Nevan Chang

Nevan Chang has been crowned as the winner of the 2026 Jeju Superstar Challenge event, taking home KRW 451,777,500 (~USD 337,150) and a APT Championship Main Event Ticket worth ~ USD 10,000.

Chang defeated the record-breaking 51 player field, to take home the lions share of the KRW 1,785,127,500 (~USD 1,332,185) prize pool.

A full tournament recap will be posted shortly, so be sure to stick with the APT blog for the full rundown of how he conquered the 2-day high roller event.

Rudy Edenata

After just three hands of heads up play, where no action got past the flop, Rudy Edenata limped on the button and Nevan Chang checked his big blind.

The Q 2 8 flop was checked by Chang and Edenata bet 250,000. Chang raised to 750,000 and Edenata made the call.

A Q turn saw Chang check, Edenata move all in and Chang snap call.

Rudy Edenata: 9 8

Nevan Chang: T 7

Edenata was looking at top two pair, but Chang had flopped the flush.

There was no chance of recovery Edenata after the dealer placed the 2 river card, and he finished as the runner up in the Superstar Challenge event, taking home KRW 341,060,000 (~USD 254,520).

Nevan Chang

With the recent elimination of Nang Quang Nguyen, action quickly went to heads-up.

Nevan Chang sits with the clear chip lead having nearly two thirds of the chips in play, with his opponent Rudy Edenata sitting opposite him with the much smaller stack.

Rudy Edenata

Nang Quang Nguyen

Nevan Chang opened to 250,000 on the button and Nang Quang Nguyen moved all in for his last 1,335,000. Chang asked for a count and Nguyen said "It's just 11 big blinds."

Once the dealer confirmed the count, Chang responded with, "Ok, I call", and the pair headed to showdown.

Nang Quang Nguyen: 4 4

Nevan Chang: A 5

Nguyen had the advantage, and there was little to sweat on the J Q J flop.

A 5 fell on the turn which propelled Chang into the lead having the bigger pair.

Nguyen stood from his seat as the 3 fell on the river, and he was sent home in 3rd place.

Rob Hollink

The pot had swelled to 800,000 with Rob Hollink under the gun and Nevan Chang on the button.

The pair were looking at a K A 8 4 board and Hollink had checked to Chang who moved all in.

Hollink made the call for his remaining 1,500,000 and the pair flipped over their hands.

Rob Hollink: A T

Nevan Chang: Q J

Hollink had top pair, but Chang had turned the flush. It was the end of the road for Hollink after seeing the 9 was placed and Hollink hit the rail in 4th place.

Nevan Chang opened to 200,000 from under the gun and Nang Quang Nguyen jammed, scooping the pot.

The next hand, Rudy Edenata opened from under the gun and Chang called. The 6 Q 9 flop was checked to the 3 turn and 8 river and Chang bet 250,000 which got a fold from Edenata.

Rob Hollink joined the action by opening to 200,000 on the button but was raised by Chang when he put 800,000 into the pot and Hollink threw his hand into the muck.

Then Chang opened to 200,000 and Nguyen gave up his big blind but showed four-deuce off suit in the process. Chang showed his strength by flipping over his ace-queen.

During the stagnated action, players were sharing some friendly table talk. With the action having gone relatively fast, Chang suggested that they take a look at the other High Roller event which had late registration still open.

Hollink replied “You played the main event already?” He continued by saying “What’s this High Roller? What's the buy-in?”.

Hollink was then dealt his next hand and limped the small blind. Chang bet 300,000 from the big blind and Hollink was forced to fold.

Rudy Edenata

Nang Quang Nguyen opened to 200,000 from the cutoff and Rudy Edenata defended his big blind.

The 4 9 7 flop saw both check to the 8 turn.

Edenata used a time-bank before betting out 400,000 which was enough to see off Nguyen.

In the next hand, the pair went head to head again after Edenata limped from the small blind and Nguyen checked his big blind.

The A 5 Q flop was checked to the Q turn and Nguyen bet 155,000 after seeing a check. Edenata pushed his hand into the muck and passed a small pot back.

Then, Edenata the opened on the button and saw Hollink defend his big blind.

A T 5 4 flop prompted Hollink to check-fold to a 200,000 continuation bet from Edenata.

Renji Mao

Renji Mao limped from the small blind and Nang Quang Nguyen checked his big blind.

The 3 J T flop was checked quickly to the 8 turn. Mao bet 100,000 and Nguyen called, taking the players to the K river.

Nguyen check-raised to 575,000 after Mao bet 225,000. Mao mucked and was left playing with 805,000 chips.

The next hand saw Rudy Edenata open to 160,000 from the cutoff and Renji Mao moved all-in for his last ten big blinds. Edenata placed his chip protector into the pot, and the dealer checked with him to see if it was a "Call?". Edenata said yes and the players flipped their hands.

Renji Mao: A 9

Rudy Edenata: A J

Mao was behind in the race and needed to find something on the board to stay alive.

A 3 T 8 flop brought the backdoor straight but Mao missed on the the A turn and 4 river, sending him home in 5th place.

Rudy Edenata opened the button to 160,000 and Nang Quang Nguyen called from the big blind.

The J 4 2 flop prompted Nguyen to check-call a 225,000 bet by Edenata.

A K was turned and Edenata bet 500,000. That was enough to make Nguyen give up his hand, and Edenata regained some chips.

Johan Pedersen

After only a few hands of pre-flop action, Johan Pedersen opened to 160,000 from under the gun. Rudy Edenata called from the small blind

The flop fell as 4 6 5 and Edenata check-raised to 500,000 after Pedersen bet 150,000. Pedersen mucked his hand and was left with 525,000.

In the next hand Nevan Chang opened to 160,000 from the cutoff and Pedersen jammed for his last few big blinds.

Chang asked for a confirmation count of Pedersen's stack before making the call.

Johan Pedersen: A 7

Nevan Chang: A 2

Pedersen was ahead, and there was no change in the standings on the A 9 J flop as both were holding an ace.

There was building tension as the 3 turn fell and a player at the table said "Almost" to Chang, who was hunting for the deuce.

A 2 river was peeled, which gave Chang two pair and the pot. The runout sent Pedersen home in 6th place, leaving Chang to add even more to his dominating stack.