GOP’s First Rise: Innovation, Glory, and What’s Next

In early December, Gods of Poker arrived and by the close of Eden Awakens, it proved to be far from an ordinary debut. Asia's newest brand unveiled a bold, transformative way to experience tournament poker - one that sets itself apart from anything else in the game. For those that missed it, here are the highlights as the brand prepares to launch its 2026 season, kicking off with GOP Taipei – Titan Assembly from January 8 to 18 at the CTP Asia Poker Arena.

Cronus Structure

The Cronus Structure. The much-talked-about format that drew players from across the region, all eager to experience something truly new. 

Throughout the entire schedule, all GOP events, even satellites, closed registration at the end of two levels. Some players said it was too fast, some said it was slow, some said it needed to be studied, some said they now had time for proper rest. For personal reviews, check out our feature Voices of Olympus where players shared their thoughts and impressions on this innovation. 

The full depth of the Cronus Structure was revealed during the Main Event’s final flight where eight hours of registration - each level running four hours each - tested skill and endurance. Even those who signed up at the last moment were given a competitive starting stack, averaging 30 big blinds. 

The Main Event drew a total of 481 entries with 237 signing up for the final flight. Attending his first ever poker event outside of home soil, China's Tian Zhi Kong shared, 

I saw this event and I found the structure very interesting. This is my first time competing abroad and there are many tournaments I haven't participated in yet. I thought this one was very interesting so I decided to come. 

Kong went on to win it for a payout of KR₩ 187,290,000 (~USD 127,000). Japan's Kazuki Okamoto also heard the news of the new structure and was intrigued. On just his second poker trip abroad, he finished fourth at the Main Event and shared,

I loved it because the structure was slow, slow to start. There were some turbos, but for the main event and the tournaments that I joined, I liked the structures. The blinds moved up slowly so I was able to use my ability, my knowledge of poker and apply it on the playing field. I really loved it.

For the upcoming GOP Taipei, the Main Event is highlighted by a NTD 21,000,000 guarantee and will run five flights. Late registration stays open just before the start of Day 2. Buy-in is NTD 45,000. Starting stack is 120,000 (120 big blinds). 

• Flight A: Level 1 & 2 (120 minutes each), Level 3 onwards (40 minutes each until ITM is reached)
• Flight B: Level 1 & 2 (90 minutes each), Level 3 onwards (30 minutes each until ITM is reached)
• Flight C: Level 1 & 2 (60 minutes each), Level 3 onwards (20 minutes each until ITM is reached)
• Flight D: Level 1 & 2 (240 minutes each), Level 3 onwards (60 minutes each until ITM is reached)
• Flight E: Level 1 & 2 (60 minutes each), Level 3 onwards (20 minutes each until ITM is reached)

*Flight D plays out over two days. 

For all of the information, click here. 

Two Dealers

One of the most celebrated introductions was the use of two dealers at the Main Event final table and throughout all High Roller events right from the start. Yes, two dealers. No waiting time once a hand finished. Just the cut and immediate deal. 

Similar to online poker, this allowed players to see more hands, have increased opportunities to make strategic moves, and kept the pace of play consistently high. Like the Cronus Structure, players can expect this feature at upcoming GOP festivals. 

GOP Gauntlets

Victory was also reimagined with the introduction of the GOP Gauntlets, wearable trophies that turn success into a visible symbol of achievement. Bold and mighty, these gauntlets are just “wow”. They let players flaunt their triumph like a badge of honor. There's nothing quite like them. Impressive to the hilt. 

These jaw-dropping pieces have quickly become one of the most coveted trophies and are a defining feature of what makes Gods of Poker unlike any other poker brand. The first winners of these magnificent gauntlets were:

• Tian Zhi Kong: Black-and-Gold Gauntlet
• Seunghyun Michael Nam: Black Gauntlet
• Eng Loong Choi: Gold Gauntlet
• Hirokazu Kobayashi: Silver Gauntlet
• Yun Lam Kevin Choi: Rose Gauntlet

Titan Stack High Roller champion Choi has already expressed his return to GOP this January and will no doubt be aiming for a second gauntlet at the high roller events. At GOP Taipei, five gauntlets are up for grabs: 

• Main Event: Black-and-Gold Gauntlet
• Demigods Challenge: Black Gauntlet
• GOP Super High Roller: Gold Gauntlet
• GOP High Roller: Silver Gauntlet
• Titan Stack High Roller: Rose Gauntlet

As early as now, high rollers are encouraged to avail of the High Roller Early Bird Specials. Only 24 packages are available - 16 Titan and 8 Olympian. 

For information on the packages, click here. 

Player Of The Series

At the launch, the Player of the Series title was highly sought after with players earning points every time they cashed. To qualify, players had to have reached ITM in at least three events. 

On the penultimate day, Taiwan's Meng Ling Lin catapulted to the top after her third place finish at the Main Event to surpass Philippine's Mike Takayama and seize the win. Lin was awarded the POS Crown and 1,500 in GOP Tournament Credits.

Despite Takayama's second place finish, he posted incredible stats of seven cashes, three of which were victories. 

The Player of the Series title will once again be up for grabs at GOP Taipei - Titan Assembly, with a packed schedule of 95 events offering players ample opportunities to accumulate points and make a serious run at the next crown.

For the full GOP Taipei schedule, click here.

Sign Up to GOP

With GOP Taipei fast approaching, all new players can get ahead of the line by creating a GOP Player Account which is required before entering any of the events. Setting it up ahead of time ensures a smooth arrival, faster registration, and immediate access to your GOP ID, which links directly to tournament seats, payouts, and future festival registrations. It’s a quick, simple process and the easiest way to avoid peak-hour queues once the action begins at CTP Asia Poker Arena.

Register now: https://godsofpoker.com/sign-up