The Final Table

The 2026 APT Taipei Zodiac Classic Sponsored by Natural8 was another massive event here at the 2026 APT Taipei Series, drawing 486 entries (357 unique) & generating a total prize pool of TWD 35,691,840 (~USD 1,123,970), smashing the TWD 25 million guarantee.

A total of 156 players took their seats for final day, and the last 71 standing made the money and a minimum cash of TWD 133,300 (~USD 4,270). Germany’s Darius Nass started the day with the largest stack, but unfortunately, he went short-stacked coming into the bubble and was eliminated just after it burst.

When play concluded at the end of the day due to a hard stop at Red Space there were just three players remaining and it was Japan's Eisuke Katsuren with 8,200,000 chips who topped the table. Estonia's Ranno Sootla was a close second with 6,400,000 chips and trailing in third was Hong Kong's Leo Pang with 4,650,000 chips.

Wooram Cho The Bubble Boy

The money bubble was a long-winded near two-level affair after about five hours of play, with South Korea’s Wooram Cho being the unfortunate bubble boy.

A number of notables bit the dust shortly after the bubble had burst, and the likes of Rene von Reden, Martin Sedlak, Hugues Girard & Joshua Gebissa will have to jump in one of the final upcoming events for their shot at an APT Taipei 2026 Trophy.

Rene von Reden Didn't Make the Cut

After about 11 hours of play, the field was reduced to a final table of nine players after Malaysia’s Jeremy Chan was eliminated in tenth spot as the final table bubble boy.

Ranno Scootla Starting Final Nine Chip Leader

Estonia’s Ranno Scootla came in as the final table chip leader with a commanding lead over the rest of the pack, led by Vietnam’s Trong Ngo.

Final Table Starting Stacks

Due to a hard 3:00am stop being in place here at Red Space when three players were left standing an ICM deal was discussed and agreed.

Eisuke Katsuren Went on a Heater at The Final Table

Eisuke Katsuren: 8,200,000 in chips locked up TWD 4,857,040 (~USD 155,675)

Ranno Sootla: 6,400,000 in chips locked up TWD 4,515,500 (~USD 144,730)

Leo Pang: 4,650,000 in chips locked up TWD 4,113,700 (~USD 131,850)

ZODIAC CLASSIC FINAL THREE PLAYERS & ICM DEAL INFO

The trio left TWD 600,000 (~USD 19,230) plus one of the two APTC seats in the pot for the eventual winner, with second place receiving the second APTC seat.

Play will resume Saturday, May 2 at 1:00pm local time with nine mins remaining on the clock on level 32 where the blinds will be 100k/200k with a 200k big blind ante.

Join us from the floor as all the remaining action unfolds and a 2026 APT Taipei Zodiac Classic Champion is crowned.

With three players remaining and the night coming to a close, play has been paused to discuss an ICM deal.

Jeffrey Lo

Eisuke Katsuren opened to 400,000 from under the gun and Ranno Sootla moved all in for 3,900,000 on the button. Jeffrey Lo re-jammed for 2,700,000 and Katsuren moved aside.

Jeffrey Lo: A Q

Ranno Sootla: A K

Lo stood to watch the runout, seeing that he was behind. Things stayed that way on the K Q 2 flop.

Sootla took the pot and eliminated Lo after seeing the 7 turn and 5 river.

John Tech

John Tech raised from the small blind to 700,000 only for Leo Pang to three-bet all in from the big blind. Tech snap-called to put himself at risk.

John Tech: Q 9

Leo Pang: Q J

Not the door card Tech was looking for on the J A 4 flop and he got no help on the 7 turn nor 7 river and was snet to the rail in 5th place.

The very next hand Ranno Sootla scored a double up through Pang, his A T holding agianst Pang's K T .

John Tech

A few hands after securing a triple up, Tech was all in again.

Eisuke Katsureen opened from under the gun and John Tech moved all in for his remaining 890,000 from the small blind. Katsureen called, and the players flipped their hands.

John Tech: K Q

Eisuke Katsureen: 9 9

Tech flopped well, and picked up a pair of queens on the Q 8 8 7 T runout, taking him back up over two million in chips.

John Tech

John Tech raised to 335,000 from under the gun, leaving a single 5,000 chip behind. Sootla Ranno called from the small blind and Jeffrey Lo defended the big blind.

The 8 A 5 flop saw checks all around to the 6 turn and 9 river. Ranno went to turn over his cards, but Tech still had to commit his last 5,000 to the pot. Once everyone topped up the extra 5,000, the cards went on their backs.

John Tech: K 7

Jeffrey Lo: A A

Sootla Ranno: K 9

Tech had rivered the straight to take the pot and secure a triple up, crushing Lo's trip aces.

The remaining five players are now on their last possible 15-minute break of the night.

There will be a hard finish at 3:00am here, and the remaining players will return tomorrow to play to a conclusion.

Jeffrey Lo

Action folded to Jeffrey Lo in the cutoff, who open-jammed all in for 2,025,000, and action was then on John Tech on the button, who came over the top and three-bet all in to isolate. The blinds exited stage left sharply.

Jeffrey Lo: A Q

John Tech: A J

A safe flop for Lo came of 7 A 7 and the 3 turn changed nothing and he just needed to avoid a jack to stay alive.

The river bricked out with the 6 and Lo was shipped the pot for near back-to-back doubles whilst Tech was left running on fumes.

Leo Pang

Leo Pang open on the button for 325,000 and Ranno Sootla called from the big blind.

The 7 2 9 flop was checked by Sootla and Pang bet 160,000. Sootla called, and the players saw a Q turn.

Both checked to the 6 river and Sootla scooped the pot after Pang folded to Sootla's 750,000 bet.

Jeffrey Lo

Eisuke Katsuren opened to 320,000 from the cutoff and Jeffrey Lo moved all in for his last 890,000 chips in the small blind. Katsuren made a quick call, and the players turned over their cards.

Jeffrey Lo: J Q

Eisuke Katsuren: A 6

The 8 7 3 flop kept Katsuren ahead, but the Q turn saw Lo take charge.

The T river secured Lo the pot, giving him a healthy chip up as he also picked up the big blind and ante.