Day 3 of the APT Taipei 2026 Main Event carried extra significance with the awarding of the first APT Championship Main Event tickets. The top six finishers will each secure a seat in November’s APT Championship Main Event here in Taipei, valued at TWD 312,000 (~USD $10,000).

In addition, two tickets were to be distributed by random draw - one after all players reach the money and another on Day 4 - adding further intrigue to the chase for the title.

After players took their seats and unbagged their chips, Neil Johnson, President of the Asian Poker Tour, oversaw the Day 3 card draw that determined the first random ticket winner.

APT Championship Main Event Ticket Draw

With the initial card revealed as a three, anticipation spread across the room as every player seated in the three‑spot shared hopes of claiming another seat in an APT Main Event.

The suspense ended when the draw landed on Table 86, where Sergei Zakharov emerged as the lucky player, securing his place in November’s Championship here in Taipei.

With the first ticket handed out, just one more random winner will be chosen tomorrow on Day 4, while the remaining players must earn their way by reaching the final table and claiming one of the six guaranteed seats.