HKPPA Premier League lands in Taipei in two weeks
Asia’s live tournament poker schedule has been packed since the beginning of the year, filled with nonstop action festival after festival. This April, HKPPA – Hong Kong Poker Players Association in partnership with Chinese Texas Hold’em Poker Association (CTP Club) is stepping out into the limelight with a fifth season of its HKPPA Premier League Taiwan series. The festivities kick off on April 4th and will course through a five day lineup at the Asia Poker Arena in Taipei. Hosted by the HKPPA, a strong contingent from Hong Kong is expected to partake in the games with over a hundred players reportedly flocking into the bustling location.
A total of 22 events complete the schedule featuring classic formats No Limit Hold’em and Omaha, along with a share of mix games. Buy-ins fall under the NTD 3,000 (~USD 93) to NTD 50,000 (~USD 1,560) range, with the most expensive on the list being the Super High Roller Shot Clock 8-Max, happening on April 7th, Sunday.
All eyes however will be on the TWD 5,000,000 (~USD 156,300) guaranteed Main Event which begins on April 5th, Friday. Three starting flights all priced at NTD 25,000 (~USD 780), round up the qualifying rounds with players allowed to survive through to the Final Day multiple times following the Best Stack Forward policy. The first two on schedule will play through 30 minute blind levels while Day 1C is set at a faster 20 minute Turbo format. The Final Day sees a longer 40 minute gameplay where a new champion will be crowned by the end of the night.
HKPPA Premier League Taiwan Main Event
Date/s: April 5 – 7, 2024
Buy-in: NTD 25,000 (~USD 780)
Guarantee: TWD 5,000,000 (~USD 156,300)
Day 1A: Friday, April 5
Day 1B: Saturday, April 6
Day 1C: Saturday, April 6
Final Day: Sunday, April 7
Last season’s Main Event drew in 255 total entries, more than enough to eclipse the TWD 5 Million (~USD 156K) guarantee and generate a NTD 5,565,400 (~USD 172,393) prize pool. Local runner Chia Ko secured the victory, taking with him NTD 1,018,000 (~USD 31,533) in winnings and the trophy to boot.
HKPPA Premier League Taiwan Main Event Winners
| Date | Champion | Prize (NTD) | Prize (USD) | Entries | Prize pool (NTD) |
| October 2023 | Chia Ko | NTD 1,018,000 | $31,533 | 255 | NTD 5,565,400 |
| April 2023 | Ho Lee | NTD 1,009,000 | $33,119 | 190 | NTD 4,146,800 |
| October 2019 | Kuang Hung Lee | NTD 701,600 | $22,633 | 190 | NTD 4,146,700 |
| April 2019 | Zong Chi He | NTD 1,203,700 | $39,079 | 256 | NTD 4,469,700 |
Accompanying the Main Event are several noteworthy side events including the TWD 50,000 (~USD 150) buy-in Sparrow Cup, named after HKPPA Chairman Park Yu ‘Sparrow’ Cheung, and a Mystery Bounty Opening event for TWD 8,000 (~USD 250). Early starters can take advantage of the satellites available only for the first two days of schedule, geared for the Opening and Main Event.
HKPPA Premier League Taiwan Full Schedule
