HomeThe games begin today! Welcome to the first live Asian Poker Tour festival of the calendar season! For the fifth time in APT history, the tour returns to Taiwan for another action packed APT Taiwan series which starts today, February 19 and runs until March 15. A total of 21 tournaments are lined up with NT$ 5.5 million in guarantees. It will be hosted at two Chinese Texas Hold’em Poker Association (CTP) branches – CTP Taichung and CTP Taipei. Make sure to check the schedule for all the details.
Since the tour’s first visit to Taiwan in 2019, it has been continuous fun with players from all over the region in attendance. However with travel restrictions still in place for many parts of Asia due to Covid-19, only players already in Taiwan and those able to travel to Taiwan will be fortunate to participate.
The games open at CTP Taichung with the APT Taichung Mini Main Event. For a chance at the NT$ 500,000 (~US$ 17,900) guarantee, two starting days are offered. Players begin with a 30,000 stack which is 300 times the opening blinds (100-100). Blinds increase every 30 minutes. Late registration closes at the start of Level 10 then bags up once ITM is reached.
In addition to the guaranteed pot and great structure, there are plenty of other reasons to attend this event. The eventual champion will not only pocket a big wad of cash but will also take home the APT Champions Ring and bragging rights first APT Taiwan 2021 Trophy.
Dates: February 19 to 21
Buy in: NT$ 5,000
Guarantee: NT$ 500,000
Day 1A: Friday, February 19
Day 1B: Saturday, February 20
Final Day: Sunday, February 21
For newcomers to Taichung, it is the second biggest city in Taiwan with plenty of attractions such as the National Museum of Natural Science, Rainbow Village, various temples, parks, and Chun Shui Tang – the famous shop that created the pearl milk tea. If you are in Taipei, travel to Taichung is quite easy with multiple transportation choices – bus, train, or high speed rail.
After the opening event, the series takes a five day break, returning on February 26 for the featured APT Taiwan Main Event – NT$ 2,000,000 (~US$ 71,500) guaranteed. Three starting days are offered. Day 1A takes place at CTP Taichung while the rest are held at CTP Taipei. For those making their way to CTP Taipei, it is the most popular poker room in Taiwan. International brands have been planting their flags since 2018, quickly making it one of the most desired poker destinations in the region.
APT Taiwan Main Event
The APT Taiwan Main Event is the tour’s top of the line tournament, revered as one of the best structures worldwide. It has a deep format with blinds increasing every 60 minutes. Players start with a 25,000 stack which is 250 times the opening big blind (50-100). Day 1 flights bag up at the end of Level 9. Late registration closes in Day 2 at the start of Level 11.
For this series, the featured event will take place in two locations. Day 1A will kick off at CTP Taichung then from Day 1B onwards, it will be held at CTP Taipei. Main Event Day 1B marks the first day of APT Taiwan 2021 at CTP Taipei. Make sure to review the dates.
Dates: February 26 to March 3
Buy in: NT$ 16,500 (~US$ 590)
Guarantee: NT$ 2,000,000 (~US$ 71,500)
Location: CTP Taichung
Day 1A: Friday, February 26
Location: CTP Taipei
Day 1B: Saturday, February 27
Day 1C: Sunday, February 28
Day 2: Monday, March 1
Day 3: Tuesday March 2
Final 8: Wednesday, March 3
To date, the tour has awarded four APT Taiwan Main Event champions. You could be next! The eventual champion will take home a substantial amount of cash, the APT Champions Ring, and the APT Main Event Trophy.
APT Championships
Running back to back with the main is the featured APT Championships – NT$ 2,000,000 (~US$ 71,500) guaranteed. Its higher buy in tends to attract a tighter field littered with top notch pros. The structure is just as desirable with a starting stack of 50,000, opening blinds at 100-200 increasing every 60 minutes. Unlike the main, Day 1 flights bag up at the end of Level 8 however late registration is the same, it closes on Day 2 at the start of Level 11. In addition to the money, this tournament awards the winner the APT Champions Ring and APT Championships Trophy.
Dates: March 4 to 8
Buy in: NT$ 25,300
Guarantee: NT$ 2,000,000
Day 1A: Thursday, March 4
Day 1B: Friday, March 5
Day 2: Saturday, March 6
Day 3: Sunday, March 7
Final 8: Monday, March 8
Other Events
Running side by side the featured events are 17 varied games with buy ins for all types of players and bankrolls. Among them are popular events such as the High Rollers, Monster Stacks, Deep Stacks, and PLO. These are a mix of single day and two day events running from February 27 to March 8 at CTP Taipei.
APT Taichung Special Event
To close out the series, the APT heads back to CTP Taichung for the APT Taichung Special Event. The event guarantees NT$ 1,000,000 (~US$ 35,800).
Dates: March 12 to March 15
Buy in: NT$ 10,000
Guarantee: NT$ 1,000,000
Day 1A: Friday, March 12
Day 1B: Saturday, March 13
Day 2: Sunday, March 14
Final 9: Monday, March 15
*This event is not included in the APT Player of the Series race.
APT Player of the Series
Of course the festival is not complete without the APT Player of the Series contest wherein the player with most points accrued at the end of the festival is awarded a slew of prizes. This is the most highly acknowledged title at every APT festival. The celebrated winner will take home the APT POS Trophy, APT POS Ring, a luxury watch, and US$ 800. For 2nd place and 3rd place, an APT POS Trophy and US$ 100.
Good luck to all and see you at the tables!