A Look at the Biggest Names Aiming to Make Their Mark at the APT Championship 2025

The Asian Poker Tour’s 2025 season reaches its pinnacle this November with the APT Championship 2025 (APTC) — the most ambitious and prestigious festival ever staged in Asian poker.

Running from 14 to 30 November at Red Space 多元商務空間 in Taipei, Taiwan, this 17-day celebration of skill, strategy, and endurance marks the grand finale of the APT calendar.

Organised in partnership with the Chinese Texas Hold’em Poker Club (CTP) and proudly sponsored by Natural8, the APT Championship will turn heads with an unprecedented 200-event schedule and over TWD 288 million (~USD 8.7 million) in total guaranteed prize pools.

At the centre of this historic festival is the APT Championship Main Event — a USD 10,000 buy-in freezeout running from 24 to 28 November, carrying the largest guarantee ever offered in Asian poker and in APT history at USD 5 million. With no re-entries allowed, every decision counts, every chip matters, and every player has just one shot at poker glory.

Pathways to Poker’s Grandest Stage at APTC

You can still qualify for the APTC Main Event by winning any of the following Championship Events held during the festival itself. Each victory not only secures a prestigious APT title but also earns the champion a Main Event seat, joining Asia’s elite in poker’s biggest showdown of the year:

• National Cup Championship
• Mystery Bounty Championship
• 7-Max Championship
• Ultra Stack Championship
• Natural8 Cup Championship
• Super High Roller Championship
• Superstar Championship

A Year of Champions

Across the 2025 season, the APT has already awarded 29 Main Event seats through its major stops — three at the APT Manila Classic, 12 at APT Taipei, and seven each at APT Incheon and APT Jeju. These champions have proven their mettle across some of the toughest fields on the circuit, earning their place in APT’s grand finale.

Among them are some of the most accomplished names in the game — players whose achievements, skill, and consistency define the very spirit of APT competition. In the following feature, we spotlight these elite contenders as they prepare to battle for glory at the APT Championship 2025 — where history, honour, and destiny converge on Asia’s biggest poker stage.

Daniel Tang — The Superstar Among Stars

Few names in Asian poker command the same reverence as Daniel Tang, who stands at the top of Hong Kong’s All Time Money List with over USD 34.7 million in live earnings. A four-time APT champion, WSOP bracelet winner and a fixture in the world’s highest-stakes tournaments, Tang embodies the rare blend of technical brilliance and unflappable composure that defines a true master of the game. His consistency on the international circuit has made him one of Asia’s most respected poker ambassadors — a player whose presence alone raises the level of competition.

At APT Jeju 2025, Tang demonstrated once again why he is regarded among the elite. Entering heads-up play in the Superstar Challenge with a 2:1 chip deficit, he remained calm, calculated, and confident in his reads. In classic Tang fashion, he turned the tables by winning two crucial flips at decisive moments, shifting the momentum and eventually sealing victory. The win added another trophy to his illustrious collection — and, more importantly, secured him a seat to the APTC Main Event, the grandest stage in Asian poker.

As the APT Championship 2025 approaches, Tang stands as one of the most formidable names in the field. The Superstar Challenge winner heads to Taipei as one of the frontrunners to etch his name into APT history once again.

Joseph “subiime” Cheong — The Relentless Force

A name synonymous with fearless and relentless play, Joseph “subiime” Cheong stands as the APT’s all-time number one in live cashes, with an astonishing USD 20.2 million in total earnings. A five-time APT champion and one of the most recognisable figures in global poker, Cheong’s journey from the 2010 WSOP Main Event final table, where he finished third for USD 4.13 million, to dominating the Asian circuit is a testament to his longevity and unmatched competitive spirit.

At APT Jeju 2025, the WSOP bracelet winner once again proved why his name commands instant attention. In the Zodiac Classic, a tournament he has now won twice, Cheong entered the late stages radiating quiet confidence — later admitting, “Even before heads-up, I felt I was going to win it.”

His instincts didn’t lie. With a clinical mix of pressure and precision, he closed out the event to claim yet another trophy — and a seat to the APTC Main Event, where he’ll once again have the chance to stamp his mark on poker’s biggest Asian stage.

Heading into the APT Championship 2025, Cheong’s mission is clear: to capture the Main Event title and solidify a legacy in the APT that no one can touch. With multiple APT crowns, deep experience on the world stage, and an insatiable drive to stay ahead, the two-time Zodiac Classic and Superstar Challenge champion enters Taipei not just as a contender — but as the relentless force everyone else will be chasing.

Biao Ding — The Rising Powerhouse

With more than USD 19 million in live tournament earnings and the number two spot on China’s All Time Money List, Biao Ding has emerged as one of the most formidable forces in the modern poker landscape, having gone toe-to-toe with the world’s best in the highest-stakes tournaments across the globe.

Ding’s 2025 season has been nothing short of extraordinary. Having already cashed for over USD 6 million this year alone, he added another highlight to his scorching run by capturing the Superstar Challenge title at APT Taipei. The victory earned him not only his first APT title but also a seat to the APTC Main Event — poker’s biggest stage in Asia.

Now heading into the APT Championship 2025, Ding stands as one of the most in-form contenders in the field. With momentum on his side and a game honed by years of battling in the deepest waters of international poker, he enters the APTC with quiet confidence and unstoppable momentum. For one of the world’s most consistent high-stakes performers, the APTC Main Event could well be his closing chapter in an already stellar year.

Calvin Lee — The Climb of a Champion

A WSOP bracelet winner and two-time APT champion, Calvin Lee has established himself as one of the most respected and consistent players on the international circuit. With over USD 5.3 million in career earnings, Lee’s sharp technical play under pressure has earned him recognition at the felt. His 2025 season has been particularly remarkable — having already made nearly half his lifetime earnings this year alone, he enters the APT Championship 2025 at the height of his form.

At APT Incheon 2025, Lee’s performance in the Superstar Challenge was nothing short of commanding. From start to finish, he maintained control over one of the toughest fields of the season. By the time he reached heads-up play against Japan’s Jun Obara, he held a 4:1 chip lead, never relinquishing momentum as he powered through to capture the title — and with it, a coveted seat to the APTC Main Event.

As the APT Championship 2025 approaches, Lee stands as a contender brimming with confidence and experience. A proven closer with championship pedigree, his combination of momentum, discipline, and natural instinct makes him one of the most dangerous players in the field.

Tobias Schwecht — The German Ace

A seasoned professional with roots in the fierce poker arenas of the United States and Europe, Tobias Schwecht has spent over a decade earning the respect of peers across the global circuit. With more than USD 4.1 million in live earnings, the German pro has become a prominent figure wherever the cards are dealt. In recent years, Schwecht has set his sights on Asia — and his transition has been nothing short of impressive.

At the APT Manila Classic 2025, Schwecht’s breakthrough came in spectacular fashion. Navigating a “roller-coaster” of a final table in the APT Super High Roller, he demonstrated elite adaptability, recovering from setbacks and applying pressure when it mattered most, ultimately closing out the event to capture his first APT title. The victory not only marked his arrival as a serious contender on the Asian stage but also secured him a seat to the APTC Main Event.

As the APT Championship 2025 approaches, Schwecht brings with him a rare mix of European discipline and global experience, ready to test his mettle against Asia’s finest. With the Super High Roller trophy already under his belt, he arrives in Taipei battle-hardened, hungry for more and looking to add another defining chapter to a growing APT legacy.

Abraham Ceesvin — The Breakthrough Champion

Few players have embodied consistency on the Asian Poker Tour quite like Abraham Ceesvin. With over USD 1.26 million in live earnings and three APT titles to his name, Ceesvin has built his reputation as one of the most reliable deep-run specialists in the APT New Era. His ability to maintain consistency across marathon fields and pressure-packed final tables has made him a standout performer in the APT arena.

At APT Jeju 2025, Ceesvin finally seized his moment in spectacular fashion. After previously reaching three APT Main Event final tables, he finally laid claim to the prize that alluded him most — the APT Main Event title — earning a career-best cash of USD 461,177 and securing his seat to the APTC Main Event in the process.

As the APT Championship 2025 approaches, Ceesvin enters the Main Event as our newest Champion. With momentum on his side and a season already filled with defining results, 2025 may well be the year that transforms his poker career. A Main Event victory in Taipei would not only cap his remarkable run — it would launch him into the upper echelon of Asian poker, solidifying his place among the tour’s elite.

Stars, Creators, and Icons — APTC’s All-Star Line-Up Awaits

Beyond the champions who’ve earned their seats, the APT Championship 2025 is set to feature an exciting mix of poker professionals, creators, and industry personalities. From high-stakes veterans to influential content creators, this year’s lineup promises to deliver not only top-tier competition but also the kind of energy and personality that have come to define modern poker.

Among those taking to the felt is Brantzen Poker, whose fearless approach and dynamic personality have made him a standout figure in the new wave of poker content creators. His sharp instincts and willingness to take bold lines have earned him a loyal following and an entertaining channel. Alongside him is Abby Poker, another prominent creator in the poker scene. Known for her engaging presence both on and off the felt, she continues to prove that content creators can compete — and thrive in the live arena.

Also joining the field is Kevmath, one of the most respected figures in the global poker community. Mathers will bring with him a wealth of expert analysis and deep knowledge of poker intricacies that will bring immense value to the tour.

Shiina Okamoto from Japan brings both pedigree and poise. A WSOP Ladies Championship finalist three years running and back-to-back champion in 2024 and 2025, Okamoto has proven herself among the world’s best on the biggest stages. With one APT title already to her name, her consistency, skill, and grace under pressure make her a player to watch as she takes on the region’s elite once more.