TMT 9 X APT: Opening half results sees Chan Lok Ming bag two major events; Zong Chi He, David Tai, & Chih Kai Chen among the winners; Kun Han Lee tops Main Event Day 1A

As countries around the world slowly ease up on restrictions brought on by the pandemic, one place players have continuously enjoyed live poker events is in Taiwan. Currently running is Taiwan’s most popular homegrown festival – Taiwan Millions Tournament – underway at the Chinese Texas Hold’em Poker Club (CTP Club) in Taipei City. For its ninth season, the Asian Poker Tour (APT) has teamed up to bring players five special events and a pre-event in Taichung. This is the first time the brand has entered the live scene since March 2020.

The TMT 9 X APT kicked off on October 23 and will run until November 9 inclusive. 30 events are scheduled and NT$ 6,000,000 (~US$ 210,000) in guaranteed prizes. Half of the games have been completed. Among the winners were David Hsing Hsiung Tai, Zong Chi He, Chih Kai Chen, and Chan Lok Ming who took down two major events. We’ve got all those results for you below including an early update on the TMT 9 Main Event.

Open: Main Event – NT$ 2,500,000 guarantee

The highlight of the festival is none other than the Main Event featuring a NT$ 2,500,000 (~US$ 87,500) guarantee. The previous season’s turnout on July 2020 set a new Taiwan record for this event of 1,522 entries, nearly quadrupling the advertised guarantee. Ji Fu Tsai shipped it for a substantial NT$ 1,375,100 (~US$ 46,685) payout. Another record breaking attendance is expected with the first of five starting flights already attracting 281 entries. Day 1A wrapped up with Kun Han Lee leading the 34 survivors. This was a strong showing for Lee who also topped the charts at Day 1 of the festival opener APT – Natural8 Open Super High Roller 6 Max. Other notable players advancing were Chen An Lin, Chih Kai Chen, Eric Ting Yi Tsai, and Chi Jen Chu.

Buy in: NT$ 8,000 (~US$ 280)

Guarantee: NT$ 2,500,000 (~US$ 87,500)

Day 1A: 281 entries / 34 survivors

Entry flights: 4 remaining

Day 2: Sunday, November 8

Final Day: Monday, November 9

Top 10 in chips

Kun Han Lee – 613,000

Ji Ying Tang – 501,000

Hsu Huang – 500,000

Po Theng Huang – 425,000

Shih Kai Chiu – 407,000

Chih Kai Chen – 383,000

Chen An Lin – 353,000

Che Hung Lin – 317,000

Tzu Yang Tan – 289,000

Zhang Cheng Yuan – 278,000

Completed Events

CHAN LOK MING wins APT – Natural8 Open Super High Roller 6 Max & Mini Main Event

No doubt about it, the hottest running player at the tables was Hong Kong’s Chan Lok Ming who became the first to bring down two major events. Chan opened the festival with a huge victory at the APT – Natural8 Open Super High Roller 6 Max then bagged another one two nights ago at the Mini Main Event. This earned him a combined NT$ 1,129,200 (~US$ 39,500) in winnings. As one of the more well known players in the Taiwan live tournament scene, one of Chan’s biggest achievements this year was at APT Taiwan 2020 in March. His superb performance of three victories plus 6 cashes earned him 1st place in the APT Player of the Series race. His run continued at the TMT 9 x APT. Here’s a look at his latest accomplishments.

Event #1: APT – Natural8 Open Super High Roller 6 Max

The APT – Natural8 Open Super High Roller 6 Max was the festival opener drawing 46 entries at NT$ 58,800 (~US$ 2,000) each for a prize pool of NT$ 2,409,000 (~US$ 84,300). Among the sign ups were poker figures Carlos Chang, David Hsing Hsiung Tai, and Natural8 Team Hot pros Kitty Kuo and Pete Yen Han Chen, however all of them failed to reach the money. After eight hours of Day 2 action, Chan Lok Ming triumphed for his first ever high roller victory and largest live tournament score of NT$ 746,800 (~US$ 26,100). Chan also shelved another APT Lion trophy and a Meister luxury watch. For runner-up Yen Liang Yao, it was an impressive career high payout of NT$ 575,000 (~US$ 20,100). Other ITM pros were Chen An Lin (3rd) and Day 2 entering chip leader Kun Han Lee (5th).

Buy in: NT$ 58,800 (~US$ 2,000)

Entries: 46

Prize pool: NT$ 2,409,000 (~US$ 84,300)

ITM: 6 places

Final table payouts

1st Chan Lok Ming – Hong Kong – NT$ 746,800

2nd Yen Liang Yao – Taiwan – NT$ 575,000

3rd Chen An Lin – Taiwan – NT$ 425,000

4th Chi Jen Chu – Taiwan – NT$ 277,100

5th Kun Han Lee – Taiwan – NT$ 216,800

6th Chen Yi Liu – Taiwan – NT$ 168,700

Event #14: Mini Main Event

Deep into the festival, the Mini Main Event drew the largest crowd to date of 834 entries across four starting flights. This blew away the advertised NT$ 1M guarantee for a chunkier NT$ 2,835,600 (~US$ 99,260) prize pool. At Day 2, Chan Lok Ming entered as a strong third rank but ran into major trouble during the final two tables when he plunged below one big blind. As the saying goes “it ain’t over till it’s over”, Chan miraculously clawed his way back up, shipping numerous double ups to defy the odds and land a spot at the final table. If that wasn’t impressive enough, at six handed, Chan grabbed the lead for the first time. At three handed, a deal was struck to split the remaining money down the middle and play for the trophy. Chan won the race for his second series title. He added NT$ 382,400 (~US$ 13,300) in winnings to his earlier victory at the opener.

Buy in: NT$ 4,000 (~US$ 140)

Guarantee: NT$ 1,000,000 (~US$ 35,000)

Entries: 834

Prize pool: NT$ 2,835,600 (~US$ 99,260)

ITM: 105 places

Final table payouts

1st Chan Lok Ming – Hong Kong – NT$ 382,400 (three way deal)

2nd Chia Yun Wu – Taiwan – NT$ 382,400 (three way deal)

3rd Hua Yun Kao – Taiwan – NT$ 382,400 (three way deal)

4th Chiun Shiang Gao – Taiwan – NT$ 158,800

5th Che Chun Che – Taiwan – NT$ 107,300

6th Chang Hau Huang – Taiwan – NT$ 78,300

7th Cheng Ya Kuo – Taiwan – NT$ 64,100

8th Bo He Chen – Taiwan – NT$ 55,700

9th Hong Yu Siao – Taiwan – NT$ 47,400

APT Taichung Championships – CHIH KAI CHEN – NT$ 196,000 (~US$ 6,860)

One week prior to the official start of the festival, the APT held a pre-opener at CTP Taichung, the second largest of the CTP Club branches. This was the first time an APT tournament was ever held at the venue and it was also the first APT land based event hosted since mid-March.

For their first APT experience, players in Taichung were presented with the APT Taichung Championships NT$ 500K guaranteed. After two starting days, 206 entered to crush the guarantee for a larger NT$ 875,500 (~US$ 30,600) prize pool. Emerging victorious was Chih Kai Chen, earning himself the signature APT Lion Trophy and a cool NT$ 196,000 (~US$ 6,860), his largest win to date.

Date: October 16 to 18
Venue: CTP Club Taichung
Buy in: NT$ 5,000 (~US$ 175)
Guarantee: NT$ 500,000 (~US$ 17,500)
Entries: 206
Prize pool: NT$ 875,500 (~US$ 30,600)
ITM: 24 places

Final table payouts

1st Chih Kai Chen – Taiwan – NT$ 196,000

2nd Wu Ming Chi – Taiwan – NT$ 130,600

3rd Yu Hsien Lin – Taiwan – NT$ 91,200

4th Chien Kuan Hao – Taiwan – NT$ 66,500

5th Yeh Chao Che – Taiwan – NT$ 50,200

6th Cho Chi Hao – Taiwan – NT$ 39,200

7th Su JR Cheng – Taiwan – NT$ 31,600

8th Huang Cheng Chien – Taiwan – NT$ 26,100

9th Chen Chong Xu – Taiwan – NT$ 22,100

Event #2: Warm Up – WEI CHIA HUANG – NT$ 74,000 (~US$ 2,600)

Players packed the house on opening day for Event #2: Warm Up, the first affordable event of the festival and the first of six events extending a guarantee. The NT$ 1,500 (~US$ 140) buy in brought in 257 entries to surpass the NT$ 200K guarantee. 105 players earned a piece of the NT$ 308,400 (~US$ 10,800) prize pool with Wei Chia Huang claiming the largest cut of NT$ 74,000 (~US$ 2,600). This was Huang’s first ever live tournament victory and largest live score.

Buy in: NT$ 1,500 (~US$ 140)

Guarantee: NT$ 200,000 (~US$ 7,000)

Entries: 257

Prize pool: NT$ 308,400 (~US$ 10,800)

ITM: 105 places

Final table payouts

1st Wei Chia Huang – Taiwan – NT$ 74,000

2nd Michael Meng – Taiwan – NT$ 47,800

3rd Jing Min Zheng – Taiwan – NT$ 30,800

4th Kuan Hsueh Lu – Taiwan – NT$ 24,600

5th En Hao Chan – Taiwan – NT$ 19,400

6th Jian Yu Hou – Taiwan – NT$ 15,400

7th Wei Shiang Liao – Taiwan – NT$ 12,300

8th Ben Han Chao – Taiwan – NT$ 10,000

9th Tzu Wei Wang – Taiwan – NT$ 7,700

Event #3: 2000 NLH Turbo

Buy in: NT$ 2,000 (~US$ 70)

Entries: 71

Prize pool: NT$ 113,600 (~US$ 4,000)

ITM: 9 places

Winner: TE WEI CHUNG – Taiwan – NT$ 37,500

Event #4: TMT Kick Off – HONG YU SIAO – NT$ 124,500 (~US$ 4,400)

The second event sporting a guarantee was Event #4: TMT Kick Off with NT$ 500K in tow. After two entry flights, 296 ponied up the NT$ 3,500 (~US$ 122) buy in to create a juicier pot worth NT$ 880,600 (~US$ 30,800). At three handed, an ICM deal was reached then they played for the trophy. Yi Kai Wang was awarded the largest pay for having the biggest stack, David Hsing Hsiung Tai pocketed the second largest, and Hong Yu Siao was the shortest however he went on to win the trophy. For his efforts, Hong earned NT$ 124,500 (~US$ 4,400), his largest live tournament score. This was also his second ever TMT win with the first one earned last season at the Double Stack event.

Buy in: NT$ 3,500 (~US$ 122)

Guarantee: NT$ 500,000 (~US$ 17,500)

Entries: 296

Prize pool: NT$ 880,600 (~US$ 30,800)

ITM: 36 places

Final table payouts

1st Hong Yu Siao – Taiwan – NT$ 124,500 (three way deal)

2nd Yi Kai Wang – Taiwan – NT$ 143,000 (three way deal)

3rd David Hsing Hsiung Tai – Taiwan – NT$ 142,000 (three way deal)

4th Erwin Ng – Singapore – NT$ 64,100

5th Po Han Lee – Taiwan – NT$ 47,000

6th Zong Chi He – Taiwan – NT$ 38,400

7th Shih Tun Tang – Taiwan – NT$ 29,900

8th Po Chun Chang – Taiwan – NT$ 25,200

9th Chen Wei Sun – Taiwan – NT$ 20,500

Event #5: 2000 NLH Turbo

Buy in: NT$ 2,000 (~US$ 70)

Entries: 47

Prize pool: NT$ 75,200 (~US$ 2,600)

ITM: 6 places

Winner: RICHARD HSIA – Canada – NT$ 27,000 (~US$ 945)

Event #6: TMT Fighters – ZONG CHI HE – NT$ 112,100 (~US$ 3,900)

Local pro Zong Chi He emerged victorious at Event #6: TMT Fighters after besting a field of 149 entries. This was the third event backed by a guarantee and like the others, it was more than surpassed. He shipped NT$ 112,100 (~US$ 3,900) and added another trophy to his impressive awards shelf.

Having won numerous events on home turf, Zong Chi He is certainly no stranger to the spotlight. 2019 was a very big year for He who claimed 3 Main Event titles. His first was at the 2019 HKPPA Premier League Main Event for US$ 39,000; three months later in July, a TMT 6 Main Event win for US$ 24,200; then in October, the APT Taiwan Main Event for US$ 63,300. In 2020, He landed another title just before the pandemic. He shipped the APPT Open Taipei Main Event for a massive US$ 97,300.

Buy in: NT$ 3,500

Guarantee: NT$ 300,000 (~US$ 10,500)

Entries: 149

Prize pool: NT$ 443,275 (~US$ 15,500)

ITM: 15 places

Final table payouts

1st Zong Chi He – Taiwan – NT$ 112,100

2nd Peter Chou – Taiwan – NT$ 75,200

3rd Chi Wang – Taiwan – NT$ 44,100

4th Shao Ting Jian – Taiwan – NT$ 44,100

5th Tzu Wei Wang – Taiwan – NT$ 23,600

6th Wei Lo – Taiwan – NT$ 23,600

7th Yia Chia Shaw – Taiwan – NT$ 23,600

8th Tsung En Yeh – Taiwan – NT$ 23,600

9th Chao Ting Cheng – Taiwan – NT$ 12,900

Event #7: Standard NLH

Buy in: NT$ 2,000 (~US$ 70)

Entries: 57

Prize pool: NT$ 91,200 (~US$ 3,200)

ITM: 7 places

Winner: ANTHONY ABRAM – Australia – NT$ 30,000 (~US$ 1,050)

Event #8: TMT Giant Stack – HUNG YU LIAO – NT$ 280,000 (~US$ 9,800)

Another guaranteed event filled every seat in the house. This time it was Event #8: TMT Giant Stack NT$ 500K guaranteed. With 286 pouring in across two starting days, the prize pool doubled and more into a heftier NT$ 1,215,500 (~US$ 42,500). 32 players earned a cut. Hung Yu Liao shipped the largest of NT$ 280,000 (~US$ 9,800) for his victory.

Based on The Hendon Mob, Hung Yu Liao started posting live tournament cashes only this year and all of them at the CTP. His largest wins were earned in July and September. Liao won the TMT 8 High Roller event for NT$ 273,600 then a Main Event victory at the CTP Taipei Anniversary Festival V for NT$ 280,300.

Buy in: NT$ 5,000 (~US$ 175)

Guarantee: NT$ 500,000 (~US$ 17,500)

Entries: 286

Prize pool: NT$ 1,215,500 (~US$ 42,500)

ITM: 32 places

Final table payouts

1st Hung Yu Liao – Taiwan – NT$ 280,000

2nd Hao Chuang – Taiwan – NT$ 179,800

3rd Tsung Hui Lee – Taiwan – NT$ 115,000

4th Richard Hsia – Canada – NT$ 91,400

5th Ori Kossonogi – Israel – NT$ 69,000

6th Patrick Liang – Brazil – NT$ 56,000

7th Chung Wei Lee – Taiwan – NT$ 44,200

8th Ching Hsuan Chou – Taiwan – NT$ 35,400

9th Hsin Jer Lee – Taiwan – NT$ 28,300

Event #9: Standard NLH

Buy in: NT$ 2,000 (~US$ 70)

Entries: 30

Prize pool: NT$ 48,000 (~US$ 1,680)

ITM: 4 places

Winner: LUN CHUN CHOU – Taiwan – NT$ 15,350 (~US$ 540)

Event #10: Standard Pot Limit Omaha

Buy in: NT$ 2,000 (~US$ 70)

Entries: 56

Prize pool: NT$ 89,600

ITM: 7 places

Winner: SEGERS KRISTOF – USA – NT$ 29,500

Event #11: APT No Limit Hold’em – DAVID HSING HSIUNG TAI – NT$ 83,000 (~US$ 2,900)

The second of five APT events offered was Event #11: APT No Limit Hold’em with 86 turning up. CTP Club owner David Hsing Hsiung Tai claimed it for NT$ 83,000 (~US$ 2,900). This was Tai’s second deep run at the festival having finished 3rd on a three way deal at the TMT Kick Off event. Tai was also awarded his third career APT trophy.

Buy in: NT$ 5,500 (~US$ 192)

Entries: 86

Prize pool: NT$ 402,050 (~US$ 14,000)

ITM: 10 places

Event #12: NT$ 5000 Mixed Double Team Event

Buy in: NT$ 5,000 (~US$ 175)

Entries: 24 teams

Prize pool: NT$ 102,000 (~US$ 3,570)

Winner: CINDY MAN-NI CHEN & YOU ZHEN XU – Taiwan – NT$ 42,500

Event #13: 2000 NLH Turbo

Buy in: NT$ 2,000 (~US$ 70)

Entries: 54

Prize pool: NT$ 86,400

ITM: 6 places

Winner: CHIH YING LIANG – Taiwan – NT$ 28,500 (~US$ 1,000)

Event #15: 2000 NLH Turbo

Buy in: NT$ 2,000 (~US$ 70)

Entries: 54

Prize pool: NT$ 86,400

ITM: 6 places

Winner: CHUNG YI HO – Taiwan – Taiwan – NT$ 28,500 (~US$ 1,000)

Event #16: 2000 NLH Turbo

Buy in: NT$ 2,000 (~US$ 70)

Entries: 54

Prize pool: NT$ 86,400

ITM: 6 places

Winner: PETE YEN HAN CHEN – Taiwan – NT$ 28,500 (~US$ 1,000)

Update: TMT 9 Player of the Series race

The TMT 9 Player of the Series race is on and as of November 1 these were the top 5 players in points:

Chia Yun Wu (back to back POS champion)
Yu Kai Wang
Philip King Chung Wang
Chen Yi Liu
Chan Lok Ming (double event winner)

Only the top three in points at the end of the festival earn special prizes. For 1st place a CTP Platinum Pass worth NT$ 25,000; for 2nd place a TMT Season 10 Early Bird Package and one Main Event seat; and for 3rd place one TMT 10 Main Event seat.

Update: TMT 9 Team of the Series race

An interesting addition to the side contests is the Team of the Series title. Like the Player of the Series, teams earn points when team players cash. Teams consist of four players. Only the top two teams at the end of the festival earn special prizes. For 1st place a CTP Platinum Pass worth NT$ 25,000 to each team member; for 2nd place a TMT 10 Early Bird Package worth NT 8,000 to each of the team members. As of November 1, Team “King Queen Suited 3.0” leads with 33.4 points. The team members are David Hsing Hsiung Tai, Chi Jen Chu, Chi Jen Chen, and Chen Yi Liu. Running second with 31.8 points is Team “ITM Dream Team” made up of Chia Yun Wu, Philip Kung Chung Wang, Chih Ying Liang, and Chen Shou Dian.

Games coming up

There are 14 TMT 9 events still to come, among them are the Ladies Event, High Roller, Monster Stack, and Mega Stack. Three APT events are also ones to watch for: APT 6 Max PLO Hi (November 3) and two APT Super High Rollers (November 4 & 5).

Stick with us here at Somuchpoker as we continue to bring you results on TMT 9 x APT.