Napat "Top" Chokejindachai
Thai actor and rising poker figure Napat Chokejindachai, better known as “Top,” returned to Taipei this week with the same enthusiasm that has carried him across Asia’s growing poker circuit. His history with APT Taipei goes back to 2023, where he scored both his first APT cash and his first APT trophy, and he has watched the tour evolve rapidly since then. “The biggest change in the APT since then is that it’s more and more fun. Bigger crowd, bigger prize pools. And the structure is very good, too,” he said.
Taiwan itself remains a special stop for him. “Taiwan is always my second home. The people, the food, and of course, boba tea. Just three and a half hours away from Bangkok, it's a superb poker destination,” he shared with a grin. Red Space, the home of this APT Championship series, has also left an impression, though he offered a candid take on the venue. “To be honest, Red Space is a bit low ceiling to me. But after a big renovation, the airflow is a lot better."
Top’s strongest result on the APT stage came later in 2023 at APT Incheon, where he reached the Main Event final table and finished in third place. The final three traded the chip lead multiple times before he ran pocket threes into his opponents' pocket fives. With no help on the runout, he bowed out in third for KRW 222,200,000 (~$168,050), which remains his career-best cash to date. Of his eight recorded live final tables, seven have come at APT stops, underlining just how closely his rise in poker has been tied to the tour.
Napat Chokejindachai took third in the APT Main Event in Incheon 2023
Balancing poker with his acting and hosting career has not always been simple, especially with the fast-paced entertainment scene back home. “It’s a bit hard to balance poker life because once you fly away from Bangkok, you lose an opportunity to host a lot of events that occur there. But, sacrifice has to be made to chase your dreams,” he explained. “I wanna be grinding when I’m young and in my early 30s, that's better than flying around in my 50s. So yeah, I only focus on all APT stops and WSOP in Vegas. That should do for a year.”
Top also spoke about the complicated legal situation surrounding poker in Thailand. “It’s indeed a rollercoaster, yes. Our government changes things a lot and fast. We do what we can do as the largest poker community in Thailand, as Taenaatak,” he said. Despite the uncertainty, he remains optimistic about the long-term future. “I don’t mind playing around Asia. It’s better than competing in Thailand, but you have to keep looking back over your shoulder all the time. Let's hope everything is 100 percent clear. If it is, I guarantee it’s gonna be the best poker destination in Asia, or even in the world.”
As for his APTC plans, Top is keeping things straightforward. “My plan for APTC is simple. Have fun and play the best poker of my life,” he said. “As I speak, I’m playing Ultra Stack. Firing one bullet each in Natural Cup and Mystery, but no dice. Will be playing the $3k freezeout and heading back home. Sadly, I can’t play the $10k due to my schedule.”
Top remains one of the most recognizable personalities at stops across the region, and his passion for the game continues to grow with every series. With a packed schedule and a positive mindset, he is ready to make the most of his time in Taipei once again.