li continued for 10,100 and Chou stuck around to see the 2♠ turn. Li kept her aggression with another barrel of 25,000, sending Chou into the tank. After mulling it over, Chou eventually laid it down.

Shu In Li opened the hijack to 1,700 and Yi Chen Liao defended his big blind.

Both players checked through the A♦ J♣ J♥ flop to see a 5♣ fall on the turn, where Liao bet 1,500 and Li snap-called.

When an 8♣ rolled off on the river, Liao fired 3,000, to which Li cranked it up to 10,000. After thinking for a while, Liao made the call.

Li revealed her flopped full house with A♠ J♠, prompting Liao to muck without showing his cards.

Duhan Lee made it 1,500 to go from middle position and Keith Ho three-bet to 4,200 in the cutoff. Lee then four-bet to 9,500. Ho dropped in the call.

Lee continued with a bet of 5,000 on the 2♦ 9♦ 5♠ flop and Ho stuck around to see the 4♦ turn. Lee checked and Ho fired 16,000, sending Lee into the tank.

After about a minute, Lee reluctantly mucked his A♠ K♥. Ho, in a friendly gesture, revealed his pair of 8♠ 8♥ before returning his cards to the dealer.

Shinichiro Kano limped in from middle position and Hsi Kai Huang checked in the big blind.

The two checked to the river on the 7♠ 2♠ 6♣ 4♠ 4♥ board, where Kano bet 700. It was good enough for the pot as Huang laid it down.

Hyundong Lee limped in from the small blind and Tatsuto Chinen checked from the big blind.

Lee check-called on the 5♠ 8♥ 4♠ flop after Chinen led out for 700. The dealer then revealed a 3♦ on the turn, and Lee check-called again, this time for 2,500.

When the 6♥ filled out the board, action went check-check. Lee tabled a rivered pair of sixes with T♦ 6♦, but it wasn't enough against Chinen's flopped two pair with 8♠ 5♣.

Tatsuto Chinen made it 1,200 to go from under the gun and Jintae Yang called on the button, as did Yi Cheng Lo from the small blind. Hyudong Lee three-bet to 5,500 in the big blind. Chinen called, while Yang and Lo stepped aside.

Both players saw the A♥ 7♥ T♦ flop, and Lee continued for 4,200. Chinen then cranked it up to 12,500, prompting a snap-fold from Lee.

Mark Rivera had just taken his seat at Table #16 when he immediately made an impact.

Yue Hin Lam made it 1,000 to go from early position. Rivera then three-bet 2,200 in the cutoff and took down the pot as Lam folded.

On the very next hand, Lam opened to 1,000 from under the gun and Bai Cheng Wang called from middle position. Mark Rivera three-bet again, this time for 2,300 in the hijack. Only Lam tagged along.

On the T♠ 8♠ 9♦ flop, Lam checked to Rivera, who continued for 3,000. It was good for the pot.

Hirotoshi Nakabo raised to 800 from middle position and Sirarwitch Rattanaprateeptong three-bet to 2,000 in the cutoff. Hao Jiang Jhih then four-bet to 5,400 from the big blind. Nakabo stepped aside. Rattanaprateeptong shoved for 10,500 and was snap-called by Jhih.

Sirawitch Rattanaprateeptong: 2♠ 2♣

Hao Jiang Jhih: A♣ A♦

Rattanaprateeptong's pocket deuces ran straight into Jhih's bullets and received little help on the 9♠ T♣ J♥ flop from the dealer.

The deck sealed Rattanaprateeptong's fate in brisk fashion with a runout of 5♣ 5♠, shipping the pot Jhih's way.

With around 6,000 chips in the middle, the dealer revealed a 7♥ 8♣ 9♣ flop. Wei Sheng Lin checked from under the gun, as did Kevin Hasler from the hijack. Tunkai Young then led out for 7,500. Lin stuck around, and Hasler stepped aside.

Lin checked over the 6♦ turn to Young, who sent another barrel of 10,000. Lin check-called after thinking for a while.

When the 9♦ filled out on the board, Lin checked over again. Young fired his third barrel of 20,000. Lin took no time to shove, prompting a snap-fold from Young.

Yi Cheng Lo opened the hijack to 800 and Ki Young Kim called from the cutoff. Tatsuto Chinen then three-bet to 3,200 on the button. Lo and Kim came along for the ride.

On the 4♣ 3♠ Q♠ flop, action checked to Chinen, who continued with a 5,200 bet. Only Lo stuck around this time.

Lo checked over the T♠ turn, only to face a shove from Chinen for 11,600. After burning two time bank cards, Lo eventually tossed his cards into the muck.

Kuanhan Lee from early position and Young Jong Lee from middle position limped in. Hsian Chen then raised the hijack to 900. Both Kuanhan Lee and Young Jong Lee stuck around.

On the T♥ 9♥ Q♣ flop, three players tapped the table to see the 5♦ turn. Kuanhan Lee led out for 1,000, which only Chen made the call.

When the 6♣ filled out the board, Kuanhan Lee fired again, this time for 2,000, and it was hefty enough to take down the pot as Chen laid it down.

Sirawitch Rattanaprateeptong made it 500 to go from the cutoff, and Kaji Yamamoto defended his big blind.

Yamamoto led out for 500 on the 4♥ 3♣ 9♥ flop, and Rattanaprateeptong stuck around to see the 5♠ fall on the turn, where Yamamoto sent another barrel of 1,500. It was good for the pot.

On the very next hand, Yamamoto opened the button to 600 and Rattanaprateeptong called from the big blind.

Rattanaprateeptong bet 800 after seeing the K♠ 2♠ T♥ flop and Yamamoto made the call.

Both players checked through the 5♠ turn to the 9♠ river, where Rattanaprateeptong checked and Yamamoto bet 800, which pushed Rattanaprateeptong out of the pot.

With 13 players already seated and the cards in the air, Flight C of the TMTC Main Event is officially underway.

The NTD $30,000,000 guaranteed Taiwan Millions Tournament Championship (TMTC) Main Event rolls into its penultimate starting flight today at the Asia Poker Arena. After two days of action-packed poker, the total entries have climbed to 538 thanks to 289 runners from Day 1b and 249 from Day 1a, and that number is set to rise fast with two more flights still to come.

Players are taking their seats for Day 1c, where they’ll each start with a 50,000-chip stack and battle through nine levels of registration in hopes of joining the growing list of survivors already guaranteed a piece of the huge prize pool.

Yesterday saw Yousef Nassr top the charts with 1,165,000, narrowly ahead of Yu Yung Lin (1,133,000) and Ching En Chen (1,022,000), all crossing the million-chip mark to lead the pack into Day 2.

Today’s field will be looking to follow in their footsteps and lock up their seat in the money before play wraps up later tonight. Following this flight, a turbo-paced Day 1d kicks off at 6:30 p.m., featuring 20-minute levels for those chasing one last shot at Main Event glory.

Stay tuned to Somuchpoker for live updates, photos, and chip counts as the TMTC Main Event continues to light up Taipei.

Event starts 11:00 local time..