APT Taipei 2026 is set to bring one of the most diverse schedules of the season to Taiwan , and mixed games will be a big part of that offering. As players continue to look beyond traditional No-Limit Hold’em, formats that reward versatility and all-round skill have been gaining more traction across the live poker scene.

That shift has been clearly visible on the Asian Poker Tour in recent years, and the upcoming Taipei stop will push things even further with the introduction of APT mind sports alongside its growing mixed games schedule.

Mixed games continue to grow at APT

APT first introduced mixed games at APT Hanoi in February 2023, when the schedule featured just two NLH/PLO events in a single format. Since then, the expansion has been significant, with APT Taipei 2026 set to feature 26 mixed game events across five different formats.

The appeal of mixed formats has also drawn in well-known specialists, with mixed games veteran Allen Kessler making his APT debut at APT Incheon 2025, further highlighting the growing reputation of this segment on the tour.

The growth has also been reflected in prize pools. At the APT Championship 2025 , mixed games players competed for more than $1 million in total prize money, underlining how far this part of the schedule has come in a relatively short space of time.

Several players have helped define that rise. Australia’s Mark Furniss leads the way on the APT mixed games leaderboard with $106,791 in earnings and 10 titles, becoming the first player to reach double digits in trophies on the tour. Fellow Australian Jarryd Godena has also been a major force, winning nine titles and collecting $96,332 in earnings, while the United Kingdom’s Qibang “James” Cheung sits second on the all-time prize money list with $99,115 after a strong run over the last year.

Taiwan’s Wang Yu Tang has also made his mark with nine titles, tying for second in the trophy standings and further highlighting the depth of competition in the format.

Mind sports added to the schedule in Taipei

At APT Taipei, the tour will take its next step by bringing mind sports directly into the competitive schedule. Running ahead of select poker events from April 27 to April 29, the format is designed to complement the poker action rather than replace it.

Each day will feature a different discipline. Monday will be Chess, Tuesday will be Chinese Chess (Xiangqi), and Wednesday will be Go.

The sessions will run from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., followed by a 30-minute break before the poker tournament begins at 3:00 p.m.

The structure allows for a maximum of 36 players, divided into six pods of six players each. Every participant will play five matches in a round-robin format within their pod, with a 10-minute clock per player.

Results in the APT mind sports phase will carry over into the poker event. Each match win awards 10,000 bonus starting chips, while draws do not earn any additional chips. Prize money, however, will remain tied solely to poker results.

The three events are listed on the schedule as follows:

Event #70 Mind Sports Week – Chess / Poker
Event #88 Mind Sports Week – Chinese Chess / Poker
Event #104 Mind Sports Week – Go (Game) / Poker

A natural next step for the tour

The addition of chess, Chinese chess, and Go feels like a natural extension of what APT has already been building with mixed games. Chess has enjoyed a strong global resurgence in recent years, while Xiangqi and Go continue to hold deep roots across Asia, making them a strong fit for a festival that already attracts a wide range of players and playing styles.

Rather than moving away from poker, the concept adds another layer to the broader idea behind mixed games: rewarding players who can adapt, think differently, and perform across more than one format.

From just two mixed game events in 2023 to a much broader offering in 2026, APT has steadily expanded this part of the schedule. The addition of mind sports at APT Taipei 2026 is the latest step in that evolution.

For a deeper look at the rise of mixed games on the tour, readers can also check out the original article published by APT.