Teeraphat Rangkatekarn

Day 1 of the 2026 APT Jeju Super High Roller, the first APT Mega Lion trophy on offer at APT Jeju 2026, is done and dusted.

A total of 99 entrants (67 unique) ponied up the KRW 500,000 buy-in to generate a monstrous prize pool of KRW 1,368,427,500 (~USD 1,021,215), nearly trebling the KRW 500,000,000 guarantee.

Out of the 99 players who took to the felt, 26 have survived and bagged up chips for Day 2 tomorrow, September 27.

13 players will be paid, with a minimum cash prize of KRW 27,780,000 (~USD 20,730), but all players will be eyeing up the tasty first-place prize of KRW 355,667,500 (~USD 265,425), which comes with a ticket into the APTC Main Event in November, not to mention the exclusive, award-winning APT Pewter Lion trophy.

It was Thailand’s Teeraphat Rangkatekarn who topped the pile finishing Day 1 with a massive 3,425,000 chips. Trailing behind Rangkatekarn is the USA’s Calvin Lee with 1,945,000 chips, while hot on Lee’s heels is his compatriot Christian Harder, rounding out the podium in third place with 1,700,000 chips.

APT JEJU 2026 SUPER HIGH ROLLER DAY 1 TOP TEN STACKS

Rangkatekarn is looking for his first APT title and to edge closer to the USD 500,000 threshold in lifetime earnings, whilst Lee is in the hunt for his fourth APT title and to add to his USD 7m in lifetime earnings. Harder is looking for his first APT title and, like Lee, to add to his USD 7m in lifetime earnings.

As would be expected from one of the opening high roller events of the series, a plethora of top names took to the felt looking to bag up chips for Day 2 and be in with a shot at picking up the first Mega Lion Trophy on offer at APT Jeju.

However, most didn’t make the grade, and the likes of China’s Ren Lin and Renji Mao will have to jump into the Superstar Challenge for their next shot at a High Roller title.

Ren Lin

Germany’s Martin Sedlak won’t be making it a hat trick of APT titles after being sent to the rail late in the day, nor will Ireland’s Ryan Plant be adding to his four other APT Lions, as his stack was uprooted before the close of play.

Martin Sedlak

Indonesia’s Rudy Edenata won’t be the first player to hold two APT Mega Lions, while Aussie Daniel Neilson will have to wait until APTC Taipei to get his hands on his second APT Super High Roller title. Poker Hall of Famer John Juanda is another who won’t be adding to his three APT titles.

Joseph Cheong

Of course, many top-name players did make it through the day, though. Germany’s Fabian Gumz (1,565,000) sits handily in fourth place, Aussie Yita Choong (1,270,000) is in sixth spot, and APT all-time money list number one, Joseph Cheong (1,025,000), squeaked into the top ten. With all their experience and deep APT runs, none can be ruled out from going deep in this event.

Yita Choong

Singapore’s Abraham Ceesvin (950,000) is sitting pretty just outside the top ten and has a great shot at adding an APT Super High Roller title to his Main Event title from the corresponding festival last year.

Abraham Ceesvin

US-based Filipino James Mendoza (940,000) is just behind Ceesvin and in with a great shot at taking down his third APT title.

APT JEJU 2026 SUPER HIGH ROLLER PAYOUTS

For the full 2026 APT Jeju Super High Roller Survivor List, click here.

Day 2 kicks off tomorrow at 11.15 a.m. local time. Play will resume at Level 17, where the blinds will be 15,000/30,000 with a 30,000 big blind ante. Levels will be 40 minutes, with a 15-minute break every three levels.

Play will continue until an APT Jeju 2026 Super High Roller champion is crowned and gets their hands on the exclusive APT Pewter Lion Trophy.

Be sure to join the APT team for live updates straight from the floor as the day unfolds.

To view the full seat draw for Day 3, click here.

The final 26 players are now bagging and tagging for the evening.

Stay tuned for a recap of Day 1.

Ryuta Nakai

Mehdi Chaoui opened from the cutoff and Ryuta Nakai moved all in for a bit over 200,000 on the button. Action folded back to Chaoui, who called to put Nakai at risk

Ryuta Nakai: K Q

Mehdi Chaoui: 7 7

It was a fair fight, but the J J 7 flop immediatley improved Chaoui to a full house to leave Nakai drawing nearly dead.

The J turn gave Nakai a bit of hope, but the 2 river kept Chaoui in the lead to eliminate Nakai as Day 1 nears its end.

The clock has now been paused for the night and six more hands will be dealt.

The remaining players will then bag up their chips and return for Day 2 tomorrow, September 27, and play down until a champion is crowned.

Fabian Gumz

Fabian Gumz opened to 50,000 from early position and action folded around to Martin Sedlak in the small blind who three-bet all-in for 125,000, and Gumz made the call.

Martin Sedlak: A 2

Fabian Gumz: Q T

Sedlak stayed ahead on the J 5 8 flop but that all changed when the T peeled off on the turn and gave Gumz a pair, which then improved to two pair on the Q river and sent Sedlak to the rail.

Teeraphat Rangkatekarn

Heads-up on a board of T Q 7 9 with a large pot already in the middle, Teeraphat Rangkatekarn had a bet in front of him from early position and San Hon Pang moved all in for approximately 300,000 from the cutoff. Rangkatekarn called and hands were revealed.

San Hon Pang: K K

Teeraphat Rangkatekarn: Q T

Rangkatekarn had turned two pair, and the 2 river bricked out for Pang, eliminating him with just four tables of players remaining.

Hon Lee

Action folded to Hon Lee in the cutoff who open-jammed all-in for 195,000. Yuhan Liu sat in the small blind then moved all-in over the top to isolate, which did the trick as the big blind folded quickly.

Hon Lee: 3 3

Yuhan Liu: A K

No help for Liu on the J 7 T flop nor the 2 turn and when the 3 peeled off on the river and gave Lee a set he was shipped the pot for a double up.

Joseph Cheong

At one table, Qing Bo Gao moved all in for his last 260,000 on the button and was snap-called by Christian Harder in the big blind to be put at risk.

Qing Bo Gao: K J

Christian Harder: Q Q

Gao was in trouble, but the T K 8 3 J runout bailed him out with two pair to award him a much-needed double-up.

Simulateously at another table, Ren Lin was all in and at risk for about 400,000 from the small blind against Joseph Cheong, who had Lin covered in late position.

"What do I have?" Lin said before triumphantly turning over his hand.

Ren Lin: Q Q

Joseph Cheong: J J

It was Lin's favorite hand, or "Lady Gagas" according to Lin, and he was in great shape against Cheong's jacks.

However, that all changed after the 7 J T flop improved Cheong to a set of jacks, sending Lin reeling.

"My ladies!" Lin shouted.

Neither the 6 turn nor 6 river changed anything and Cheong was awarded the rest of Lin's chips.

The remaning 39 players have been sent on their last 15-minute break of the day.

When they return, two more levels will be played before the survivors bag and tag up for Day 2.

Han Shao

Han Shao opened on the button and was three-bet by Nevan Chang in the small blind. Shao responded by moving all in for 375,000 total and Chang quickly called with the larger stack.

Han Shao: A K

Nevan Chang: K Q

Chang began motioning to muck his cards after he saw he was domianted, and the 3 6 3 J 4 runout kept Shao best for a late double-up.

Meanwhile, Scott Margereson, Sean Ooi, Daniel Neilson, and Yuan Lei were all eliminated.