Main Event Cracks TWD 65M (~USD 2M) Guarantee With Registration Still Open; Japan's Kaiya Shono Tops Flight C & New Zealand's Thomas Ward Leads Flight D

APT TAIPEI 2024 SCHEDULE | OFFICIAL RESULTS | IMAGES | WINNERS | PLAYER LISTS

TAIPEI, TAIWAN, March 5, 2024 – The two final flights of the APT Taipei 2024 TWD 70,000 Main Event are done and dusted, with the tournament drawing a four-figure field.

Playing out at the tournament tables of the Chinese Texas Hold'em Poker Club (CTP) Asia Poker Arena, Flight C of the Main Event drew a total of 280 entrants (234 unique), with Flight D drawing a further 166 entries (141 unique), with the action in both playing out over a combination of six 30-minute levels and four 40-minute levels.

The Asian Poker Tour's largest-ever Main Event guarantee of TWD 65 million (~USD 2M) was reached midway through Flight D, with the total number of tournament entries currently standing at 1,120 – including 154 Natural8 OnLive players – with registration remaining open until the start of Day 2, which kicks off at 11am local time on Wednesday, March 6.

A total of 144 players made it through from Flight C with Japan's Kaiya Shono the man to acculminate the most chips, bagging up a stack of 218,900 – putting him 10th in the overall pecking order coming into Day 2.

Singapore's Jia Qing Lee was the only other Flight C player to conclude play with over 200K in chips, bagging a stack of 213,900, with Malaysia's You Jun Hong (192,700) rounding out the top three.

Two-time Main Event winner Mike Takayama bagged the fourth biggest Flight B stack and will be returning for Day 2 with 187,400 in chips.

APT Summer Series Da Nang Main Event champion Shixiang Khoo was another to make it, bagging 48,500.

New Zealand's Thomas Ward topped the Flight D Main Event chip counts

A further 86 players successfully fought their way through Flight D, with New Zealand tournament crusher Thomas Ward topping the counts and bagging up a stack of 246,000 with which to make his play for the title.

Ward was the only Flight D player to crack 200K and will be returning fourth in the overall counts when play resumes.

Vietnam's Nguyen Anh Minh (189,200), and Taiwan's Wei Cheng Yin (187,500) rounded out the top three Flight D stacks and will be returning 25th and 27th respectively in the counts.

Two-time APT Main Event champion Lester Edoc also made it through, bagging up a stack of 148,000, with the top ten stacks coming into Day 2 as follows:

MAIN EVENT TOP TEN STACKS

For Main Event Flight C Player List please CLICK HERE.

For Main Event Flight C Survivors please CLICK HERE.

For Main Event Flight D Player List please CLICK HERE.

For Main Event Flight D Survivors please CLICK HERE.

For Main Event Day 2 Draw please CLICK HERE.

Day 2 gets underway at 11am on Wednesday, March 6, with the plan to play either ten 60-minute levels, or down to the money – whichever comes first.

You can follow all the APT Main Event Flight C action and the Flight D action as it played out via the APT Blog.

All tournament information can be found on the Main Event Flight C tournament page and the Main Event Flight D tournament page.

HIGH ROLLER ACTION

Malaysia's Sean Ooi Triumphs Over Tough Field to Claim Single Day High Roller Victory in Event #63

Malaysia's Sean Ooi triumphed over a tough field to claim his maiden APT title in Event #63 SDHR

The TWD 100,000 Event #63: Single Day High Roller saw 89 high-rolling entries (70 unique) clash over a TWD 7,769,700 (~USD 246,160) prize pool.

The field drew some of the Asia-Pacifics top tournament players, including the likes of Natural8 ambassador and defending APT Taipei High Roller champion Phachara Wongwichit, APT Incheon High Roller champion Thanisorn Saelor, Hong Kong's Sparrow Cheung, and the Philippines' David Erquiaga.

Several former APT Main Event champions were also in the mix, with Hong Kong's Dicky Tsang, and the Philippines' Mike Takayama, John "JoJo" Tech, and Christopher Mateo all looking add a new high roller title to their resumes.

However, it was Malaysia's Sean Ooi who successfully piloted his stack over the finish line, defeating Hong Kong's Tung Wing Wong heads-up to claim the Golden Lion Silhouette Trophy and the TWD 2,039,700 (~USD 64,590) top prize, earning his maiden APT title in the process.

Wong won TWD 1,430,000 (~USD 45,275) for his runner-up finish, with Malaysia's Kok Wei Teoh rounding out the winner's podium, taking TWD 944,000 (~USD 29,890) for third place.

None of the aforementioned notables we able to go the distance, but two-time series high-roller title winner Bao Qiang Ho made yet another final table appearance, cashing in seventh place for TWD 369,000 (~USD 11,680).

Other notables to cash included Australia's John "Burt" Perry (8th for TWD 287,000, Malaysia's Natalie Teh (12th for TWD 159,000), and Japan's Jun Obara (13th for TWD 159,000), with the tournament paying out as follows:

SDHR RESULTS

For Event #63: Single Day High Roller Player List please CLICK HERE.

For Event #63: Single Day High Roller Results please CLICK HERE.

All tournament information can be found on the Event #63: Single Day High Roller tournament page.

Hong Kong's Sparrow Cheung Claims Ninth APT Title Win in Event #67: Turbo - High Roller

Hong Kong's Sparrow Cheung claimed his ninth APT title in Event #67 Turbo High Roller

The second of the days scheduled high roller tournaments – the TWD 30,000 Event #67: Turbo - High Roller drew 86 entries (74 unique).

Players battled over twenty fast-paced 15-minute levels to earn a share of the TWD 2,252,340 (~USD 71,365) prize pool, with Hong Kong's Sparrow Cheung the man to claim the lion's share.

Cheung defeated South Korea's Seunghun Ko to claim a TWD 621,340 (~USD 19,670) top prize and an impressive ninth APT title, six of which have been won in high-roller events.

Ko – who was hunting his first APT title – was forced to settle for second, which was good for a TWD 440,000 (~USD 13,925) payday.

Singapore's Ho Koon Leong completed the last of the podium positions, claiming third place a payout of TWD 288,000 (~USD 9,115).

Other notables to cash included Natural8 ambassador Phachara Wongwichit (8th for TWD 84,000), and former Main Event champion Dicky Tsang (10th for TWD 56,000), with 11 players making the money and the tournament paying out as follows:

TURBO HIGH ROLLER RESULTS

For Event #67: Turbo - High Roller Player List please CLICK HERE.

For Event #67: Turbo - High Roller Results please CLICK HERE.

All tournament information can be found on the Event #67: Turbo - High Roller tournament page.

SIDE EVENT ACTION

Catch up on APT Taipei 2024: Side Event Action from Day 6 of the Series (Monday, March 4).

Hong Kong's King Wai Cheung Claims Maiden Live Title in Event #62: PL Omaha Hi-Lo - 5 Card (Big O)

Hong Kong's King Was Cheung won his maiden APT title in Event #62 PL Omaha Hi-Lo

The TWD 10,000 Event #62: PL Omaha Hi-Lo - 5 Card (Big O) proved to be the second most popular Omaha event of the tournament to play out so far, drawing a field of 60 entries (30 unique).

The action played out over twenty-five 25-minute levels, with Hong Kong's King Wai Cheung claiming the accolades.

Cheung defeated Ireland's Shaun Conroy heads-up to earn a TWD (~USD 4,780) top prize, in addition to his maiden live tournament title.

Conroy collected TWD 109,000 (~USD 3,450) for his runner-up finish, with Taiwan's Yu Sheng Lin rounding out the top three, receiving a payout of TWD 71,000 (~USD 2,250) for third place.

A total of nine players made the money, with the tournament paying out as follows:

BIG O RESULTS

For Event #62: PL Omaha Hi-Lo - 5 Card (Big O) Player List please CLICK HERE.

For Event #62: PL Omaha Hi-Lo - 5 Card (Big O) Results please CLICK HERE.

All tournament information can be found on the Event #62: PL Omaha Hi-Lo - 5 Card (Big O) tournament page.

Australia's Aindrey Hawil Joins Double Series Title Club With Event #64: NL Hold'em - Single Re-Entry Win

Australia's Aindrey Hawil scored a second series title in Event #64 NL Hold'em

Outside of the Main Event, it was the TWD 15,000 Event #64: NL Hold'em - Single Re-Entry that proved to be the most popular draw, attracting 220 entries (172 unique).

This generated a TWD 2,880,900 (~USD 91,280) prize pool, with the action playing out over twenty-nine 25-min levels as players fought for a place in the paying positions.

It was Australia's Aindrey Hawil who claimed the Baby Lion Trophy and his second series title after cutting a deal with heads-up opponent Dexter Santos of the Philippines.

Hawil locked up the trophy, title, and a first-place prize of *TWD 509,100 (~USD 16,115), with Santos scoring TWD 511,800 (~USD 16,200) for his runner-up finish.

Japan's Hayato Obana took bronze and a payout of TWD 289,000 (~USD 9,150) for third place, with 31 players making the money and the final table paying out as follows:

NL HOLD'EM SINGLE RE-ENTRY RESULTS

Other notables to cash included the Philippines' John Costiniano (11th for TWD 53,000), **Sunday Super Stack champion Kenju Wata (19th for TWD 34,000), and South Korea's Park Yonghyun (27th for TWD 28,000).

For Event #64: NL Hold'em - Single Re-Entry Player List please CLICK HERE.

For Event #64: NL Hold'em - Single Re-Entry Results please CLICK HERE.

All tournament information can be found on the Event #64: NL Hold'em - Single Re-Entry tournament page.

Australia's Jie Chen Wins Maiden APT Title in Event #65: Limit Triple Draw Mix

Australia's Jie Chen claimed his maiden APT title in Event #65 Limit Triple Draw Mix

The TWD 6,000 Event #65: Limit Triple Draw Mix saw 28 players in action (27 unique), all fighting for a slice of the TWD 141,775 (~USD 4,490) prize pool.

The action played out over twenty-four 20-minute levels, with Australia's Jie Chen adding a maiden tournament title to the two prior cashes he has accrued this series.

Chen cut a deal with heads-up opponent Fu Bang Huang to lock up the trophy and a top prize of TWD 44,388 (~USD 1,400), with the Taiwanese player pocketing close to the same.

The UK's Craig Cooper made a fourth final-table appearance of the series, collecting TWD 23,000 (~USD 730) for third place.

A total of five players made the money, with the tournament paying out as follows:

LIMIT TRIPLE DRAW MIX RESULTS

For Event #65: Limit Triple Draw Mix Player List please CLICK HERE.

For Event #65: Limit Triple Draw Mix Results please CLICK HERE.

All tournament information can be found on the Event #65: Limit Triple Draw Mix tournament page.

Third Time's the Charm for Australia's Jennifer Cassell; Wins Maiden APT Title in Event #66: Women's Event

Australia's Jennifer Cassell claimed her maiden APT title in Event #66 Women's Event

The TWD 5,000 Event #66: Women's Event saw 122 players (90 unique) in action, all competing for a share of the TWD 514,779 (~USD 16,310) prize pool.

It took Jennifer Cassell twenty-eight 20-minute levels to close it out, with the Australian beating Taiwan's Cai Jie Jhang heads-up to claim the TWD 129,779 (~USD 4,100) top prize.

More important than the money, however, was the fact that the win earned Cassell her maiden APT title victory. The Aussie came close twice back at 2023's APT Phu Quoc, earning two runner-up finishes, but it proved to be third time's the charm.

Jhang, who was on the hunt for her maiden live title victory, took TWD 88,000 (~USD 2,785) for her runner-up finish.

The Philippines' Diana Tan completed the winner's triumvirate, taking TWD 57,000 (~USD 1,800) for third place, with a total of 17 players making the money and the final table paying out as follows:

WOMEN'S EVENT RESULTS

For Event #66: Women's Event Player List please CLICK HERE.

For Event #66: Women's Event Results please CLICK HERE.

All tournament information can be found on the Event #66: Women's Event tournament page.