Grandest Festival in Asian Poker Tour History Makes Landfall This November in Taipei

Record after record, the Asian Poker Tour (APT), sponsored by Natural8 , has continued to dominate the live poker scene since ushering in its bold New Era. As the region’s leading poker tour, APT has redefined what premium competition means, from record-breaking turnouts to groundbreaking prize pools that continue to raise the bar for the entire industry.

From November 14 – 30, 2025, the tour returns to Red Space 多元商務空間 in Taipei, Taiwan, for the first-ever APT Championship under its new regime. Held in partnership with the Chinese Texas Hold’em Poker Club (CTP Club), the series features an epic 200 trophy events and an astonishing TWD 276 million (~USD 8.4 million) in total guarantees, setting yet another benchmark for live poker in Asia.

The APT Championship Taipei 2025 serves as the perfect finale to the premier brand’s chart-topping year. Every stop this season has outshone the last in both attendance and prize pool milestones, and Taipei now stands as the stage where it all comes together. Over seventeen days, players from across the globe will converge in Taiwan’s capital to chase history, glory, and a share of one of the richest prize pools ever offered on Asian soil.

APT Championship Main Event

At the heart of the festival lies the APT Championship Main Event, running from November 24 to 28, which carries a monumental USD 5 million guarantee — the largest single-event guarantee in APT history and in Asia. The marquee event features a jaw-dropping USD 10,000 buy-in and offers a pure freezeout format, a unique offering rarely heard nowadays in the Asia live circuit. No re-entries, no second chances, just five days of skill, strategy, and survival.

Regarded as having the best tournament structure in the region, every player begins with 250 big blinds, built to reward patience and precision, with 75-minute levels on the clock across the first two days before extending to 90-minute levels from Day 3 onward. The field is expected to be one of the most competitive of the year, drawing Asia’s elite and international heavyweights alike, where only one will walk away with the title and a story that will be remembered for years to come.

APTC Main Event Schedule

• Dates: November 24–28, 2025
• Buy-in: USD 10,000
• Guarantee: USD 5,000,000
• Day 1: Monday, November 24
• Day 2: Tuesday, November 25
• Day 3: Wednesday, November 26
• Day 4: Thursday, November 27
• Day 5: Friday, November 28

As anticipation builds for the APT Championship Taipei 2025, early qualifiers have already taken their places among the elite. APT Incheon Main Event champion Junjie He and newly crowned APT Jeju Main Event winner Ceesvin Abraham Abdulla headline the list of players with seats already secured. Joining them are superstars Danny Tang, Joseph Cheong, Calvin Lee, Mingcong Chen, and Ngo Khoa Anh, all of whom have booked their spots through standout performances at recent APT stops.

Also expected to make their way to Taipei are some of Asia’s most accomplished pros including Punnat Punsri, Sparrow Cheung, Xixiang Luo, William Teoh, James Mendoza, and Phachara Wongwichit, promising a star-studded lineup befitting the tour’s most anticipated festival to date.

Qualify Online

While satellites will run throughout the festival, players eager to lock in their seats ahead of time can already do so online, with qualification now in full swing on Natural8. Players can join Step Satellites for as low as USD 20, and Mega Satellites to win their way into the APTC Main Event, with weekly USD 150 Step Satellites and monthly USD 1,100 satellites already running.

In an added twist exclusive to Natural8 qualifiers, any player who wins their APTC Main Event seat via Mega Satellites or through online direct buy-in will receive a USD 50,000 bonus upon capturing the highly coveted Main Event title.

Championship Events

With seventeen days of action and 200 trophy events on tap, there’s no doubt every attendee will find something to suit their liking. The APT Championship Taipei 2025 schedule stands as a true celebration of the game’s full spectrum – from marquee hold’em titles to mixed-game showdowns, dedicated women’s events, and elite high-roller battles. Each event has been meticulously structured to deliver balance and excitement, highlighted by major Championships that define the festival’s flow.

Given APT’s strong international draw, many of whom are elite players from across the globe, the High Roller staples are once again expected to be crowd favorites pulling in seven figures. Championship buy-ins start from just TWD 13,000 (~USD 430) and soar to an eye-watering USD 25,000. Beyond the Main Event, four additional tournaments carry guarantees, which history suggests will be comfortably surpassed, continuing APT’s trend of smashing expectations.

Visit the Asian Poker Tour’s official website for the full event schedule and registration details.

High Roller Early Bird Specials

To sweeten the stakes for VIP players, APT is rolling out High Roller Early Bird Specials that pair tournament access with premium hospitality. The Gold Package offers pre-registration for the Main Event, High Roller Championship, and Mini High Roller Championship, which comes with seven complimentary nights at Taipei’s Artree Hotel, for players who commit USD 32,700 by October 17.

The Diamond Package raises the bar, for a USD 100,200 commitment by the same deadline, players gain access to the Super High Roller Championship, Superstar Challenge, Main Event, and High Roller Championship, along with ten free nights at the luxurious JR Metropolitan Hotel. Both packages come with added perks such as roundtrip airport transfers, making it smooth and easy for international travelers from the get go.

Getting There

Traveling to the APT Championship Taipei 2025 is easy and convenient with Taipei’s Red Space centrally located in the city’s vibrant Zhongshan District. International travelers can fly into Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), Taiwan’s main international gateway, and reach the venue in roughly 40–45 minutes by taxi or private transfer. Alternatively, Songshan Airport (TSA) — located within Taipei City, offers regional connections and is just 15–20 minutes away.

For visitors planning extended stays, the surrounding area offers a wide range of accommodation options, from business hotels and boutique stays to luxury chains. The venue is also well-connected by public transport, with MRT lines, restaurants, and nightlife hubs all within a short walk, making it an ideal base for players throughout the festival.

Red Space 多元商務空間
Address: B1F, No. 15, Fuxing North Road, Songshan District, Taipei City

Nearby Eats

The Red Space venue sits in one of Taipei’s most dynamic neighborhoods, surrounded by countless options for food lovers looking to recharge between events. Just steps from the venue, Liaoning Street Night Market offers an authentic late-night experience with rows of food stalls serving everything from sizzling Taiwanese sausages and oyster omelets to braised pork rice and bubble tea.

For a hearty sit-down meal, Lin Dong Fang Beef Noodles on Bade Road is a local icon, famous for its deeply flavored broth and melt-in-your-mouth beef slices. A few blocks away, Yang Shin Vegetarian Restaurant presents refined dim sum and traditional Taiwanese dishes in a relaxed setting.

For players craving international comfort food, the nearby Xinyi and Zhongxiao Dunhua areas are packed with global chains and modern eateries — from Shake Shack and Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse to the stylish MUME Café & Wine Bar for those seeking something upscale. For quick breaks and caffeine stops on the other hand, Fika Fika Café, Woolloomooloo, and The Lobby of Simple Kaffa, one of Asia’s most celebrated coffee spots, are within a 10-minute taxi ride, offering specialty brews and pastries perfect for winding down after long sessions.