Taipei Fest Main Event gets going

The most sought-after title in the Asian Poker Tour — the Main Event — kicked off in Taipei Sunday with a substantial payout expected due to its NTD 65,000,000 (~USD 2,000,000) guarantee, the largest prize pool ever offered in Asia.

The event runs 3 to 9 March with buy-in set at NTD 70,000 (~USD 2,200). APT Taipei 2024 actually took off 28 February at the CTP Asian Poker Arena with a massive NTD150 million (USD 4.8 million) guarantee.

The APT prides itself in its Main Event tournament structure and has been praised as one of the best in the region. Players startwith a deep 40,000 stack (400 times the opening blind). Flight A blinds increase every 60 minutes, Flight B blinds increase every 45 minutes, and Flight C will see blinds increase every 30 minutes then 40 minutes at the start of Level 7. All entry flights play a total of 10 levels.

In 2023, Thailand pro Punnat Punsri clinched the APT Main Event for NTD 11,210,400 (~USD 364,300). He is on site and will be looking to defend his title.

This season's 12-day festivities are expected to draw in a bigger attendance with another partner venue secured to accommodate the massive field. The Chinese Mahjong League located in central Taipei 1.7 km away from the Arena, is set to host some of the games.

CTP and the Asian Poker Arena has a special place in our hearts as this is where the New Era of the Asian Poker Tour launched last year to record-breaking numbers. We guaranteed TWD 50 million in our last poker festival in Taipei and that has now tripled to TWD 150 million!" said APT CEO Fred Leung.

"APT is continually expanding its offerings to accommodate different bankrolls. Yes, we have added more high stakes offerings with buy-ins as high as 25K USD. But we have also included exciting events for the everyman as well. The APT National Cup is our official opening event and with a TWD 15 million guarantee, it already matches or surpasses most main events in the region — but at just a fraction of the usual buy-in," Leung added.

Long queues kicked off APT Taipei 2024 with players drawn by the NTD 15 Million (~USD 474K) guaranteed APT National Cup. Taking place at the Asia Poker Arena, the opening flight pulled in 488 entries, concluding with 29 players through to the next round. Running simultaneously at the Chinese Mahjong League, players battled for the first APT trophies. Hong Kong snatched up the most with notables Anson Yan Shing Tsang, Dicky Siu Hang Tsang and Edward Chun Ho Yam, among the winners.

Hong Kong's Edward Chun Ho Yam made his presence felt at the Turbo High Roller, rising above the 38-entry field that included WSOP bracelet winner Mike Takayama and Ivan Hon Cheong Lee. Yam claimed the lion's cut of the NTD 829,350 (~USD 26,180) prize pool, pocketing NTD 307,350 (~USD 9,700).