GOP Main Event - Day 2 - NT$ 21,000,000 GTD

Yao Hou Chun was all in for everything on the last hand of the feature table with a pocket pair that was flipping against Yu Yeh Chun's overcards. 

Yao Hou Chun: 9 ♦️ 9 ♠️

Yu Yeh Chun: A ♠️ K ♠️

As Yao Hou Chun quietly prayed for a clean runout, the poker gods granted his wish, dropping a board of 2 ♥️ 3 ♣️ Q ♦️ 4 ♦️ 6 ♥️. 

Another takedown for Juhyung Son to close out the day just under the leader Kai Lin Wei. The hand opened with a 350,000 raise from under the gun Lavonne Watkins that was met with a three-bet to 900,000 by Wei. On the big blind, Son four-bet shoved to successfully push out Watkins. 

Action back on Wei, he asked for a count which was confirmed at 4,800,000, well below his massive stack, then he called saying, “I cannot fold this.”

Juhyung Son: 10 ♦️ 10 ♥️

Kai Lin Wei: A ♠️ K ♦️

Son was flipping for his tournament life with the board running 9 ♦️ 7 ♥️ 6 ♣️ 3 ♠️ 5 ♥️, Wei missed and Son celebrated his exciting win. 

Only five hands left before the remaining players bag up for the night.

Juhyung Son picked up multiple pots which included a double up through Soohyeok Lee. The hand opened with a raise from Son and Lee defended on the small blind. 

At the flop 4 ♠️ 10 ♥️ 9 ♣️, Lee jammed and Son risked it. 

Juhyung Son: Q ♥️ 10 ♠️

Soohyeok Lee: K ♦️ J ♦️

Son was ahead but needed to dodge numerous outs and did so with the turn 6 ♠️ and river 2 ♦️ running low. 

At the feature table, Chihwei Fan and Yao Hou Chun stared down a board of 5 ♥️ 3 ♠️ 8 ♣️ 9 ♥️ 8 ♠️ with around 3,800,000 in the pot. Fan jammed his 3,325,000 stack and won the pot with Chun opting to preserve his chips. 

After losing a majority of her stack, Gemmy Tue An put the rest on the line and was flipping against Soohyeok Lee.

Gemmy Tue An: A ♣️ Q ♦️

Soohyeok Lee: 9 ♣️ 9 ♠️

The board brought no joy for the vlogger as it ran 10 ♦️ 10 ♣️ 7 ♥️ J ♦️ 10 ♥️ to end her run in 12th place.

Out of the hijack position, Yao Hou Chun min-raised and Chihwei Fan was the lone caller on the small blind. 

When the flop came a low 5 ♥️ 8 ♣️ 3 ♣️, Fan jumped out with a bet of 450,000 and Chun was unfazed, quickly making the call. 

The turn 9 ♥️ saw Fan barrel 1,000,000 and again Chun called for the pot to balloon to nearly 4M. The river 8 ♠️ paired the board and this time Fan tanked. After he burned through two time extensions, he announced all in for 3,330,000. 

Chun had Fan covered but not by much and after a short time in the think tank, Chun opted to fold his hand. 

Another big pot at the feature table with Seung Hyuk Jung and Chihwei Fan in the hand. Jung opened from hijack and Fan called out of the big blind.

No action on the flop of 6 ♠️ 9 ♣️ J ♥️ leading to the turn K ♥️. Fan checked again and Jung bet 325,000. Fan flatted to take them to fifth street where the 7 ♥️ landed on the board. 

Fan checked again, Jung laid out two big chips amounting to 1,000,000. Fan said he had to call before matching it up. 

Jung flipped over A ♣️ 10 ♦️ air, Fan claimed the pot with K ♠️ 7 ♠️ two pair. 

Long Hin Shiao

The pot had already ballooned to 2,340,000 by the time the river felted Q ♦️ 8 ♦️ 4 ♠️ A ♥️ 6 ♠️. Small blind Yao Hou Chun tank-checked to send the action to the big blind Long Hin Shiao. 

Shiao took time to decide then went all in. No delay from Chun with a fold to award Shiao the hefty pile of chips. 

On a board that completed 6 ♦️ A ♦️ 2 ♦️ 6 ♠️ A ♣️ and a big pot already brewed, Lavonne Watkins fired a bet over 1M and after tanking, Gemmy Tue An called. 

Watkins had the goods with A ♥️ 10 ♦️ full house and shipped the pot while Gemmy Tue An dropped to seven big blinds. 

Gemmy Tue An commented after the hand, “I should have raised the turn.” To which Watkins chimed, “I would have called you,”

After losing a large portion of his stack to quads, Shen Bo Yu lost another showdown with Lavonne Watkins getting a full boost. 

Lavonne Watkins: A ♠️ Q ♥️

Shen Bo Yu: A ♦️ 5 ♠️

The board was 8 ♠️ J ♥️ 9 ♥️ 6 ♥️ 3 ♦️. 

The next hand, Yu was all in with just 320,000 and got lucky with K ♦️ 5 ♦️ against chip leader Kai Lin Wei's A ♦️ J ♣️ when he landed a flush on the board 9 ♣️ 6 ♥️ 4 ♥️ 3 ♦️ 2 ♦️

The boost in chips was short-lived as Yu shoved again and had A ♦️ J ♠️. Junghyun Son was made with 10 ♠️ 10 ♥️. The board threw blanks to end Yu's rush of shoves to an end in 13th place. 

Shen Bo Yu opened for 250,000 from middle position and found two callers, button player Kai Lin Wei and small blind Andy Tsai. 

Yu continued for 300,000 at the flop of 3 ♠️ 8 ♠️ 8 ♣️. Only Wei stuck around to see the turn 9 ♥️ where Yu slowed down and checked.

Wei took charge with a bet of 1,000,000 and Yu called after using up a time chip. The pot bloated further on the river 8 ♦️ with Wei betting 3,000,000, well over half of Yu's stack. Yu called the big bet then mucked when Wei turned over the nuts Q ♥️ 8 ♥️ quads.

Catching the action on a board showing 5 ♣️ K ♥️ Q ♥️ Q ♦️ J ♠️ with around 1,300,000 already in the pot, big blind Long Hin Shiao bet 750,000. Just before the clock ran out, button player Seung Hyuk Jung opted to let go of his stake in the pot. 

Chihwei Fan opened 250,000 out of the hijack position and blg blind Yao Hou Chun defended for a flop of Q ♦️ 8 ♠️ 10 ♠️. Check from Chun brought a c-bet of 300,000 and he called. 

The turn 7 ♦️ saw another check from Chun and this time, Fan checked back for the board to bring an 8 ♥️ on the river. 

Switching gears, Chun led for 750,000 and after squirming in his seat for a bit, Fan paid to see. 

Chun flipped over K ♣️ Q ♥️ two pair to win the pot.

Lavonne Watkins shoved his last ten big blinds and Kai Lin Wei made him sweat it out as they turned over a fifty-fifty. 

Lavonne Watkins: 5 ♦️ 5 ♥️

Kai Lin Wei: A ♣️ Q ♥️

The board was good to Watkins, dropping blanks for Wei, running : 3d: 10 ♥️ 2 ♦️ K ♣️ 6 ♠️ for a double up.

With action folding to the button Chihwei Fan, he bullied with his big stack, shoving in hopes of stealing the blinds and ante. He was denied as both blinds called off their stacks for a three-way. 

Hyeongmin Yu: A ♣️ Q ♦️

Kevin Choi: K ♣️ 9 ♣️

Chihwei Fan: 9 ♦️ 7 ♦️

When the board came 9 ♠️ 8 ♦️ 5 ♠️ 10 ♥️ 2 ♠️, Choi and Fan connected with the latter backed by the bigger kicker to triple up and eliminate Yu in the process. 

Another break with 14 players remaining. The goal is to play until the end of Level 19 or the final table, whichever is first reached.

Action at the feature table with small blind Kai Lin Wei limping in and Andy Tsai checking for a cheap flop that came 4 ♥️ J ♦️ K ♥️.

Wei bet 100,000 and another 240,000 on the turn 9 ♠️. Tsai called the flop then raised the turn bet to 725,000. Wei to head to the river where the 10 ♣️ was dealt. 

Continuing his aggression, Tsai bet a stiff 2,000,000 which was about half pot and half of Wei's stack. This sent Wei into the think tank until he used up a time-bank before making the call 

It was the right decision with Tsai flipping over 10 ♥️ 6 ♥️ rivered pair which Wei had beat with J ♣️ 9 ♦️ two pair. 

Yu Tang Wang

At the feature table, Yu Tang Wang was eliminated in 16th place by Soohyeok Lee on a flip. Wang shoved 730,000 preflop and Lee called. 

Yu Tung Wang:  6 ♠️ 6 ♥️

Soohyeok Lee: A ♦️ J ♥️

The board came down 7 ♥️ K ♦️ 9 ♥️ A ♥️ 2 ♠️. 

Heng Zhe Hu

Heng Zhe Hu was next to bite the bullet with Yu Yeh Chun delivering the axe. Hu three-bet shoved preflop and Chun called with ease. 

Heng Zhe Hu: K ♥️ J ♥️

Yu Yeh Chun: A ♦️ 10 ♦️

The board ran a low 3 ♠️ 4 ♦️ 5 ♥️ 7 ♣️ 7 ♠️. Hu finished in 16th place for NT$ 209,300 (~US$ 6,625).

From early position, Andy Tsai opened 225,000 and big blind Gemmy Tue An defended to take them to a flop of 7 ♠️ Q ♥️ 3 ♦️.

Tsai continued for 225,000, Gemmy Tue An tested with a check-raise to 500,000, and Tsai called. On the turn 9 ♣️, Gemmy Tue An led out for 700,000 and once again, Tsai called to bring the pot to 3,000,000. 

With a J ♦️ on the river, Gemmy Tue An slowed down with a check only to see Tsai drop a 950,000 bet. After several seconds, Gemmy Tue An let go of her hand. 

Nirunrut Rachburom

After a cooler sent her stack plunging, Nirunrut Rachburom was unable to recover and finally took a stand when she was dealt an ace. Action first opened with a min-raise by Seughyuk Jung at hijack and Rachburom risked her last 520,000 out of the big blind .Jung called.

Nirunrut Rachburom: A ♦️ 10 ♦️

Seunghyuk Jung: Q ♠️ J ♣️

Though ahead at the showdown, the flop favored Jung. As it ran out J ♥️ 9 ♣️ 8 ♣️ 10 ♥️ 4 ♦️, Jung improved to a straight to end Rachburom's title bid in 17th place. 

Lincoln Lau

As shared by the winner Kevin Choi, Lincoln Lau had a set of jacks on the turn while he had Broadway with ace-queen on hand. Lau was eliminated in 18th place for NT$ 181,800 (US$ 5,755). 

Hao Lin

Back to back shoves by Hao Lin with a very lucky first win. He had A ♠️ 2d: up against big stacked Yu Yeh Chun with A ♣️ A ♥️.

The board ran 4 ♠️ 5 ♥️ A ♦️ 6 ♥️ 3c: for a lucky straight on the river. 

With his newfound chips, Lin immediately put it all on the line and found himself dominated once again. 

Hao Lin: K ♥️ 6 ♥️

Kevin Choi: K ♠️ 9 ♥️

This time no miracles were being given out on the board 2 ♦️ 4 ♣️ 10 ♠️ 7 ♥️ J ♦️ for Lin to fall in 19th place.

Chaehun Ryu

Three-bet pot preflop built a massive pot before all the chips went in on the flop of 10 ♣️ 8 ♥️ 5 ♦️.

Chaehun Ryu: K ♥️ J ♥️

Kevin Choi: A ♦️ J ♣️

Ryu was behind and left his fate up to the final two cards. The turn 8 ♣️ and river 4 ♣️ were not the outs he was looking for to fall in 20th place. 

Yu Yeh Chun

All in action on a board that had reached the turn showing A ♠️ 4 ♠️ Q ♣️ 5 ♥️. 

Yu Yeh Chun: A ♦️ A ♥️

Nirunrut Rachburom: A ♣️ Q ♠️

Rachburom was drawing dead. The river was a meaningless K ♥️. Chun banked a massive double to take the lead with 20 players remaining. 

Ryoichiro Takeda

Heng Zhe Hu and Ryoichiro Takeda went head to head for all of their chips. Hu was at-risk first when he called Takeda's river shove. The board was 2 ♦️ 6 ♦️ 10 ♥️ 3 ♠️ 9 ♥️. Hu had K ♦️ 9 ♦️ for a double up. 

Immediately after, Takeda was now behind when he shoved holding A ♣️ Q ♠️ that got called by Hu with a dominating A ♦️ K ♣️. 

When the board ran 6 ♦️ 8 ♠️ J ♦️ K ♦️ 2 ♦️, Hu connected in multiple ways to ensure the win and finish off Takeda in 21st place. 

Two tables were all in near simultaneous starting with Table 2 where Chaehun Ryu opened 350,000 and got pushed by Hao Lin. Ryu looked over at Table 3 and noticed that heavy action was also taking place and decided to wait to see the result. 

Yao Hou Chun

Action at Table 3 had Hyeongmin Yu open for 175,000 and Yao Hou Chun three-bet to 755,000. Back on Yu, tanked then shoved. Chun was covered and like Ryu at the other table, laid out his time-banks to await the result of the other table.

Ryu realized that Chun had more time-banks than him and said, “I have to call. I have less time banks.” 

Chaehun Ryu: A ♠️ Tc:

Hao Lin: K ♦️ 8 ♠️

Though Ryu was ahead, he sweat it out as Lin was live. With the board running Q ♦️ Ac: 7 ♦️ 6 ♣️ 2 ♣️, he was safe from the rail and doubled through.

At the other table, Chun called with less behind.

Yao Hao Chun: 8 ♣️ 8 ♠️

Hyeongmin Yu: J ♦️ 10 ♦️

The flip went Chun's way on a board that ran 6 ♠️ 2 ♠️ 6 ♣️ 4 ♣️ Q ♠️.

The 21 remaining players are now on a dinner break. When they return, play resumes until the end of Level 19.

Nirunrut Rachburom

Heavy preflop action opened with Yu Yeh Chun raising from hijack that found one caller in Nirunrut Rachburom on the button. Action moved to the small blind Shinichiro Kano who jammed just over a million then big blind Kevin Choi slid out the call. 

Back to Chun, he got out of the way while Rachburom went clear other direction with a shove. Choi called again and they flipped them over.

Shinichiro Kano: A ♥️ Q ♥️

Nirunrut Rachburom: K ♠️ K ♥️

Kevin Choi: K ♦️ 9 ♦️

Rachburom and Choi improved on the flop 9 ♥️ K ♣️ J ♦️ with the former far ahead. The turn 3 ♦️ gave a scare with Choi now with a flush draw. Rachburom's sweat ended on the river with the 7 ♥️ assuring her the win and the enormous pot. 

Andy Tsai aka “Andy Stacks”

Andy Tsai was next to deliver a bust at Table 5 with Chien Chiao Tseng putting it all on the line. 

Chien Chiao Tseng: Ace-Queen 

Andy Tsai: A ♦️ A ♠️

The board bricked to ends Tseng's run in 24th place. 

Chihwei Fan

Insane cooler at Table 5 started with a jam from Yi Ho Chung for 480,000. Lavonne Watkins tanked then jammed his massive stack of over 4.4M. Chihwei Fan asked for a count then called, risking his tournament life. 

Yi Ho Chung: Q ♣️ Q ♦️ 

Chihwei Fan: A ♣️ A ♥️

Lavonne Watkins: K ♣️ K ♦️

With another massive pot up for grabs, the anticipated board ran 6 ♠️ 4 ♦️ 8 ♦️ 9 ♣️ 5 ♥️ to end Chung's run in 25th place and Fan to catapult to one of the biggest stacks. 

Shen Bo Yu

With everyone folding to the small blind Hogyun Kang he shoved and to his surprise, big blind Shen Bo Yu snap-called.

Hogyun Kang: Q ♠️ 10 ♦️

Shen Bo Yu: A ♦️ A ♣️

Kang needed some help to stay in the game and with his queen pairing up, his chances slightly increased. However, the rest of the cards ran out of Q ♠️ 4 ♥️ J ♣️ 5 ♦️ K ♦️, bringing no more gems to end Kang's run in 26th place. 

Heng Zhe Hu

Hogyun Kang suffered another hit to his stack with Heng Zhe Hu benefiting. During the hand, Hu shoved preflop and Kang called. 

Heng Zhe Hu Q ♠️ J ♥️ 

Hogyun Kang: A ♠️ 8 ♣️

Hu quickly connected on the flop J ♦️ K ♥️ 3 ♦️ and called for it hold. The deck granted it with the turn K ♦️ and river 3 ♥️. 

Elmer Kalaquian was all in once again for his tournament life and was called by nemesis Long Hin Shiao. 

Elmer Kalaquian: J ♦️ J ♥️

Long Hin Shiao: K ♠️ Q ♥️

With a king arriving on the flop, it was near doom for Kalaquian. And after the board completed 2 ♣️ K ♥️ 5 ♠️ :8d; 2 ♥️, Kalaquian's bid for a stronger finish than at the GOP Jeju debut ended in 28th place. 

Chiayun Wu went all in with 9 ♥️ 9 ♣️ and ran right into big stacked Shen Bo Yu's 10 ♦️ 10 ♥️. 

No help came for Wu on the flop of A ♠️ 5 ♦️ 2 ♥️, and with the turn 10 ♠️ he was drawing dead to the set. The river was an inconsequential 3 ♠️. 

Elmer Kalaquian has been swinging all day and again has dropped into the danger zone. Sitting at the feature table, he went all in for his last 245,000. Long Hin Shiao called. 

Elmer Kalaquian: A ♣️ K ♠️

Long Hin Shiao: K ♦️ K ♥️

An ace arrived on the flop and with the board filling up 2 ♣️ A ♠️ 2 ♠️ J ♦️ 2 ♥️, Kalaquian was saved to continue his bid for the title. 

Kevin Choi

Jihoon Song open-shoved with A ♥️ Q ♦️ only to run into bigger stacked Kevin Choi's A ♠️ K ♥️. 

It was looking even more bleak for Song at the flop 8 ♠️ 3 ♦️ 9 ♠️ but with the turn J ♣️, a bit of light shone until the river 9 ♣️ denied him the straight to fall in 30th place.

The day's entering chip leader Hogyun Kang opened from hijack then defended after nextdoor neighbor Shen Bo Yu three-bet to 350,000. 

The flop brought more pressure from Yu with a bet of 150,000 on a board of Q ♠️ J ♦️ Q ♦️. Kang defended again then both players checked the turn J ♥️.

It was back to action on the river for Yu with a big bet of 900,000 when the A ♣️ landed. Kang tanked then opted to let go of his hand. 

Juhyung Song

Juhyung Son is now holding an overwhelming stack after a massive double up against Billy Alfonso. Going into the new level, both players had 4M in chips with Alfonso slightly ahead. 

The hand opened with a raise from Son at under the gun that Alfonso three-bet from middle position. Big blind Shinichiro Kano called and Son called to make it a three-way to the flop with 2,050,000 in the pot. 

When the dealer fanned 2 ♦️ 10 ♠️ 2 ♥️, Son bet 180,000 and only Alfonso called to see the turn land 5 ♥️. Again Son led for 1,500,000 and this time Alfonso answered with a shove. Son called.

Juhyung Son: K ♣️ K ♥️

Billy Alfonso: 3 ♣️ 3 ♥️

With the  river 6 ♣️, Alfonso plunged to six big blinds while Son soared to an overwhelming lead. 

Following that hand, Alfonso went all in and fell to Chihwei Fan with ten-five suited spades missing the mark against Fan's ace-queen. 

Break time again at the Main Event with 36 players remaining in contention. We will have the chip counts posted shortly.

Yu Tung Wang

Yu Tang Wang was all in for 495,000 and faced Gemmy Tue An for his tournament life. 

Yu Tang Wang: K ♠️ Q ♥️

Gemmy Tue An: A ♥️ A ♣️

Wang was in bad shape until the flop 3 ♦️ 10 ♥️ J ♥️ improved his outs. The turn 4 ♠️ brought no change. And as Gemmy Tue An called for junk, the deck refused to listen as it brought down the A ♦️ to give her the set and Wang a lucky Broadway.

Disappointed at the turnout, Gemmy Tue An remained positive saying, “it's ok, I will win a bigger pot next time.”

On a turn board of Q ♣️ 3 ♥️ Q ♠️ 7s:, out of the big blind Marc Rivera shoved and was snap-called by Juhyung Son. 

Rivera was in dire need of a miracle with his 8 ♦️ 8 ♥️ drowned by Son's A ♣️ Q ♦️ trips. 

The board did not help out instead giving the 3 ♣️ on the river for Rivera to get ousted and Son to soar over 4M in chips. 

Catching the action on a board of 10 ♥️ J ♠️ 3 ♣️ 4 ♥️ 4 ♦️ with a massive 1,500,000 weighing down the middle of the felt, Chihwei Fan checked to Juhyung Son who checked back.

Fan had 10 ♦️ 9 ♦️ second pair at the flop, Son had better with A ♦️ J ♣️ top pair at the flop to rake in the monster pile. 

Marc Rivera

Seokyoung Lee aka Tiger was all in preflop and got called by Marc Rivera. Lee had A ♦️ K ♥️ and needed to connect on the board against Rivera's made K ♦️ K ♠️.

With the board running J ♦️ 9 ♦️ J ♣️ 9 ♣️ 7 ♠️, Lee missed and was sent to the rail in 41st place while Rivera collected his newfound winnings. 

From under the gun, Chao Ting Cheng went all in on a flop of 6 ♦️ J ♦️ 7 ♥️ and big blind Hao Lin did not hesitate to call to put Cheng at risk of elimination.

Chao Ting Cheng: K ♣️ 10 ♦️

Hao Lin: J ♣️ 9 ♣️

The turn Q ♣️ gave Cheng a bit of hope but the draw missed on the river with the Q ♥️ showing up. Cheng exited in 40th place while Lin entered 3M territory.

Seung Hyuk Jung

Following a min-raise from Nirunrut Rachburom that was called by button Elmer Kalaquian, Seung Hyuk Jun fired a 300,000 three-bet. Rachburom tanked then opted out while Kalaquian gave him action.

At the flop 8 ♥️ 4 ♣️ 10 ♥️, Jung jumped out with a shove and won the pot with Kalaquian relinquishing his hand to the muck. 

Kai Lin Wei

Looking down at 2 ♣️ 2 ♥️, Kai Lin Wei opened 60,000 from hijack and had one caller in Kang Chien Shiao holding 10 ♣️ 9 ♣️ at cutoff.

The flop came 3 ♣️ 10 ♥️ 2 ♦️ for a set to Wei who continued for 50,000. Shiao flatted with top pair.

When the K ♦️ landed on the turn, Wei fired a much larger 175,000 and again Shiao paid up to see the river drop 6 ♠️. 

No more counting for Wei as he announced all in with a stack that was more than double Shiao's stack who proceeded to tank. After burning through four time chips, Shiao risked his tournament life then saw the bad news to fall in 46th place.

Lavonne Watkins

Hijack player Lavonne Watkins and big bling Minseo Kim called a raise by middle position Shen Bo Yu for a three-way to the flop with the cards landing 7 ♥️ 8 ♣️ 9 ♣️. 

Yu continued for 65,000 and the three-way stayed intact through to the river with both players calling then all three checking the turn 4 ♠️.

What seemed to be light pot bloated on the river 3 ♠️ starting with Kim leading out 130,000. After Yu let go, Watkins used a time chip before raising to 500,000. This sent Kim into the think tank as he counted out his stack then called.

Watkins showed the J ♥️ 10 ♣️ straight which earned a muck from Kim. 

Following that hand, Rangka Tekarn Teeraphat jammed on the button and Kim called of the rest of his chips. 

Minseo Kim: Q ♠️ J ♠️

Rangka Tekarn Teeraphat: A ♦️ 4 ♠️

The board bricked 7 ♦️ 7 ♥️ 10 ♥️ 6 ♣️ K ♠️ for ace-high to hold and Kim to finish in 47th place.

With everyone folding to the button, Kai Yang jammed and was denied the steal with small blind Chi Wen Sung shoving on top to isolate. 

Kai Yang: Ks: 10 ♣️

Chi Wen Sung: A ♠️ K ♣️

Sung had the better kicker and it held on a board running 8 ♦️ 3 ♦️ J ♥️ 3 ♥️ 7 ♦️. Yang finished in 48th place.

First break of the day with 50 players remaining. We will have the biggest stacks posted shortly.

Yu Yeh Chun

Yu Yeh Chun opened from hijack that found two customers in Mikami Shota at cutoff and big blind Elmer Kalaquian. 

Three-way to the flop of 2 ♠️ J ♦️ 2 ♣️, Chun continued for 50,000, Shota folded while Kalaquian fired a check-raise to 130,000. Chun flatted and they went to fourth street.

Kalaquian took the reins with a bet of 200,000 on the turn K ♦️ and Chun called once again to take them to the river where the 5 ♦️ came up. 

Kalaquian barreled again, this time a larger 300,000 then was frozen in place when Chun shoved. Kalaquian was well covered and proceeded to tank, using up all of his remaining eight time chips. With no decision made by the time the clock ran out, it was deemed a fold. Chun was awarded the pot and told Kalaquian he had a full house when asked. 

Gemmy Tue An

Gemmy Tue An opened from hijack then called Andrew Han's 150,000 three-bet out of the button position. 

After the flop ran J ♣️ Q ♣️ 7 ♥️, more chips found the middle as Han continued for 100,000 that was called by Gemmy Tue An to take them to the turn with 2 ♣️ showing up. Both players checked and another club landed with the A ♣️ dealt on the river.

No more checking for Gemmy Tue An who tested with a light 50,000 bet only to be met with a raise from Han for 300,000. It took three time chips for Gemmy Tu An to find the courage to call and it was the right decision.

Han flipped over K ♦️ Q ♠️ top pair, Gemmy Tue An had 8 ♣️ 8 ♦️ flush to drag in another big pot. 

Lavonne Watkins

Lavonne Watkins and Tom Verbruggen faced off for a pot that ballooned to 680,000 by the time the board showed up2 ♣️ 5 ♦️ 2 ♥️ 4 ♣️. 

Verbruggen checked from under the gun position to give Watkins the go signal. Watkins went for it and jammed his 970,000 stack. Verbruggen tanked using up a couple of extensions then risked his tournament life.

When they revealed, Verbruggen saw the bad news.

Tom Verbruggen: 10 ♦️ 10 ♠️

Lavonne Watkins: Q ♦️ Q ♥️

With a dominating pocket pair, the river K ♥️ ensured Watkins the scoop and Verbruggen a payout in 55th place. 

With a pot of 280,000 already brewed by the time the board showed 3 ♥️ 8 ♠️ 2 ♦️ Q ♥️, early position player Hyeongmin Yu bet 165,000 into it and hijack player Hao Lin called.

The river 4 ♦️ drew a tank from Yu who used one time chip before sliding out a bet of 290,000 only to be met with a snap-shove from Lin. Yu immediately sent his hand to the dealer to drop to four big blinds. 

On a board that completed 10 ♠️ 5 ♣️ K ♣️ 7 ♠️ 6 ♦️, Ha was all in on the flop with K ♠️ 9 ♠️ top pair that was crushed by Long Hin Shiao's 10 ♥️ 10 ♣️ set. Ha exited in 56th place.

Gemmy Tue An picked up another pot with Kai Lin Wei unable to pull the trigger. 

On a board showing K ♠️ 3 ♠️ 8 ♣️ 8 ♠️ J ♦️ with 550,000 in the pot, Gemmy Tue An overbet 600,00 and Wei tanked. After two time banks were spent, Wei let go of his stake in the pot. 

Not long after Yuya Asakawa's aces sent Jose Colada out of the running, he met his end at the hands of Vietnamese poker vlogger Gemmy Tue An. It was a near likeness with hands reversed. 

Gemmy Tue An had pocket aces and Asakawa with ace-king. No bad beat for the nuts in the hole for Asakawa to fall in 61st place. 

Three-way all in at Table 5 with Edgar Asehan looking to deliver a double bust to Yuya Asakawa and Jose Colada.

Jose Colada: A ♦️ K ♦️

Yuya Asakawa: A ♣️ A ♠️

Edgar Asehan: A ♥️ 10 ♠️

The board ran 8 ♥️ 7 ♥️ J ♥️ K ♣️ 2 ♦️ for Asakawa's aces to hold while Colada was given the boot. in 72nd place.

Billy Alfonso continued from where he left off at Flight D, knocking out players to be a constant threat at the table. 

Hand opened with Yu Chang open-shoving from cutoff and small blind Alfonso tank-called with a pair on hand. Chang had overcards and was flipping for his tournament life. 

Yu Chang: A ♥️ Q ♥️

Billy Alfonso: 9 ♠️ 9 ♦️

The flop 3 ♦️ 6 ♥️ J ♠️ were no help to Chang while the turn 10 ♥️ gave him hope however that all vanished on the river 5 ♣️ to end his run in 75th place. 

The first deal is underway at Day 2 of the Main Event! Players are all in the money which brings the battle now for a spot at the final table. You can follow the action here and via the livestream at the Gods of Poker Facebook page and CTP Twitch. 

Good luck to all!

Day 2 of the GOP Taipei 2026 lights up the floor today starting at 12:30 PM with 77 players out of the 556 total entries returning to the CTP Asia Poker Arena. Each one is guaranteed a piece of the NT$ 21,617,280 (~US$ 684,600) prize pool but of course, the hunt will be for the glory, the biggest purse, and the Black-and-Gold Gauntlet. 

Five players will be bringing in a stack in the 2 million range. Carrying in the torch  is Hogyun Kang with a mighty stack of 2,650,000, equivalent to 132 big blinds. 

At his heels is Taiwanese high roller Chihwei Fan with 2,375,000, and to round out the top three is Hao Lin with 2,320,000. 

Top 10 in chips

When they return, everyone is guaranteed a minimum cash prize of NT$ 77,200 while for the champion awaits a sweet NT$ 4,323,180 (~US$ 136,900) payout. 

For the payout breakdown, click here. 

Catch the action vai the Gods Of Poker FB page and at CTP Twitch with tables featured at random. 

Live updates will also be posted throughout the day right here.