Day 1 Chip Leader Rob Hollink

The trailblazing APT Superstar Challenge Day 1 has come to an end after 12 hours of intense poker featuring some of the biggest names in the Asian poker scene and beyond. The event drew a total of 51 entries, with the record falling just minutes before registration closed.

It is the largest field since the buy-in was raised to USD 25,000 at APT Taipei 2024, surpassing the previous record of 49 entries shared by the APT Taipei Poker Classic 2024 and APT Jeju Classic earlier this year. The record turnout also generated KRW 1,785,127,500 (~USD 1,332,185), making it the richest Superstar Challenge in APT history.

When the final cards were dealt, poker veteran Rob Hollink stood atop the chip counts, bagging an impressive 1,890,000 chips. A highly decorated player on the international poker scene, Hollink won the EPT Monte Carlo Main Event in 2008 and is also a WSOP bracelet winner.

Hollink has made several APT final-table appearances throughout his career but is still searching for his first APT Lion. With the biggest stack heading into the final day, Hollink now has a prime opportunity to finally add one to his collection.

Fabian Gumz

Hot on Hollink’s heels is Fabian Gumz, who bagged 1,310,000. Gumz already has a strong history at APT Jeju, having finished fifth in this very event last year as well as runner-up in the APT High Roller.

With an APT Lion still proving elusive, he has returned to Jeju with another shot at the title and finds himself in a strong position heading into the final day.

Natural8 Ambassador Nevan Chang sits just behind with 1,240,000. Chang is no stranger to APT success, with a collection of APT Lions already sitting atop his mantel and numerous final-table appearances to his name.

Starting near the top of the counts gives him another opportunity to add another Lion to his pride.

Superstar Challenge Day 1 Top Ten Chip Counts

Also well positioned is Natural8 Ambassador Chih Wei Fan, who sits fourth with 1,170,000. Fan finished fifth in the Superstar Challenge at APT Taipei last April and previously captured the title in this event at the APT Taipei Poker Classic 2024.

Having already tasted victory in the Superstar Challenge, Fan will be looking to repeat that feat and claim another APT Lion.

Joseph Cheong will return tomorrow with 380,000 in chips, chasing history once again. The only player to have won this event twice and the APT’s all-time money leader, Cheong now has a chance to become its first three-time champion.

Sitting near the bottom of the counts may mean work to do, but with his track record, he remains very much in the hunt.

Yoko Sasaki

The lone queen in a field of kings, Yoko Sasaki is the only woman remaining in the Superstar Challenge and ended the day sixth in chips with 935,000.

Sasaki maintained a strong position throughout much of the day, spending long stretches near the top of the counts before suffering a setback in a big pot against Nang Quang Nguyen, who finished the day fourth in chips.

Sasaki recovered in timely fashion, picking up a crucial boost when she eliminated Calvin Lee, who was looking to defend his title after winning the event at APT Incheon Championship last year.

Several other notable names, however, were unable to make it through to the final day, including Punnat Punsri, Daniel Neilson, Sean Ooi, Michel Molenaar, and Manuel Fritz.

With KRW 451,777,500 (USD337,150) awaiting the eventual champion, the remaining players will return tomorrow knowing there is plenty at stake. Here’s how the payouts stack up:

Superstar Challenge Payouts

With an APT Black Stealth Lion within reach and a record payday on the line, the stage is set for a thrilling final day as the remaining players return for one last battle.

Come back tomorrow and lock in as we bring you all the action from the final day, including the biggest pots, key eliminations, final-table drama, and the crowning of the next APT Superstar Challenge champion.

The 16 surviving players are now bagging and tagging their chips after more than 11 hours of play.

Action resumes tomorrow, September 29, at 11:15 AM local time.

Stay tuned for a recap of the day's action!

The floor has announced there will be five more hands played before the survivors bag up for the evening.

Rob Hollink raised from the cutoff before small blind Calvin Lee three-bet jammed his 265,000-chip stack. Big blind Yoko Sasaki then shoved behind for 354,000, and Hollink got out of the way.

Calvin Lee: Q J

Yoko Sasaki: T T

Lee failed to connect on the K 7 8 flop, and with neither player holding a spade, the 6 turn only gave the Japanese player a straight draw to go with her pocket pair.

No queen or jack materialised on the 3 river, and Lee was sent to the rail in the last level of the day.

Rob Hollink raised to 32,000 from the button before calling small blind Rudy Edenata's three-bet to 125,000.

Edenata continued for 75,000 on the 8 A 6 flop and the Dutchman made quick work of calling.

The action repeated on the 7 turn, this time for 150,000.

Edenata slowed down with a check on the J river and Hollink checked behind. Edenata turned over 5 5 , but it was Hollink who scooped the healthy pot with A T , extending his chip lead.

Chih Wei Fan

Christian Harder in the small blind and Chih Wei Fan in the big blinds faced each other once again, building a pot of 150,000.

The dealer fanned out K 5 K . Harder fired 90,000 and Fan called to see another card.

Both players checked the 8 turn leading them to the Q river.

Harder led with 150,000 bet which was enough to push Fan out of the pot.

Yang Xu in the small blind and Atsushi Yokoyama in the big blind built a pot of 90,000 when the flop dropped 8 7 6 .

Xu fired 35,000 and Yokoyama called. He fired another 55,000 on the K and still Yokoyama called.

Both players checked the river 9 prompting Xu to show A 6 for ace-high. The dealer pushed the pot to Yokoyama after he tabled J 7 for a pair on the flop.

On the very next hand, Xu open-shoved for 220,000 from the button. Rob Hollink in the big blind called.

Yang Xu: Q 5

Rob Hollink: A 6

Holllink was already ahead with ace-high and was pushed further ahead with the 4 Q A flop. No help came for Xu on the 3 turn and 8 river, eliminating him as the day neared its end.

Chih Wei Fan

Calvin Lee

Calvin Lee is amongst those still remaining in the star studded Superstar Challenger field. He returns to the event as a previous Superstar Challenge champion and one of the most recognised players on the APT circuit.

Lee captured the previous title at the APT Incheon 2025 Championship​​, making his victory on home soil all the more significant. The South Korean will be looking to make it through tonight's later levels add progress to tomorrow, increasing his chances of adding another title to his already impressive APT résumé.

According to The Hendon mob Lee currently tops the South Korea’s all-time tournament money list, with more than USD 7 million in live career earnings.

Lee also won the aptly named Superstar Championship in Taipei in 2025, taking home approximately USD 597,556 and another APT Lion for his collection. His versatility extends beyond No-Limit Hold’em, having also claimed the APT High Roller PLO title in Seoul in 2018.

During his reaction from last year’s victory​​, Lee summed up the significance of the achievement: “It means a lot. This is the biggest event that APT has in the new era, and to come to the Championship and win it against such a tough field means a lot.”

Teeraphat Rangkatekarn (left) and Calvin Lee (right), Super High Roller Jeju 2026

Lee came agonisingly close to adding another just yesterday, finishing runner-up in the Super High Roller Event. There is no rest for Lee as he was straight back at the tables today and is currently battling through the Superstar Challenge amongst some of poker’s most elite.

With another Superstar Challenge field shortening, Lee has the opportunity to add yet another chapter to his already decorated APT career.

Teeraphat Rangkatekarn

Fabian Gumz raised to 24,000 from the hijack and received a call from Teeraphat Rangkatekarn in the big blind, before Rangkatekarn led for 33,000 on the 2 7 8 flop and took down the pot.

Mingcong Chen then raised to 24,000 from the hijack before folding to big blind Johan Pedersen's three-bet shove for 150,000.

Gumz raised to 24,000 a hand later before folding to Pedersen's three-bet to 75,000.

Johan Pedersen

Punnat Punsri then limped in and Gumz checked in a blind-on-blind battle.

"Eighteen," Punsri said after the dealer fanned the 6 2 9 flop, flicking a green 25,000 chip into the middle. Gumz did not stick around.

Chang Hwan Lee then raised to 30,000 from middle position and big blind Chen defended.

"I have good hand for sure," Lee said as the dealer fanned the J 3 6 flop. Both opted to check.

The 3 turn was checked through as well, taking the two players to the A river. Chen led for 65,000 and was quickly called by Lee, who turned over A T to take the pot, besting Chen's ten-eight offsuit bluff.