Akira Takasugi Conquers Record APT Taipei 2025 Main Event

It was the title most coveted, and players from all over were in pursuit. From elite live pros to top online crushers, seasoned veterans to ambitious recreational players, the outpour was tremendous and the hunger was undeniable, resulting in a tour record 2,457 entries at the APT Taipei 2025 Main Event. But in the end, only one player was destined for the crown. That player was Japan’s Akira Takasugi.

Taking just over seven hours of final table play with nearly 50,000 viewers tuning in via livestream and a rail of spectators inside the Red Space venue, Takasugi conquered the largest and richest Main Event in APT history to secure his first ever championship title and a career high NT$ 19,009,440 (~US$ 586,710) cash prize. The biggest Main Event first prize ever awarded to a player at APT.

#23 APT Main Event (55,000 TWD)

Akira Takasugi Conquers Record APT Taipei 2025 Main Event

Taking just over seven hours of final table play with nearly 50,000 viewers tuning in via livestream and inside the Red Space venue, Takasugi conquered the largest and richest Main Event in APT history to secure his first ever championship title and a career high NT$ 19,009,440 (~US$ 586,710) cash prize.

Read up on the action via the Live Updates.

Record-Breaking APT Main Event - Numbers

Buy-in: NT$ 55,000 (~US$ 1,700)

Guarantee: NT$ 70,000,000 (~US$ 2.1 Million)

Entries: 2,547

Prize pool: NT$ 121,033,440 (~US$ 3,735,600)

ITM: 375 places

Top prize: NT$ 19,009,440 (~US$ 586,710)

Entry Results

Day 1A: 542 entries / 203 advanced

Day 1B: 506 entries / 222 advanced

Day 1C: 486 entries / 240 advanced

Day 1D: 344 entries / 176 advanced

Day 2: 140 entries

Natural8: 529 entries

Total Prize

$3,735,600

Guaranteed

70,000,000

Entries

2,547

ITM

375

#	Payout	Player
1	$586,710 19,009,440 TWD	AT Akira Takasugi Japan
2	$312,745 10,133,000 TWD	IM Iat Man Leong Macao
3	$211,945 6,867,000 TWD	JW Jin Wing Wayne Lam Hong Kong
4	$163,350 5,292,500 TWD	SK Shinichiro Kano Japan
5	$136,405 4,419,500 TWD	NK Nishant Kumar India
6	$110,000 3,564,000 TWD	KS Kiwanont Sukhum Thailand
7	$83,995 2,721,500 TWD	RK Rintaro Kagawa Japan
8	$60,770 1,969,000 TWD	OC Owen Chong Malaysia
9	$46,295 1,500,000 TWD	DT Dang Thi Hue Viet Nam

Check the 375 Payouts & Results ...

Akira Takasugi Wins APT Taipei 2025 Main Event

In the days leading up to Akira Takasugi‘s victory, the APT Taipei 2025 Main Event was the buzz of the town with a combined 2,457 entries generated between the venue and online platform Natural8. With each buy-in lightening the pocket NT$ 55,000 (~US$ 1,700), a jaw-dropping prize pool of NT$ 121,033,440 (~US$ 3,777,500) was the outcome with 375 players eventually claiming a cut.

By the end of the Day 3 stage, the field had trimmed to only 48 players led by 2021 APT Taiwan Main Event champion, Kitty Kuo, a clear crowd favorite. Her popularity dwarfed all others that Takasugi’s eighth rank hardly registered.

Final Table Rundown

After another day of eliminations, Takasugi quietly climbed four more spots up the ladder, securing a Final 9 berth ranked fourth in chips. Yet once again, his steady rise flew under the radar as the spotlight remained fixed on chip leaders Wayne Lam and Rintaro Kagawa. Also drawing attention was Vietnam’s Thi Hue Dang, who entered the final table with history on the line as the only player still chasing a second APT Main Event title.

However, it wasn’t to be for the title-holder Thi with her hopes ending in 9th place.  Malaysia’s Owen Chong soon followed out after being denied the split. Of the three Japanese players at the final table, it was the day’s entering chip leader Rintaro Kagawa who was the first to fall, losing a flip to bow out in 7th place.

Takasugi notched his first final table elimination by sending Thailand’s lone representative, Kiwanont Sukhum, to the rail in 6th place. In USD equivalent, Sukhum became the first player to walk away with a six-figure USD payout.

After a swingy run that included cracking aces, India’s last contender, Nishant Kumar, could not take it further than 5th place. It was at this point when Takasugi made his presence felt by grinding to the chip lead and parking it. He eliminated fellow player Shinichiro Kano in 4th place then Leong eliminated Lam with higher pockets to face Takasugi for the title.

Despite Leong’s efforts, he could not put the brakes on the charging Japanese. Instead,  Takasugi’s lead only stretched from 25 bigs at the start of heads up to a 67 bb advantage. When the championship hand was tabled, Takasugi was ahead 64 bigs.

Read up on the blow-by-blow final table action via the Live Updates.

Links:

APT Taipei 2025 – News
APT Taipei 2025 – Results
APT Taipei 2025 – Live Reports