“PUSO!” Lester Edoc Tops Record 1,418-Entry Field at TMT Championship 2026 Main Event

Lester Edoc has done it again, this time conquering the biggest field in TMT Championship history. The Filipino poker veteran came out on top of a record-breaking 1,418-entry field to capture the TMT Championship 2026 Main Event title at CTP Asia Poker Arena in Taipei, taking home NTD 4,757,400 (~USD 146,440) after a three-way ICM deal.

Edoc entered the final table with the chip lead and maintained it through five hours of play. Aditya Agarwal finished runner-up for NTD 4,162,400 (~USD 128,130), while Sunho Yoo took third place for NTD 3,643,200 (~USD 111,710). After agreeing on the deal, the three players decided to move all-in preflop every hand until a champion emerged. Five hands later, Edoc had the title.

TMT Championship 2026 Main Event - Final Table Results

Edoc: “It’s Been a While Since I Won a Main Event”

It was a memorable run for the Edoc family, as Lester's victory came just a day after his wife, Ferlyn, won the TMT Championship Ladies Event. With both taking home titles during the festival, the couple had plenty to celebrate in Taipei.

For Edoc, the win was especially meaningful after a wait for another Main Event title. He also pointed to the size of the field, which made the result stand out among his tournament achievements.

“I’m very happy, it’s been a while since I won a main event and this is also the biggest in number of field that I outlasted,” he said.

Edoc was also asked about a hand against fellow Filipino and WPF Asian Nations Cup 2026 teammate Marc Rivera that helped boost his stack. He joked that Rivera might be his lucky charm.

“Every time I eliminated him (Marc Rivera) I always win the tournament so I think next time I will ask him again to give his chips to me,” he said.

Edoc also had a message for Filipino players who are considering competing overseas, encouraging them to test themselves against international fields.

“Go out and try playing outside of the Philippines because we Filipinos have a chance to win international events.”

He ended with a shout of “PUSO!”

TMT Championship Main Event Sets a New Attendance Record

This year's Main Event attracted 1,418 entries, setting a new attendance record for the TMT Championship. The field grew by nearly 32% from the 1,076 entries recorded in 2025 and more than 51% from the 936 entries in 2024.

The turnout was notable given the typhoon that disrupted the schedule across Day 1A through Day 1D. Despite the weather challenges during the opening flights, players continued to turn up, pushing the field beyond every previous edition.

The record field generated a NTD 42,880,320 (~USD 1,315,000) prize pool, comfortably surpassing the NTD 30 million (~USD 1 million) guarantee. The result made this the largest Main Event in the festival's history and set up a final table with players from several countries and regions.

Edoc Holds the Lead as Final Table Unfolds

Nine players returned for the final table, with Edoc already out in front. As the field narrowed, he continued to pick up key pots and remained at the top through the day's eliminations.

Feng Hsien Ching was the first to go, finishing ninth after his ace-king failed to improve against Sangjun Jung’s pocket eights. Kuan Ying Chen followed in eighth after his pocket aces were cracked by Injae Jeong, who flopped a flush.

Jung then faced Edoc in a big pot, holding pocket eights against Edoc's pocket aces. Jung flopped a set and appeared to be in good shape, but a runner-runner flush completed for Edoc, ending Jung's run in seventh place.

Jeong was next to leave in sixth. After becoming short-stacked, he committed his chips preflop, only for Agarwal to flop a full house and eliminate him.

Ronald Haverkamp finished fifth after getting his chips in behind against Edoc preflop. Haverkamp found help on the flop, but Edoc completed a straight on the river to send him to the rail.

Hao Che Cheng was the last Taiwanese player remaining at the final table, but his run ended in fourth place, also at Edoc's hands. That left Edoc, Agarwal, and Yoo to settle the title.

Three-Way Deal, Then Five Hands to Decide the Champion

With three players left, Edoc, Agarwal, and Yoo agreed to a three-way ICM deal, settling their payouts before continuing to play for the title. They then decided to move all-in preflop every hand until one player remained.

The format brought the tournament to a quick finish. After five hands, Edoc emerged as champion, taking the largest payout of the three and completing a final table where he had held the chip lead from the start.

The result capped a record-breaking Main Event for the TMT Championship, with 1,418 entries, a NTD 42.88 million prize pool, and Edoc adding another major title to his poker resume.