Malaysia Flies the Flag at WPF Asian Nation Cup 2026

Team Malaysia had plenty to celebrate at the WPF Asian Nation Cup 2026, taking home the national team title after three days of competition at CTP Asia Poker Arena in Taipei. Among nine nations flying their flags, Malaysia came out on top, earning a trophy, bragging rights, and eight seats to the TMT Championship 2026 Main Event.

Hosted by the Asian Poker Sports Association (APSA), the event brought together players from across Asia for a competition that put national pride alongside individual poker skills. Host nation Taiwan finished runner-up, while defending champions Philippines secured third place after edging Thailand on the tiebreaker.

With medals, tournament credits, and Main Event seats on the line, there was plenty to play for beyond the team trophy.

Malaysia Finds Its Winning Formula

Nine national teams took part in the competition: host Taiwan, defending champions Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Japan, and Macau.

The first two days featured three formats — Heads-Up, No-Limit Hold’em multi-table tournaments (MTTs), and Bounty MTTs — with the combined results determining the four teams advancing to the final day.

Taiwan initially held the advantage, finishing the opening stage at the top of the standings with 219.51 points and earning an eight-point bonus. Malaysia followed in second with 151.43 points, ahead of Thailand on 122.62 and the Philippines on 121.61.

But the final day brought a fresh opportunity for the four remaining teams to fight for the title, and Malaysia made the most of it.

After three rounds of competition, Malaysia collected 73 points, including a five-point bonus, to secure first place. Taiwan finished second with 61 points, while the Philippines and Thailand each ended on 49 points.

The tie for third came down to the tiebreaker. Both teams scored 20 points in Heads-Up, but the Philippines pulled ahead in the Single Table Tournament (STT), scoring 29 points against Thailand's 26 and earning the additional three-point bonus.

That was enough to put the defending champions on the podium, with Thailand narrowly missing out.

Lu Qi En and Hazel Tan Lead the Individual Categories

Beyond the national team standings, the competition also recognized the top performers in the men's and women's categories, with medals and tournament credits adding to the rewards.

Men's Category

Taiwan's Lu Qi En topped the men's standings with 46 points, earning a medal along with tournament credits for the Asian Poker Tour (APT) and Ace Poker League (APL).

Thailand's Supanut Wannasangkhum came close behind with 45 points, just one point shy of the top spot. Taiwan's Huang Yu Hsiang completed the top three with 43 points.

Women's Category

Malaysia's Hazel Tan delivered an important contribution to her country's winning campaign, finishing atop the women's category with 20 points. The result added another highlight to Tan's growing presence in the women's poker scene, while also bringing tournament credits her way.

South Korea's Yoo Eunjung finished just one point behind with 19 points, while Singapore's Tan Li Ping Jice placed third with 17 points.

Tan's individual result was another bright spot for Malaysia, which left Taipei with both the team trophy and eight seats to the TMT Championship 2026 Main Event.

Building the Future of Poker in Asia

Beyond the results, the WPF Asian Nations Cup aims to strengthen ties between national poker communities and support the development of competitive poker as a mind sport across the region.

Raymond Wong, Secretary General of the Asian Poker Sports Association (APSA), reflected on the significance of the event and the importance of continued cooperation among participating nations.

“The successful conclusion of the 2026 WPF Asian Nations Cup marks another important milestone for the development of competitive poker in Asia. Over the past three days, we have witnessed not only outstanding performances and sportsmanship, but also the unity, passion, and commitment of national teams from across the region."

“This event is about much more than winning a trophy. It is about building a stronger foundation for poker as a recognized mind sport, strengthening cooperation among national federations, and creating more opportunities for athletes to represent their countries on the international stage."

“On behalf of APSA, I would like to sincerely thank all participating nations, players, officials, partners, and the organizing team for making this event a success. Together, we are shaping the future of competitive poker in Asia.”

With Malaysia taking the title, Taiwan finishing second on home soil, and the Philippines returning to the podium, the 2026 edition delivered a close contest among the region's national teams.

The WPF Asian Nations Cup is expected to return next year, with hopes of welcoming even more Asian nations to the competition.