APT Taipei Poker Classic 2024 sets new Taiwan record, NTD 388 Million (~US$ 12M) in prizes awarded: Dhanesh Chainani, and Kuo Wei Kao capture Final Day highlights

The lions have been tamed over this season’s APT Taipei Poker Classic 2024, with a total of 98 trophies awarded across its 11-day lineup. The leading brand took the scene by storm once again with over NTD 388.25 Million (~US$ 12.18 Million) in prizes awarded, making it Taiwan’s largest and richest poker series to date. A staggering 16,787 entries garnered from 2,776 unique players turned out across the games, with each day seeing the venues packed to the brim. 

Three events brought in four-figure fields, the biggest of which remains to be the record-breaking NTD 86 Million (~US$ 2.7M) Main Event. Germany’s Rene Von Reden came out on top of the 1,991 entry field, and smashingly captured the mammoth NTD 14.4 Million (~USD 450K) top prize. Sharing the winner’s glory are Final Day winners, Dhanesh Chainani, and Kuo Wei Kao, who bested the largest ever Micro Main Event, and The Closer, to wrap up the series.

APT Poker Classic 2024 - Festival Results

Festival Review

Date/s: September 27 - October 7, 2024
Venue:  CTP Asia Poker Arena, and Chinese Mahjong League, Taipei, Taiwan
Trophy Events: 98
Festival prize pool: NTD 388.25 Million (~US$ 12.18 Million)
Entries: 16,787
Players: 2,776 unique
Countries: 48
Record Events:

• APT Main Event - APT country largest and richest, all-time Taiwan record for prize pool, and first place prize

• Event #10 Mystery Bounty Hunter - Sponsored by Natural8 - APT record for field size, unique players, prize pool, and first place prize

• Event #89: Mini Main Event - APT record for field size, unique players, prize pool, and first place prize

• Event #97: Micro Main Event - APT record for field size, unique players, prize pool, and first place prize

• Event #77: Double Stack - APT record for prize pool, and first place prize

Dhanesh Chainani emerges triumphant over largest ever Micro Main Event

With several hopefuls having lost their bid to the Main Event title, the Final Day’s Micro Main Event drew in an impressive 635 entries (393 unique), easily smashing last season’s previous record of 393 entries. Singapore’s Dhanesh Chainani, who placed 5th in the Main Event, claimed redemption at the record-breaking event, and took home the tournament’s largest first place prize ever awarded at NTD 1,154,984 (~USD 36,240). 

His most recent score earned him a career third APT title, having bested the Final Day’s 90-survivor field to claim the APT baby lion trophy victory. A dominant display of skill saw Chainani top the final games, defeating seasoned contenders such as Kunal Patni (8th), and final opponent Gregory Campbell for the title. Other notables who cashed in a profit yet fell short of a podium finish were  India's Dhaval Mudgal (13th), day chip leader Percy Chao (16th), Hong Kong's Sparrow Cheung (25th), and Hon Cheong "Ivan" Lee (80th).

• Date/s: October 5-6, 2024

• Buy in: NTD 11,000 (~US$ 345)

• Guarantee: NTD 3,000,000 (~US$ 93,550)

• Entries: 635 (393 unique)

• Prize pool: NTD 5,967,984 (~USD 187,260)

• ITM: 90 places

Micro Main Event Final Table Results

Backtrack on all the day’s action via SMP Live Updates, All results from 10th - 90th listed under Payouts

Kuo Wei Kao wraps up with a final victory at The Closer

The final highlight on schedule, The Closer attracted a field of 262 entries (200 unique), bringing up the prize pool to an eye-catching NTD 2,238,528 (~US$ 70,240) prize pool. A NTD 453,528 (~USD 14,230) first place prize was on the line where Taiwan’s Kuo Wei Kao stood triumphant to claim his career best cash, along with the last of the silver lion silhouette trophies up for grabs. Kao went on to close the action, denying Japan’s Hirotoshi Nakabo of a maiden APT title, leaving the latter to settle for a worthy NTD 298,000 (~US$ 9,350) runner up paycheck.

• Date/s: October 7, 2024

• Buy in: NTD 10,000 (~US$ 310)

• Guarantee: NTD 1,000,000 (~US$ 31,180)

• Entries: 262 (200 unique)

• Prize pool: NTD 2,238,528 (~US$ 70,240)

• ITM: 39 places

The Closer Final Table Results