APT INCHEON SCHEDULE | OFFICIAL RESULTS | IMAGES | WINNERS | PLAYER LISTS
INCHEON, SOUTH KOREA, August 25, 2023 – Welcome to the largest tournament schedule in APT history, with the ten-day APT Incheon, South Korea 2023 boasting 69 trophy events, and running August 25 to September 3 at the luxurious Paradise City Casino.
This marks the fifth time that Incheon has played host to Asia's most prestigious poker tour, following the APT's debut here back during the APT Incheon 2017.
It was Azerbaijan's Farhad Aghayev who was the last man to claim the APT Incheon Main Event crown just over ten months ago back in October of 2022.
Aghayev bested a 486-strong field to claim the lion's share of the KRW 942 million (USD $659,849) prize pool, taking home the KRW 170 million (USD $119,134) top prize, in addition to the trophy and title.
However, with the 2023 Main Event boasting a KRW 1.3 billion (~USD $1M) prize pool guarantee this latest installment of the APT Incheon looks likely to eclipse this, with more than KRW 3 billion (~$USD 2.3M) in guaranteed prize money on offer throughout the poker festival.
In addition to the guaranteed marquee events – which you can see in more detail below – several new poker varients are making their Asia debut, with Limit R-O-S-E (Razz, Omaha Hi-Lo, Stud, Stud Hi-Lo), NL Single Draw Mix (A-5, 2-7), and a Nine Game - 7 Max (NLH, Stud, Omaha Hi-Lo, Razz, PL Omaha, L Hold'em, NL 2-7, Stud Hi-Lo, 2-7 Triple Draw) just some of the new variants on offer.
KEY EVENTS
- APT Kickoff (KRW 175M/~USD $132K GTD): KRW 600K (~USD $450) buy-in, running Aug 25-26
- Mystery Bounty Hunter Sponsored by Natural8 (KRW 225M/~USD $170K GTD): KRW 800K (~USD $600) buy-in, running Aug 26-27
- APT Super High Roller - 8 Max (KRW 250M/~USD $188K GTD): KRW 7M (~USD $5,250) buy-in, running Aug 26-27
- Sunday Super Stack (KRW 100M/~USD $75K GTD): KRW 700K (~USD $525) buy-in, running Aug 27
- APT Main Event (KRW 1.3BN/~USD $1M GTD): KRW 2.3M (~USD $1,725) buy-in, running Aug 28-Sept 2
- Superstar Challenge - 8 Max: KRW 13M (~$9,750) buy-in, running Aug 28
- Zodiac Classic - Sponsored by Natural8 - Single Re-Entry (KRW 200M/~USD $151K GTD): KRW 1.5M (~USD $1,125) buy-in, running Aug 31-Sept 1
- Double Stack (KRW 150M/~USD $113K GTD): KRW 800K (~USD $600) buy-in, running Sept 1-2
- APT High Roller - 8 Max (KRW 350M/~$264K GTD): KRW 4.5M (~USD $3,375) buy-in, running Sept 2-3
For the complete APT Incheon, South Korea 2023 schedule please CLICK HERE
You can read a more detailed breakdown of the marquee event highlights via APT Incheon, South Korea 2023: The Preview
Kickoff Kickstarts Series Action; Japan's Takahisa Watanabe Holds Commanding Lead
Japan's Takahisa Watanabe holds a sizeable lead after topping the APT Kickoff Flight A chip counts
The first of the Series marquee events – the KRW 600,000 APT Kickoff – kickstarted the Series action.
The opening Flight A got underway at 12pm local time, drawing 151 entries, who battled it out at the baize over eighteen 30-minute levels.
Flight B started at 6pm with slightly shorter 20-minute levels and saw a further 137 entrants in action.
This brought the total field up to 288 entries with the prize pool standing at KRW 175,000,000 (~USD $132,050).
The top 14 percent of the field from each respective starting flight successfully circumnavigated the tournament minefield, with 22 players making it through from Flight A, and a further 20 making it through from Flight B.
These 42 survivors will unite for the first time for the final Day 2, all guaranteed a payday of at least KRW 1,030,000 (~USD $780).
However, it will be the KRW 35,060,000 (~USD $26,450) top prize and the prestige of claiming the trophy and title that will be the goal of all remaining players.
For APT Kickoff Prize Pool & Payouts please CLICK HERE
It is Takahisa Watanabe who will be returning with the overall chip lead, finding himself in the best of positions to make a play for the title.
The Japanese player put on an aggressive display of power poker to conclude Flight A with a sizable 720,000 in chips – almost double that of next closest rival Kun-Han Lee. who concluded play with a stack of 393,000, putting him fourth in the overall pecking order.
Thailand's Kiwanont Sukhum rounded out the top three Flight A stacks. Sukhum bagged up 375,000 in chips, and will be looking to repeat his Kickoff final table appearance of one month prior at the APT Summer Series Da Nang, where he finished in ninth for a VND 55,990,000 (USD $2,367) payday.
Sukhum will be returning for Day 2 sixth in the overall standings, with the top ten Flight A stacks as follows:
APT KICKOFF FLIGHT A TOP TEN STACKS
- Takahisa Watanabe (Japan) – 720,000
- Kun-Han Lee (Taiwan) – 393,000
- Kiwanont Sukhum (Thailand) – 375,000
- Jung Hwan Shin (Australia) – 359,000
- Cheuk Him Tsang (Hong Kong) – 312,000
- Shogo Kimura (Japan) – 307,000
- Koichi Saeki (Japan) – 270,000
- Takashi Taniguchi (Japan) – 253,000
- Zhangxin Zhao (China) – 225,000
- Tsuyoshi Ogura (Japan) 165,000
You can read about all the Kickoff Flight A action via the APT Blog.
For APT Kickoff Flight A Survivors please CLICK HERE
China's Hong Ru Zhang topped the APT Kickoff Flight B counts
Flight B played out over twenty 20-minute levels, with China's Hong Ru Zhang just pipping the Philippines' Lester Edoc for the end of day chip lead.
Zhang concluded play with a stack of 480,000, putting him second in the overall counts, with Edoc close behind with a stack of 444,000.
China's Chao Chiuan Lin (391,000) rounded out the top three Flight B stacks, with the top ten as follows:
APT KICKOFF FLIGHT B TOP TEN STACKS
- Hong Ru Zhang (China) – 480,000
- Lester Edoc (Philippines) – 444,000
- Chao Chiuan Lin (Taiwan) – 391,000
- Aleksei Sei (Russia) – 338,000
- Shuaibo Meng (China) – 303,000
- Chao Ting Cheng (Taiwan) –257,000
- Takumi Aramaki (Japan) –209,000
- Akinori Ikegami (Japan) –203,000
- Shen Syu Ho (Taiwan) – 168,000
- Joshua Tan (Malaysia) – 162,000
For APT Kickoff Flight B Survivors please CLICK HERE
For APT Kickoff Day 2 Draw please CLICK HERE
You can read about all the Kickoff Flight B action via the APT Blog.
Action will recommence for the second and final Day 2 at 12:15pm local time on Saturday August 26, with the tournament playing down to a champion.
Singapore's Abraham Ceesvin Claims Career-Best Score in Single Day High Roller - Freezeout - 8 Max
Singapore's Abraham Ceesvin claimed his third APT title and maiden High Roller title in Event #2 Single Day High Roller Freezeout 8 Max
The first of the Series ten scheduled High Roller events – the KRW 3,000,000 Event #2: Single Day High Roller - Freezeout - 8 Max – got underway at 4pm.
This attracted a 42-strong field, with some of the Asia-Pacific's best in attendance, all looking to stake their claim to the KRW 109,998,000 (~USD $82,920) prize pool.
Notables in the running included Natural8 Ambassador Phachara Wongwichit, Taiwan's Yu-Chung Chang, Hong Kong's Sparrow Cheung, and Alan Lau, two-time APT Main Event champion Lester Edoc, New Zealand's Tae Hoon Han, and high stakes crusher Joshua Mccully to name but a few.
It took twenty-five 20-minute levels to crown the first of the Series High Roller champions, with Singapore's Abraham Ceesvin defeating Mccully heads-up to claim the top prize of KRW 37,398,000 (~USD $28,250) – denying the Aussie his fourth APT title in the process.
This win represents a career-best score for Ceesvin, granting the Singaporean his third APT title, and maiden High Roller title.
A total of six players made the money, with the tournament paying out as follows:
SINGLE DAY HIGH ROLLER FREEZEOUT RESULTS
- 1st: Abraham Ceesvin (Singapore) – KRW 37,398,000
- 2nd: Joshua Mccully (Australia) – KRW 25,850,000
- 3rd: Darko Svesko (Russia) – KRW 16,500,000
- 4th: Veleriy Pak (Uzbekistan) – KRW 12,650,000
- 5th: Takeo Kimura (Japan) – KRW 9,900,000
- 6th: Yan Li (China) – KRW 7,700,000
For Single Day High Roller Freezeout Results please CLICK HERE
All tournament information can be found on the Official Results page.
SIDE EVENT ACTION
Japan's Fumihiro Yasoshima Claims Maiden APT Title in Event #3: PL Omaha 5 Card - Hi-Lo (Big O)
Japan's Fumihiro Yasoshima claimed his maiden APT title in Event #3 PL Omaha 5 Card Hi-Lo
The first of the Series Omaha events – the KRW 300,000 Event #3: PL Omaha 5 Card - Hi-Lo (Big O) – saw a field of 28 entries (22 unique) compete for a KRW 7,333,200 (~USD $5,530) prize pool.
It took twenty-two 20-minute levels to crown a champion, with Japan's Fumihiro Yasoshima besting compatriot Ryutaro Okuda heads-up to claim his maiden APT title and the KRW 2,713,200 (~USD $2,050) top prize.
Okuda collected KRW 1,870,000 (~USD $1,410) for his runner-up finish, with Natural8 Ambassador Phachara Wongwichit rounding out the winner's podium and taking KRW 1,190,000 (~USD $900) for third place.
A total of five players made the money, with the tournament paying out as follows:
BIG O RESULTS
- 1st: Fumihiro Yasoshima (Japan) – KRW 2,713,200
- 2nd: Ryutaro Okuda (Japan) – KRW 1,870,000
- 3rd: Phachara Wongwichit (Thailand) – KRW 1,190,000
- 4th: Daniel Brugman (Sweden) – KRW 860,000
- 5th: Li Fang (China) – KRW 700,000
For Event #3: PL Omaha 5 Card - Hi-Lo (Big O) Results please CLICK HERE
All tournament information can be found on the Official Results page.
UK's Craig Cooper Wins Second APT Title in Event #4: NL 2-7 - Single Draw - Turbo
The UK's Craig Cooper claimed his second APT title in the space of a month in Event #4 NL 2-7 Single Draw Turbo
The KRW 300,000 Event #4: NL 2-7 - Single Draw - Turbo saw 13 players in action, duking it out over twenty-two turbo-charged 15-minute levels.
It was the UK's Craig Cooper the man to prove his draw poker credentials, defeating APT regular Martijn Gerrits heads-up to claim the KRW 1,634,700 (~USD $1,235) top prize and his second APT title in the space of a month.
Gerrits, who was on the hunt for his seventh APT title, had to settle for the KRW 1,090,000 (~USD $820) on offer for second, with Japan's Yusuke Shindo the only other player to cash, claiming KRW 680,000 (~USD $510) for third.
NL 2-7 SINGLE DRAW TURBO RESULTS
- 1st: Craig Cooper (United Kingdom) – KRW 1,634,700
- 2nd: Martijn Gerrits (Netherlands) – KRW 1,090,000
- 3rd: Yusuke Shindo (Japan) – KRW 680,000
For Event #4: NL 2-7 - Single Draw - Turbo Results please CLICK HERE
All tournament information can be found on the Official Results page.