A few technical issues on the APT site show that the tournament clock isn't running.

Rest assured, play is underway. The clock and player data should be synchronized shortly.

In the meantime, the field is up to 29 runners as the end of Level 4 approaches.

Kamei Tsubasa

Kuen Shing So opened to 600 from under the gun and was called by Yi Chang Ho in middle position. Kamei Tsubasa then squeezed to 2,500 from the cutoff, which got a call from So, but a fold from Ho.

So check-called a 2,000 bet from Tsubasa on the 4 J 2 flop, but neither player put a bet in on the 7 turn or 9 river

So could only show Q T for queen-high, which was no good against Tsubasa's A K for ace-high to award him the pot.

Billy Hsu's Pokemon Collection

Jaejin Min opened to 800 from middle position and Billy Hsu, who has a huge Pokemon slab in front of him with a shiny Charizard sitting inside, called from the cutoff.

Both checked the 8 4 4 flop to the 7 turn, which also checked through.

When the J hit the river, Min fired out a bet of 600. Hsu called.

Sheepishly, Min flipped over A T for ace-high, and that was good as Hsu took around fifteen seconds before he mucked his cards.

Was that a value bet or a bluff?

Yi Cheng Lo opened to 800 on the button and called a three-bet to 1,800 from Yi Chang Ho in the small blind for a heads-up pot.

Lo called a 1,500 bet from Ho on the T Q 3 flop and then both players checked on the T turn.

Ho then fired a bet of 2,000 into the middle after the 8 filled out the board and Lo quickly called.

Ho showed pocket nines, but it was no good against Lo's Q 2 for queens-up to claim the pot.

Kevin Mathers

Victor Chong opened to 300 from the cutoff and was called by Kevin Mathers on the button and Jaejin Min in the big blind.

Min checked to Chong, who continued for 800 on the 2 6 4 flop. Mathers and Min both called.

Min led out for 1,000 after the T fell on the turn and only Mathers called.

The 9 completed the board and Min sized down for a bet of 700. Mathers responded with a raise to 2,000 and Min didn't take long to lay his hand down.

With seven players at the start, the Asia Gaming Industry Championship Freezeout is now underway!

Before the 2026 Asian Poker Tour Championship gets officially underway tomorrow (November 13), the people who help bring the game to life will have their own opportunity to take center stage. The Asia Gaming Industry Championship Freezeout will open the festival with an exclusive tournament that brings together casino employees, poker operators, organizers, media personnel, and other industry personalities — all competing for the first APT Championship Lion Trophy of the series.

The TWD 13,000 (~USD 417) buy-in event gets underway today at 2 p.m. at the Red Space venue, where participants will start with 30,000 in chips. Registration will remain open until 5:50 p.m. Eligible participants must present their industry credentials at the venue before completing their buy-in.

As mentioned, the tournament is open to casino employees and poker industry personnel, including organizers, operators, and media, as well as poker celebrities, influencers, and vloggers. The tournament features 20-minute levels, with Level 1 starting at 100/100 blinds with a 100 big-blind ante. The plan is to play down to a winner by the day's end.

Adding a charitable dimension to the occasion, APT owner Daren Yoon and special advisor Victor Chong have pledged a minimum of TWD 500,000 to charity, while David Tai, CEO of Chinese Texas Hold'em Poker (CTP) Club, and Raymond Wong, CTP's Director of International Marketing, have committed a further TWD 100,000. All four have also pledged to donate 100% of any prize money they win to the Taiwan Alzheimer's Disease Association.

Hsiang Wang Bo

Last year's inaugural edition attracted 76 entries, with local player Hsiang Wang Bo claiming the title and TWD 225,109 (~USD 7,285) after defeating his own boss, David Tai, heads-up.

Stay tuned as the 2026 APT Championship gets underway in Taipei, with ongoing coverage of the Asia Gaming Industry Championship and select events throughout the festival available on the APT live blog!