Nick Lai Wins Players Series Taipei Main Event

Taiwan’s Nick Lai emerged as the first ever Players Series Taipei Main Event champion! Lai came from behind at heads up against Sin Lan Chen to secure the title along with an ICM payout of NTD 1,884,000 (~US$ 57,950).

“This is the dream of every poker player, to win a big event, and I’m glad to have the chance to win it.”

Nick Lai Crowned Players Series Main Event Champion

The Player Series Main Event ran from December 15 to 23 at the CTP Asia Poker Arena in Taipei City, Taiwan. Attracting 748 entries, the top 112 players claimed a piece of the NTD 15 Million prize pool. Entering the final day as front runner was the most decorated player in the lineup, Zong Chi He from Taiwan.

Lai confessed that he was most worried about Zong but was glad to have position over him. Lai entered the final table in the middle of the pack and to prepare he shared,

“I see some ICM situation last night (Day 3) and try to imagine what I will encounter today. So I think that preparation gave me more confidence to handle it. I’ve played a lot of final tables before online, I would save the hands and review them. I try to exploit every player. Some players play tight and some players play aggressive. I just adjust my strategy against different players.”

At 8-handed, Lai was nearly out when he ran into aces while holding queens. Acknowledging his luck when a queen turned up on the board, Lai said,

“When I bad beat aces with queens, if that didn’t happen I would have been done there. So that gave me a little light that maybe I will win this tournament.”

Entering heads up, Sin Lan Chen was running hot and had a 2:1 advantage against Lai. Sharing his strategy,

“I regard her (Sin Lan Chen) as a relatively tight player, so I just try to play aggressive. And when I have big hands, I also like to play as a bluff to make her confused. So I think on the last hand, she jammed 40 bigs with pocket threes I think that’s because I opened so many hands. So she would make that decision.”

Main Event Review

• Date: December 15, 19-23, 2024
• Buy in: NTD 16,500 (~US$ 510)
• Guarantee: NTD 15,000,000 (~US$ 460,000)
• Entries: 748
• Prize pool: NTD 15,000,000 (~US$ 460,000)
• ITM: 112 places

Final Table Payouts

*Heads up ICM deal, played for the trophy

Read up on the action: SMP Live Updates
Players Series Main Event – Payouts

From 2nd – 9th Places

A rundown of the action, first to fall was Jonathan Looi (9th) with K♣Q♣ unable to improve on the board against Zong Chi He’s A♥7♠. Lee Shun Hei (8th) started the day running well however found himself outplayed numerous times then fell to Lai’s cowboys. Erwin Ng (7th) was out next with pocket Kings outdrawn by big slick with two aces on the board.

Ruei Jiun Liang was one of the most active players at the final table until his A♣8♣ was outdrawn by Sin Lan Chen’s K♣Q♦ to finish in 6th place. Yu Cheng Hsu jumped out early and ready to play. He quickly claimed the top spot and would have built a massive lead had his aces not been cracked by Lai’s lucky pocket queens. Hsu’s run ended in 5th place with Chen spiking the three-outer on the river.

Zong Chi He entered the final table as chip leader but took a back seat against the more aggressive Chen and Lai to finish in 4th place. Chang Ming Hung bobbed in and out of the danger zone all day until he was stopped in 3rd place.

Down to the final two players, an ICM deal was reached guaranteeing chip leader Sin Lan Chen the larger payout. Chen entered with a sizable chip advantage until one failed bluff sent her plunging and though she recovered, her massive push with 3♥3♣ ran aground against Lai’s Q♠Q♦.

Links:

Players Series Taipei 2024 – Schedule
Players Series Taipei 2024 – Festival Results
Players Series Taipei 2024 – Photos