The most important discipline within the Asian Poker Tour’s 19-year historical past confirmed as much as Taiwan for the Major Occasion in Taipei, and it was a participant from Japan who took house the lion’s share of the record-setting TWD 121,033,440 (~$3.7 million) prize pool.
Akira Takasugi is the person who stood on prime of a discipline of two,547 entries. His largest money earlier than this got here for ending twentieth on this similar occasion in 2023 for $13,000. He had about $29,000 in cashes earlier than popping this large balloon. He additionally wins an APTC Major Occasion Seat value TWD 350,000.
All of the gamers who made the ultimate desk hailed from Asia, and every have been assured a minimum of $46,300 for getting there. All of them gained their lifetime finest on this match, which befell at Purple Area in Taipei Metropolis.
Takasugi, a 28-year-old accounts supervisor, eradicated three of the 9 finalists on his approach to his victory. As soon as heads-up with Iat Man Leong of Macau, play lasted 24 palms.
“Actually, I’m nonetheless making an attempt to determine what to do in regards to the taxes!” Takasugi jokes to SPT reporters instantly after his victory. He then talked about barely getting out of Day 2 of the four-day occasion alive.
“At one level on Day 2, I dropped down to simply 4,400 chips. However I managed to return again from there. On Day 3, throughout the first couple of ranges, I used to be enjoying with simply 40% of the common stack. It was actually powerful being that quick stacked. I simply prayed to God.”
John Juanda
Longtime poker professional John Juanda was the winner of the collection’ one-day Excessive Curler occasion. He gained TWD 3,571,700 (~$110,401) for taking the opposite 229 entries’ chips within the TWD 85,000 (~USD$2,800) buy-in occasion. It was the biggest prime prize for a single day occasion in APT historical past, in keeping with the tour. It’s Juanda’s second victory of 2025, and brings his lifetime winnings up over the $26 million mark.
Runner-up Myunghwan Han gained his lifetime finest, and Ming Hong Teoh gained his fourth-best for ending third.
The collection ran 126 occasions from April 25 to Might 4. The following APT collection in Incheon, South Korea, Aug. 1-10.