APT Championship Day 1; Daily Recap and Highlights

APT CHAMPIONSHIP 2025 SCHEDULE| OFFICIAL RESULTS | PLAYER LISTS | IMAGES | WINNERS

TAIPEI, TAIWAN, November 14, 2025– Welcome to the APT Championship 2025 – the start of seventeen days of world-class poker and the home of all your daily recaps, highlights, and the most interesting storylines from the festival floor. Whether you’re following from afar or preparing to join the action, this is where you’ll find everything you need to stay up to speed.

With 200 events packed into the schedule, the series promises non-stop play, dramatic moments, and countless opportunities for players to make their mark. If you’re in Taipei or arriving soon, be sure to make your way over and immerse yourself in one of the most exciting poker festivals of the year.

A Championship Aura

The festival kicked off with the #1000 [Event 0] Asia Gaming Industry Championship Freezeout on Thursday, 13 November 2025, drawing a mix of industry operators, media personalities, Natural8 ambassadors, and seasoned professionals for a lively opener. You can check out our full coverage of the event on our live reporting page.

TWD 600,000 was donated to the Eden Social Welfare Foundation (伊甸社會福利基金會, along with APT Special Advisor Victor Chong’s and CTP CEO David Tai’s winnings for cashing the event.

One of the most entertaining moments came during a showdown between APT Host Elfin Lin and APT Special Advisor Victor Chong, where Lin moved all-in with seven-deuce—much to the visible exasperation of fellow co-host Gregory Liow, who could only watch the chaos unfold.

The spotlight then shifted to #1001 [Event 1] National Cup Championship, the first Championship event of the series, featuring a TWD 12,000,000 GTD prize pool. Flights A and B got underway as players battled for early momentum and a spot in the advancing field. All the key hands and updates from both flights were captured on our live reporting page.

One of the biggest pots of the day came in Flight A, when Gwanu Ju found himself on the precipice of being amongst the top chip stacks of the flight holding aces against three others.

One of our bloggers, Kai Cocklin also caught up with Frankie Cucchiara, popular poker vlogger to gather his thoughts on playing in the APT Championship. Having competed at Red Space during the previous APT stop, he recalled already being impressed by the venue’s scale—but walking in this time still delivered the same sense of awe.

“Big, crazy big. It’s huge,” he joked, noting how the setup had been elevated once again. “I was here for the last APT, thankfully, and they’ve one-upped it again. The Championship has a different feel to it, unlike any APT I’ve been to ever before.” You can read his full thoughts here.

Frankie Cucchiara all smiles as he peels his dealt hand at the National Cup Championship.

Unto the side events, and a familiar face with striking blonde hair can be seen at the final table of one, Event #9: Hyper Turbo - NL - 8-Game. None other than Ray Chiu, who formerly worked the floor for the APT but is now CEO of Gods of Poker. He eventually did not make min cash, but he has shown he has still got game to run deep.

Ray Chiu (second from bottom left) all smiles as he poses for his first final table photo.

Serial winner Qibang Cheung from the UK made a statement on Day 1 at the mixed tables, taking home his sixth APT title this year in the Event #2: PL Omaha High. Every festival he has attended this year results in multiple APT titles, will he carry that momentum till the end of the Championship?

Qibang Cheung kicks his series off with a bang.

Natural8 ambassador and Thai pro Phachara Wongwichit also made a winning start, taking down the late-night Event #10: Hyper Turbo - High Roller.

All in all, 1,303 entries were recorded with TWD 8,528,528 (~USD 276,000) in prize money played for on Day 1 of the festival – excluding the two opening flights of the National Cup Championship.

Make sure to be here in person for what looks to be another record-breaking festival for the APT.

Hu Takes Down First Single Day High Roller of Championship

Hu takes down the first Single Day High Roller event of the Championship

American Anthony Yuan Hu topped an 80-entry field in Event #3: Single Day High Roller, taking the title and TWD 1,140,700 (USD 36,900) after closing out a hard-fought heads-up duel.

Estonia’s Ranno Sootla put up a determined challenge throughout the long heads-up match, ultimately finishing runner-up for TWD 811,000 (USD 26,250). Thailand’s Anusorn Asiralertsiri claimed third place for TWD 531,000 (USD 17,180), rounding out a well-earned podium after navigating the demanding final-table lineup.

Local favourite and Natural8 ambassador Kitty Kuo also delivered a notable performance, earning fifth place for TWD 323,500 (USD 10,470).

SINGLE DAY HIGH ROLLER FINAL TABLE RESULTS

Natural8 Ambassador Sparrow Cheung also squeaked into the paying positions, earning a TWD 103,500 payout for his 11th place finish.

For all Event #3 Single Day Roller Results please CLICK HERE