TMT20 Day 26: Hyunseung Nam Leads Final 36 into Crown Main Event Finale

The Taiwan Millions Tournament (TMT20) crowned its ninth Incense Cedar Trophy Plate champion on Day 26, as Tien Hao Yang took down the Sunday Challenge, while the Crown Main Event played down to its final 36 at the Asia Poker Arena, with South Korea's Hyunseung Nam emerging as the overnight chip leader heading into TMT20's final day.

Tien Hao Yang Wins Sunday Challenge For TWD 550,000 ($17,135)

The TWD 10,000 Sunday Challenge drew 395 entries, comfortably beating its TWD 2,000,000 (~$62,300) guarantee to build a TWD 3,200,000 (~$99,690) prize pool. A total of 60 players made the money before Tien Hao Yang came out on top for TWD 550,000 (~$17,135), claiming the festival's ninth Incense Cedar Trophy Plate.

Nattichai Sutipanwihan Strikes Twice on Day 26

Thailand's Nattichai Sutipanwihan put together the standout day among the side events, first winning the Daily MegaStack for TWD 50,400 before returning later in the day to take down 10s Action NLH for TWD 64,000, backing up his earlier High Roller title from the festival with a second and third trophy inside the same day.

Elsewhere, Hsuan Yu Lai topped the day's High Roller for TWD 504,000 (~$15,700), the biggest single payday of the day outside the Sunday Challenge.

Notable Side Event Winners, Day 26

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Hyunseung Nam Leads Final 36 into Crown Main Event Finale

The Crown Main Event saw its field shrink fast on Day 2, with 161 returning players whittled down to the final 36 in around five hours of play. South Korea's Hyunseung Nam emerged with the overall chip lead, bagging 3,985,000, close to 100 big blinds heading into the final day.

Nam's surge came largely at the expense of overnight leader Ruki Nishibata, who lost two big pots to him across the day. In the first, Nishibata made a tough call on a paired board only to run into a rivered full house. The two collided again late in the day when Nam turned up a rivered straight to eliminate Nishibata's top pair in 45th place.

Motoki Nakai bagged second in chips with 73 big blinds, while Ka Fai Calvin Lau rounded out the top three on 66 big blinds after delivering the final knockout of the day to set the official final 36. Several recognisable names remain in the mix, including TMT16 Main Event champion Ka Fai Lam, along with Vincent Li and two-time WSOP bracelet winner Shiina Okamoto, who bagged a short stack of just 12 big blinds.

Crown Main Event: Top 10 Chip Counts Entering Day 3

The final 36 return to the Asia Poker Arena today, August 3, at 11:00 AM, playing down to a champion. Awaiting the winner is a TWD 4,500,000 top prize, the TMT Incense Cedar Trophy and the TMT Championship Ring.

TMT20's Final Day is Here

Today marks the last day of the festival, with the Crown Main Event final table set to crown TMT20's last major champion, alongside a full closing schedule that includes the Super High Roller, Last Chance-Champion Win Big and a run of mixed games and side events before the curtain comes down on the 20th edition.

For the latest schedules, structures and results, visit the official TMT20 festival page.

All photos courtesy of TMT.