Daito Yamashita

The curtain has closed on Flight C of the National Cup Championship, which proved to be the biggest yet with 684 entrants (556 unique) making their way into the Red Space venue to take their shot at Asian Poker Tour glory. However, after a swift bubble period, only 96 of them managed to secure a spot into the final day tomorrow.

With three of five starting flights now completed, the National Cup Championship has attracted 1,408 entries so far. With two more starting flights to conclude later tonight, the all-time APT side-event record of 2,305 entries (set at last year’s National Cup in Taipei) is very much within reach.

Standing tall as chip leader by the end of the day was Daito Yamashita, who managed to bag up 892,000 by the time the Day-2 bubble had burst. Yamashita's aggressive style saw him surge late in the day to claim the third spot overall across the first three starting flights. To date, Yamashita's biggest tournament score comes from the APT Main Event in Incheon earlier this year, where he finished 14th for KRW 23,960,000 (~USD 17,258). With a big stack and plenty of momentum on his side, Yamashita will be looking to best his high score tomorrow in the final day.

National Cup Championship Flight C Top Ten Chip Counts

Two-time WSOP bracelet winner Darius Neagoe rounded out the top ten after ending with 609,000. Fresh off his second bracelet victory last month at WSOPE Rozvadov, the Romanian grinder is now looking to carve out his presence in Asia with more deep runs here at the APT.

Just outside of the top ten sits Li Ta Hsu, who will bring 600,000 in chips to battle with on the felt tomorrow. A pillar of the Taipei poker community, Hsu has tournament cashes dating back to 2006 and remains one of the local scene’s most seasoned competitors.

John Perry will also be one to watch after securing a bag worth 580,000. The Aussie enjoyed a stellar day that included eliminating Konstantinos Stroulis with Big Slick late in the day. Perry, who boasts nearly USD 2,000,000 in live-tournament earnings, is now one step closer to adding a major APT title to his already impressive poker resume.

John Perry

The final two flights (D and E) are set to conclude tonight, at which point all the surviving players from all five flights will reconvene on Sunday, Nov 16 at 11:15am to play down to a winner.

For a full APT National Cup Championship Survivor List for Flight C: Click here.

Be sure to check back here for all the latest updates from the final flights and final day as the National Cup Championship races to its thrilling conclusion!

The remaining 96 players are now bagging and tagging for the evening.

They will return tomorrow (Sunday Nov 16) at 11:15am for the final day.

Stay tuned for a recap of Flight C.

Paul Yugendra

Paul Yugendra was already all in from the big blind for his last 21,000 against Michael Concepcion, who had Yugendra covered from the cutoff.

Paul Yugendra: 9 8

Michael Concepcion: Q J

Yugendra's cards were live, but the J 9 4 flop paired both players to leave Yugendra drawing slim.

The 6 turn and K river were blanks and Yugendra fell short one place of earning a Day-2 berth.

With 97 players remaining and 96 making it to the final day, hand-for-hand play has begun and will last until the bubble has burst.

Isaac Chern Chze knew he was behind

As the field edged closer to the bubble, the short stacks were left with no choice but to adopt a push-or-fold strategy. Isaac Chern Chze — who certainly isn’t known for playing conservatively — decided to shove his remaining 57,000 from the cutoff.

Jun Yi Ho made the call, but before the dealer could push the action any further, Supanut Wannasangkhum seized the opportunity and re-shoved for his 176,000-chip stack. Ho suddenly found himself in a decision for his tournament life, prompting him to drop all five of his time banks on the table at once before ultimately letting his hand go.

Just before the showdown, Chze admitted, “I’m definitely behind,” and he wasn’t wrong as he tabled 9 7 . Wannasangkhum revealed his superior pocket pair, 9 9 .

The board ran out A 9 K 7 2 , sealing Chze’s fate and sending him to the rail painfully close to the bubble.

Witoon Ittiphuritat

Sin Lan Chen was already all in for approximately 100,000 preflop from middle position against Witoon Ittiphuritat, who had Chen covered from under the gun.

Sin Lan Chen: A A

Witoon Ittiphuritat: K K

It was the best situation Chen could hope for, as she was a heavy favorite to double up near the bubble.

The J Q T flop, however, gave Ittiphuritat an immediate sweat with an open-ended straight draw.

The T turn kept Chen ahead, but a cruel 9 landed on the river — completing Ittiphuritat's straight to eliminate Chen late in the evening.

Konstantinos Stroulis

Konstantinos Stroulis shoved for his last 135,000 from early position and just behind him, John Perry called to put Stroulis at risk. Everyone to act behind folded and a showdown was held.

Konstantinos Stroulis: K Q

John Perry: A K

Stroulis nodded and stood up from his seat upon seeing Perry's Big Slick, apparently resigned to his fate.

The board ran out 2 6 9 4 4 — leaving Perry best with his ace to eliminate Stroulis about 20 spots off of the bubble.

Play has begun to turn notably conservative at several tables as players begin to vie for their spot in the finals tomorrow.

However, some of the shorter-stacked players are picking their spots to commit.

In a recent hand, Glen Gressman raised to 20,000 from the hijack and was three-bet to 115,000 by Hao Che Cheng, leaving himself just 16,000 behind. Li Ying Fang shoved on the button for a bit more, which got a fold from Gressman, but a call all in from Cheng.

Hao Che Cheng: 7 7

Li Ying Fang: K Q

It was a fair fight that ended up going Cheng's way after the 8 A 2 3 8 runout held his sevens up, awarding him the double up and leaving Fang short.

Thomas Antoine shoved from under the gun for approximately 170,000 and it was folded around to Min Joo Cho, who also went all in for a bit more from the hijack. Everyone else got out of the way.

Thomas Antoine: A K

Min Joo Cho: Q Q

"Classic flip," Cho added.

It indeed was a flip, but one that didn't go in Cho's favor after the T 4 5 7 4 runout improved Antoine to a flush, to award him the double up.

Cho was left with just 40,000 following the clash and busted shortly thereafter.

The remaining 141 players have been sent on another 15-minute break.

Play will conclude for the day once the field has been reduced to 96.