Abraham Ceesvin - APT Jeju 2025 Main Event Champion

APT Jeju 2025 is on its final stretch in the Landing Casino of Jeju Shinhwa World Resort, Jeju, South Korea. Running from September 26 to October 5, the festival has broken multiple records and made Korean poker history.

The crown jewel APT Jeju 2025 Main Event added a fourth international record to the tour's list of accolades, with the 1,693-entry field making it the largest poker tournament ever held in Korea with the KRW 3,803,155,200 (~USD 2,716,540) prize pool* the second richest main event prize pool in APT history, just behind APT Taipei 2025.

Earning the title of APT Jeju 2025 Main Event champion was Abraham Ceesvin of Singapore, who tamed the 24K APT Gold Lion Main Event Trophy, as well as claiming a seat to the APT Championship Main Event worth USD 10,000 and an astounding champion's purse of KRW 649,835,200 (~USD 464,170) – the third largest APT Main Event prize ever awarded.

Making an impressive fourth APT Main Event final table appearance, Ceesvin was determined to better his runner-up finish in the APT Taipei Classic 2024 Main Event and proved that persistence pays off, declaring "This is madness! A dream come true!" immediately following the biggest win of his poker career to date.

Main Event Results

*Top three winners also receive Main Event seat to APT Championship valued at USD 10,000.

For the complete payout list, click HERE.

The Road To The Championship

Four Day 1 flights found 516 survivors returning for poker competition on Day 2, with Natural8 Ambassador Kitty Kuo exiting on the money bubble to guarantee the remaining field a place in the paying positions on Day 3.

The 213 live players were joined by 33 OnLive Natural8 qualifiers (it should have been 34, but Iceland's Adalsteinn Karlsson made it through both live and online) returned for the third day, with the field was reduced to the remaining 48 players.

Day 4 saw the survivors fight for a higher place on the payout ladder and ultimately earn a seat at the Main Event final table, where the more serious money would be awarded.

Final Table Action

APT Jeju 2025 Main Event Final Table

Entering the final table as the chip leader was Hao Zhang of China with 16,375,000 chips followed by compatriots Yayun Liu with 10,180,000 and Shuang Qui with 10,040,000.

Ceesvin started the final table seventh in the counts, but managed to get a crucial double-up when he eliminated Peng Zhou in ninth.

This proved to be the catalyst hand for Ceesvin's play for the title, with the Singapoean getting all the chips in on the flop with pocket aces, only to see Zhou roll over two-pair, with Ceesvin staring elimination in the face.

However, with the board pairing on the river the tables turned and it was Zhou who was first out, with Ceesvin climbing to third in the counts.

Ceesvin also scored the second elimination, sending Yita Choong to the rail in eighth place after the Australian moved all-in from under the gun a level later with ace-four suited, with the Singaporean opting to defend his big blind with king-jack and pairing up on the runout to take the chip lead.

Four hands later Ceesvin extended his lead, ushering China's Bizhen Li to the rail in 7th place after the latter moved all-in pre-flop from the button over the top of a hijack open from the Singaporean.

Li looked like he had a double up all but assured after spiking a set on the flop, but running spades saw Ceesvin improve from top pair to the nut flush and the field was down to six with Ceesvin the man in the driving seat.

Despite Ceesvin's dominance, it was China's Yayun Liu who scored the next knockout, sending compatriot Haiyang Yang to the rail in sixth after the latter risked his short-stack with king-four, with Liu and Shuang Qiu both making the call. Checks all the way to the river saw Liu's king-queen hit the river, showing Yang to the exit in 6th place.

Yayun Liu Congratulates Abraham Ceesvin After Busting Out

It took 65 hands and three more 60-minute levels for the next bust out, with Liu next up on the chopping block after being left on life support following a hand against Lili Tang, although it was Ceesvin who administered the coup de grâce to bring the field down to four.

Nine hands later and four became three, with Shuang Qiu ending the run of start-of-day chip leader Hao Zhang in fourth place after the latter moved all-in on the river with trip sevens only to run into Qiu's nut flush.

A level and 30 hands layer Qiu was the next to bow out, exiting in third at the hands of Tang after moving all-in on a ten-high flop with a straight draw and getting looked up by Tang holding top pair.

Lili Tang Congratulates Abraham Ceesvin

Ceesvin came into the heads-up confrontation against Tang with over a two-to-one chip advantage he did not relinquish and the match was wrapped up in four hands.

Tang went out swinging with pocket queens, moving all-in on a six-high flop.

However, Ceesvin had hit gin and flopped the nut straight, with Tang left drawing dead on the turn. The last woman standing departed in second for career-best score of KRW 364,460,000 (~USD 260,330), leaving Ceesvin to bask in the glow of victory.

View all the final table as it happened via the Main Event Final Table Live Stream on the official APT YouTube channel.

Lili Tang

Hand #143: Abraham Ceesvin raised to 1,300,000 with T 7 . Tang called with K 7 .

The J 9 J flop was bet by Ceesvin to 1,000,000 after Tang checked.

Tang gave up her hand, passing more Ceesvin's way.

Hand #144: Tang woke up with pocket queens Q Q for the second time heads up and raised to 1,300,000. Ceesvin defended with 7 5 .

Ceesvin flopped the straight after seeing the 6 3 4 being fanned across the table.

Ceesvin checked, Tang bet 2,000,000 and Ceesvin raised to 4,000,000.

Tang peeled her cards and checked her hand before moving all in.

There was no way for Tang to improve after the A was turned, and Ceesvin was stood from the table and celebrating the win with friends as the dealer placed the 2 .

Tang took home an APT Championship Main Event ticket as well as the second place payout.

Hand #141: Abraham Ceesvin limped with 6 2 from the small blind and Lili Tang looked down at pocket queens Q Q in the big blind.

Tang raised to 3,000,000 and took the pot after Ceesvin made a quick fold.

Hand #142: Tang raised Q J to 1,800,000 and Ceesvin three-bet K Q to 5,800,000.

The option was on Tang and she called.

The K J 7 flop was both pick up a pair, with Tang still behind.

A 3,500,000 bet by Ceesvin was called by Tang, and the pair were taken to the 9 turn.

Ceesvin shoved on Tang, and she picked up a few chips off her stack but placed them back down before mucking her hand.

Shuang Qiu

Hand # 139: Shuang Qiu opened to 1,200,000 on the button with K 4 and Abraham Ceesvin jammed the big blind with A 7 .

Qiu quickly mucked.

Hand # 140: Lili Tang raised to 1,200,000 with T 8 on the button and Qiu called J 9 from the big blind.

The T 6 7 flop gave both something to work with and Qiu check-jammed his remaining 8,000,000 stack after Tang bet 1,000,000.

Tang snap called, having hit top pair as well as picking up a straight draw, and she had Qiu covered.

The A turn didn't help Qiu and the Q river sealed his fate.

Qiu took home an impressive third place win, and also secured himself a ticket to the APT Championship Main Event in Taipei next month.

Hand #136: Abraham Ceesvin gets a walk in the big blind.

Hand #137: Ceesvin raised to 1,800,000 from the small blind with A T and saw no action.

Hand #138: Ceesvin opened to 1,300,000 on the button with A 9 . Lili Tang defended T 6 from the big blind.

The 8 5 3 flop was quickly checked by both to the 7 turn.

Tang bet out 1,300,000 and Ceesvin called.

The pair were taken to the 3 river.

Tang checks and hands the pot to Ceesvin.

Hand #131: Abraham Ceesvin called on the small blind and Shuang Qui checked.

Both were give a flop of 8 4 9

Check-check brought a 3 on the turn.

Ceesvin tapped then folded when Qiu pushed 1,000,000.

Hand #132: Ceesvin raised to 1,300,000 on the button and Lili Tang defended her big blind.

Flop showed 3 5 A

Tang check-called the 1,600,000 bet of Ceesvin to show a 7 turn.

Both checked to get a 4 on the river.

Tang tapped and Ceesvin fired 3,800,000.

Tang folded.

Hand #133: Tang limped on the small blind and Ceesvin raised to 1,800,000. Tang surrendered.

Hand #134: Tang raised the minimum on the button and QIu defended the big.

Flop showed 7 J 9 Qiu checked his option. Tang fired 800,000 and took it down.

Hand #135: Qiu raised to 1,600,000 and Tang defended.

Flop showed K 2 A

Qiu pushed 1,200,000 forward and Tang folded.

Hand #130: Lili Tang picked up pocket queens and limped from the small blind.

Abraham Ceesvin raised to 1,800,000 from the big blind and was sitting with A 6 .

Tang three-bet to 5,100,000 and Ceesvin mucked, allowing Tang to regain some chips.

Hand #126: Abraham Ceesvin opened Q T on the button to 1,300,000. Lili Tang sat with T 8 in the big blind and called.

The 6 A 5 flop was checked by Tang, and she folded after Ceesvin bet 800,000.

Hand #127: The pair went heads up again when Tang limped the small blind with J 7 and Ceesvin checked the big blind with 9 5 .

The 2 T 3 flop saw Ceesvin pick up a diamond flush draw and called a 600,000 continuation bet by Tang.

A K turn saw Tang bet 1,500,000 and Ceesvin paid to see the K river.

Tang took the pot after they both checked to showdown.

Hand #128: Ceesvin stole the big blind from Shuang Qiu after raising K 4 from the small blind.

Hand #129: Qiu limped 8 3 from the small blind and Tang checked with K 9 .

The 8 T 6 flop gave Qiu a pair of eights and Tang a straight draw.

Action was quickly checked through the 7 turn and 8 river.

Qiu picked up trips, but Tang was sitting with the straight.

Qiu bet pot for 1,800,000. Tang mysteriously mucked her hand.

Abraham Ceesvin

Hand #121: Shuang Qiu raised to 1,200,000 on the button and Lili Tang three-bet to 3,800,000 on the small blind.

Qiu didn't pay to play.

Hand #122: Abraham Ceesvin raised to 1,800,000 on the small blind and Qiu defended the big.

Flop arrived Q T K .

Both tapped the 4 on the turn. Both checked again to see a 7 river.

Both tapped again and Ceesvin turned over 9 9 to win the pot.

Hand #123: Ceesvin opened for 1,300,000 on the button and won the blinds.

Hand #124: Qiu raised the minimum on the button and Ceesvin shoved all-in on his big blind. Qiu went away.

Hand #125: Ceesvin raised 1,800,000 on the small blind and scooped the blinds.

Hand #118: Lili Tang limped Q 7 in the small blind and Abraham Ceesvin raised to 1,500,000 K J in the big blind.

Tang re-raised to 3,500,000 and Ceesvin called.

The 5 T Q flop was continued by Tang for 2,500,000. Tang saw Ceesvin call.

A 8 was turned and Tang took some time before checking. Ceesvin checked behind, taking them to the K river.

The action was checked to showdown and Ceesvin took the pot, distancing the chip counts.

Hand #119: Abraham Ceesvin raised to 1,600,000 in the small blind with K 7 and saw Qiu fold the big blind.

Hand #120: Shang Qiu limped with 5 2 from the small blind and Tang checked her J 3 hand in the big blind.

The A A J flop brought Tang two pair. Qiu bet 600,000 and Tang called.

Both checked after seeing the Q turn and the K river prompted Qiu to bet 1,200,000.

Tang quickly called, taking down another pot.