Phachara Wongwichit, Superstar Challenge Day 1 Chip Leader

The clock of the APT Taipei 2026 Superstar Challenge started running promptly as scheduled at 11:45 AM local time, but the cards weren't dealt until 5 players filled the tables 10 minutes into Level 6. Eventually, by the time registration closed at 8:30 PM, there were 26 total entries that ponied up the TWD 800,000 (~USD 25,000) buy-in to generate a prize pool of TWD 19,696,950 (~USD 631,310).

There were 18 players still with chips and a seat when registration closed.

Some of the notable players still on the field included Joseph Cheong, the APT all-time money leader and two-time Superstar Challenge champion, who was seeking a third Black Pewter trophy. Ren Lin, who had won the Superstar Challenge recently during the APT Jeju Classic 2026 earlier this year, was also hoping for a repeat. Chih Wei Fan, another Superstar Challenge winner from the APT Taipei Poker Classic 2024 also came to play as did Danny Tang, yet another Superstar Challenge champion.

Joseph Cheong

Other big names also included APT High Roller winners Daniel Neilson, Rudy Edenata, and newly crowned APT Super High Roller champ Mike Takayama fresh from his victory the night before. 2025 GPI Player of the Year and APT Main Event winner Punnat Punsri also made his presence felt.

However, when play resumed after the dinner break, the bust outs came quick and fast with the likes of Joseph Cheong, Punnat Punsri, Dominik Nitsche, Jason Mo, Candy Lin, Danny Tang, Gytis Lauzaninkas and Mike Takayama falling short of the final table.

Punnat Punsri's big slick ran into the pocket kings of Alex Wice and couldn't recover his short stack.

Joseph Cheong has his ace-jack run into the ace-king of Chin Wei Lin to end the quest for a third Superstar Challenge title.

Mike Takayama wasn't even on his seat for very long and was busted immediately by Ren Lin on his very first hand with a flush over flush situation.

The elimination of Glytis Lazauninkas set the final table of nine, but they still had to fight for 5 ITM slots.

Standing L-R: Daniel Neilson, Rudy Edenata, Ren Lin, Chih Wei Fan, Wai Kiat Lee Seated L-R: Phachara Wongwichit, Chin Wei Lim, Alexander Wice, Danny Tang

Rudy Edenata was the first casualty at the final table, followed by Ren Lin and Danny Tang.

Lin tried to hold on as much as he could, but his remaining chips played their last hand under his big blind.

After a few more levels, eventually the bubble burst on Alex Wice and also concluded play for the day.

Alex Wice, Superstar Challenge bubble boy

The five remaining survivors were guaranteed a payout of at least TWD 1,621,200 (~USD 52,130) and will return tomorrow to crown a champion at 11:15 AM local time. The eventual winner will take home the lion's share of TWD 7,247,750 (~USD 233,045). Also, the top two placers will be awarded an APT Championship Main Event seat to be played later in November this year, also in Taipei.

Leading the final five as the chip leader is Thailand's Phachara Wongwichit with 2,195,000 chips and is the only one who crossed the 2 million mark.

Here are the chip counts entering the final day.

SUPERSTAR CHALLENGE FINAL DAY STACKS

The competition of the final five will be aired via delayed livestream at the official APT YouTube Channel.

Stay tuned here also for live reports and updates.

With the elimination of Alexander Wice, the remaining five players have bagged up for the night and will return tomorrow to play out the Superstar Challenge on live stream. Stay tuned for a recap of the day's action!

Alex Wice

Identically short-stacked Alex Wice and Chin Wei Lim had their chips in the middle with both at risk for being eliminated or being really depleted to crumbs.

Alex Wice: 8 8

Chin Wei Lim: K K

The flop came 6 8 7 giving Wice a set, but giving Lim a flush draw.

The 5 gave Lim the flush he needed and just had to fade a paired board. The poker gods assured it by giving a K on the river for good measure, assuring the win for Lim and the elimination of Wice as the bubble boy.

His elimination guarantees all remaining players a minimum payout of TWD 1,621,200.

Chih Wei Fan

Wai Kiat Lee was on the small blind against Chih Wei Fan on the cutoff.

Both players were competing for a pot of around 280,000 with a board that showed 7 4 6 T

Lee was the first to act and led out for 180,000. Fan threw in a time bank token, riffled his chips, wondered if jellyfish are really aliens living among us, then counted the chips to call.

The river then showed an A

Lee tapped his option and Fan pushed in a stack of around 500,000. Lee then folded even before the chips were officially counted.

Daniel Neilson

Small blind Daniel Neilson moved all in for his remaining 415,000 chips and Wai Kiat Lee quickly called from the big blind.

Daniel Neilson: K J

Wai Kiat Lee: A 9

"Wait, what happened?" tablemate Phachara Wongwichit said.

"Somehow we got all-in," Neilson replied, as the dealer fanned the 9 5 8 flop, keeping Lee ahead with a pair of nines.

"However, I think I'm about to hit a jack..." the Australian added.

The dealer peeled off the J turn, much to the surprise of everybody at the table, besides Neilson himself. The 3 river completed the board and secured his double.

"See, it's that easy," he said, as he piled up a much more workable stack.

Phachara Wongwichit

Alex Wice opened from the cutoff for 50,000 and Phachara Wongwichit matched on the button.

Both players were given a flop of 6 8 3

Wice check-called the 75,000 bet of Wongwichit and was shown a Q

Once, again Wice check-called the bet of Wongwichit, but this time for 205,000.

The river landed a 7

Wice checked and Wongwichit barrelled another 475,000.

Wice tanked, mumbled card combinations, tried his best to assess, then finally decided to make the call.

Wongwichit declared "nuts" and flipped over T 9 to show a straight.

Wice mucked his hand and paid off the chips.

Danny Tang

Button Wai Kiat Lee raised to 40,000 and small blind Alexander Wice called. Big blind Danny Tang then three-bet shoved his remaining 375,000 and Wice called it off.

Danny Tang: A 7

Alexander Wice: A T

The 7 window card showed some promise for Tang, but the rest of the 4 K flop was ominous, leaving Wice drawing to the nut flush.

The 9 turn gave Wice the card he needed, and Tang was out of his seat as the 5 river completed the board.

The remaining six players are now on the stone bubble of the Superstar Challenge.

Daniel Neilson

Action folded to Chin Wei Lim on the button, who raised to 50,000. Daniel Neilson then moved all in on the big blind and risked his last 300,000.

Lim made the call for a showdown.

Daniel Neilson: A J

Chin Wei Lim: A T

The dealer fanned a flop of Q A J to give Neilson two pair. However, Lim had outs with a gut shot straight draw.

The turn showed a 8 and Lim's outs improved to a double belly buster. However, the river was a 2 and Neilson survived to double up, while denting Lim's stack.

Ren Lin

Wai Kiat Lee opened for 40,000 from early position and action folded around to Ren Lin on his big blind, who had 25,000 remaining after posting the blinds and ante.

Lin made the call, leaving 5,000 behind, then begged the dealer for a low flop.

The dealer fanned out K 7 6

Lin threw in his last 5,000 chip and Lee made the call.

Ren Lin: 4 3

Wai Kiat Lee: Q T

Lin requested for his outs, but the gods threw in a 6 on the turn and a J on the river, officially eliminating Lin and ending his chance to repeat as a Superstar Challenge champion.

Phachara Wongwichit raised to 40,000 from early position and received calls from button Wai Kiat Lee and big blind Danny Tang.

Tang check-called and Wongwichit check-folded when Lee placed a 40,000 continuation-bet on the 6 8 8 flop.

The J turn saw Tang check-call once more, this time for 75,000.

On the 5 river, Tang checked a third time before Lee put him all-in. Tang went deep into the tank, burning through multiple timebanks, before ultimately deciding to lay his hand down, leaving himself with around 15 big blinds.