The Asian Poker Tour Championship 2026 gets underway tomorrow, November 13, in Taiwan, with over $8M in guaranteed prize pools on offer across a packed schedule.
But the first Lion trophy has already been awarded, with Taiwan’s Heng Je Hu taking down the opener – officially Event #0 – the Asia Gaming Industry Championship Freezeout.
The 25-year-old topped a 102-entry field to collect TWD 279,562 ($7,720), the biggest payday of his career.
Among those playing were poker industry favorite Kevin Mathers, APT commentators Sam Insole and Kyle Ivanich, and APT Special Advisor Victor Chong.
KevMath couldn't add another Hendon Mob flag to his collection, finishing 38th, although he did manage to pick up a penalty for acting out of turn. He's promised he'll be back for more (poker, not penalties).
And he won't be short of opportunities, with 209 tournaments scheduled between November 13-29 at the Red Space events center in central Taipei.
National Cup kicks off the action
The $10K Main Event doesn't begin until November 23, but there's plenty of action before then, with tournaments to suit every bankroll and poker preference.
First up on November 13 is the $500 National Cup Championship, featuring a $600K guarantee. There are two starting flights on November 13 and 14, plus a late-night turbo flight, before a winner is crowned on November 15.
On Sunday, the $1.1K Mystery Bounty Championship gets underway with Day 1s running at 11am and 5:30pm, before the action concludes on Monday, November 16. There will be at least $450K to be won.
Monday will also feature starting flights for the $800 Ultra Stack Championship ($750K GTD) and the $2.7K 7-Max Championship. Then there’s a million-dollar guarantee in the $3.3K Natural8 Cup Championship Freezeout, starting Wednesday.
All the events mentioned above, plus many more, will award their winners a seat in the $10K APT Championship Main Event. You can find the full tournament schedule here.
For everything you need to know about the festival, including the biggest events and essential information for players heading to Taipei, check out our ultimate APT Championship player guide below.
