Punnat Punsri

The Superstar Challenge was one of the marquee events that kicked off on the opening day of APT Jeju 2025 in the Landing Casino here at Jeju, South Korea. This event holds the distinction of having the most expensive buy-in of the entire series, pegged at KRW 35 million (~USD 25,000).

A total of 40 entries filled up the seats, building the prize pool to KRW 1,326,000,000 (~USD 937,140). Fourteen 40-minute levels were completed with 16 survivors able to bag up chips for a return to tomorrow's Day 2 final where a champion will be crowned.

There will be some work to do for the remaining runners since only the top 6 places will earn a share of the payout pie. The 6th place earns at least KRW 91,840,000 (~USD 65,600), while up at the very top KRW 446,080,000 (~USD 318,630) and a KRW 14M (USD 10,000) APT Championship Main Event seat awaits the champion.

Looking in good shape for a championship bid is Thailand's Punnat Punsri, who sits on the chip leader throne with 1,400,000 chips. Running behind at a close second is Germany's Fabian Gumz with 1,105,000. So far, these two are the only ones who bagged past the million mark.

Hong Kong's Biao Ding is almost there with 970,000 chips to round up the the top three.

Punsri made good use of his single re-entry when he busted earlier while risking a call with pocket kings against the trip-nines of Ricky Huang.

Punsri immediately fired his last bullet and regained those chips back from Huang, winning a flip and doubling with ace-queen against the pocket snowmen of Huang to get him started on his rise to the top of the leaderboard.

Some of the notables who made their presence felt, but failed to advance to the next day were the likes of poker superstar Isaac Haxton—who was a recent winner at the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Jeju II a week ago—Natural8 Ambassador Nevan Chang and APT Incheon 2025 Superstar Challenge winner Calvin Lee.

Ding, and Australia's Joshua McCully have won this event before and are looking to make a rare repeat. Meanwhile, two-time Superstar Challenge champion Joseph Cheong still has the chips to make an even rarer historic three-peat.

The complete chip counts can be viewed HERE.

The USA's Joseph Cheong has a chance to make tour history should he claim a third Superstar Challenge title

Day 1 of the Superstar Challenge has come to an end with 16 players still in the running.

A full write-up of the day 1 action will follow shortly.

Roman Hrabec

Yan Jingyao opened to 32,000 from under the gun and action folded around to Roman Hrabec in the small blind. Hrabec moved all in for his remaining 190,000 stack. The big blind folded and Jingyao made a swift call, easily covering Hrabec.

Yan Jingyao: A T

Roman Hrabec: J J

Hrabec only improved on the runout of 9 3 J 7 3 , securing him an increased stack just a few hands before the end of play today.

Yita Choong

Yita Choong risked his last 100,000 plus chips remaining to defend his big blind, and was matched by Danny Tang, who originally opened on the button for 32,000.

Yita Choong: A 3

Danny Tang: 8 7

Board: Q J 8 7 5 .

Tang flopped a pair and two-paired the turn, leaving Choong drawing dead and up from his seat before the river was opened as a formality.

The tournament director has just announced that the field will be playing the last 6 hands for the night.

Meanwhile, Mustapha Kanit became the most recent exit to the rail.

Isaac Haxton

Last 20 minutes of the day are on the clock with 20 players left out of the 40 total sign ups.

The prize pool is officially at KRW 1,326,000,000 (~USD 937,140).

Six places will be paid at least KRW 91,840,000 (~USD 65,600) with the champion's loot paying KRW 446,080,000 (~USD 318,630).

A moment of silence for those who won't be returning, such as:

Gytis_Lazauninkas

Action folded around to Isaac Haxton, who limped from the small blind and Gytis Lazauninkas checked the big blind.

The 7 J 8 flop saw Haxton bet 16,000. Lazauninkas raised to 50,000 and Haxton re-raised, putting in a stack of green chips into the middle worth 200,000.

Lazauninkas moved in his remaining chips, putting himself at risk of elimination. Haxton snap-called, and the players flipped their hands.

Gytis Lazauninkas: J 7

Isaac Haxton: A A

Lazauninka had flopped two pair, and he stayed ahead of Haxton after improving further on the J turn.

The K river didn't help Haxton, and he was left with less than ten big blinds.

There was a pot of around 280,000 in front of big blind, Dylan Foster, and hijack, Jingyao Yan.

The board had completed 4 8 Q Q 7 .

Foster fired off an almost all-in of 166,000, leaving a solitary 1,000 chip behind as a card protector.

Yan laid out the time bank cards for the dealer to pick freely from and went into deep thought, wondering if dolphins were really the smartest creatures on Earth. Eventually, Yan only used two time banks before flicking his cards back to the dealer.

Big blind, Fabian Gumz, and cutoff, Arthur Conan, had a pot of around 400,000 in front of them with a complete board, showing:

6 7 3 3 4 .

Gumz fired out an almost all-in for 270,000 — leaving 4,000 behind. Conan mucked, surrendering the huge pot to Gumz.

Roman Hrabec

Roman Hrabec opened to 25,000 on the button, and Biao Ding three-bet to 185,000 from the small blind. Hrabec called, taking the players heads up to the board.

The 4 K T flop prompted Ding to bet 50,000 and Hrabec called behind.

A J saw Ding bet 120,000. Hrabec took some time before folding, passing a large stack of his chips to his neighbour.