GOP Trophy Showcase Sets the Stage for Taipei 2026

Gods of Poker opens 2026 in Taipei with The Titan Assembly, running from January 8 to 18 at CTP Asia Poker Arena , an eleven-day festival featuring 95 events and NTD 42,000,000 in guarantees.

As the series approaches, attention naturally turns to the trophies that will define it. At GOP Taipei 2026 , hardware is not just a backdrop to the action. It is a central part of the festival’s identity, with multiple signature designs waiting to be claimed across the schedule.

From the iconic Gauntlets to the return of the Aphrodite mirror trophies and the imposing Kraken Trophy, GOP Taipei places real emphasis on the trophies and titles at stake, not just the prize money.

The Five Gauntlets

At the heart of the GOP trophy lineup are the five Gauntlets, each tied to one of the festival’s marquee events. These trophies have quickly become the most recognizable symbol of Gods of Poker, blending mythological inspiration with finishes that distinguish each title at the highest level of competition.

The Gauntlets are reserved for the biggest stages of the series, with each one awarded to the champion of a specific flagship event. Winning a Gauntlet signifies more than a payday. It marks a defining performance within the festival and, increasingly, within the broader Asian tournament scene.

The five Gauntlets at GOP Taipei 2026 are awarded as follows:

• Main Event: Black and Gold Gauntlet
• Demigods Challenge: Black Gauntlet
• GOP Super High Roller: Gold Gauntlet
• GOP High Roller: Silver Gauntlet
• Titan Stack High Roller: Rose Gold Gauntlet

Daily Women’s Events and the Aphrodite Mirror Trophy

GOP Taipei 2026 also continues its commitment to daily Women’s Events, each awarding the Aphrodite mirror trophy. Elegant in contrast to the heavier Gauntlet designs, the Aphrodite trophy will surely become a consistent symbol across GOP stops, giving the women’s schedule its own clear identity and sense of prestige.

By offering daily opportunities rather than a single standalone event, GOP ensures that female players remain a visible and integral part of the festival throughout its full eleven-day run.

The Spartan and Shield Trophies

Beyond the headline Gauntlets, GOP Taipei 2026 also features a wider trophy ecosystem that recognizes achievement across different tiers of the schedule.

At the top of this group sits the Gold Spartan Trophy, awarded exclusively to the High Roller champion. This trophy is reserved for the most demanding buy-in tier and is designed to reflect elite-level performance at the sharp end of the festival.

Supporting that is the Silver Spartan Trophy, which is presented to winners of other key events across the schedule. These are major tournaments that sit just below the High Roller level in buy-in and prestige, giving standout performances their own distinct recognition rather than blending into a single trophy category.

Finally, the Shield Trophy is awarded across the remainder of the schedule, covering side events and supporting tournaments throughout the eleven days. While these events may vary in format and buy-in, the Shield ensures that victories across the broader festival still carry a visible and meaningful symbol of success.

Together, the Gauntlets, Spartans, Aphrodite mirrors, Kraken Trophy, and Shields form a complete trophy lineup that reflects the full depth of GOP Taipei 2026. Whether players are competing at the highest stakes or navigating the packed daily schedule, every path to a title comes with hardware that clearly marks the achievement.

The Kraken Trophy

Lurking at the business end of the schedule is the Kraken Trophy, awarded to the winner of the Kraken Stack. With its aggressive design and late-series placement, the Kraken Trophy is built to feel earned, often coming after days of sustained play and pressure.

As one of the final trophies awarded in Taipei, it has quickly become a favorite target for players looking to finish the series on a high note.

Player of the Series

Alongside individual titles, GOP Taipei 2026 also crowns an overall Player of the Series, rewarding consistency and performance across the entire festival rather than a single standout result. To qualify, players must record three or more cashes during the series, ensuring the leaderboard reflects sustained results over multiple events.

Points are calculated using a weighted formula that takes into account both event category and return on investment. Each tournament type carries a base score, with the Main Event sitting at the top end and Turbo formats at the lower end. That base figure is then multiplied by how many times a player wins their buy-in, meaning deeper runs in larger events have a far greater impact than small cashes alone.

The Player of the Series winner receives a Crown Trophy and $1,500 in tournament credits, with second and third place earning $1,000 and $500 respectively. With a deep leaderboard already forming, the Player of the Series race adds another competitive layer to GOP Taipei 2026, giving players a reason to stay involved across the full schedule.

A Champion Already Etched Into GOP History

Trophies matter more when they carry stories, and Gods of Poker already has one firmly etched into its history.

At the previous GOP stop, Tian Zhi Kong was crowned the first-ever Gods of Poker Main Event champion . Competing in his first poker tournament outside of home turf, Kong rose above the field to lift the black-and-gold Gauntlet and secure the top payout of KRW 187,290,000, roughly USD 127,000.

Speaking afterward with GOP host Erica Tsang, Kong shared that the opportunity to experience a new environment and challenge himself internationally played a major role in his decision to attend. That victory not only launched his name into GOP history, but also set the benchmark for what it means to win on this stage.

More Than Just Hardware

As GOP Taipei 2026 approaches, the trophy lineup offers a clear snapshot of what the series represents. Structure, identity, and moments that last beyond the final hand.

For players heading to Taipei, these trophies are more than photo props. They are milestones, each tied to a specific challenge, format, and level of competition. And by the time the festival wraps up, a new set of names will join Kong in carrying GOP hardware forward into the next chapter.