Heng Je Hu

The Asian Poker Tour Championship 2026 (APTC) officially gets underway on Friday, November 13, but the first lion trophy has already found its owner at Red Space, Taipei. The Asia Gaming Industry Championship Freezeout opened proceedings with a field of 102 players, bringing together familiar faces from across the poker scene before the festival begins in earnest.

When the dust settled, it was Taiwan’s Heng Je Hu, a 25-year-old online poker agent, who claimed the title and a career-best TWD 279,562 (~USD 7,720) after defeating Wei Chun Lin heads-up. Hu took control during the closing stages, arriving at the final table with more than a third of the chips in play and carrying that advantage through to the finish.

"I'm a player and agent for online poker platforms. It was very enjoyable to participate in such a grand event. I’m very happy [to win] and I’d like to thank my friends. I'm grateful I didn't give up on this game," said Hu via the aid of a translator immediately following his win, before heading off to buy them dinner to celebrate.

The TWD 13,000 Freezeout attracted a 34% increase on last year’s 76-player field, generating a TWD 1,093,962 (~USD 33,560) prize pool shared among the top 15 finishers. Lin collected TWD 192,500 (~USD 5,320) for second place, while Elton Keung completed the podium.

Asia Gaming Industry Championship Final Table Results

How the Day Unfolded

Plenty of recognizable names took their seats, including APT Special Advisor Victor Chong, APT commentators Sam Insole and Kyle Ivanich, and Kevin Mathers of GPI/The Hendon Mob. Stephen Lai, Alan Lau, and Russ Leung were also in attendance, alongside Natural8 Ambassador Hua-Wei Lin and Somuchpoker’s Callum Jury and Mate Hanusi.

Kevin Mathers

There was a charitable element to the occasion, too. APT owner Daren Yoon and Chong pledged a minimum of TWD 500,000 to charity, with David Tai, CEO of Chinese Texas Hold’em Poker (CTP) Club, and Raymond Wong, CTP’s Director of International Marketing, committing a further TWD 100,000. All four also pledged to donate any prize money they won to the Taiwan Alzheimer’s Disease Association.

Once registration closed, the focus shifted to reaching the 15 paid places. Jury was among those to fall short when his pocket queens lost to the ace-jack of Stephanie Chang, who found an ace on the flop and added a jack on the river.

The bubble took some work to settle as several players found timely doubles. Lin picked up pocket kings against the ace-king of Youcef Zalagh and held to stay in contention, while Hu’s pocket queens beat the pocket tens of Qi En Lu.

Youcef Zalagh

Shun Yi Zheng also survived an all-in encounter during hand-for-hand play, but his reprieve proved temporary. In a later pot against Hu, Zheng called bets on every street with king-jack on an ace-high board. Hu showed queen-five for two pair, leaving Zheng one place short of the money.

In the Money

With the bubble out of the way, Hu began collecting chips at pace. He eliminated Irang Seo in 14th when his pocket jacks held against ace-five, then picked up pocket aces against Lu and improved to a full house to send him out in 13th.

Yun Ze Lo was next to run into Hu, with ace-queen unable to overcome ace-king. Hu then accounted for Chun Yu Yeh in tenth, his pocket jacks holding against ace-seven to bring the remaining nine players together.

Yun Ze Lo

Hu entered the final table with 1,100,000 of the 3,060,000 chips in play, comfortably ahead of Phongsatorn Panchakabut in second.

After finishing third in last year’s inaugural edition, Chong made another final table appearance but was the first finalist to depart this time around. He lost most of his stack with pocket tens against Keung’s pocket aces and was forced all in shortly afterward. Chong’s ten-five lost to Lin’s eight-three, ending his run in ninth.

Victor Chong

Chang followed in eighth when her pocket eights were overtaken by Hu’s ace-nine on an ace-high flop. Mars Chan then got his remaining chips in with jack-ten against Hu’s king-nine. Chan paired his ten on the flop, but a king on the river sent another pot Hu’s way and left Chan out in seventh.

Hu Closes It Out

Keung picked up two eliminations during the closing stages, first sending Chih Yi Fan out in sixth when ace-six held against three-deuce. Between those two knockouts, Lin’s ace-king held against Panchakabut’s king-queen to end the Thai player’s run in fifth.

Shun Hei Lee then found himself dominated with queen-jack against Keung’s king-jack. Both paired their jack, but Keung’s kicker played to leave Lee in fourth.

Shun Hei Lee

Hu continued to extend his lead three-handed, including a pot where he called Lin’s river bet with a pair of eights and was shown a pair of deuces. Keung eventually called off his remaining chips with jack-ten against a small-blind shove from Hu, who held nine-eight. An eight on the flop put Hu ahead, and Keung could not catch up, taking third place.

Heads-up play began with Hu holding a commanding advantage. After several preflop shoves went unanswered, Lin called all in with ace-jack against Hu’s nine-three.

Wei Chun Lin

Lin had the better hand going in, but the nine-high flop paired Hu’s nine. The turn and river brought no rescue, leaving Lin to settle for second as Hu secured the first APT Championship Lion Trophy of the series.

That concludes APT’s coverage of the Asia Gaming Industry Championship, but stay tuned throughout the festival to see who else can get their hands on the lions.

Heng Je Hu

Heng Je Hu has overcome a 102-entry field and bested Wei Chun Lin heads-up to win the Asia Gaming Industry Championship Freezeout for a career-best score of TWD 279,562 (~USD 7,720).

Hu, who took over a commanding chip lead with two tables remaining, put on a dominating performance that saw him knock out several players and never relinquish the lead en route to his victory.

Stay tuned for a recap of the event.

Asia Gaming Industry Championship Final Table Results

Wei Chun Lin

After trading several preflop shoves back and forth and not getting any action, Heng Je Hu moved all in on the button and Wei Chun Lin tanked a bit before calling all in for his last 385,000.

Wei Chun Lin: A J

Heng Je Hu: 9 3

Lin found a spot to get his chips in good, but the 2 9 5 flop immediately vaulted Hu into the lead with a pair of nines.

Lin was still drawing live with his overcards, but the 8 turn and 4 river brought no help, eliminating Lin as runner-up and putting an end to the tournament.

Elton Keung

The action folded to Heng Je Hu in the small blind, who moved all in. Elton Keung was in the big blind and called for his stack of around 150,000.

Elton Keung: J T

Heng Je Hu: 9 8

Keung had a chance to get back into contention, but the 8 2 6 flop went Hu's way as he paired his eight.

The 5 7 runout changed nothing, and Keung was sent to the payout desk in third.

Heng Je Hu

After winning a handful of pots uncontested preflop, Heng Je Hu opened to 60,000 first to act and Wei Chun Lin defended his big blind.

Both players checked on the 8 7 5 flop and then Hu called a 30,000 bet from Lin on the 7 turn.

The 2 filled the river and Lin sized up for a bet of 65,000. Hu quickly called and Lin showed Q 2 for a pair of deuces.

Hu revealed J 8 for a pair of eights to claim the pot and extended his chip lead even further.

Wei Chun Lin limped in from the small blind and Heng Je Hu checked his option in the big blind.

Both checked the K K 5 flop to the 5 turn, where Lin bet 25,000. Hu called.

A J fell on the river and Lin fired again for 50,000, only to be faced with a raise of 150,000 from Hu. After thinking it over, Lin let his hand go.

Shun Hei Lee

Elton Keung opened from the cutoff and just behind him, Shun Hei Lee three-bet for all but 1,000 of his remaining short stack. Action folded back to Keung and he quickly moved all in. Lee called to put himself at risk and a showdown was held.

Shun Hei Lee: Q J

Elton Keung: K J

Lee found himself dominated and in need of help, but the 3 2 J 4 A runout kept Keung's kicker best to send Lee out in fourth place.

Phongsatorn Panchakabut

Phongsatorn Panchakabut shoved 325,000 from under the gun and Wei Chun Lin called from the big blind.

Phongsatorn Panchakabut: K Q

Wei Chun Lin: A K

Panchakabut needed to find a queen, but the board of 8 6 4 T 3 ran dry, meaning he was eliminated fifth, while Lin's stack grew to around 800,000.

Chih Yi Fan

Elton Keung shoved on the button and Chih Yi Fan called all in for approximately 100,000 from the small blind to put himself at risk.

Chih Yi Fan: 3 2

Elton Keung: A 6

Fan decided to gamble and wasn't in terrible shape with two live cards. However, the 9 Q 4 7 5 runout improved neither player — leaving Keung best with his ace to eliminate Fan in sixth place.

The final six players have been sent on a 15-minute break.

Heng Je Hu continues to dominate and currently holds about half the chips in play.