At the CTP Asia Poker Arena, the APT Taipei Poker Classic 2024 Main Event came to an amazing finish naming Germany’s Rene Von Reden as the champion. Attracting 1,991 players, the exciting poker activity of the tournament set a new record for Taiwan’s biggest international poker event. Following five fierce days of poker combat, Von Reden left with NTD 14.4 million (~US$ 450,000), the highest pay-off in APT history in Taiwan.
A crowded pitch and a tournament breaking record
The APT Taipei Poker Classic 2024 Main Event attracted an astounding 1,991 entrants. For their opportunity at poker perfection, players from all throughout Asia and beyond descended upon Taiwan. The notable attendance of the event underlined the APT’s increasing appeal and confirmed Taiwan as a main stop on the worldwide poker circuit. With 295 players ending in the money, the prize pool grew to NTD 86 million (~US$ 2.7 million).
VON Reden’s Path to Triumph
Rene Von Reden’s triumph was gained after hours of exhausting performance. Particularly since he reached the final table among the shorter stacks, his path to the top was not without difficulties. Von Reden finally prevailed after over ten hours of action at the final table, though, thanks in part to his methodical play and meticulous risk management.
Von Reden, who first entered live poker events two years ago, was overjoyed with his success. “I had heard about the tour before, but until I watched a YouTube video by Frankie Cucchiara covering an earlier APT series, it wasn’t particularly on my radar. That piqued my interest, and I’m happy I came here following Von Reden’s win.
The Final Table Fight-Off
Nine players returned to fight it out on the last day of the APT Main Event; each already assured a minimum payout of NTD 1 million (~US$ 3, 980). Still, the stakes were even higher; every competitor had eyes towards NTD 14.4 million, the highest prize.
The last table action was quick and aggressive. Two players were removed quickly one after the other early on. From Canada, Andy Chen came out in ninth position; followed in eighth place by Junichi Hashimoto of Japan. These early eliminations define the tone of an interesting poker day.
Originally holding the chip lead, Singapore’s Dhanesh Chainani lost his edge with a trip versus South Korea’s Jae Wook Shin. Shin grabbed hold of the table for a bit, amassing 40% of the chips in play and eliminating Macau’s Sio Fat Lau in seventh place.
One Pivotal Hand for Von Reden
Von Reden’s turning point came in a hand opposite Chih Wei Fan of Taiwan. Von Reden pushed from the button while holding A♥3♦; Fan called with A♣K♣. Von Reden eliminated Fan in sixth place after hitting a pair of threes, albeit overpowered. This vital hand improved Von Reden’s chip stack and established him as a major title candidate.
Von Reden kicked Singapore’s Dhanesh Chainani shortly after, therefore reducing the game to four players. From Macau, the short-stacked Man Lok Chan left in fourth place, leaving just three players to contend for the championship.
A Heads-Up Battle Through the Ages
Von Reden and Abraham Ceesvin of Singapore engaged in a fierce back-and-forth struggle headed-up. With almost 50 large blinds compared to Von Reden’s 30, Ceesvin had the chip lead going into the last duel.
Neither ready to back down, the two players traded blows for ninety minutes. Ceesvin opened with K♣6♦ at the last hand, and Von Reden called from the large blind with 9♦2♦. The board came 7♦K♦3♥3♦, which flushed Von Reden. Following a sequence of raises, Ceesvin went all-in and Von Reden promptly phoned to confirm the win when the river showed a Q♦.
For both participants, this represented the end of a protracted and demanding competition; but, Von Reden finally took first place and the much-desired APT golden lion trophy.
One Rising Star in poker
Von Reden is very fresh to the live tournament scene, but with this triumph he has established himself. His talent in the poker industry was evident in his deliberate play at the final table as well as in his ability to see possibilities and execute when it counted most.
“I allotted three years to learn and grow when I first started playing. Now at the end of year two, this outcome seems amazing, Von Reden remarked. Along with a life-changing payday, his triumph in the APT Taipei Poker Classic firmly established him on the radar of the poker community.
APT Main Event Data and Notes
The APT Taipei poker Classic 2024 Main Event had a total prize pool of NTD 86 million and buy-in of NTD 50,000 (~US$ 1,570. Multiple commencement flights occurred during the September 29–October 5, 2024 event:
- Flight A: 462 entries
- Flight B: 439 entries
- Flight C: 368 entries
- Flight D: 260 entries
A total of 295 players finished in the money, with the top three players earning the largest payouts:
- Rene Von Reden (Germany) – NTD 14.4 million (~US$ 449,400)
- Abraham Ceesvin (Singapore) – NTD 7.9 million (~US$ 247,260)
- Jae Wook Shin (South Korea) – NTD 5.5 million (~US$ 171,110)
Conclusion
Attracting a record number of players and providing exciting poker action, the APT Taipei Poker Classic 2024 Main Event was a tremendous success. The highlight of the competition was Germany’s René Von Reden’s triumph since he surmounted strong competition to take first place.
Von Reden has surely become a player to watch in next poker events with this victory. The APT series is still becoming more and more popular; the Taipei Poker Classic’s 2024 edition will go down as among the most unforgettable events in the tour’s annals.
