Ryan Yau

After nearly 10 hours of play inside the glorious Red Space Taipei, Flight A of the APT Championship Mystery Bounty – Sponsored by Natural8 came to an end. A total of 396 entries (331 unique) were recorded, and 56 players are now guaranteed to be in the money and to return for the Final Day on Monday, November 17. They will be joined by the survivors from Flight B, which is still ongoing.

Final Day participants will battle for the Trophy and for the largest possible share of the TWD 15,000,000 GTD prize pool. The winner will also automatically receive a bonus seat into the highly anticipated APT Championship Main Event.

The chip leader of Flight A was Hong Kong's Ryan Yau. His day began chaotically, even dropping to 24,000 chips at one point. After the second break, everything changed, and his stack climbed non-stop. He notably secured a huge pot with pocket aces against an opponent’s two kings. Yau bagged a very comfortable 857,000 chips, and the current chip lead.

APT Championship Mystery Bounty - Flight A - Top Ten Chip Counts

His closest challenger, Justin Tsui—also from Hong Kong—shared another similarity, as he too built a huge stack thanks to running aces into kings. His stack, which briefly crossed into seven-figure territory, eventually settled at 825,000 at the end of the day.

Also returning tomorrow is local star and Natural8 Ambassador Kitty Kuo, who bagged 320,000. A few other notables making it through included Kristof Segers (234,000) and his friend Ori Kossonogi (186,000), as did the always-smiling poker YouTuber Frankie Cucchiara (144,000).

Kitty Kuo

The final day will begin on Monday, November 17 at 11:15 a.m. local time. The Mystery Chest will finally appear on stage, and the lucky bounty-ticket holders will get their chance to draw the coveted envelopes.

Once Flight B concludes, the official blind level for Day 2 would be confirmed but blind level duration will increase to 30 minutes. The bounties, prize pool and payouts will be be announced before cards his the baize tomorrow.

Stay tuned right here on the blog for the final chapter of this fantastic tournament — there will be no shortage of thrills, that’s for sure!

After a few quick eliminations, there was no need for hand-for-hand play, and the remaining 56 players have bagged up their chips and will return tomorrow for Day 2.

Stay tuned for chips counts and a full recap of the day's action.

Justin Tsui and Lee Hyundong just into a pot of over 600,000 with Hyundong being the player at risk.

Lee Hyundong T T

Justin Tsui A K

It was a flip where Hyundong held the pair against the two overcards of Tsui.

A safe board of 8 4 6 5 6 revealed itself for Hyundong's pocket tens, and he managed to stay alive in the tournament.

Yoichiro Toyofuku chose safety over risk

Tension rose at the tables as only a few players remain to be eliminated before reaching the the money positions.

Heon opened under the gun for 25,000, and only Toyofuku in the small blind called.

The flop came Q J 2 . Heon check-called Toyofuku’s 20,000 bet.

On the 9 turn, Heon check-raised all-in after Toyofuku fired another 20,000. This time, Toyofuku faced a crucial decision: call while he was covered and risk being eliminated on the bubble, or play it safe and fold. He opted for the latter to preserve his chance to qualify for tomorrow’s Final Day.

Out of curiosity, he asked Heon to show his hand. Very courteously, Heon revealed his two pair, Q J . In the spirit of fairness, Toyofuku showed his weaker hand, A J .

Ngoc Anh Cao came in for a raise to 24,000 from middle position and Sammy Bolung was the only caller on the button.

Cao fired out a continuation-bet of 15,000 on the 8 K 7 flop, which Bolung immediately called.

Check-check followed the Q turn to see the J complete the board. Cao put out a bet and was met by an instant fold from Bolung.

Frankie Cucchiara

Chien Chih Weng jammed her stack of 51,000 into the middle from early position and Frankie Cucchiara was the only caller on her direct left.

Chien Chih Weng K 3

Frankie Cucchiara A J

Weng was one the shortest stacks remaining in Flight A and needed to connect with the board to keep her chances of making Day 2 alive.

The 8 8 4 flop kept Cucchiara's ace-high ahead, and so did the 2 turn.

However, the K peeled off on the river to give Weng a pair of kings and she kept her seat in the tournament.

After Ching Tsai checked from the big blind on a board showing A Q 6 4 , Liam Jehu fired out a bet of 42,000 from early position. Tsai went for the most aggressive option available to him as he check-jammed for 141,000. After some deliberation, Jehu stuck in the call.

Ching Tsai Q 6

Liam Jehu A T

Jehu had top pair but was behind against the two pair of Tsai. The dealer burned a card then delivered the J on the river, which was safe for Tsai.

Tsai's stack grew to roughly 330,000, as just five more elimiantions were needed before play concluded for Flight A.

The remaining 67 players are now on a 15-minute break.

Jun Yi Ho

The Korean StarCraft legend Yohwan "BoXer" Lim, who has transitioned to professional poker in recent years, will not make it past the cut in Flight A.

After losing a large portion of his stack in the previous hand, he shoved his final 21,000 from early position. Cheng Jyun Yang in the small blind and Jun Yi Ho in the big blind both called.

The dealer spread a flop of 7 8 3 . Yang check-raised Ho’s 25,000 bet to 60,000, and Ho called to see the 5 turn.

Yang then moved all in for his remaining 193,000. Ho didn’t hesitate to call, holding 3 3 for a set.

“BoXer” Lim, with A K , was drawing dead, while Yang held A A and needed an ace to survive.

Unfortunately for Yang, the Q fell on the river, leaving him short-stacked as Ho celebrated the huge pot and stacked his chips.

Ran Ilani

Dhanesh Chainani slid his stack of 92,000 across the line from under the gun, and was looked up by Ran Ilani out of the big blind.

Dhanesh Chainani: A K

Ran Ilani 6 6

Chainani moved into the lead on the A 5 4 flop by pairing his ace.

Ilani picked up some extra outs in the form of a straight draw when the 2 fell on the turn.

The A completed the board and improved Chainani to trip aces, he doubled up to around 190,000.