Shuzo Sekine

With the last starting flight now underway, Flight C of the 2025 APT Incheon Main Event has officially closed its gate inside Paradise City Casino.

The penultimate opening flight drew 316 entries (263 unique), exceeding the initial two flights and once again demonstrating the event’s strong appeal.

With registration remaining open for more waves of poker fans, the overall turnout has reached 802 at the moment and is expected to rise further, potentially breaking the 1,000-entry mark.

Leading the pack is Japan’s Shuzo Sekine with a commanding stack of 307,000. The Japanese player has recorded five APT cashes in recent months and is poised for another deep run as he chases his first APT title.

Top Ten Chip Count

In the runner-up position is APT first-timer Keigo Kotani from Japan, who bagged 242,000 chips after grinding through ten levels. Rounding out the top three is another first-timer, Poseidon Ho from Taiwan, who finished the day with 228,100 in chips.

Other heavy names outside of the leaderboard include two APT titlists: Charlie Chiu (137,400), who just snapped up the Single Day High Roller title a few days ago, and Murly Manokharan (110,500).

Also in the mix are Kaifan Wang (100,300), Michael Foo (99,800) — who recently won the APT Super High Roller 8-Max, and multiple APT title holder Kyosuke Nagami (42,200).

Toan Chan Truong

APT regular Toan Chan Truong also bagged up 72,900 at the end of the day. Even though luck didn’t seem to be on his side — getting chipped away by Yi Qin and Manabu Akiyama — he still managed to build a respectable stack heading into Day 2.

With such a star-studded lineup, the felt is sure to be buzzing on Day 2 as more formidable players will join from Flight D.

Remaining Schedule

Stay tuned as we bring you all the action for the remainder of the 2025 APT Taipei Main Event.

Day 1 Flight C of the Main Event has come to an end, with 150 players surviving and now bagging up their chips.

For the fallen pros and enthusiasts, Flight D will follow, giving players another chance at the glory title.

Keigo Kotani

Keigo Kotani raised to 3,000 from early position and Kanwen Du called in the cutoff.

On the flop of Q J 8 , Kotani check-called a bet of 6,500 from Du.

Both players checked through the 2 turn

When the K hit on the river, Kotani fired 4,000 and that was enough to take down the pot as Du laid it down.

Selim Oulmekki was all in from middle position for 11,400 and was put at risk by Byambajav Bandi in the big blind.

Byambajav Bandi: Q J

Selim Oulmekki K T

Oulmekki looked poised to score a double-up as his king held on the flop of 9 6 4 .

The 7 hit on the turn, and Bandi was still looking to spike a jack or queen in next street.

The deck decided to fulfill Bandi's wish as it sent a lady Q to the river, seeing Oulmekki out of the field during last level of the day.

Katsuhiro Inaba

Ronald Haverkamp limped in from the small blind and Katsuhiro Inaba checked over in the big blind.

Haverkamp checked on the 7 3 J flop and Katsuhiro led out for 1,400. Haverkamp stuck around.

Both players checked through the board-pairing 2 turn to see the K river. It went check-check again.

"Deuce," said Haverkamp when he showed Inaba 2 , but he immediately mucked his hand after Inaba tabled 7 8 for a flopped pair of sevens.

Lingjun Chen was all in for 16,500 from the hijack and Kenta Nakamura called from the big blind to put his opponent at risk.

Lingjun Chen: A 5

Kenta Nakamura: A K

Nakamura was ahead with his kicker king and maintained the dominance on the 2 Q Q flop.

However, the deck had other plans and sent help to Chen with a 5 turn.

The 3 filled out the river and locked up a double-up for Chen.

Chzhen Evgenii was all in for 17,600 on the button and Kwok Chun Yip called from the small blind. Kevin Choi then jammed for around 110,000. Yip stepped aside immediately.

Chzhen Evgenii: K 4

Kevin Choi: 9 9

Evgenii was on the verge of elimination as Choi maintained the lead on the flop of 2 J 6 .

The dealer then delivered good news to Evgenii as a K came on the turn, turning his tournament life around.

The river showed an A , locking up a double-up for Evgenii.

Ilia Drobin

Ilia Drobin raised to 2,500 from early position and Sing Wen Chen called on the button.

Both players checked it through on the 2 K K flop to the K turn, where it went check-check again.

When the 6 filled out the baord, Drobin checked to Chen, who bet 2,500. Drobin called after thinking for a while.

Drobin revealed A J , and Chen tabled A J , making it a chop hand.

Matthew Chan made it 2,500 to go from middle position and Kosei Oguri defended his big blind.

On the K 6 K flop, Oguri checked to Chan, who continued for 2,500. Oguri then check-raised to 7,500. Chan called.

Oguri sent another bet of 5,000 on the 9 turn and Chan stuck around.

When the A hit on the river, Oguri kept his pace with a barrel of 5,000 again, sending Chan into the tank. After mulling it over, Chan eventually tossed his cards into the muck.

Pichet Permsubhirunya

Pichet Permsubhirunya raised to 2,000 from early position and was called by Tomooya Hasegawa from the hijack and Toan Chan Truong on the button.

On the flop of T 6 T , three players checked through to see a Q hit on the turn, where Permsubhirunya checked over. Hasegawa then sent a bet of 4,000, which only Permsubhirunya dropped in the call.

The river delivered a 9 , and it went check-check.

Permsubhirunya then tabled A J for ace-high and it was enough to take down the pot as Hasegawa folded.