Head into its last few days, the Asian Poker Tour (APT) Taipei Poker Classic 2024 is building an exciting conclusion. With a record-breaking TWD 150 million (~$4.60 million), this tournament series has been a great show for players of poker all around. Spaced over 108 prize events, the event has already witnessed fierce activity. Of these events, an amazing 62 champions—showcasing poker ability from all around—have been crowned.
Indian Contingent Shines Brilliantly
With 26 cashes logged in the first seven days, India’s poker players have had a big influence on the tournament thus far. Given five additional players moving to Day 2 of the Zodiac Classic, it appears the Indian contingent is preparing for even more success.
Prime Position By Abhinav Iyer
Among India’s best players is poker pro Abhinav Iyer, who is not unfamiliar with the major stage. Iyer a WSOP bracelet winner and 2019 APT Ho Chi Minh Main Event champion. Arriving into Day 2 of Event #69: TWD 80,000 Zodiac Classic, Iyer has bagged the second-largest stack of 292,500 chips, therefore positioning himself for a long run. Sponsored by Natural8, the Zodiac Classic drew 354 submissions (273 unique) and generated a prize pool of TWD 24,468, (~$775,055) with the top prize of TWD 4,767,480 (~$151,010) waiting for the winner.
Earlier in the series, Iyer had a runner-up finish at Event #32: High Roller – Double Stack, earning TWD 1.411 million (~₹37.25 lakhs.). Momentum on his side, Iyer is hunting still another APT title to add to his remarkable poker record.
Other Indian Participants Prominent In Advancing
Five additional Indian players, along with Iyer, have guaranteed their places for Day 2 of the Zodiac Classic:
- Ritesh Khatwani – 166,000 chips
- Karan Gupta – 156,000 chips
- Kunal Patni – 153,500 chips (Natural8 India Executive Director and Ambassador)
- Akash Malik – 94,000 chips
- Saransh Garg – 79,000 chips
With just 124 players remaining and 47 slots paid for, the fight for a final table finish will be intense. With blinds at 1,500/3,000 and a 3,000 big blind ante, the competition got underway on Day 2 at 11:15 AM (local time). Given so much at stake, all eyes are on these Indian players as they attempt to carve out a sizable victory.
Main Event Heats Up
The Main Event is still the major draw even if the minor events—like the Zodiac Classic—are creating lots of buzz. With a huge 1,991-entry field, the TWD 50,000 Main Event set a record and created a charged environment at the poker tables. Leading the pack into Day 4 is Abraham Ceesvin of Singapore, with an amazing 4.57 million chip stack. Three-time APT titleholder Ceesvin is hunting for still another APT trophy to add to his mounting collection.
Indian Contestants In The Main Event
Four Indian players showed up for Day 3 of the Main Event; three of them guaranteed payouts:
- Finished 146th, Raju Jaruplavath received TWD 1,00,000 (~₹2.62 lakhs). With his second cash of the series, his overall winnings come TWD 1,21,000 (~₹3.17 lakhs).
- Finished 190th, bagged TWD 90,000 (~₹2.36 lakhs). Garg has already cashed three times in the series, having won ₹6.45 lakhs overall.
- Rounded out the Indian finishers in 264th, Kunal Patni returned TWD 77,000 (~₹2.02 lakhs). Right present, his whole series revenues come to TWD 1,17,000 (~₹3.06 lakhs).
- Somasekhar Sanampiri left on Day 3, regretfully unable to reach the money rounds.\
Thrilling Side Event Results
Apart from the Zodiac Classic and Main Event, several side events have kept crowning winners, so highlighting the variety and skill at the APT Taipei Poker Classic. Among the most recent titleholders are these:
- Chun, the king For TWD 159,424 Horace Leung won Event #66: NL Hold’em Heads Up (32 Cap).
- Claiming TWD 534,160, Patrick Quealy destroyed Event #67: Mix Game Masters – 9 Game.
- Taking home TWD 1,41,299, Seong Uk Huh won Event #68: NL Hold’em – Teams.
- Winning Event #70: Razzdugi, Inoue Naomi scored TWD 56,450.
- Winning TWD 4,29,720, Jun Long Eugene Lim took the title in Event #71: NL Hold’em / PL Omaha.
- Tianhua Xie won Event #72: Turbo with TWD 2,76,478.
- From Event #73: Hyper Turbo, Pradya Laohapornsvan brought home TWD 3,40,648.
- With TWD 80,656 Antonio Seremet won Event #74: Hyper Turbo – PL Omaha Hi-Lo.
- Ho Chung Chan bagged TWD 40,48 and declared triumph in Event #75: Hyper Turbo – Hold’em “Limits”.
- Sho Wada won Event #76: Super Hyper Turbo with TWD 1,03,720 pocketed.
What Then Is Next?
All eyes are on the Main Event and the Zodiac Classic as the APT Taipei Poker Classic 2024 draws closer its grand climax. Players from all around the world are offering their best game to the table with large rewards and elite titles on line. For the poker stars from India, like Abhinav Iyer, this might mark still another turning point in their remarkable careers.
The next two days offer even more exciting action, and the path to the final tables will keep supporters on the tip of their seats.
