Chip Leader Kitty Kuo - Natural 8 Ambassador

Day 3 of the APT Taipei 2025 Main Event has officially concluded, with the competition halting once the target of 48 survivors was reached after electrifiying day of poker here at the Red Space venue in Taipei, Taiwan.

The day began with 375 players already locked in for a minimum payout from the record-breaking prize pool of TWD 121,033,440 (~$3.7 million), the largest in APT history. The field, which represents the largest ever Main Event turnout in APT’s 19-year history, also marks the richest Main Event to date.

Ending at the top of the chip counts after nine hours of intense play was Natural8’s ambassador and Taiwan’s own Kitty Kuo, who amassed a staggering 7,575,000 chips. Kuo, who won the APT Main back here in 2021, will return tomorrow in the best position to claim the record-breaking top prize of TWD 19,009,440 (~$586,710), that also comes with a signature APT Gold Lion trophy and an APTC Main Event seat worth TWD 350,000.

Top Ten Chip Counts

Kuo, an OnLive qualifier, wasted no time making her mark in the Main Event. Early on, she sent David Erquiaga and Kit Kwan Chun in back-to-back hands and quickly climbed the chip counts. During the penultimate level of the day, she surged into the chip lead after her pocket aces held against Shinya Maeda's two kings, never relinquishing her top spot thereafter

Starting Day 4 in second place will be Taiwan's Huang Mu Shiang with 5,205,000 chips, closely followed by Wayne Lam in third with 5,175,000. Further down the leaderboard is Nicholas Go, who brings through an average stack of 2,350,000 chips. Go, who has already gained plenty of experience under the lights this series, finished as the runner-up in the APT Superstar Challenge, and has the chance to go one better here in the Main Event.

Wayne Lam

Day 3 concluded with the elimination of Jason Chan. He three-bet shoved his short stack into the middle with jack-ten and ran into the aces of Andrew Ong. There was no miracle runout for Chan and he was last to bust the day.

Some other notables who will be taking theirs seats on the felt include India's Nishant Kumar (2,615,000), APT regular Robert Nemeskeri-Kiss (2,100,000), Peter Kiem (1,095,000), the 2024 APT Taipei Main Event runner-up Abraham Ceesvin (1,025,000) Poland's Dawid Smolka (970,000), and short stacked Zhen Dong (345,000).

A highlight of Day 3 was the raffle draw for a coveted APT Championship ticket worth TWD 350,000. One Main Event player was drawn from the field with still 185 players remaining. The lucky draw was awarded to China’s Chung Ching Cheung.

Chung Ching Cheung Wins APTC Ticket

The fourth day of the tournament kicks off at 11:15 AM local time with one minute remaining on Level 26, where blinds will be 25,000/50,000 with a big blind ante of 50,000. Everyone has already secured TWD 307,500 (~$9,490) for their efforts, but all eyes are now on the bigger prize. The goal for the day is to play down to the final table of nine.

APT Taipei Main Event Final Table Payouts

*includes APTC Main Event seat valued at TWD 350,000

You can check out the official chip counts of the 48 survivors HERE.

You can check out the official payouts HERE

You can check out the seat draw for Day 4 HERE.

You can also watch replays of today's livestream at the APT Official YouTube Channel

Play resumes tomorrow at 11:15 AM local time and will play until a final table of 9 is reached.

Play has stopped with the bust out of Jason Chan in the 49th spot, leaving the final 48 to bag their chips to return tomorrow for Day 4.

Day 3 recap to follow.

Jason Chan

Kitty Kuo raised to 100,000 before Jason Chan put in his last 225,000 from a few seats over. Andrew Ong four-bet to 750,000, forcing Kuo to fold.

Jason Chan: J T

Andrew Ong: A A

Chan needed a miracle from the dealer to crack the aces of Ong and survive. The board ran out 6 7 4 7 K , meaning Ong's pocket aces held up, sending Chan out of the tournament.

With Chan's bust - the Main Event paused as the final 48 survivors bag their chips to return tomorrow for Day 4.

Nishant Kumar

The action was picked up on the turn with a board running out 6 9 8 6 with around 700,000 chips in the pot when Akira Takasuhi fired out 250,000 and Nishant Kumar called in the cutoff.

The T landed on the river and Takasuhi fired out 1,200,000 which successfully forced Kumar to fold.

With 49 players remaining in the field, one more elimination will conclude the day, and the remaining survivors will advance to Day 4!

Jhon Hendri had 650,000 chips in the middle with Nicholas Go making the call.

Jhon Hendri: Q Q

Nicholas Go: A T

Board ran 7 6 8 J 9 to give Go a straight and knock out Hendri from the Main Event.

Jhon Hendri and Nishant Kumar had all their chips in the middle with Hendri at risk.

Jhon Hendri: A J

Nishant Kumar: A K

The dealer completed 6 5 7 4 8 for both players to play the board and split the pot.

Abraham Ceesvin

Kaoru Kishimoto open-shoved the hijack for 780,000 and Abraham Ceesvin called for his 550,000 in the big blind.

Kaoru Kishimoto: K Q

Abraham Ceesvin: A 7

Ceesvin took over the lead with a flopped pair of aces on the flop of 6 T A while Kishimoto received a gutshot.

Fortunately for Ceesvin, the runout revealed 8 3 , locking up a crucial double-up for him and leaving Kshimoto on the edge of elimination.

Ho Chan Tsz had his last 300,000 all-in against Nicholas Go.

Ho Chan Tsz: A 2

Nicholas Go: A 9

Board ran K 5 6 4 J to keep Go ahead, sending Tsz to the rail.

There was a pot of around 650,000 beside a board that showed 6 9 5 K T

Kaihung Hu had the all-in arrow in front of him with 725,000 chips at risk. Seokyung Lee made the call.

Kaihung Hu: 6 6

Seokyung Lee: K T

Lee's set was better than Lee's two-pair and scooped the huge pot, leaving Lee with crumbs.