The 19th edition of the
Taiwan Millions Tournament
(TMT 19) is officially underway, marking a significant start to the 2026 poker season in Taipei. Running from January 22 to February 09, the series features a dual-venue setup, beginning at the
Asia Poker Arena
(Jan 22–31) before moving to
RED SPACE
a day early on January 31 until February 9 for the final stages.
Opening Weekend Highlights
The festival opened to capacity crowds, with the initial events significantly exceeding their projected prize pools. The
Warm-Up GiantStack
, the first trophy event of the series, drew a record-breaking 964 entries. This massive turnout pushed the prize pool to NT$2,700,000, more than doubling its original guarantee.
Taiwan’s
Wu Chien Yu
emerged as the inaugural champion of TMT 19, taking home NT$426,200 and a seat in the TMTC Main Event valued at NT$35,000.
Taiwan Millions Tournament – Warm Up GiantStack Champion Wu Chien Yu
Adding to the competitive atmosphere, world-renowned professional
Shiina Okamoto
has officially arrived to compete in the full TMT 19 series. Okamoto, a two-time WSOP bracelet winner and GTO Wizard Ambassador, is expected to be a major contender throughout the festival. Fans and players can expect to see her elite-level gameplay live across various events from Day 1 through the final showdowns.
Featured Events & Schedule
The TMT 19 schedule is anchored by several high-guarantee events designed for a wide range of bankrolls. Below are the key highlights remaining in the series:
Event
Date
Buy-In (TWD)
Guaranteed (NT$)
Taipei City Cup
Jan 26 – 27
3,000
1,000,000
Mystery & Survival Bounty
Jan 27 – 29
6,000
4,000,000
Mini Main
Jan 29 – Feb 01
6,000
10,000,000
Main Event
Feb 01 – 09
9,000
30,000,000
Master NLH
Feb 02 – 04
15,000
5,000,000
Main Event Exclusive Incentives
As the festival prepares to transition to the Main Event starting February 1, organizers have announced exclusive rewards for early registrants. For each of the 8 starting flights, the first 100 players to register will receive a limited-edition CTP × TMT Keychain. These collectible items are produced in limited quantities and are not available for purchase, serving as a unique memento for participants in this record-breaking edition.
With a total guaranteed prize pool across the series exceeding NT$59,000,000, TMT 19 continues to establish itself as a premier destination for poker in Asia.
Originally from the Lake District, UK, I’ve spent the last few years living and breathing the Southeast Asian poker circuit. Since 2025, I’ve been a fixture on the floor at the APT, PokerStars, and WSOP events, serving as a lead reporter and media specialist for Somuchpoker.
My work is about more than just recording action; I manage the social media and digital content that brings action rail to the fans. By combining a business education and creative background, I aim to look past the technical hand histories to capture the actual human grit and drama that happens during a deep run.
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Hong Kong
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