Xiang Chen, APTC Ticket

Just before the shuffle up and deal, Table 27 was randomly selected today to flip for a coveted $10,000 APT Championship (APTC) ticket.

The game: Atomic Pineapple. The aim: to end the round with the best Hold'em hand.

Each player at the table was dealt three hole cards face down before the dealer revealed a 3 4 6 flop. Then every player was asked to muck one hole card.

With all discards submitted, the cards were turned face-up. A large crowd gathered around the table to watch the turn and river. The entire field was live on the flop, with players holding middle pairs, two pair, and backdoor straight draws.

Joris Michl (left), Xiang Chen (right)

The dealer delivered the 2 turn and the Q river and it was Joris Michl with 5 4 and Xiang Chen with 5 5 who were tied with the straight, sending the pair to a heads-up showdown.

Xiang Chen

On the second deal, the flop came T K K . Chen tabled T 6 for two pair, leaving Michl significantly behind with 7 5 . The A turn officially locked up the board for Chen, rendering the T river a mere formality and Chen claimed the $10,000 APT Championship ticket!

The remaining three APT Champion tickets will now be awarded to players who take home first, second and third place in the 2026 Main Event.