Mark Furniss has officially carved his name into Asian Poker Tour history, becoming the first player ever to amass 10 APT mixed-game titles. For Furniss, though, the moment wasn’t a long-standing obsession. It was simply the next step for a player who has quietly, and consistently, dominated the mixed-game landscape across multiple APT stops.

“I’m very happy,” he said with a grin. “Last year I won eight in one year, and that felt pretty good. Then there were four of us on nine trophies, so I just wanted to be the first to hit ten.”

Mark Furniss getting mixed in at the Mixed Games Championship event

That four-way tie included Li Ta Hsu and Yu Tang Wang from Taiwan, and Englishman Craig Cooper — all respected mixed-game grinders in their own right. None managed to break through last series, leaving the race wide open heading into the APT Championship 2025. Furniss ended the suspense with a decisive win in Event #60: Turbo - PL Omaha Ultimate Hi-Lo - Cry Me A River.

“It feels really good. Last series, none of us won a trophy, so it was great to finally break it.”

A Career and a Love Story Shaped by the APT

For many players, the Asian Poker Tour is a proving ground, a circuit where titles are earned, reputations are built, and careers find direction. For Furniss, it became all of that and something far more personal.

Furniss didn’t just discover his competitive stride on the APT felt; he found his future partner there too. Their story began at APT Jeju two years ago, where a chance meeting during the festival set everything in motion.

“It’s been a big APT thing for us,” Furniss said with a smile. And in many ways, the tour has shaped more than just his trophy count — it has shaped his personal life in a way he could never have predicted.

Mark Furniss and wife Janice celebrate his Event #53 5 Card Draw Masters win at APT Manila 2024

The APT became the backdrop to each milestone of their relationship. They got engaged during APT Taiwan, fittingly surrounded by friends from the circuit who had watched their story unfold from its earliest days. Not long after, they tied the knot just before APT Manilla, completing a journey that began with a simple conversation at the tables.

This series, his wife is once again in Taipei, supporting him quietly from the sidelines, sharing dinner breaks with him between events, and cheering for each deep run. For Furniss, the APT has always felt like home.

A Deep Run in the Mixed Games Championship?

At time of writing, Furniss is making a push in the Mixed Games Championship, sitting slightly above average in chips despite admitting he isn’t playing his sharpest after a late finish in the night before.

“I didn’t get a lot of sleep,” he said. “I’m a little above average, but not playing very well.”

Even so, few players in the room command the same respect in mixed formats, and Furniss remains one of the favourites whenever he takes a seat. This year’s Championship, he says, has impressed him across the board.

“The dealers and the floor are absolutely world-class,” he noted. “And the numbers have been really good, probably the best I’ve seen in a long time.”

But what stands out most to Furniss is the dynamic nature of the field.

“There are some really, really strong players — genuinely elite — but also a lot of people who are just here to play for fun,” he explained. “Some don’t even fully know the basics yet, like the rules of certain games. That always makes things a bit easier.”

What’s Next for Furniss?

Mixed games have seen increasing momentum on the APT calendar, and Furniss expects the trend to continue.

“It should keep growing, and I really hope it does,” he said. “In Taiwan, for sure it’s going to be really big.”

He admits he’s slightly disappointed that next year will see only two APT stops in Taiwan, while reminiscing that Vietnam remains one of his favourite destinations. “Vietnam was pretty good too. I’ll definitely come to Taipei next year — maybe one of the Korean stops — but probably not all. It’s hard to travel; I have a job.”

With the race to ten now settled, Furniss is already thinking — cautiously — about the next milestone.

“I’ll start with fifteen,” he said. “Fifteen would be good. Twenty’s a long way off.”

If his past two years are any indication, it might not take him too long after all.