Jihoon Song
Flight B of the GOP Taipei 2026 Main Event drew 92 entries across its two 90-minute levels and just before the end of Level 12, the bubble burst to signal the end of day and determine the newest ITM qualifiers. At the top of the list was Jihoon Song with a stack of 1,840,000. HIs rise to the top was a slow and steady grind during short-handed play.
Bagging up second rank was Shen Bo Yu who knocked out two players, both holding pocket kings. Yu closed the night with 1,580,000.
Rounding out the top three was Demigods Challenge champion, Marc Rivera with 1,130,000. Rivera's grind to the million mark started with a double up holding aces at Kang Chien Shao's expense, then grinded more off him before the close of day.
While there were numerous standout hands throughout the flight, one of the wildest took place early on. A three-way all in erupted at the flop after everyone got a piece of the board. It ended with Chang Hyuk knocking out two players with his nut flush.
One of the more intense moments was a hand between Rivera and Gyeongbyeong Lee where the latter used up fifteen time banks before surrendering his hand.
| Players | Chips |
| Jihoon Song | 1,840,000 |
| Shen Bo Yu | 1,580,000 |
| Marc Rivera | 1,130,000 |
| Ngoc Huyen Quach | 1,045,000 |
| Hou Chun Yao | 895,000 |
| Kang Chien Shao | 815,000 |
| Wei Chun Kuo | 689,000 |
| Chang Hyuk | 735,000 |
| Shinichiro Kano | 619,000 |
| Hyeongmin Yu | 530,000 |
| Si Yang Phua | 420000 |
| Asakawa Yuya | 400000 |
| Ha Ram Joo | 240000 |
The survivors have a couple of night's rest before they return to the felt on January 16 for Day 2. Each one is now guaranteed a share of the NT$ 21,000,000 (~US$ 660,000) prize pool.
To read up on the day's action, just scroll down.