Players Series: Daniel Yang Wins Warm Up Mystery Bounty; Liao Bo Lin and Hong Yu Huang Top Key Event Heats

A bustling day was set on the third day agenda of the Players Series festivities at CTP Asia Poker Arena with three highlights running on the felt. Opening key event, Warm Up Mystery Bounty, crowned its champion with Taiwan’s own Daniel Yang walking away with the victory. The crown jewel, PS Main Event, also ran its first of five flights, where Liao Bo Lin set the benchmark for the upcoming heats. Deep pocketed enthusiasts were likewise kept busy throughout the day with the PS Super High Roller games playing through its first ten levels. Hong Yu Huang came out on top of the remaining 30-player field, and leads the returning pack for today’s Final Day games. Newcomers are still welcome to join in with registration remaining open through the first two levels (~Level 13@ 14:35).

Stay tuned to SMP Live Updates as the games unfold, and catch the latest action directly off the floor.

Players Series Taipei 2024 – Schedule
Players Series Taipei 2024 – Festival Results
Players Series Taipei 2024 – Live Updates

Daniel Yang Wins Warm Up Mystery Bounty

“I’m honored to be the champion of the first event of the Players Series. For every championship, I have to be so grateful. I know you need a lot of hard work in everything to accomplish this.”, commented Yang following his win.

After a grueling ten hour grind across the Warm Up Mystery Bounty Final Day festivities, Taiwan’s own Daniel Yang emerged triumphant over the final rounds and banked the largest payout on the list at NTD 500,000 (~USD 15,375). His latest feat comes as a second career win, his first one being at the same venue just a couple months ago. Yang’s road to victory was smooth sailing, having entered the final table with the lead after busting compatriot Yu Chen Huang in 10th place finish.

While Yang lost a few showdowns, the Taiwanese runner easily recovered by taking it postflop and remaining aggressive. Three-handed play stretched out for over an hour with the lead shifting back and forth, up until Yang rivered the nut straight against Won Bae’s two pair did the final duel take shape. With a nearly 3:1 advantage, Yang cleaned out Chia Lin in just three hands, earning another substantial score along the way right in time for the PS Main Event games. In addition to his notable payday, Yang also racked up nine bounty tokens, bringing up his total winnings to NTD 697,000 (~USD 21,435).

“Three people left for an hour, the chips went back and forth. In my hand against Won Bae, I checked back the turn. So that’s why I got to see the river, and if I stretched the turn he might just jam, and I just couldn’t see the river.  When the river came, I hit a straight and busted him out. I think that was the most crucial moment.”

Yang only began his live tournament career early this year and has already banked over USD 200,000 in total live earnings, with more to be expected as the country continues to be a hotbed for live poker.

When asked about his Players Series experience, Yang stated “The trophy is good, and the buy-in is affordable, which allows more people to join.”

Also walking away with a grand payday is 25th place finisher Edward Yam, who drew the biggest bounty ticket by midday, and added another NTD 260,000 (~USD 7,995) in prizes to his NTD 20,500 (~USD 615) payout. 

Warm Up Mystery Bounty Review

• Date/s: December 13-15, 2024
• Buy-in: NTD 12,000 (~USD 380)
• Guarantee: NTD 4,000,000 (~USD 123,040)
• Entries: 366
• Prize pool: NTD 2,667,000 (~USD 82,025)
• Bounty pool: NTD 1,333,000 (~USD 41,000)
• ITM: 55 places

By the Numbers

• Flight A: 74 entries, 11 qualified
• Flight B: 70 entries, 11 qualified
• Flight C: 148 entries, 22 qualified
• Flight D: 74 entries, 11 qualified
• Final Day: 55 players

Warm Up Mystery Bounty Final Table Results

*Excluding bounty prizes

Backtrack on the day’s action via SMP Live Updates
Warm Up Mystery Bounty Full Payouts

Liao Bo Lin Tops CTP PS Main Event Flight A

Flight A of the NTD 16,500 (~USD 525) buy-in CTP PS Main Event has concluded with 125 entries generated following twelve 50-minute levels, with only 32 survivors successfully bagging up their chips and moving on to Day 2 on Saturday, Dec. 21st.

Taiwan’s Liao Bo Lin sits atop the leaderboard after a day of skillful play, amassing a chip count of 361,500. Lin maintained momentum throughout the day with strategic moves, including applying pressure on the turn with a board reading 4d 4s Jc 4c, which left two opponents to fold.

Close behind is Taiwan’s Lai Li Yang, who also amassed an impressive stack of 317,500 for Day 2. Demonstrating strategic aggression since Level 3, Yang maintained his momentum all the way through to the final level.

Other survivors who managed to advance to Day 2 with healthy stacks include Taiwan’s Chio Ka Seng (189,000), Taiwan’s Chen East (183,000), Japan’s Taisei Sakamoto (174,500), Taiwan’s Ho Keng Chih (168,500), and Taiwan’s Hsu Yu Cheng (166,500).

CTP PS Main Event Review

• Date/s: December 15, 19-23, 2024
• Buy-in: NTD 16,500 (~USD 525)
• Guarantee: NTD 15,000,000 (~USD 465,865)
• Flight A: 125 entries, 32 qualified
• Flight B: Thursday, December 19
• Flight C: Thursday, December 19
• Flight D: Friday, December 20
• Flight E: Friday, December 20
• Day 2: Saturday, December 21
• Day 3: Sunday, December 22
• Final Day: Monday, December 23

CTP PS Main Event Flight A Top Ten Chip Counts

Backtrack on the day’s action via SMP Live Updates
Complete List of CTP PS Main Event Day 2 Qualifiers

Hong Yu Huang Leads PS Super High Roller

The PS Super High Roller Day 1 games drew in a total of 54 entries, leaving registration open for latecomers through the first two levels of today’s Final Day festivities. Only 30 runners survived the first ten levels of play, with Taiwan’s Hong Yu Huang stacking atop the list with a mighty 1,145,000 chip count. Huang stands to be the sole runner with a seven-digit stack, with next in line Patrick Wahlquist quite a distance away with 816,000. Japan’s Momozaki Ryoya round up the top three spots with 746,000, 3x the starting stack.

Final Day action resumes today, December 16th, 13:00, where a winner will rise to the podium by night’s end.

• Date/s: December 15-16, 2024
• Buy-in: NTD 50,000 (~USD 1,585)
• Guarantee: NTD 3,000,000 (~USD 92,270)
• Day 1: 54 entries, 30 qualified
• Final Day: December 16

PS Super High Roller Top Ten Final Day Qualifiers

Matthew Triumphs Over Hyper Turbo

• Date/s: December 15, 2024
• Buy-in: NTD 5,000 (~USD 160)
• Entries: 47
• Prize pool: NTD 196,300 (~USD 6,035)
• ITM: 8 places

Hyper Turbo Full Payouts