In just five levels of final day play, Taiwan’s Chih Wei Fan captured the inaugural Gods of Poker Taipei Main Event title, claiming the Black-and-Gold Gauntlet and the NT$ 4,323,180 (~US$ 136,864) top prize.
Taking place at the CTP Asia Poker Arena from January 12-18, the Main Event drew 556 entries across five flights, each one ponied up the NT$ 45,000 buy-in to breach the guarantee. A total of 77 players earned a share of the NT$ 21,617,280 (∼US$ 684,000) prize pool.
With just 11 players returning for the final day, Fan took the lead at three-handed, capitalizing after then-chip leader Long Hin Shiao lost a big pot to Yu Yeh Chun.
Shortly after, Fan sent Shiao to the rail in third place after spiking a miracle river, ballooning his stack to overwhelming proportions. With the advantage firmly in hand, Fan wore Chun down until a final, desperate shove ended Chun’s run in second place, crowning Fan as the newest GOP Main Event champion.