Tarun Guwalani

The inaugural APT Baby Zodiac Classic sponsored by Natural8 proved a popular draw at APT Jeju 2026, attracting 223 entries (152 unique) and generating a KRW 289,008,000 (~USD 217,300) prize pool—more than doubling its KRW 125,000,000 guarantee.

After the field was reduced to just 69 returning players for the final day, it was India's Tarun Guwalani who emerged victorious, defeating China's Hongbo Pan heads-up to capture the title, the silver lion silhouette trophy, and KRW 61,158,000 (~USD 45,980) in prize money.

Pan collected KRW 41,150,000 (~USD 30,940) for his runner-up finish after a strong final table performance, while the United Kingdom's Ryan Plant completed the podium in third place for KRW 29,020,000 (~USD 21,820).

Baby Zodiac Classic Final Table Results

Winner's Reaction

Tarun Guwalani

For Tarun Guwalani, the victory carried extra significance. Having transitioned from primarily playing cash games to focusing more heavily on tournaments in recent months, the title represented the reward for countless hours of study and preparation.

When asked what it meant to finally lift his first APT trophy, Guwalani reflected on the work that went into the achievement:

"It feels very special. I have worked... basically I am a cash game player, so making a transition to tournaments, I know how much I have worked these past few months. So it just paid off."

His path to the title was far from straightforward. With just 16 players remaining and sitting on around ten big blinds, Guwalani found himself needing help to stay alive in the tournament. When asked what was going through his mind as the queen arrived to save his run, his answer reflected the effort and preparation that went into today's win:

"Just play my ranges. I have studied way too much, more than anybody else, and let the cards roll off."

As his stack recovered and momentum gradually shifted in his favour, Guwalani admitted he never lost belief that a breakthrough result was on the horizon:

"To be honest, I have been running deep in all the tournaments I have been playing here in Jeju. Maybe four or five tournaments I have cashed before this, so I knew it was coming. Just keep doing what I can do... I knew it was coming. It was coming."

Moments later, with the trophy in hand and a first APT title secured, Guwalani's prediction had become reality.

Final Day Action

Maxim Sorokin

A number of players started off well upon returning to the field on the second day of the Baby Zodiac Classic. Maxim Sorokin doubled after catching a lucky river, while on the table just across, Michel Molenaar was making moves after hitting two pair with his ace-jack hole cards to claim an early chip lead.

Some players didn't share the same luck and hit the rail early in the day, including Renji Mao, who bowed out early, along side other short stacks.

Taking over a seat at the feature table seemed to work well today, with doubles coming through for recent newcomers to the stream, while Yue Sun also found a vital early double-up to keep her tournament alive.

Yue Sun

Abreham Ceesvin, who came into the day second in chips, commanded much of the morning's attention. Despite getting himself into a few sticky spots, he maintained his chip advantage and remained among the frontrunners heading toward the middle of the day.

As the money bubble loomed, play slowed down significantly. It took under ten rounds of hand-for-hand play before a crucial double on the bubble extended proceedings. This lead to Korakot Suvarnpridikul ultimately becoming the bubble boy after four-bet jamming pocket nines into Wengang Wang's pocket jacks and failing to improve.

Eliminations then came thick and fast as the field thinned, with players eyeing up spots at the final two tables.

Yue Sun put together another deep run before finally hitting the rail, adding yet another APT cash to her impressive record. Known on the circuit for her dominance in women's events, Sun collected two victories and two runner-up finishes at APT Incheon earlier this year, having also secured three titles in 2025.

Others who cashed but fell short of the final 16 included Yuhan Wang, whose run ended after getting his stack in with ace-queen against Shouda Zhang's ace-king and Wengang Wang's pocket kings.

Ryan Plant enjoyed a steady start to the day before climbing rapidly up the counts. Plant eliminated Wengang Wang after defending eight-six offsuit and flopping two pair, a hand that proved a massive turning point. Crossing the one million chip threshold by the final 16, Plant continued to build.

Hua Wei Lin

Action slowed approaching the final table, but with 40-minute levels, rising blinds forced fast play, seeing the field drop from 14 to 10 in a single level. After a strong run, Natural8 ambassador Hua Wei Lin burst the final table bubble after getting her pocket threes in against Tarun Guwalani's king-nine on the turn. Guwalani rivered a pair, entering the final table with a comfortable stack, giving a hint of what was to come.

Final Table

(Top L-R) Tarun Guwalani, Shouda Zhang, John Matsuda, Motokatsu Uhara, Maxim Sorokin (Bottom L-R) Meng Dian Peng, Hongbo Pan, Nikita Ustiuzhanin, Ryan Plant

After 10 hours of play, the final nine was set. Hongbo Pan had steadily climbed the ranks throughout the day, scoring several eliminations including former APT champion Trung Quan Nguyen.

It took less than ten hands at the final table for Nikita Ustiuzhanin to get his remaining chips into the middle with big slick against Shouda Zhang's ace-jack. Zhang flopped a jack, sending Ustiuzhanin to the rail in ninth place for KRW 6,240,000 (~USD 4,690).

Hongbo Pan held a significant chip lead going into eight-handed play. After getting bet off a sizeable pot a couple of hands earlier, John Matsuda put his tournament life on the line with pocket tens. He was ahead all the way until Maxim Sorokin spiked a diamond on the river, sending Matsuda home in eighth place for KRW 7,540,000 (~USD 5,670). The hand vaulted Sorokin into a competing top position alongside Pan.

Shouda Zhang

The two shortest stacks then went to war with less than a small blind separating them. Shouda Zhang got it in with pocket tens against Motokatsu Uhara's ace-queen, but Uhara paired his ace on the flop, leaving Zhang with just a chip and a chair. Zhang was all-in again the following hand, getting his last few chips in behind and failing to recover, exiting in seventh place for KRW 10,320,000 (~USD 7,760).

Despite average stacks sitting at around 25 big blinds, players preferred post-flop play over simple pre-flop shoves. Maxim Sorokin asserted himself as chip leader by applying pressure in key spots and sitting atop the counts late in the day. However, escalating blinds and a series of lost pots saw him quickly slide down the leaderboard.

Motokatsu Uhara was the next player at risk, getting his pocket tens in good against Ryan Plant's ace-jack suited. Plant rivered an ace, sending Uhara out in sixth place for KRW 14,130,000 (~USD 10,625).

The next casualty followed quickly as Meng Dian Peng ran into Ryan Plant's pocket rockets. Peng's jack-ten failed to improve, ending his run in fifth place for KRW 18,610,000 (~USD 13,990).

Four-handed play proved a battle as Maxim Sorokin and Ryan Plant maintained balanced aggression, trading control with Tarun Guwalani and Hongbo Pan. Chips flew back and forth without a clear leader as players continually swapped stacks in big pots.

Eventually, Maxim Sorokin and Hongbo Pan collided in a massive open-shove pot. Sorokin's ace-six offsuit was dominated by Pan's ace-queen, and a queen on the flop sealed Sorokin's elimination in fourth place for KRW 23,530,000 (~USD 17,690).

Ryan Plant

On the very next hand, Ryan Plant suffered a similar fate. Plant had repeatedly worked his way out of danger throughout the final table and scored two eliminations. However, after committing his remaining big blinds with ace-five offsuit, he ran straight into Hongbo Pan's ace-ten. The board brought no help, ending Plant's run in third place for KRW 29,020,000 (~USD 21,820) and sending the remaining two players into heads-up play.

Heads-Up

Tarun Guwalani (right), Hongbo Pan (left)

Then there were two: Hongbo Pan and Tarun Guwalani. It was no surprise to see Pan, who started Day 2 seventh in chips, reach the final duel. Guwalani, meanwhile, had flown largely under the radar until the final two tables.

At one point, Guwalani was down to just ten big blinds and all-in with two overcards against pocket sevens. Spiking a queen on the flop to double up set the stage for his comeback charge.

Entering heads-up play virtually level, Pan held the slimmest edge. That lead quickly evaporated as Guwalani relentlessly applied pressure and seized the chip lead within a few hands.

The pair contested nearly every pot, seeing constant flops, but Guwalani continually came out on the winning side of chip pushes by forcing folds from better hands.

Pan briefly rallied to find some momentum, but Guwalani maintained control and denied Pan a double-up when they chopped a board with matching ace-kickers.

Hongbo Pan

The final hand came swiftly as Pan looked down at queen-ten suited and called off Guwalani's shove. Although Pan started ahead, Guwalani flopped bottom pair, which held through the turn and river to secure the tournament victory and send Pan home in second place.

That conclues converage of the first-ever APT Baby Zodiac Classic sponsored by Natural8 which proved an undisputed success. Stay with the APT blog as the final days of the APT Jeju 2026 series come to a close.

Tarun Guwalani

Tarun Guwalani has taken down the Baby Zodiac Classic Event for KRW 61,158,000 (~USD 45,980) after defeating the 223 player field.

The full event recap will be posted shortly, so be sure to check back here on the APT blog, to get a run down of how the event unfolded.

Hongbo Pan

Hand 269: Tarun Guwalani moved all-in from the button and Hongbo Pan made the call from the big blind for his tournament life.

Hongbo Pan: Q T

Tarun Guwalani: Q 5

Not the door card Pan wanted to see on the 5 A 8 to send Guwalani into the lead. Pan got no help on the 6 turn and when the river bricked out with the J Pan was sent to the rail as the inaugural APT Baby Zodiac Classic runner-up.

Hand 267: Tarun Guwalani limped with 6 5 on the button and Hongbo Pan moved all in for 1,900,000. Guwalani mucked and Pan picked up the small pot.

Hand 268: Pan open-jammed on the button and Guwalani called and covered Pan by nearly three-fold.

Hongbo Pan: A 8

Tarun Guwalani: A 6

Players were sent to a chop after the J T 5 5 2 board ran out, with both ace-kickers playing with the paired board.

Hongbo Pan

Hand 261: Tarun Guwalani limped from the button with 6 4 and Hongbo Pan checked his option with Q 5 .

The players checked down the 9 8 5 flop and 8 turn for the 2 to come on the river.

Guwalani bet out for 600,000 and after tanking for a while Pan made the call and was shipped the pot with his two pair.

Hand 262: Pan limped from the button with 8 6 and Guwalani moved all-in with 4 4 . Pan folded and Guwalani took the pot.

Hand 263: Guwalani made up from the button with J 2 and Pan checked his option with 9 7 .

The flop came T 4 Q and it was checked down for the 3 to come on the turn, it was checked again and the T dropped on the river. The players checked again and Guwalani took the pot with his jack playing.

Hand 264: Pan limped with J 9 and Guwalani checked with 9 7 .

It was checked down to see the 8 2 3 4 A board runout and Pan took the pot with jack high.

Hand 265: Guwalani raised to 400,000 from the button with Q 9 and took down the pot.

Hand 266: Pan raised from the button with 9 2 only for Guwalani to move all-in from the big blind with K Q . Pan folded and Guwalani took the pot.

Hongbo Pan

Hand 257: Tarun Guwalani raised to 320,000 on the button with T 7 and Hongbo Pan called from the big blind with J 9 .

The 5 Q 6 flop saw Pan check-fold to a 240,000 bet.

Hand 258: Pan limped with his T 3 , Guwalani jammed for more than twice Pan’s stack with Q 5 , and Pan mucked.

Hand 259: Guwalani raised to 320,000 with 3 2 and Pan called with T 5 .

The T J 4 flop saw Pan pick up middle pair and both checked to the Q turn. Pan checked, Guwalani bet 675,000 and Pan mucked.

Hand 260: Pan limped with A 5 and Guwalani checked Q 4 . The 6 T 7 flop was checked to the T turn.

Guwalani bet 225,000 and Pan stuck around with his ace-high, and the K river completed the board.

Both checked to showdown and Pan took the pot.

Tarun Guwalani

Hand 252: Hongbo Pan gave Tarun Guwalani a walk.

Hand 253: Guwalani limped from the button with 8 6 and Pan moved all-in with Q J . Guwalani folded and Pan took the pot.

Hand 254: Pan made up from the button with T 2 and Guwalani checked with Q 9 .

The flop came A 9 3 and Guwalani checked to Pan who bet out for 160,000 and Guwalani called.

The turn brought the K , and Guwalani checked again to Pan, who fired a second bullet of 325,000. Guwalani flat-called once more.

The 6 came on the river and Guwalani checked for a third time and Pan moved all in. Guwalani thoght for a while before folding to give the pot to Pan.

Hand 255: Guwalani made it 320,000 from the button with J 3 and Pan made the call with 5 4 .

The flop came 7 Q 8 and the players checked to see the 6 come on the turn. Pan bet out for 450,000 and took the pot when Guwalani folded.

Hand 256: Pan made up from the button with 6 4 only for Guwalani to raise to 560,000 from the big blind. Pan folded and Guwalani took the pot.

Tarun Guwalani

Hand 247: Tarun Guwalani opened with Q 9 on the button and Hongbo Pan called with T 8 from the big blind.

The 8 5 K flop was quickly checked by both to see the 6 placed on the turn and Pan checked his option to Guwalani. Guwalani moved out 540,000 and Pan called to see the A complete the board.

The river brought in Guwalani his backdoor flush, and Pan checked one more time to Guwalani who asked for 1,200,000. Pan was looking at a pair of eights, and took some time before making the call, passing a huge pot across to Guwalani.

Hand 248: Pan limped with Q 8 and Guwalani checked his K 4 .

The J 8 T flop saw Guwalani check-fold to a 160,000 bet by Pan.

Hand 249: Guwalani raised to 320,000 on the button with 8 8 and Pan called with 9 5 .

The 7 K 7 flop saw Pan check to Guwalani who bet 280,000. Pan called to see the 9 turn which improved him to two pair.

Action checked to the 2 river, and Pan checked. Guwalani checked back, and Pan took the pot at showdown.

Hand 250: Pan opened with Q T to 320,000 on the button and Guwalani called with 5 3 . The 2 4 3 flop gave Guwalani alot to work with, and both checked to get to the A turn. Guwalani, now with the straight, checked and Pan checked back.

The 4 completed the board and he bet out 1,200,000. Pan didn't take too long to muck.

Hand 251: Guwalani raised to 320,000 on the button with Q 9 and Pan three-bet to 1,000,000 with A 4 . Guwalani called, and the dealer fanned the 4 6 T flop.

Both checked to the 5 river and Guwalani bet out 650,000 after seeing Pan check, getting Pan to fold.

Tarun Guwalani

Hand 243: Tarun Guwalani made up from the button with 8 4 and Hongbo Pan checked his option in the big blind with K 4 .

The flop came Q 2 A and Pan checked to Guwalani, who bet out for 125,000. Pan made the call.

On the 4 turn the action went check-check for the players to see the 6 peel off on the turn.

Both players checked and Pan picked up the pot with his kicker playing.

Hand 244: Pan raised to 300,000 from the button with J 2 and Guwalani called from the big blind.

The flop came K 9 K and both players checked to see the 3 come on the turn.

Pan fired out for 150,000 and Guwalani folded to give Pan another pot.

Hand 245: Guwalani raised to 240,000 from the button with T 3 and Pan flat-called with K Q from the big blind.

The flop came T J K and both players checked to see the 5 come on the turn. It went check-check again and the 2 peeled off on the river.

Pan bet out for 220,000 and Guwalani snap-called to take the pot with his rivered flush

Hand 246: Pan limped from the button with K 8 and Guwalani checked his option.

The flop came 4 4 9 and was checked down to see the 2 come on the turn.

Action was checked around again and the dealer peeled off the 7 as the river. Both players checked again and Pan picked up the pot with king high.

Hand 241: Tarun Guwalani limped on the button with 7 3 and Hongbo Pan checked from the big blind with Q 5 .

The K Q T flop saw Pan check-call a 120,000 bet by Guwalani after flopping middle pair.

A 8 turn saw Pan check, Guwalani bet 750,000 and Pan mucked the best hand.

Hand 242: Pan limped with 9 4 and Guwalani checked with K 3 .

The 9 2 Q flop saw Guwalani check-call a 120,000 bet by Pan, to get to the K turn.

Both checked to see the 8 complete the board, and Guwalani bet out 360,000. Pan mucked his hand, giving Guwalani the pot.