APT TAIPEI 2023 SCHEDULE | ULTIMATE GUIDE | OFFICIAL RESULTS | IMAGES | WINNERS
TAIPEI, TAIWAN, May 7, 2023 – The APT Taipei 2023 is officially the largest in APT history, setting multiple records and awarding millions of dollars in prize money.
Playing out at the brand new CTP Asia Poker Arena – Asia's largest permanent poker room – the ten-day, 41 trophy-event series saw 1,989 unique players from 42 countries compete for a massive TWD $225,123,032 (~USD $7,357,920) in prize money.
You can see a breakdown of prize money and player numbers HERE.
Just over a quarter (27%) of the series prize money was awarded in the Main Event, which saw 881 unique players from 37 different countries compete for a TWD $62,594,100 (US$2,039,630) prize pool.
It was Thailand's Punnat Punsri claiming the coveted 24K golden lion trophy and the TWD $11,210,400.00 (~USD $365,270) top prize – the largest first-place prize ever to be awarded in a Taiwanese poker tournament.
For a breakdown of the Main Event by Country/Region please CLICK HERE and you can see a graphic HERE.
In addition to the APT Taipei 2023 breaking the record for largest APT Main Event field and prize pool, the APT High Roller also drew its largest field in APT history attracting a record 302 entries – which you can read about below – and accounting for a further 11% of the total Series prize money awarded.
It was another Thai player, Natural8 Amabassador Phachara Wongwichit who claimed the coveted bronze APT High Roller lion trophy, meaning two out of the three marquee APT lion trophies will be heading back to Thailand, with the pewter lion headed back to the UK with APT Super High Roller champion Sam Lam.
However, despite Thailand claiming the two biggest titles, it was Taiwan who proved to be tournament top dogs, claiming 10 APT titles, with South Korea and Hong Kong tied for second with 6 titles apeice .
You can view APT Taipei Winners by Country & Region HERE
Natural8 Ambassador Phachara Wongwichit Wins Record APT High Roller for TWD $4.8M (~USD $157K)
Natural8 Ambassador Phachara Wongwichit claimed his second high roller title of the Series in the largest APT High Roller in the Tour's 15-year history
Just 84 players out of a record field of 302 returned for the second and final day of the TWD $100,000 Event #43 APT High Roller - 8 Max - TWD 4,500,000 GTD, all looking to claim their share of the TWD $26,364,600 (~USD $860,930) prize pool – the second largest of the Series.
It was Natural8 Ambassador Phachara Wongwichit who took the lion's share of this monster purse, cashing for a sizable TWD $4,800,900 (~USD $156,930) for first, with Chan taking a TWD $4,000,000 (~USD 130,750) payout for his runner-up finish after the two flattened the top two payouts once play reached heads-up.
The Thai pro defeated Hong Kong's Tsz Him Chan after a two-level long heads-up battle that saw Wongwichit battle back from a 2-to-1 chip deficit to claim the coveted bronze lion APT High Roller trophy and his second high roller title of the Series.
"I feel it was like a set up, like it was meant to be," stated an upbeat Wongwichit in his post-match interview.
"Since Day 1 when APT and Victor [Chong] showed me the trophy I said 'I want that High Roller one'. And with all the support from the Thai team and all my international friends it feels really great [to win]!" said Wongwichit before heading off to celebrate with his watching rail.
APT HIGH ROLLER FINAL TABLE RESULTS
- Phachara Wongwichit (Thailand) – TWD $4,800,900
- Tsz Him Chan (Hong Kong) – TWD $4,000,000
- Robert Kiss (United States) – TWD $2,570,500
- Hsuanchao Chen (Taiwan) – TWD $2,074,900
- Kuan-Han Chen (Taiwan) – TWD $1,626,700
- Peter Da (Norway) – TWD $1,231,200
- Zarvan Tumboli (India) – TWD $904,300
- Kevin Choi (Hong Kong) – TWD $664,400
- Joshua Mccully (Australia) – TWD $551,000
With only 39 players making the money, it took five action-packed 40-minute levels to reach the bubble, with former Main Event champion Farhad Aghayev departing in the most unenviable position in poker, his pocket kings cracked by the ace-ten of Japan's Junichi Nakagiri to guarantee all remaining players a TWD $181,900 (~USD $5,940) payday.
It took a further seven levels of play to reach the nine-handed final table, with Nakagiri the man to hit the rail in tenth place for a TWD $461,400 (~USD $15,070) payday, his short-stacked shove with eight-seven running into the ace-king of Taiwan's Kuan-Han Chen and failing to improve.
You can read about all the action via the APT Blog.
You can watch all the action as it played out via the APT High Roller Live Stream.
Liam Jehu Wins Record-setting Mini Main Event for TWD $941,060 (~USD $30.7K)
Australia's Liam Jehu claimed his maiden APT title in the record-setting Mini Main Event
All the record-setting was not exclusive to the APT High Roller, with the two-day TWD $10,000 Mini Main Event crushing its TWD $1.5 million guarantee, drawing a record field of 562 entries (464 unique) and generating a TWD $4,906,260 (USD $160,270) prize pool.
Day 1 of the tournament saw this sizable field ruthlessly culled, with just 76 players making it through to Day 2 and the money – with the tournament paying out the top 80 places.
While it was Ryo Nagata who returned with the start-of-day chip lead the Japanese player was unable to convert this into the win, bowing out in 18th place for a TWD $39,700 (~USD $1,300).
It was Australia's Liam Jehu who claimed the crown, defeating Taiwan's Chien Don Houng heads-up to take a TWD $831,060 (~USD $27,160) top prize after the two worked out an ICM deal, playing it out for 10% of the remaining prize pool plus the trophy and title.
Houng collected TWD $700,700 (~USD 22,900) for his runner-up finish, with Jui-Tse Kao taking home TWD $422,900 (USD $13,810) for third, with the final table paying out as follows:
MINI MAIN EVENT FINAL TABLE RESULTS
- Liam Jehu (Australia) – TWD $831,060
- Chien Don Houng (Taiwan) – TWD $700,700
- Jui-Tse Kao (Taiwan) – TWD $422,900
- Jun Yi Ho (Singapore) – TWD $329,700
- Francisco Sanchez (United States) – TWD $258,600
- Jess Lee (Malaysia) – TWD $203,100
- Jin-Hao Kang (Taiwan) – TWD $151,600
- Daisuke Fujii (Japan) – TWD $105,000
- Yung-Yu Chen (Taiwan) – TWD $82,900
All prize pool and payout information can be found on the Official Results page.
You can read about all the action via the the APT Blog.
SIDE EVENT ACTION
South Korea's Seungyeol Kim Wins Event #47 NL - Hold'em - 8 Max for TWD $1,560,750 (~USD $40,400)
South Korea's Seungyeol Kim claimed his second APT title in Event #47 NL Hold'em – 8 Max
The TWD $50,000 Event #47 NL - Hold'em - 8 Max saw a field of 149 entries comprised of 126 unique players competing for a TWD $6,503,850 (~USD $212,460) prize pool.
It was South Korea's Seungyeol Kim who took it down, defeating Australia's Anton Lu heads-up to claim his second APT title and the TWD $1,560,750 (~USD $40,400) top prize.
Lu, who was on the hunt for his second APT title, had to settle for the TWD $1,060,100 (~USD $34,650) on offer for second place, with Hong Kong's Alan Lau rounding out the winner's podium and taking TWD $699,200 (~USD $22,850) for third.
A total of 20 players made the money, with the final table paying out as follows:
NL HOLD'EM FINAL TABLE RESULTS
- Seungyeol Kim (South Korea) – TWD $1,560,750
- Anton Lu (Australia) – TWD $1,060,100
- Alan Lau (Hong Kong) – TWD $699,200
- Inkuei Tan (Taiwan) – TWD $577,500
- Nguyen Huu Dung (Vietnam) – TWD $463,700
- Wai Kiat Lee (Malaysia) – TWD $363,600
- Yiu Yeung Leung (Hong Kong) – TWD $272,500
- Siwat Singhasuttakorn (Thailand) – TWD $201,600
- Jasven Saigal (India) – TWD $156,100
All prize pool and payout information can be found on the Official Results page.
Taiwan's Yun-Lin Li Triumphs in Record Micro Main Event for TWD $100,486 (~USD $3,280)
Taiwan's Yun-Lin Li took down the record Event #46 Micro Main Event
The TWD $2,000 Event #46 Micro Main Event drew a 314-strong field (309 unique), setting yet another new event record and generating a TWD $517,786 (~USD $16,910) prize pool.
It took thirty-three 20-minute levels for Taiwan's Yun-Lin Li to claim his maiden APT title, defeating compatriot Chun-Wei Chu heads-up to take the TWD $100,486 (~USD $3,280) top prize.
Chu took TWD $64,100 (~USD $2,100) for second place, with another Taiwanese player – Yi-Lung Tsai – coming in third for TWD $48,100 (~USD $1,570) for third.
A total of 47 players made the money, with the final table paying out as follows:
MICRO MAIN EVENT FINAL TABLE RESULTS
- Yun-Lin Li (Taiwan) – TWD $100,486
- Chun-Wei Chu (Taiwan) – TWD $64,100
- Yi-Lung Tsai (Taiwan) – TWD $48,100
- Yu Chuan Guo (Taiwan) – TWD $38,900
- Ying-Chang Chen (China) – TWD $30,700
- Ying Sheng Lin (Taiwan) – TWD $23,400
- Yu-Hsiang Chang (Taiwan) – TWD $17,200
- Ping-Hsun Lin (Taiwan) – TWD $12,600
- Chien Hao (Taiwan) – TWD $10,400
All prize pool and payout information can be found on the Official Results page.
Japan's Toshio Kataoka Takes Maiden APT Title in Event #45 Turbo - 8 Max for TWD $535,675 (~USD $17.5K)
Japan's Toshio Kataoka claimed his maiden APT title in the Event #45 Turbo – 8 Max
Playing out in the early hours of Sunday morning, the TWD $15,000 Event #45 Turbo - 8 Max saw 185 (163 unique) players in action, all competing for a share of the TWD $2,422,575 (~USD $79,140) prize pool.
It was Japan's Toshio Kataoka the man to take it down, defeating the USA's Joseph Hebert heads-up to claim the TWD $535,675 (~USD $17,500) top prize.
It proved to be third time's the charm for the Japanese player, making his third cash of the Series and his second final table appearance to claim his maiden APT title.
Hebert collected TWD $362,200 (~USD $11,830) for his runner-up finish, with Taiwan's Sin-Ren Chen taking TWD $249,300 (~USD $8,140) for third place.
A total of 27 players made the money, with the final table paying out as follows:
TURBO – 8 MAX FINAL TABLE RESULTS
- Toshio Kataoka (Japan) – TWD $535,675
- Joseph Hebert (United States) – TWD $362,200
- Sin-Ren Chen (Taiwan) – TWD $249,300
- Jui-Ting Chen (Taiwan) – TWD $203,300
- Yang Zu Yi (Taiwan) – TWD $162,100
- Charles Wong (Hong Kong) – TWD $124,500
- Hsin-Hui Peng (Taiwan) – TWD $90,600
- Chun Kit Lee (Hong Kong) – TWD $65,700
- Ye Wei Bo (Taiwan) – TWD $54,300
All prize pool and payout information can be found on the Official Results page.
Hong Kong's Ian Lam Wins Event #48 Hyper Turbo for TWD $153,885 (~USD $5K)
Hong Kong's Ian Lam claimed his maiden APT title in the Event #48 Hyper Turbo
The final two golden baby lion side event trophies of the Series were awarded in the last two Hyper Turbo events, with Hong Kong's Ian Lam taking down the TWD $5,000 Event 48# Hyper Turbo.
Lam outlasted a 189-strong (152 unique) field, cutting an ICM deal with heads-up opponent Singapore's Jereld Enzhi to claim TWD $153,885 (~USD $5,025) for first place and earn his maiden APT title in the process.
Enzhi received TWD $152,200 (USD $4,970) for his runner-up finish, with Japan's Hideo Kudo collecting TWD $84,900 (~USD $2,770) for third.
A total of 27 players cashed for a share of the TWD $824,985 (~USD $26,965) prize pool with the final table paying out as follows:
HYPER TURBO FINAL TABLE RESULTS
- Ian Lam (Hong Kong) – TWD $153,885
- Jereld Enzhi (Singapore) – TWD $152,200
- Hideo Kudo (Japan) – TWD $84,900
- Chien Kuei Shih (Taiwan) – TWD $69,200
- Kasidet Kampananurak (Thailand) – TWD $55,200
- Phimmara Charoenpukdi (Thailand) – TWD $42,400
- Lo Chun-Ting (Taiwan) – TWD $30,900
- Shao Yung Huang (Taiwan) – TWD $22,400
- Chamanan Arthachinta (Thailand) – TWD $18,500
All prize pool and payout information can be found on the Official Results page.
Lun Loon Claims Maiden APT Title in Event #49 Hyper Turbo - 8 Max for TWD $351,475 (~USD $11.4K)
Lun Loon was another player to win his maiden APT title this series in Event #49 Hyper Turbo – 8 Max
It was Malaysia's Lun Loon the man to claim gold in the TWD $15,000 Event #49 Hyper Turbo - 8 Max, seeing off challenges from the 105-strong field (90 unique) to claim his maiden APT title and the lion's share of the prize pool.
Loon bested Taiwan's Hanlin Tsien heads-up to take the TWD $351,475 (~USD $11,490) top prize, with Tsien collecting TWD $242,000 (~USD $7,900) for his runner up finish.
The USA's Michael Lech took third-place and a payout of TWD $158,800 (~USD $5,190), with 15 players making the money and the final table paying out as follows:
HYPER TURBO – 8 MAX FINAL TABLE RESULTS
- Tien Loon Ling (Malaysia) – TWD $351,475
- Hanlin Tsien (Taiwan) – TWD $242,000
- Michael Lech (United States) – TWD $158,800
- Chi Jen Chen (Taiwan) – TWD $128,600
- Jui-Ting Chen (Taiwan) – TWD $103,800
- Haruna Fujita (Japan) – TWD $81,100
- Younghee Park (South Korea) – TWD $63,900
- Pongkhun Busmongkhon (Thailand) – TWD $48,800
- Daewoong Song (South Korea) – TWD $35,700
All prize pool and payout information can be found on the Official Results page.