APT Championship Day 7; Daily Recap and Highlights

APT CHAMPIONSHIP 2025 SCHEDULE| OFFICIAL RESULTS | PLAYER LISTS | IMAGES | WINNERS

TAIPEI, TAIWAN, November 20, 2025– Day 7 of the APT Championship 2025 shifted the spotlight firmly onto the #1006 [Event 6] Natural8 Cup Championship Freezeout, as the multi-day event returned for its second day of play. The remaining players will return on Day 8, where they will battle down to the prestigious final table and continue their chase for one of the marquee titles of the series.

Championship City Lights Up with Competitive Spirit

The Natural8 Cup Championship Freezeout took centre stage on Day 7, as the field of 490 entries was whittled down to just 71 survivors after another day of highly-skilled play.

With the action set to resume on Day 8 and play down to the final table, several notable names remain firmly in contention, including overall chip leader, Akshay Nasa, winner of the PLO Championship Kok Wei Teoh, Shiina Okamoto, and Natural8 ambassador Kitty Kuo, all looking to position themselves for a deep run in one of the festival’s most sought-after Championship titles.

Akshay Nasa leads the pack after Day 2 of the Natural8 Cup Championship Freezeout

As usual you can find the coverage of Championship events here at our live reporting page.

At the mixed-game tables, APT blogger Tricia David caught up with Bradley Ruben, the five-time WSOP bracelet winner who has returned to Taiwan for a run at the APT Championship. He shared that the blend of culture, variety, and the series’ expanding fields made the decision to return an easy one. “I like to come to Asia once a year and stay for about a month,” he said. “I love different cultures, the temples, I love Buddhism.”

Ruben spoke highly of Taiwan in particular, calling it one of his favourite places to visit — and a perfect match for his style of play. “Taiwan’s one of my favourite spots, and APT always runs a really good series. I love how there are so many options every day. Three of my bracelets are in mixed games, and there’s a mixed game championship here, so it’s perfect. I play any variant. I wake up and say: ‘What am I in the mood for?’, and APT has it.”

Bradley Ruben is enjoying the Championship and Taipei

He added that this year’s APT Championship feels noticeably different, and in all the right ways. With a new venue, larger crowds, and a palpable rise in energy across the Asian poker scene, Ruben described the momentum as unmistakable. “It’s exciting how poker’s growing in Asia,” he said, noting that the region’s rapid expansion continues to be a major draw for players from around the world.

Speaking of Taipei City, APT Host Elfin Lin took Kevin Mathers (KevMath) out on a street food trip away from the poker tables. Watch what they ate and what KevMath thinks of being part of the APT Championship so far below:

Rotholz Good for Fourth APT title by Winning Mixed Games Masters - 9-Game

Hal Oscar Rotholz’s has four APT titles, three coming in mixed games

American mixed-games specialist Hal Oscar Rotholz claimed his fourth APT title in Event #66: Mixed Games Masters - 9-Game, rising above a 58-entry field to secure TWD 450,960 (USD 14,599). After three earlier cashes this Championship series– including two final-table appearances – Rotholz finally took it over the line with a convincing run to the finish.

Austria’s Hanh Tran, who won an extraordinary five APT titles at APT Jeju in mixed games, came close to adding a seventh career APT trophy but ultimately settled for the runner-up spot. He earned TWD 326,200 (USD 10,555) for his efforts. Japan’s Kaito Yamamoto rounded out the podium in third place with a payout of TWD 210,500 (USD 6,809).

Among the notables, Australia’s Mark Furniss – who just yesterday became the first player in the APT New Era to achieve 10 mixed-game titles – recorded another deep run, finishing fourth for TWD 159,400 (USD 5,157). Taiwan’s Yu Tang Wang, who was also chasing the same milestone, secured fifth place for TWD 123,300 (USD 3,988).

MIXED GAMES MASTERS - 9-GAME FINAL TABLE PAYOUTS

For all Event #66: Mixed Games Masters - 9-Game Results please CLICK HERE