Superstar Challenge - Final Day

Chih Wei Fan

Taiwan's Chih Wei Fan had a phenomenal performance at the final table of the TWD 250,000 APT Superstar Challenge to win the exclusive APT Black Lion trophy and the top prize of TWD 8,590,525 (~$270,252).

Fan claimed the lion's share of the TWD 20,454,525 (~USD 647,910) prize pool and secured his second career APT High Roller title, as well as his largest live cash, pushing him up into the #15 spot on the Taiwan All-Time Money List with over $900,000 in live winnings.

The local legend outlasted a field of 27 players (23 uniques) comprised of the best of the best in the poker world, coming into the four-handed final table with the shortest stack, roughly approximating 28 big blinds.

However, Fan slowly built his stack with strategic unpredictability and by timing his steals perfectly, leaving his opponents constantly in a quandary wondering what hand he could have at any given moment in time.

Fan had the most Aces at the final table, the value of which he wasn’t able to maximize. And yet at the turning point of the heads-up, it was aces that the Taiwanese player found himself up against, cracking Daniel Neilson's pocket rockets to seize a lead he would not relinquish.

Australia's Neilson, who was hunting his maiden APT title, was forced to settle for second-best and the TWD 5,727,000 (~$180,167) runner-up prize.

APT host Elfin Lin was able to talk to him after his momentous victory and with the aid of a translator, we were able to catch what he said:

“Last year, I lost to Punat’s AA with A5 at this table, and this year I finally lost with 9J to AK in Jeju Island. Now that I’ve achieved this, it feels incredibly significant to me. I believe I’ve grown a lot over these 14 to 15 months, and I’m especially grateful to every opponent who has given me advice or defeated me along the way; they’ve all contributed to my growth.”

And if it wasn’t apparent the joy and happiness he felt, it was clearly reflected by the loud cheering and celebration of his railbirds.

Final Table Action

It was Charles Waymel who was the first casualty of the day, with start-of-day chip leader Neilson claiming first blood after the short-stacked Frenchman jammed over the top of a Steven Song limp and a Neilson raise.

While this pushed Song out, it did not deter the Australian and Waymel found his ten-five suited was trailing to Neilson's ace-queen and stayed that way with both players missing the runout. Neilson extended his lead and Waymel hit the rail in fourth for a TWD 2,455,000 (~$77,232) payday – the largest cash of his tournament career.

Charles Waymel

Stephen Song came into the final table as the second largest stack but was unable to convert this into a win, with Fan relentless in chipping away at his stack.

Eventually, Song found himself as the shortest stack and elected to move all-in from the big blind with jack nine suited over the top of a Fan button min-raise, only to see the Taiwanese player make a lightning-fast call with ace-queen.

Once again both players missed the runout, meaning Fan's ace-high was good for the pot and proved to be Song's swan song, ending the US player's maiden APT title dream. Song collected TWD 3,682,000 (~$115,833) for his bronze podium finish.

This set up the heads-up confrontation between Neilson and Fan, with the Aussie bringing in the chip lead he started the day with after busting compatriot and former Superstar Challenge champion Josh McCully to close out the Day 1 action.

While Neilson picked his spots carefully, it was Fan whom the poker gods favoured, reducing this opponent to just under 11 big blinds after cracking the Aussie's aces by flopping two-pair with the speculative queen-six offsuit.

While Neilson attempted to battle back he was unable to regain the momentum, eventually moving all-in on the river with ten-high as a bluff and running into Fan's slow played trip eights.

Daniel Neilson

The APT Taipei Poker Classic 2024 is still running until October 8 with a lot more exciting and fun tournaments designed for the poker player. Stay tuned for more live reporting, news and updates.

The APT Superstar Challenge has ended finding a new champion in Fan Chih Wei. A full recap of the the day will follow shortly.

Australia's Daniel Neilson moves all-in

From the button, Daniel Neilson raised to 120,000 with T♦ 5♣. Chih Wei Fan made the call with T♣ 8♣. Wei was first to act on a board of J♥ 4♥ 9♠. The Taiwanese checked his up-and-down towards Neilson who fired 75,000, Fan quickly called.

The 8♠ turn gave Fan a pair of eights to come with his straight draw, while Neilson now also picked up an up-and-down. Both players checked their option.

On the 8♥ river Fan decided to play it tricky and check his option to Neilson that had around two times pot behind. Neilson only needed a few seconds before announcing all-in and Fan double-checked his cards before tossing in calling chips. Fan's trips were good as both players quickly got up from their chairs to shake hands.

This means Daniel Neilson is our runner-up of the TWD 800,000 Superstar Challenge. Neilson cashed TWD 5,727,000 (~$180,167) for his amazing performance.

Chih Wei Fan

Daniel Neilson got a Q♣ 4♦ in the hole and just completed. Chih Wei Fan got Q♠ Q♦ trying to trap just checked. The flop 5♦ 2♥ 6♥ got checked by both players to see a turn of 4s. Wei bet 80,000 and got called by Neilson. The 8♠ river 500,000 and Neilson folded immediately.

Daniel Neilson just completed with 9♣ 4♦ and Chih Wei Fan checked his blind holding Q♦ 5♥ . The Dealer dealt a flop of 7♣ 6♠ 5♣ which Fan checked. Neilson bet his open-ended straight draw and got called by Fan for his bottom pair. . The turn K♠ got a check from Wei and got a jam from Neilson. Wei thought for a bit before he laid down his cards.

Wei had to ask "Was that a good fold?"

Chih Wei Fan completed the blind at the button with Q♠ 2♦ and Daniel Neilson checked his Q♠ 2♠. Flop cam K♣ K♦ 3♥ whcih Neilson check-called after bet of 60,000 from Fan. The turn of T♠ got checked by both players. The river 5♥ got to showdown by both player checking.

Chih Wei Fan

This time, Daniel Neilson woke up to A♦ A♣ in the hole on dealer button and opened for 100,000. Chih Wei Fan defended with Q♥ 6♣ to see a flop of 6♦ Q♦ 7♣ giving Fan a two-pair.

Fan checked the nuts letting Neilson lead to 80,000 after which Fan made a big raise of 280,000 and Neilson made the call. The 9♦ made Fan bet 200,000 and got raised by Neilson now with 16 outs to beat Fan's two-pair.

Wei jammed all-in and stood up when Neilson snap called. The river 8♣ doubled Fan up leaving Neilson with roughly 11 big blinds behind.

Heads up, Daniel Neilson raised to 100,000 on the button with K♣ T♣ and Chih Wei Fan defended with J♥ 6♣.

The flop came 6♠ A♣ 8♥. Neilson bet 80,000 and got check-called by Wei.

The Q♥ turn got checked by both players to see a river of K♠. Wei checked and Nielson bet 230,000 to win the pot

Daniel Neilson and Chih Wei Fan

Players are on a short 5-minute break to set up for heads up play, with Australia's Daniel Neilson bring in a ~4:3 chip lead to the heads up match.

the USA's Stephen Song Hits the rail in third

Chih Wei Fan woke up on the button with A♥ Q♠ and made it 100,000 to go. With only 1,100,000 behind Stephen Song shoved from the big blind with J♦ 9♦ eliciting an instant call from Fan.

The flop fell 4♠ T♠ 6♣ bringing no help for Song, and while the 8♠ improved the US player to an open-ended straight draw to go with his jack and nine outs, the 3♦ river proved to be his swan song and ended his maiden APT title dream.

Song headed for the cashier to collect his TWD 3,682,000 (~$115,833) third place payout, while Fan stacked up to ~2.8 million in chips and enters heads-up against Daniel Neilson.