Mixed games are no longer a side attraction — they are becoming an increasingly important part of the modern tournament landscape. As players look to challenge themselves beyond traditional No-Limit Hold’em, formats that reward versatility and all-round skill are seeing stronger participation across the board. It is small wonder that the Asian Poker Tour is now introducing new variants of NLH poker with Chess, Chinese chess, and Go at the upcoming APT Taipei 2026.

Allen Kessler, popular veteran of mixed games from the United States took his first steps in the Asian Poker Tour at APT Incheon 2025

At the Tour, this shift has been clear and measurable. What began as a small trial in early 2023 has rapidly evolved into a fully developed segment of the schedule, reflecting both player demand and the tour’s commitment to expanding the competitive experience.

APT first introduced mixed games at APT Hanoi in February 2023 with just two NLH/PLO events across a single format. Fast forward to the upcoming APT Taipei 2026, and that footprint has grown significantly to 26 events spanning five different mixed game formats. In addition, the APT Championship 2025 was also the first festival mixed games enthusiasts could play for over a million dollars in total prize money.

Graphs showing the growth of mixed games at the Asian Poker Tour in number of entries and prize pool

That growth is also reflected in the players who have come to define the format.

Leading the Way

A closer look at the results shows a group of players who have quickly established themselves as the early benchmarks of mixed game success on the APT.

Australia’s Mark Furniss stands at the forefront, leading both the prize money and trophy standings with USD 106,791 in earnings and an impressive 10 titles, the first player to have done so on the Tour.

Fellow Australian Jarryd Godena has been equally formidable, ranking third in prize money with USD 96,332 while securing nine titles. placing him second overall in the trophy standings.

From the United Kingdom, Qibang Cheung sits second on the all-time prize money list with USD 99,115, reflecting a very recent strong run that started last year with deep finishes and consistent performances across multiple formats.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Wang Yu Tang has also made his mark with nine titles, tying for second in the trophy standings.

Mark Furniss was the first player to breach 10 APT titles in mixed games.

APT Mix Games Leaderboard - Prize Money

APT Mix Games Leaderboard - Trophies

Introducing Mind Sports — A Natural Evolution

At APT Taipei 2026, the tour takes its next step forward by integrating mind sports directly into the competitive structure. Running ahead of select poker events, these sessions are designed to complement, rather than replace the core tournament experience.

The Format

Date: Monday, April 27 to Wednesday, April 29.

Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Break: 30 minutes

Poker Tournament: Begins at 3:00 PM

Each day will feature a different discipline: Monday: Chess – Event #70 Mind Sports Week - Chess / Poker

Tuesday: Chinese Chess (Xiangqi) – Event #88 Mind Sports Week - Chinese Chess / Poker

Wednesday: Go – Event #104 Mind Sports Week - Go (Game) (Weiqi, Baduk, Igo) / Poker

Structure and Mechanics

• Maximum of 36 players, divided into six 6-player pods
• Each participant plays five matches (round-robin within their pod)
• 10-minute clock per player

Competitive Incentive

• Performance in the mind sport phase directly impacts the poker event
• Each match win awards 10,000 bonus starting chips
• Draws yield no additional chips
• All prize money remains tied solely to poker results

Why Mind Sports?

The inclusion of chess, Chinese chess, and Go is both intentional and timely. With chess experiencing a global resurgence in popularity, and traditional strategy games maintaining deep cultural roots across Asia, the alignment with poker is clear. In this sense, the introduction of mind sports is not a departure, but a continuation of the same philosophy that mirrors the development of mixed games in the poker space. From its first two mixed events in 2023 to a comprehensive multi-format schedule in 2026, the APT has steadily expanded the boundaries of its tournament offering for mixed games. The addition of mind sports at APT Taipei 2026 represents the next phase of that evolution, one that blends tradition with innovation, and skill with creativity. The game is getting deeper, and APT is leading the way forward.