The Players Series Taipei 2024 Main Event Day 2 brought an electrifying atmosphere to the CTP Asia Poker Arena, packed with both qualifiers and last-minute registrants.
The opening flights had already drawn an impressive turnout, recording 672 total entries across five starting flights. An additional 76 players joined during the final registration period, pushing the total field to 748 entries.
Below are the highlights and key moments from this action-filled day.
Main Event Summary
• Dates: December 15, 19–23, 2024
• Buy-in: NTD 16,500 (~USD 510)
• Guaranteed Prize Pool: NTD 15,000,000 (~USD 460,000)
• Total Entries: 748
• Total Prize Pool: NTD 15,000,000 (~USD 460,000)
• ITM (Paid Players): 112
Day 1 Results
• Day 1A: 125 entries – 32 advanced
• Day 1B: 178 entries – 44 advanced
• Day 1C: 65 entries – 23 advanced
• Day 1D: 214 entries – 77 advanced
• Day 1E: 90 entries – 23 advanced
• Additional Day 2 Entrants: 76 players
Day 2 Recap
Day 2 began with the conclusion of late registration, after which the final numbers were officially announced. From the NTD 15,000,000 prize pool, the minimum payout was set at NTD 38,000 (~USD 1,169), while the eventual champion will take home NTD 2,503,000 (~USD 77,000).
After six hours of play, the money bubble burst as the field reached the top 112 players. The unfortunate bubble player was Chean Wen Chen, whose pocket queens were cracked by a king on the board, ending his run just shy of the money.
As the tournament entered the money stage, short-stacked players were no longer afraid to risk it all, leading to a surge in all-ins and aggressive plays. Early players to reach the money included Patrick Liang, Li-Ta Hsu, Martin Gonzales, Tanaka Masatoshi, Wilson Tan, Corine Shi, Simon Lim, and Armon Van Wijk.
The standout performers of Day 2 were Jinsoo Kim from Korea and Chunyao Hou from Taiwan. Both started the day near the bottom of the chip counts but made remarkable comebacks to end the day with healthy stacks and advance to Day 3. Other notable movers included Ruei Jiun Liang and the accomplished Zong Chi He, who both climbed steadily from the middle of the field to finish close to the top of the leaderboard.
The overall chip leader was Chen Po Jui, who had already led Day 1B and began Day 2 in second place. Through consistent play and key decisions, he surged ahead to close the day with 1,527,000 chips (127 big blinds). One of his key hands came when his pocket aces (AA) defeated Yoda Lin’s pocket eights (88), scoring a crucial elimination that sealed the end of the day’s play.
At the conclusion of Day 2, 47 players remained in contention. Other notable survivors included Liao Bo Lin, Nick Lai, Suya Lee, WSOP bracelet winner Lok Chan, Kai Hung Hu, and Vivian Lo. A full list of advancing players is available via the official link.
When play resumes at 1:00 PM on Sunday, December 22, all remaining players will have secured at least NTD 68,000 (~USD 2,092). The Day 3 schedule will aim to play down to the final table. You can follow live coverage and updates through SMP Live Updates, or review highlights from the previous tournament days.
The Penultimate Day of the Tournament
As Players Series Taipei 2024 enters its penultimate day, players still have several chances to claim trophies and boost their bankrolls.
Today’s highlight is the Mini Main Event, featuring a guaranteed prize pool of NT$1,000,000 (~USD 27,000) and a buy-in of NT$8,500 (~USD 270). The event offers two starting flights:
Flight A begins at 12:00 PM
Flight B starts at 4:30 PM
This is a two-day event, with all surviving players returning for the final day tomorrow to battle for the title.
For players with deeper pockets, the Super Star Challenge is the marquee event of the day. As one of the most popular tournaments in Asia, it’s expected to attract a strong field of professionals. The buy-in is NT$66,000 (~USD 2,090), with a guaranteed prize pool of NT$3,000,000 (~USD 95,000). This two-day event begins at 4:00 PM, with registration open throughout the day and until the first two levels of Day 2.
While these featured tournaments will draw the most attention, there are also several single-day side events available for those looking to chase trophies or warm up for the final stretch.
Be sure to check the full schedule for more details.
Red Dragon Poker APP Officially Launched
The long-established tournament brand Red Dragon Cup has now released its own app — “Red Dragon Poker.”
The Red Dragon Cup is a well-known Asian poker brand with a strong reputation across the region. Originating in Macau, it quickly became one of the most influential poker events in Asia. Red Dragon Poker tournaments regularly attract players from all over the world, offering massive fields and impressive prize pools.
For those interested, we highly recommend downloading the “Red Dragon Poker” app to join more exciting tournaments.