GOP Main Event - Flight A - Plays to ITM (120/40 Mins) - NT$ 21,000,000 GTD

The once big stacked Hung Te Lee was down to crumbs during the bubble round and tried to hold on but was drained down to just 60,000 when he finally put it in the middle. Lee was called by Alfie Adam, Chung Yi Ho, and big blind Bangkaew Pichaiyut. 

When the flop ran 5 ♦️ 9 ♦️ 10 ♥️, Pichaiyut induced a side pot with a bet of 100,000 that only Adam called. The turn A ♠️ drew a check from Pichaiyut who then folded to Adam's 160,000 bet. 

Adam took the side pot then turned over A ♦️ 9 ♣️. Lee had 2 ♦️ 2 ♥️. The river 4 ♣️ was no help to Lee to fall on the bubble. 

Elmer Kalaquian defended his big blind by calling Chung Yi Ho's 80,000 raise. They proceeded to check the flop to head to a turn board of 8 ♦️ K ♥️ 4 ♠️ 5 ♦️ where Kalaquian took a stab for 80,000. Ho called.

The dealer opened the river 7 ♦️ and again Kalaquian bet, albeit a larger 260,000. Ho tanked for two time-banks then found reason to make the call. Kalaquian had the goods, showing J ♦️ 10 ♦️ flush to drag in the pot. 

Yu Chang

Following a raise of 60,000 by from cutoff player Pete Chen, button player Yu Chang shoved. After spending a time-bank, Chen called and showed 10 ♥️ 6 ♠️. Chang was looking good for a boost with K ♠️ K ♦️.

The board ensured it as it ran out J ♦️ 2 ♥️ 7 ♣️ 5 ♠️ 4 ♣️. 

Elmer Kalaquian opened from the button then called Alfie Adam's 215,000 shove. Whether or not Adam busted, he was ensured a return as he was one of the players with Double Bubble Protection. 

Adam flipped over 9 ♣️ 9 ♥️ and was in fine shape against Kalaquian's 10 ♣️ 9 ♠️. No bad beats landed on the board for Adam to rake in the max. 

Pete Chen

The first all in called came on the first deal after the break. The board had already reached its limit showing Q ♠️ K ♠️ 2 ♣️ 2 ♠️ 3 ♥️. Pete Chen showed A ♠️ 2 ♥️ trips to double up through Ryoichiro Takeda whose 10 ♣️ 5 ♥️ bluff failed. 

The final 20 players are on a break, and when they return, they go hand-for-hand. There are currently several players in the field with Double Bubble Protection.

Li An Lee once held the big stack but that has all vanished as he fell on the soft bubble. Before doing so, he ran into a cooler against Chung Yi Ho with Q ♠️ Q ♣️ falling to A ♥️ K ♥️ flush on a board of J ♥️ J ♠️ 2 ♥️ 9 ♥️ 6 ♦️.

This sent Lee down to four big blinds and eventually went all in with A ♠️ Q ♥️. He was called by two players that checked down the board to the turn 8 ♥️ 9 ♣️ K ♣️ 6 ♦️ K ♠️. Minseo Kim bet 25,000 for a side pot but Gi Boum Kim wasn't interested. It was a good decision as Minseo Kim said “I have the nuts”, then flipped over K ♥️ K ♦️.

Elmer Kalaquian suffered a setback in an earlier hand when his overpair was still behind to lose a portion of his stack. He has since recovered after taking down a big pot against Alfie Adam. 

On a board showing 10 ♥️ 9 ♥️ 5 ♠️ Q ♣️ 4 ♦️ with a big pot of around 500,000 brewed, small blind Kalaquian checked to big blind Adam and was first to show. He opened 3 ♥️ 4 ♥️ missed flush that hit bottom pair on the river and it was good with Adam folding. 

Deja vu with button Rudy Edenata shoving on Soohyeok Lee's big blind. Lee defended again and was behind in chips. Like previous, he turned over 4 ♣️ 4 ♥️ while Edenata had legit cards this time with A ♠️ K ♠️. 

With big cards showing on the flop J ♦️ 10 ♦️ 5 ♥️, Edenata's outs increased which connected on the turn Q ♦️ for Broadway. Lee was drawing dead and exited after the 2 ♠️ river.

Short stacks continue to hit the rail. At Table 7, two players went down nearly back to back. The first was Shinichiro Kano who shoved with A ♠️ J ♠️ that failed to improve against caller Kevin Huang's K ♣️ K ♠️.

Next to go was Jonty O'Brien who shoved with A ♠️ 6 ♥️ only to smack into Fok Sum Him Ricky's A ♥️ A ♣️.

Chun Yu Yeh

Cooler at Table 5 with Sheng Hung Luo all in with A ♦️ Q ♠️ only to run into Chun Yu Yeh's A ♠️ K ♥️. The board brought no miracles for Luo, running ten-high to end his day while Yeh soared to the lead. 

Elmer Kalaquian

On a flop of 8 ♠️ 5 ♦️ 2 ♠️ with 155,000 weighing down the middle of the felt, Elmer Kalaquian bet 100,000 out of the small blind position then went tanking for some time after under the gun player Geochoon Park shoved for 282,000. 

After burning through two time-banks, Kalaquian slid out the call and turned over 9 ♠️ 9 ♦️ overpair. Park had better, showing K ♥️ K ♣️.

The turn 8 ♥️ and river J ♦️ were safe for Park to ship it in. 

Yu Chang was down to his last 185,000 when he put it all on the line with K ♥️ 5 ♥️. He was up against Hung Te Lee with J ♥️ 9 ♥️. 

With hearts not an issue, the board ran a clean A ♦️ Q ♣️ Q ♦️ 10 ♥️ 5 ♠️ to keep him in his seat with a double up. 

Soohyeok Lee

Action folded to Rudy Edenata on the button, he jammed to get Pete Chen to fold while short stacked Soohyeok Lee opted to risk his tournament life. 

Soohyeok Lee: 4 ♦️ 4 ♥️

Rudy Edenata: 8 ♥️ 7 ♥️

When their cards were revealed, Lee was flipping. The board ran out of5 ♠️ 6 ♣️ 2 ♥️ 8 ♦️ 3 ♣️. Lee thought he was beat but upon reviewing, he had the straight pick up a double. 

As he raked it in, he looked over at Edenata and said, “ah, seven-eight, haha, thank you!”

Gi Boum Kim

Gi Boum Kim followed up a raise from an early position player with a three-bet to 80,000, then Ming Nan Chou four-bet all in with him massive stack.  Initial raiser folded and Kim did the same while showing J ♣️ J ♦️. 

Chou returned the gesture by flipping over K ♦️ K ♥️. 

Kevin Choi

Kevin Choi woke up with Q ♠️ Q ♣️ but then found himself in a battle for his tournament life against Chun Yu Yeh who had A ♦️ K ♣️.

Choi was nearly in the clear when the board ran 8 ♣️ 9 ♠️ 6 ♥️ 10 ♠️ but then the K ♠️ landed on the river to send him to the rail. 

Sung Jin Yun

Down to nine big blinds, Sung Jin Yun shoved and went mano-a-mano with Mikami Shota who isolated.

Upon revealing, Yun was looking good with Q ♥️ Q ♠️ against Shota's 4 ♣️ 4 ♠️ and stayed ahead throughout to secure the double. 

Jaegeol Cho

Jaegeol Cho has been dealt his last hand at Flight A with Gi Boum Kim cleaning him out. Cho was all in with K ♦️ J ♦️ and was flipping against Kim's 8 ♠️ 8 ♥️. 

What started as a hopeful fifty-fifty odds, turned to dust on a board that filled out 7 ♦️ 3 ♥️ 7 ♥️ 6 ♠️ A ♠️.

All in preflop with Yu Chang at risk and flipping A ♠️ K ♥️ against caller Bangkaew Pichaiyut with 4 ♦️ 4 ♥️. The board ran a clean ten-high for Pichaiyut to bring in the pot.

33 players remaining at the start of the new level with only 14 needed before the flight bags up. Here are the current leaders: 

Break Time once again at the Main Event with 33 players remaining. The flight plays down to 19 players before bagging up.

Yu Chang and Chung Yi Ho ballooned the pot to 68,000 preflop before the dealer spread the flop 2 ♦️ 3 ♣️ 6 ♣️. 

From the big blind position, Chang deferred the betting to middle positioned Ho who took a stab for 23,000. Chang called it for the turn to drop 4 ♣️. 

Switching gears, Chang led for 22,000 and after a moment's pause, Ho paid to see the river come Q ♠️. 

Again Chang put pressure with a bet of 75,000. Ho took time to decide then opted to fold after burning a time-bank. 

Yu Tung Wang found a spot to risk his last 141,000 with Q ♦️ Q ♣️ in the hole. Bangkaew Pichaiyut gave him a sweat, calling with Q ♠️ 9 ♠️.

No bad beats nor scares on the board that completed J ♠️ 4 ♥️ 5 ♣️ 6 ♥️ 8 ♥️ to rake in a full double.

Hung Te Lee is currently chip-leading with well over million behind. He is the only player in that range at the moment. Catching him in a hand where Li An Lee shaved a little, both players built a pot of 84,000 preflop. 

At the flop 2 ♥️ K ♦️ J ♦️, Lee check-called 33,000 from the small blind to head to the turn Q ♥️.

Both players checked until the river 2 ♠️. Lee took the reins for 50,000 and after slight deliberation, Lee let him have the pot unchallenged.

Three way showdown preflop with Rangka Tekarn Teeraphat with K ♣️ K ♥️ and Yu Bin Heon with K ♦️ J ♦️. They were at risk against Pete Chen who had A ♦️ Q ♦️.

The board stayed kind to Teeraphat's cowboys as it ran out 4 ♥️ 10 ♥️ 8 ♦️ Q ♣️ 7 ♦️ to ship it all. 

Once again, Long Hin Shiao and Soohyeok Lee faced off but this time the cards were revealed. From early position, Shiao opened for around 200,000 leaving 1,000 behind. Lee called as the rest folded. 

Shiao wasted no time tossing in his last chip on the flop Q ♥️ 7 ♦️ J ♣️ and Lee called, quickly turning ovver A ♣️ A ♦️. Shiao was behind with A ♠️ K ♠️ but still had outs for Broadway. 

However, it was not to be as the turn A ♥️ had him drawing dead. The river was an irrelevant 7 ♥️. 

Kevin Huang raised from the button then snap-called after big blind Rudy Edenata shoved. Huang had A ♦️ 10 ♦️ and though ahead, Edenata had live cards of Q ♥️ J ♣️. 

Edenata quickly improved on the flop K ♦️ 9 ♣️ Q ♣️ then was burned on the turn A ♥️ with Huang jumping ahead. The river 2 ♥️ changed nothing for Huang to secure a happy scoop.

Long Hin Shiao opened from middle position and found two callers to head down the streets. On the flop 5 ♥️ 3 ♠️ 10 ♠️, Shiao continued for 25,000 and was immediately challenged with a raise to 60,000 from button Soohyeok Lee after the big blind Rangka Tekarn Teeraphat folded. Shiao called.

When the turn produced the 10 ♥️, Shiao passed the baton to Lee who jammed to send Shiao deep into the tank. After two time extensions, Shiao let go of his hand and said he had ace-king. 

It's rare to catch a straight flush and get fully paid for it. That's exactly what happened at Table 6 with Chun Yu Yeh benefiting. 

On a board showing 8 ♥️ A ♣️ Q ♥️ 10 ♥️ 4 ♣️, with around 138,000 in the middle, Fendy Kosasih bet 42,000 then tanked when Yeh check-raised all in for 121,000. After using up three time-banks, Kosasih couldn't resist calling. 

Yeh turned over J ♥️ 9 ♥️ straight flush to get wows from everyone at the table including Kosasih as he showed his J ♦️ 9 ♦️ straight. Kosasih dropped to 8 big blinds and busted shortly after.

Geonchoon Park

With around 260,000 brewed and a board that filled up to 7 ♥️ 9 ♠️ A ♣️ K ♥️ A ♠️, Gi Boum Kim unloaded it all for a total of 244,000. This sent Geonchoon Park straight to the think tank. After using up three time extensions, Park opted to fold while showing A ♥️ trips. This got a shocked reaction from the players at the table while Kim smiled and slid his hand to the dealer. 

Edgar Asehan

Edgar Asehan is the newest GOP Gauntlet winner after he took down the Super High Roller event, defeating Jin Woo Jung at heads up. Keeping the momentum alive, Asehan immediately jumped in the Main Event and has been quietly picking up chips. 

Catching him in a hand, Asehan was all in and at risk on a flop of K ♣️ 4 ♥️ 8 ♥️ but was in fine shape with K ♥️ Q ♥️ against his challenger Yu Tung Wang with K ♦️ 10 ♦️. 

The turn 4 ♦️ and river Q ♣️ ensured Asehan the win for a good double up. 

Another break at Flight A with 62 players remaining. The flight will play down to 19 remaining before bagging up.

Rangka Tekarn Teeraphat

Catching the action on a board of 2 ♣️ A ♠️ A ♥️ Q ♣️ :9h, Rangka Tekarn Teeraphat bet a small 6,000 onto a pot of 33,000 that got raised to 26,000 by Long Hin Shiao. 

Not realizing it was a raise, Teeraphat revealed his cards, A ♦️ 9 ♣️ full house, and the floor was called to clarify the ruling. It was ruled that Teeraphat still could act, which he did, with a shove. Shiao quickly folded while showing 9 ♦️ 9 ♠️ full house. 

Despite Teeraphat claiming the pot, he was given a one round penalty for affecting the action. 

Alfie Adam

First to act, Alfie Adam looked down at A ♦️ A ♣️ and min-raised, attracting five players for a six-way look at the flop. 

After the dealer felted J ♥️ 7 ♥️ 5 ♣️, everyone checked to the button Yu Che Liu who slid out a light 25,000. Only Adam took him on with a raise to 100,000. Liu called.

On the turn 10 ♠️, Adam continued for 155,000 and Liu called again. The river A ♥️ had Adam shove for his last 115,000 and again Liu only to see the bad news. Liu's Q ♠️ J ♠️ which was far behind Adam's set. 

Kevin Choi

Rangka Tekarn Teeraphat opened and Kevin Choi called, then several spots down the orbit, Chiayun Wu jammed for his last 79,000. After the rest folded, it was back to Teeraphat, and though he could easily afford it, he opted out while Choi called to put Wu on the ropes. 

Chiayun Wu: 10 ♣️ 8 ♣️

Kevin Choi: K ♣️ Q ♣️

Wu needed help with clubs out. The flop 6 ♣️ 7 ♠️ Q ♠️ nearly sealed his demise with only four outs to help him. The turn 4 ♥️ added another four but it didn't materialize with 7 ♥️ on the river to get bounced out.  

Wongyu Kang

At the start of the previous level, Wongyu Kang was sporting the biggest stack however, after he was moved, his stack suffered multiple hits to find himself at risk. With around 55,000 left, he moved all in preflop with J ♥️ J ♣️ and was given action by Bangkaew Pichaiyut with J ♦️ 10 ♦️. 

The board stayed kind to Kang as it ran out 6 ♣️ A ♦️ 7 ♥️ 2 ♣️ 3 ♣️ to stay in the game. 

First to act Jaegeol Cho opened 10,000 that found one caller in Kevin Huang at cutoff. Nextdoor Ming Yang Lai peeked and liked what he saw to drive it up to 60,000. Cho reacted with a shove, Huang got out of the way, and Lai made the call.

Jaegeol Cho: Q ♠️ Q ♥️

Ming Yang Lai: A ♦️ Q ♣️

With just an ace for Cho to dodge, the board stayed friendly as it felted 4 ♥️ 10 ♦️ 10 ♥️ 2 ♦️ 7 ♣️ to secure a double up and a little more. 

Seokyoung Lee

From cutoff, Seokyoung Lee slid out a min-raise only to be challenged with a three-bet to 35,000 from small blind player Kai Yang. With plenty of chips behind, Lee went ahead with the call to take the bout to the flop.

After the board ran J ♣️ 6 ♦️ Q ♥️, Yang continued the aggression for 14,000 then was stunned when Lee fired a raise to 30,000. Yang did not back down and called. 

With the turn coming 2 ♠️, Yang checked it then tanked after Lee continued for 50,000. Before the clock ran out, Yang surrendered his hand. 

With a huge pot of around 225,000 built by the time the board completed Q ♥️ J ♣️ J ♠️ 10 ♠️ 4 ♦️, Sung Jin Yun fired a 175,000 bet that was more than enough to cover Yuki Kimata's stack. 

Kimata was restless in his seat, using up two time-banks before risking his tournament life. 

Yun flipped open J ♥️ 9 ♥️ trips and it was good to eliminate Kimata who revealed A ♣️ Q ♣️.

Pasith Teeka Uttamakorn

On a flop 3 ♣️ 4 ♥️ 8 ♠️ Pasith Teeka Uttamakorn was all in with A ♦️ 8 ♥️ and needed a miracle to survive against Thomas Van Nevervelde's pocket kings. The board heeded his call with a runnier runner 2 ♠️ 5 ♥️ for a straight. Van Nvervelde busted shortly after.

With just under 50,000 brewed preflop, three players continued the barrage on a flop of 4 ♦️ 3 ♦️ 10 ♠️ resulting in two players all in and big stacked Wongyu Kang looking to knock them both out. 

Bangkaew Pichaiyut: K ♦️ 7 ♦️

Shao Chien Peng: 4c: 4 ♠️ 

Wongyu Kang: K ♥️ 10 ♦️

Peng was ahead until the turn J ♦️ gave Pichaiyut the flush to jump out of his seat in excitement. With the river 6 ♥️ Pichaiyut shipped it while booting Peng out of the field. 

Ming Nan Chou

Three way in preflop with Ming Nan Chou made with K ♣️ K ♠️ and was up against Chulho Park with A ♣️ Q ♦️ and Hao Ran Li with A ♦️ K ♦️. 

With the board running J ♥️ 7 ♦️ 8 ♣️4 ♠️ 10 ♠️, Chou scooped it while dusting two in the process. 

As one of the chip leaders at the close of registration, Wongyu Kang fattened up his stack further by successfully defending out of the small blind. 

It opened with a raise of 8,000 from button Andrew Han that got called by Kang and big blind Seokyoung Lee. On a flop of A ♦️ Q ♦️ 5 ♣️, Han was given the green light and c-bet that only Kang called to keep him honest. 

The turn 2 ♠️ put Han to the test with Kang leading out 17,000. Han tanked for one time-bank then opted to let Kang have the pot. 

Flight A is now on its second break of the day. This is the last chance for players to register for this flight, closing at the start of Level 3.

Three-way action at the flop had button player Daniel Peter bet 15,000 on a board of 3 ♠️ 8 ♥️ 6 ♥️ and only big blind Kevin Choi called to head to the turn A ♠️. It was checked again to Peter who then fired a 30,000 bet. Choi answered with a check-raise all in and it was showdown time with Peter calling for his tournament life. 

Daniel Peter:3 ♣️ 3 ♥️ 

Kevin Choi A ♣️ 6 ♣️ 

Peter was looking good with a set but needed to dodge some outs against Choi's two pair. However, dodge he did not as the river A ♠️ stunned him, giving Choi the lead and all of his chips. 

Heavy preflop betting opened with a min-raise by Li An Lee which was challenged with a three-bet of 12,000 by Sung Jin Yun. Yi Chung Ho dumped more chips in the middle with a four-bet all in for 25,000. This was enough to induce a fold from Lee but not Yun who gave him action. 

Yi Chung Ho: J ♣️ 8 ♣️

Sung Jin Yun: 9 ♠️ 7 ♠️

Though Ho was ahead, the board favored the bigger stacked Yun as it ran 5 ♠️ 3 ♦️ 10 ♦️ 9c: 10 ♥️. 

Marc Rivera joined the action after finishing in third place at the GOP Super High Roller and got involved in numerous pots including one against Tao Chu. 

From under the gun, Chu opened for 4,000, Rivera three-bet 14,000, Chu punched back with a four-bet shove for 83,000 total and was snap-called. 

Tao Chu: J ♦️ J ♣️

Marc Rivera: A ♠️ K ♥️

With Chu needing to dodge the big cards, the board didn't fail him as it ran Q ♦️ 8 ♥️ 5 ♥️ Q ♣️ 6 ♦️ to double through.

Chih Wei Fan

Chih Wei Fan opened from early position then called nextdoor neighbor Jintae Yang's three-bet. Action continued to erupt on the flop 4 ♣️ 10 ♣️ 2 ♠️ that ended with both players all in. 

Yang was in bad shape with J ♣️ J ♦️ far behind Fan's Q ♦️ Q ♠️. His fate was sealed on the turn Q ♥️ with Fan improving to a set to secure a double up. 

Down to 29,500, Yang went all in on the next hand with 10 ♦️ 10 ♥️ and went flipping for his tournament life against caller Rudy Edenata with K ♣️ J ♣️. The board initially ran clean until a jack found the river to eliminate Yang. 

Elmer Kalaquian and Seokyoung “Tiger” Lee built a pot of 58,000 by the time the board completed 6 ♠️ 4 ♦️ 5 ♦️ 10 ♠️ 7 ♠️. From hijack, Lee looked to steal it with a bet of 25,000 but was stopped in his tracks by button player Kalaquian who raised to 100,000. Just before the clock ran out, Lee gave up his hand. 

Cheng Feng Chiu found a spot to risk his last 27,500 when the board showed J ♠️ 8 ♣️ K ♣️ A ♠️. Chance for Tung Cheung Wai to eliminate, he called with A ♥️ :Th and discovered he was behind Chiu's A ♣️ J ♦️. With the 4 ♦️ rag coming on the river, Chiu's two paired earned him a much needed double up. 

Patrick James

Following a raise from under the gun+1 Minseo Kim, small blind Patrick James and big blind Long Hin Shiao defended to take the battle to the flop. 

With the cards running 9 ♠️ 8 ♥️ K ♣️, it was checked to the aggressor Kim who continued to represent strength with a bet of 5,000. Only James called for a turn card of 6 ♦️. Action repeated with James checking again and Kim firing a bet, this time a larger 11,500. James didn't bat an eyelash with a quick call for a river card 7 ♦️. 

Switching up, James dipped in and pulled out 25,000, Kim gave it a thought then tossed in the one-chip call. James revealed K ♥️ 10 ♥️ straight to claim the pot. 

Rachburom Nirunrut

Luke Brendan moved all in preflop for his last 11,000 and did not escape unscathed with small blind Rachburom Nirunrut and big blind Pasith Teeka Uttamakorn defending. 

After the flop landed Q ♦️ 5 ♦️ 3 ♠️, Nirunrut check-called Uttamakorn's 11,000 bet to generate a side pot. The turn K ♦️ drew another check from Nirunrut who then snap-called Uttamakorn's shove. 

Happily flipping over her hole cards 10 ♦️ 9 ♦️ flush, she was guaranteed the pot with Uttamakorn Q ♥️ 9 ♥️ and Brendan 4 ♣️ 4 ♠️ both drawing dead. The river was 5 ♣️.

Billy Alfonso

Big pot of 70,000 was brewed by the time the turn landed for a board to show Q ♦️ A ♦️ 3 ♦️ 9 ♣️. From the big blind, Billy Alfonso slid out a 40,000 bet that didn't faze the big stacked Ha Ram Joo who flatted. 

On the river 2 ♠️, Alfonso backed down with a check only to be put through the wringer by Joo who slid out a bet that well covered his 43,000 remaining stack. After two time-banks used, Alfonso opted to preserve his chips.

Harry Halim

Harry Halim opened 4,000 from middle position then tank-called a 16,000 three-bet by Li An Lee out of the small blind. This brought them to the flop of K ♥️ 3 ♣️ 5 ♥️ where Lee continued for 10,000, and again Halim called after a slight pause.

No action was seen on the turn Q ♣️ to complete the board with a 7 ♥️ river. Again Lee checked however this time it was met with a 38,000 bet from Halim. After several seconds, Lee let go of his hand. 

Tung Cheung Wai

On a board that completed 2 ♠️ 9 ♠️ 10 ♥️ 5 ♣️ 2 ♥️ and 60,000 already in the pot, Shih Wei Hou checked to Tung Cheung Wai who took the chance to shove his last 57,000. With just 65,000 behind, Hou tanked then found a reason to hero-call with 10 ♠️ 8 ♠️ only to discover he was out-kicked by Wai's A ♣️ 10 ♦️. 

Down to 8,000, Hou tossed it in on the next hand and missed the board for Wai's ace-high in the hole to claim the rest. 

Several players have already built up their stack significantly. Listed below are the top 5 around the room. 

The players are one their first 15-minute break of the day. Bubble protection is still available for players that sign up before the start of Level 2.

Soohyeok Lee

Last night, Soohyeok Lee championed Pandora's Mystery Bounty for his second series win and is back on the horse today. The momentum continues to be on his side as he raked in a pot to send his stack well over starting stack. 

He kicked off the hand with a raise from under the gun that found three callers. The flop of 9 ♣️ 2 ♦️ J ♥️ opened with two checks while Yohn Paredes at hijack gave it whirl for 6,000. Only big blind Ha Ram Joo and Lee called. 

When the turn came 5 ♥️, they all slowed to a check then Lee took charge on the river 6 ♥️ with a 10,000 bet. Paredes begged off and Joo paid to see. Lee flipped over 10 ♥️ 8 ♥️ flush for the score. 

Hideo Sawai

Hideo Sawai opened 1,500 from under the gun, then down the orbit Long Hin Shiao three-bet all in for his last 32,500, that got called by small blind Zi Fern Wan. Action back on Sawai, he jammed for 142,000 that well covered Shiao over double. Shiao tanked for two time-banks before giving it up and saying he had ace-king. 

When they turned them over, Sawai showed the nuts A ♦️ A ♠️. Shiao was in a world of hurt with 6 ♦️ 6 ♣️. No help came on the board for Shiao to lose his entire stack. 

Elmer Kalaquian

One of the familiar faces in action to the Gods of Poker Taipei Main Event is Philippine player Elmer Kalaquian who was at GOP’s debut in Jeju last month where he came close to the title in 5th place for his largest career cash of around ~US$ 31,228. Now in Taipei, he has unfinished business as he seeks to close it out this time around. 

Catching Kalaquian in a hand, he three-bet from small blind and Rudy Edenata defended his initial raise from under the gun. At the flop 7 ♥️ 7 ♠️ Q ♠️, Kalaquian led for 7,000 and Edenata paid to see the turn 5 ♥️. Kalaquian fired again that quickly earned him the pot with Edenata sending his cards to the muck. 

Catching the action on a board of 8 ♠️ 9 ♥️ 5 ♥️ 3 ♥️ and 68,000 already in the middle, small blind Justin Chan and under the gun player Hao Wei Lin tapped it to get a free look at the river J ♠️. With just 39,000 behind, Chan pushed it all out front and won the pot uncontested. 

Jonty O'Brien

Jonty O'Brien put the heat on this hand starting with a min-click from hijack that found two customers in Cheng Feng Chiu on the button and big blind Kang Chien Shao. After the dealer fanned a flop of 6 ♦️ 5 ♠️ Q ♠️, O'Brien continued for 4,000 and still the two leeched on to bring them to fourth street. 

The 8 ♠️ had O'Brien fire a larger 13,000 bet and this time only Chiu called to complete the runout with an K ♠️ river. With four spades now on the board, O'Brien triple barreled 25,000 sending Chiu to the think tank for two time-banks before he opted to give up his stake in the pot. 

As he raked in the pot, O'Brien commented to Chiu, “the river saved you.”

Thossaporn Wannawiroj

Famous poker vlogger Gemmy Tue An opened for 2,500 at cutoff that got challenged with a reraise to 5,000 from Ming Yang Lai on the button. Two spots over, big blind Thossaporn Wannawiroj dipped in and made it 8,000 to send the action back to An who five-bet to 22,500. 

Much too much for Lai as he quickly got out of the way while Wannawiroj jammed. An called and they flipped them over.

Thossaporn Wannawiroj:  10 ♦️ 10 ♥️

Gemmy Tue An: A ♣️ K ♦️

The board bricked ran jack-high to award Wannawiroj the double up. 

Rudy Edenata

Just half an hour in and already one player has dusted off his entire stack. The first fallout was Thomas Scheld at the hands of Rudy Edenata. According to the vanquisher, he landed two pair on the flop holding king-five and Scheld jammed on the river with ace-jack air. 

Bangkaew Pichaiyut

Bangkaew Pichaiyut defended on the big blind with 5 ♣️ 2 ♠️ and by the turn board 10 ♥️ 2 ♦️ 7 ♦️ 5 ♠️ the pot had grown to 9,500 with Hao Wei Lin firing 5,500. Pichaiyut check-raised to 15,000, and the pot further swelled after Lin called. 

Both players checked the river Q ♥️. Pichaiyut flipped over his two pair and earned the pot. 

22 players beat the clock, taking their seats before the opening buzzer to lock in the Cronus Golden Window and its coveted Double Bubble Protection. Listed below are the eligible players: 

Hideo Sawai
Jintae Yang
Thomas Scheld
Jinsoo Kim
Daniel Peter
Yohn Paredes
Hao Wei Lin
Bangkaew Pichaiyut
Rudy Edenata
Jimmy Johan
Junghun Choi
Chia Ti Chang
Kouichi Baba
Elmer Kalaquian
Shao Kang Chien
Thossaporn Wannawiroj
Shinichiro Kano
Ming Yang Lai
Chung Yi Ho
Ha Ram Joo
Justin Chan
Alfie Adam

The Main Event is underway! 24 players are seated with a line already formed at registration. Latecomers have until 5:00 PM to sign up to this flight. You can track the action right here. Good luck to all!

Main Event Black-and-Gold Gauntlet

Welcome to the Main Event of the Gods of Poker Taipei: The Titan Assembly! Starting today, January 12 and running through January 17, the festival's premier event takes center stage at the CTP Asia Poker Arena in Taipei City, Taiwan featuring a NT$ 21,000,000 (~US$ 670,000) guarantee and the magnificent Black-and-Gold Gauntlet. Only one player has this mighty trophy on his shelf, Tian Zhi Kong for his victory at Eden Awakens last December. 

The first entry flight starts at 12:30 PM with Level 1 & 2 blinds running at 120 minutes each. Once registration closes, Level 3 blinds run at a faster 40 minute pace until ITM of 13.5% of the field is reached. 

With a buy-in of NT$ 45,000 (~US$ 1,400), players begin with a 120,000 stack, equivalent to 120 big blinds at the opening level. For players that sign up at Level 2, starting stack is equivalent to 60 big blinds. And for last second sign ups, starting stack is equivalent to 30 big blinds. 

Everything You Need To Know About the Main Event 

Good news for players that sign up early. GOP introduces the Cronus Golden Window. Under the watch of Cronus, timing is everything and is rewarded with DOUBLE Bubble Protection. 

For those that qualify, that means, if you stone cold bubble the Main Event, you will receive a consolation prize of two Main Event buy-ins back in the form of GOP tournament credits. To be eligible, players need to sign up before the start of Level 1. 

If you miss that Golden Window, all is not lost. Players that sign up at Level 1 will be eligible for Bubble Protection which awards a consolation prize of one Main Event buy-in back in the form of GOP tournament credits. 

*It is important to keep in mind that protection is only available for Flight A and Flight B. 

Here is the daily schedule:

• Flight A: January 12 at 12:30 PM, registration closes at 5:00 PM
• Flight B: January 13 at 12:30 PM, registrations closes at 4:00 PM
• Flight C: January 13 at 6:00 PM, registrations closes at 8:15 PM
• Flight D: January 14 at 12:30 PM, registration closes at 12:30 PM on January 15
• Flight E: January 15 at 6:00 PM, registrations closes at 8:15 PM
• Day 2: January 16: 12:30 PM
• Final Day: January 17: 12:30PM

Be sure to read up on all the flight details here as level duration varies per flight. 

Stay tuned to GOP as we bring you live updates of the action from start to finish.