APT Championship Day 11; Daily Recap and Highlights

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TAIPEI, TAIWAN, November 24, 2025– Day 11 of the APT Championship 2025 turned electric inside Red Space as the #1011 [Event 11] APT Championship Main Event Freezeout officially got underway. With players pouring into the tournament and smashing the guarantee, the most anticipated event of the series began in earnest, setting the stage for a defining week ahead.

At the same time, the #1010 [Event 10] Superstar Championship reached its conclusion, crowning its champion after a tense final day. Day 11 sets the stage for an exciting run up for the last week of the festival. Read on for all the highlights, deep runs, and standout performances from a historic day at the APTC.

APT Championship Main Event Gets Engines Rolling

The APTC Main Event Freezeout officially got cards in the air on Day 11, drawing 595 entries for its opening session as players packed into Red Space from the first shuffle up and deal. Local Chia Wei Kuo emerged as chipleader after Day 1’s play.

Chia Wei Kuo was on a heater on Day 1 of the Main Event Championship

Among the notables taking their seats and surviving to Day 2 are Joseph Cheong, Natural8 ambassadors Neven Chang and Sparrow Cheung, as well as Dylan Wayne Foster, all looking to position themselves early in the race for the Championship’s most coveted title. With 343 survivors and two levels of late registration still remaining on Day 12, the prize pool has already smashed its guarantee, setting the stage for the biggest Main Event in APT history.

Joseph Cheong has kept up with the pace of the Main Event Championship on Day 1

When the final hand fell in the Superstar Championship, it was Calvin Lee of the United States who held every last chip. The American carried his Day 1 chip lead all the way to the finish line, conquering an elite field of 39 entries (33 unique) to claim the APTC Rose Gold Lion Trophy and a staggering TWD 18,726,503 (~USD 600,210) — the largest first-place prize ever awarded on the APT since its debut in 2006.

Speaking after the victory, Calvin Lee reflected on the magnitude of the moment and what it represented in his career. “It means a lot,” he said after securing the biggest title of his career. “This is the biggest event that APT has in the new era, and to come to the Championship and win it against such a tough field means a lot.”

The victory carried added significance with his family present to witness it. “I’d like to dedicate this to my mom, who flew in from Seoul with my aunt. This is her second or third time seeing me play. The first time she came, before COVID, I finished second, now she’s here and I got first, so that’s kind of cool.”

Calvin Lee embracing his mother after taking down the Superstar Championship

Admiring the Rose Gold Lion Trophy, Lee smiled. “It’s a nice one, it’s got a lot of weight to it. It’ll be a great addition to my office back in Seoul. Thanks to APT for running such a great series. It’s been a really enjoyable experience, and I’m looking forward to playing more.”

You can read all about our coverage of the Main Event and the conclusion of the Superstar Championship on our live reporting page.

Meanwhile at the side events, while he unfortunately dropped out of the Main Event Championship on Day 1, Thai pro Punnat Punsri managed to snag another mixed event trophy in Event #118: Hyper Turbo - NL - Quadruple Super Stud. Mixed games might just be his next calling if No Limit Hold’em doesn't work out.

Punnat Punsri can find solace in another APT mixed game title after dropping out early in the Championship Main Event.

Chen Triumphs for Third in Event #113: Draw Poker Masters

Chen’s third APT title comes in the Draw Poker Masters event

Canada’s Andy Chen secured his third APT title in Event #113: Draw Poker Masters, topping a 52-entry field to claim TWD 424,540 (USD 13,736) after great performance across one of the series’ toughest mixed-game formats.

Japan’s Kimura Keisuke finished runner-up for TWD 306,600 (USD 9,916), while Taiwan’s Yu Tang Wang — who was chasing his tenth mixed-game title — closed out the podium in third place, earning TWD 195,400 (USD 6,320) after another deep run.

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