Sin Lan Chen Finds Redemption With WPF Ladies Victory in Taipei; New TMT Festival Dates Announced

Kai Cocklin is a poker journalist and live reporting manager who has worked with PokerNews at major festivals including the World Series of Poker and the European Poker Tour. He has managed multiple live reporting teams at the World Series of Poker and trained individual reporters to develop their skills. He now oversees Somuchpoker’s editorial and live coverage, ensuring consistent quality and engaging content across the Asian poker scene.

Updated: 2025.10.25

The first-ever WPF Ladies Championship came to a close at the Asia Poker Arena in Taipei, wrapping up an inspiring few days that celebrated the growing presence of women in poker. From October 24 to 25, women from across Asia came together under the World Poker Federation (WPF) and Asian Poker Sports Association (APSA) banners to compete for the NT$1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool, plus the beautifully designed Queen’s Head Trophy, awarded to the champion of the Taipei stop.

While action played out in Taipei, women around the world were also taking their seats at local partner clubs as part of WPF Ladies Weekend, with simultaneous events held in countries such as the Philippines, Hong Kong, Brazil, Bulgaria, South Africa, Canada, and the United States. Each location hosted its own celebration of competition, learning, and community, highlighting the shared mission to create more opportunities for women in poker worldwide.

WPF Ladies Championship Winner Sin Lan Chen

Emerging at the top of the field in Taipei was Sin Lan “Lancy” Chen of Taiwan, who captured the title and NT$254,000, along with a TMTC Main Event seat valued at NT$35,000. The victory marked a proud moment for Taiwanese poker, as Chen outlasted a competitive final table that reflected the international diversity of the event.

WPF Ladies Championship Final Table Results

Place	Player	Country/Region	Prize ($NTD)
1	Sin Lan Chen	Taiwan	$254,000*
2	Yen-Hsi Chen	Taiwan	$165,000
3	Ma Arlene Rivera	Philippines	$116,600
4	Maon Oroku	Japan	$84,600
5	Tan Wan Ning	Malaysia	$63,000
6	Kylie Chong	Hong Kong	$48,000
7	Sunhwa Park	South Korea	$37,300
8	Shiang Yun Hwang	Taiwan	$29,800
9	Yu Shan Chen	Taiwan	$24,500

*also receives a TMTC Main Event seat worth NTD 35,000.

A Familiar Face Rises Again

In a fitting twist, Chen had also finished second in the individual women’s category during the WPF Asian Nation Cup earlier in the week. Her victory in the Ladies Championship served as redemption and a perfect close to her remarkable run in Taipei.

Yen-Hsi Chen joined her in the final heads-up match, making it an all-Taiwan showdown. The result highlighted the depth of local talent and continued a strong showing for the host nation throughout the festival.

The podium also included Ma Arlene Rivera, who is a member of Team Philippines, the squad that captured the Asian Nation Cup title days earlier. Rivera’s third-place finish continued her country’s strong performance across both events, making the Philippines one of the standout nations of the series.

Ma Arlene Rivera WPF Ladies Championship

A Weekend to Remember

The WPF Ladies Championship was more than a tournament; it was a reflection of what the WPF movement stands for. Over two days, the event blended competition with empowerment, bringing together women from across Asia to share ideas, experiences, and inspiration.

Across both the WPF Ladies Weekend and the Asian Nation Cup, Taiwan proved to be at the heart of poker’s next chapter. From Team Philippines taking the team event title to Chen’s victory in the Ladies Championship, the inaugural WPF series in Taipei showcased how structure, unity, and passion can move the game closer to full recognition as a sport of the mind.

What’s on the Horizon in Taipei: New TMT Dates Announced

Following the success of the TMT throughout 2025, organizers have confirmed three dates for Taiwan Millions Tournament (TMT) festivals in 2026.

TMT 19 will take place from January 22 to February 9 with a US$300 Main Event and a US$1,000,000 guarantee.
TMT 20 runs from July 8 to 27, again featuring a US$300 Main Event and a US$1,000,000 guarantee.

The flagship Taiwan Millions Tournament Championship (TMTC) returns from October 6 to 16, highlighted by a US$1,170 Main Event with another US$1,000,000 guaranteed.

The current TMTC Main Event has already drawn strong numbers, with 249 entries in Day 1a, 289 in Day 1b, and 342 in Day 1c, while Day 1d is now underway as the final flight before Day 2 begins on Sunday, October 26. With 880 confirmed entries before the final flight’s numbers are counted, the guarantee is on the brink of being surpassed.

As the 2025 season draws to a close, the next year promises even bigger fields and huge guarantees. With three major TMT festivals now confirmed for 2026, players can start marking their calendars for another year of high-quality poker in Taiwan. Each stop will continue to build on the momentum created by 2025, including the Asian Nation Cup and WPF Ladies Championship, reinforcing Taiwan’s growing reputation as one of Asia’s most exciting and important poker destinations.