Taiwan Millions Tournament 18 Main Event Off to a Fiery Start; Zeng Chen Wei Sets The Bar

The Taiwan Millions Tournament (TMT) has become one of Asia’s most beloved poker series, drawing massive fields while endlessly spotlighting the region’s rising talent. Now in its 18th edition, the flagship Main Event has kicked off in explosive fashion as the opening run welcomed a roaring 985 entries at Red Space, Taipei. With a generous NTD 31 million (~USD 1M) guarantee on the line, players from across the region packed the house, setting the tone for what could be TMT’s biggest year to date. After an eleven-hour grind across Day 1A, 148 players secured a share of the pot, with 79 survivors advancing to Day 2.

Taiwan Millions Tournament – TMT 18 Opening Day Results

Setting the pace was Zeng Chen Wei, who surged early at Day 1A and maintained control throughout the day to finish with a commanding 1,044,000 in chips — the only player in this flight to cross the one million mark. Trailing closely was fellow Taiwanese contender Jia Lin Luo, who ended strong with 819,000.

Rounding out the top local performers were Mushiang Huang (740,000), Guoliang Kang (726,000), and Huanyu Chen (715,000), all of whom finished well above the average stack. Meanwhile, past TMT champions Jyun Yang Cheng and Chiayun Wu were among those who fell short of the Day 1A cut, though Wu quickly jumped back on the felt in the evening’s Day 1B Turbo flight, where he successfully advanced to the next round with a decent 421,000 chip count.

Reflecting on the day, Wu shared:

“I hope more international players join in the future. Taiwan has an amazing poker environment, and the world deserves to see it.

I’ve loved TMT ever since the Warriors Team format was introduced in the 7th edition. It brings a strong sense of unity. The tournament has great intensity and atmosphere, and poker is the only sport where age doesn’t matter.”

Day 1B Adds More Heat

The momentum didn’t slow as the action continued for Day 1B Turbo, the second of eight starting flights. A faster-paced affair, this flight drew another 502 entries, with 76 players cashing in and 41 more punching their ticket to Day 2 after nearly ten hours on the ground.

Emerging at the top was South Korea’s Jun Beum Chun, who delivered the bubble knockout to close the day with 1,013,000, putting him just behind overall leader Zeng. Taiwan’s Cheng You Yao (719,000) and Huang Tengyi (668,000) also finished the day on a high note, locking in over double the listed average stack.

With participation already crossing 1,400 entries from just two flights, TMT 18 is well on track to become one of the largest editions in history. All Day 1 survivors now enjoy a brief reprieve before resuming action on Sunday, July 27, as the race to the final table continues.

Also weighing in on the growth of the event was TMT 16 Main Event champion, Lam Ka Fai, who commented:

“My expectation is to see fiercer competition, a higher level of strategic play, and the wisdom and resilience of players under pressure compared to previous years.

Surviving last year’s nearly 7,000-player field felt like participating in a poker version of Squid Game! But seriously, my strategy was simple – keep a steady mindset, observe opponents, and play a measured pace. After all, in a massive field like that, the winner isn’t the fastest, but the steadiest.

Returning to TMT? That’s instinctive. Like seeing a deck of cards and not being able to resist giving it a shuffle – I just can’t help it! This tournament isn’t just about playing poker; it’s a spiritual journey.”

TMT 18 Main Event

• Date/s: July 20–28, 2025
• Buy-in: NTD 9,000 (~USD 300)
• Guarantee: NTD 31,000,000 (~USD 1,000,000)
• Day 1A: 985 entries, 148 ITM / 79 qualified
• Day 1B: 502 entries, 76 ITM / 41 qualified
• Day 1C: Wednesday, July 23
• Day 1D: Thursday, July 24
• Day 1E: Friday, July 25
• Day 1F Turbo: Friday, July 25
• Day 1G: Saturday, July 26
• Day 1H Turbo: Saturday, July 26
• Day 2: Sunday, July 27
• Final Day: Monday, July 28

Backtrack on all the day’s action via SMP Live Updates.

Poker Leadership Comes to Taiwan: First TDA Summit in Asia

Adding to the momentum, poker’s evolution in the region takes a major leap forward this week with the inaugural Continental Summit: Asia Edition hosted by the World Poker Federation (WPF) in partnership with the Tournament Directors Association (TDA) and Asian Poker Sports Association (APSA), next on the agenda.

Set to take place tomorrow, Monday, July 21, at the CTP Asia Poker Arena, this landmark gathering marks the first time the TDA brings its global leadership platform to the region. The summit will convene some of the most respected names in tournament operations including TDA founder Matt Savage, board members Neil Johnson and Lloyd Fontillas, as well as veteran industry leaders Ray Chiu, Mylene Advincula, and Nobuyoshi Takizawa, to share insights, elevate tournament standards, and unify best practices.

With Asia’s poker scene experiencing unprecedented growth, the summit arrives at a pivotal time, helping bridge global expertise with local momentum to shape a new chapter in professional poker across the continent.