Calvin Lee

History continues to be written at Red Space, Taipei, as the Asian Poker Tour Championship (APTC) pushes the boundaries of what’s possible on the Asian circuit. The spotlight on Day 11 belonged to the TWD 1,553,000 (~USD 50,000) Superstar Championship, a two-day affair that attracted some of poker’s biggest names and produced a record unlike any other in APT history.

When the final hand fell, it was Calvin Lee who ended with all of the chips. The American player 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.

Lee’s road to glory was anything but straightforward. Facing a two-to-one deficit in the heads-up battle against Daniel Neilson, he turned the tables to snatch victory and secure his place in the APT record books. Neilson’s superb run was worth TWD 13,030,900 (~USD 417,660) for second place, and although he may be disappointed he couldn't close it out, the second-largest cash of his career might help soothe the pain on the journey home.

The TWD 57,842,503 (~USD 1,853,925) prize pool ranked as the second-largest of the festival and awarded payouts to the top seven finishers. In addition, Lee earned a TWD 311,000 (~USD 10,000) APTC Main Event seat to go with his win. Though, because Lee won the Superstar Challenge at APT Incheon earlier in the year, he already has a ticket to the Main Event secured. His extra ticket will be converted into APT tournament credits for him use as he wishes.

APT Superstar Championship Final Table Results

*also won an APTC Main Event seat

Lee's Reaction

“It means a lot,” said Lee 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.”

“I think everyone plays tournaments for the glory,” he added. “When you win a tournament, it happens so rarely that you really appreciate it. I feel very fortunate to have done it twice this year. The most challenging part is always the opponents. Being a 50k event, it brings out some of the best players in the field — a lot of professionals.”

Calvin Lee celebrates with his mom

The win carried extra meaning with his family in attendance. “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.”

Lee smiled as he looked down at the Rose Gold Lion Trophy. “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.”

Final Day Action

The day started with eighteen high rollers battling it out for the seven spots in the money. There were early exits for Super High Roller Championship winner Roman Hrabec, Manuel Fritz, Tobias Schwecht, Biao Ding, and Jun Obara.

Neilson found himself behind in a three-way all-in against Stephen O'Dwyer and Samuel Mullur, but managed to emerge as the winner to more than double up. Mullur had his short stack in the middle with king-ten and Neilson held ace-nine. O'Dwyer had the chance to deliver a double knockout with ace-ten, but a nine on the flop gave Neilson the fuel he needed to ignite his run.

Yu Zhang was the first of the two bubble boys to fall on Day 2 as he fell just shy of the final table. Zhang's stack had dwindled to less than three big blinds and he got it in with ace-nine against the nine-eight of Alex Wice. However, an eight on the flop was enough to end Zhang's run in tenth.

Yu Zhang

Lee took the chip lead into the final table, but had O'Dwyer close behind in second. At the bottom of the pack were Singapore's Bao Qiang Ho and Thailand's Punnat Punsri, who were the two players that fell short of a cash.

Punsri four-bet shoved ace-king into the pocket queens of Lee. A clean runout later, Punsri was out in ninth. Ho lasted a little longer, and though he was unfortunate, the Singaporean player was the last to leave empty-handed.

Ho shoved ace-jack and Webster Lim woke up behind with pocket kings. Despite flopping a jack to give him some extra out, Ho couldn't improve more, which left him on the sidelines in eighth.

Bao Qiang Ho

Play loosened up a little once the remaining seven players were in the money, and the first to fall was Wice. The Thai player shoved king-queen in the small blind and ran into the ace-queen of Neilson in the big blind. The board changed nothing, and Wice was out in seventh for TWD 2,732,700 (~USD 87,585).

Despite O'Dwyer starting the final table in second, he never really got anything going and constantly found himself on the wrong side of key encounters. Eventually, he shoved around twelve big blinds from the button with pocket sevens and was put at risk by Lee's ace-queen. A queen on the turn was enough to earn Lee the pot, which meant O'Dwyer was out in sixth for TWD 3,394,400 (~USD 108,795).

Stephen O'Dwyer

With five players remaining, Neilson was last in chips and in survival mode with just five big blinds. However, a fortunate run of card propelled him up the counts. First, the Australian player won a flip with pocket nines against the Big Slick of Lim. That pot left Lim short-stacked and just two hands later, he was out as his jack-ten couldn't run down the aces of Vincent Huang. For his run, Lim collected TWD 4,545,000 (~USD 145,670).

A run of four hands in a row for Neilson saw him continue his ascent up the counts, which included a big flip against Huang. Neilson opened for most of his stack with pocket sixes and then called the shove of Huang, who held ace-nine. The runout was clean, and suddenly, Neilson was second in chips.

Vincent Huang

Huang had nursed his short stack for multiple orbits, but eventually, he succumbed to the constant pressure. Huang shoved king-jack over Lee's open, and was put at risk by the eventual champion's ace-jack. Neither player improved on the board, which meant Huang was out in fourth for a payday of TWD 6,472,300 (~USD 207,445).

Neilson then took over the chip lead from Lee after several small pots went his way. Neither player really wanted to tangle with the other as they had the small problem of a certain Dylan Linde to deal with. Linde had kept relatively quiet on the final table, but with the blinds increasing and his stack depleting, he finally took a stand when he called a shove from Neilson with ace-eight. Neilson held pocket deuces and flopped a set, which left Linde out in third for a score of TWD 8,629,700 (~USD 276,590).

Dylan Linde

When heads-up play got underway, Neilson held around a two-to-one chip lead and that was quickly extended to almost four-to-one as the American had no answer to the early pressure. However, a switch flicked in the mind of Lee, and the comeback was on.

After getting a bluff through and seeing several pots being pushed in his direction, Lee had almost evened out the stacks before a huge pot played out between the pair. In hand number 98 of the final table, Neilson limped with queen-three and Lee took a flop holding jack-six.

After the flop checked through, Lee made two pair on the turn, but still no chips were put in to the pot. Neilson finally bet the river, Lee raised, and Neilson shoved as a bluff. Lee took some time to think it over, but eventually made the call, leaving him within touching distance of victory.

Calvin Lee and Daniel Neilson embrace after the final hand

Neilson did manage to find a double-up when his nine-six rivered a flush against the queen-seven of Lee, but it was all over moments later. Lee looked down at ten-seven and Neilson took a flop with jack-seven. Both players paired their seven, but Lee made two pair on the turn.

Neilson fired the river and then was left facing a decision for his tournament life as Lee shoved. It didn't take long for Neilson to make the call, and that meant he had to settle for second and the TWD 13,030,900 (~USD 417,660) payout.

That concludes the coverage of the Superstar Championship, be be sure to check the APT blog frequently for all the latest updates from the floor, including from the Main Event.

Calvin Lee

Calvin Lee has overcome a 39-entry field (33 unique) and defeated Daniel Neilson heads up in a come-from-behind match to capture the Superstar Championship title for TWD 18,726,503 (~USD 600,210) along with a Rose Gold Lion Trophy.

Additionally, Lee will receive an entry ticket into the Asian Poker Tour Championship Main Event for his victory.

Stay tuned for a recap of the final day.

Superstar Championship Final Table Results

Daniel Neilson

Hand #103: Lee limped on the button and Neilson checked his option.

They went to a flop of 6 7 Q , where both players decided to check. Neilson bet 120,000 on the T turn, and Lee just called.

A 2 fell on the river and Neilson splashed 300,000 into the pot. Lee shoved to put Neilson in for his last 1,200,000 behind, and Neilson didnt take long before tossing in a single chip to indicate a call.

Lee turned over T 7 for two pair, which was best against Neilson's J 7 for a pair of sevens to eliminate Neilson in second place.

Hand #101: Calvin Lee limped in with J 4 and Daniel Neilson checked K 8 .

Neilson made trips on the 8 8 J flop and after he checked, Lee bet 120,000. Neilson raised to 280,000, and Lee called with top pair.

A Q on the turn brought in a straight draw and put an overcard on board, but Neilson kept firing as he threw out 185,000. Lee once again called.

The 2 filled out the board on the river and Neilson bet 710,000, leaving just 5,000 behind. Lee was in the tank for a while, but ultimately decided on a fold.

Hand #102: Neilson limped in with 7 4 and Lee raised to 450,000 holding T 4 . Neilson folded.

Calvin Lee

Hand #97: Calvin Lee limped on the button with 5 2 and folded after Daniel Neilson raised to 400,000 holding K 9 .

Hand #98: Neilson limped on the button with Q 3 and Lee checked holding J 6 .

Both players checked on the 4 T 6 flop and J turn, and Lee checked a final time with his two pair on the 5 river.

Neilson took the bait and bet 280,000, which was met with a check-raise to 1,400,000 from Lee. Undeterred, Neilson three-bet bluff shoved for 5,000,000 total, sending Lee deep into the tank.

Lee sat with his hands on his hips as he analyzed the situation, but he eventually stuck in a call and scored the massive double up on a bold bluff gone wrong.

Hand #99: Lee gave Neilson a walk holding 8 2

Hand #100: Neilson shoved for his last 640,000 on the button and Lee called to put him at risk.

Daniel Neilson: 9 6

Calvin Lee: Q 7

Lee was one runout away from cinching the title, but the T 4 5 3 Q runout left Neilson best with a higher flush to keep his run alive with a double up.

Daniel Neilson

Hand #93: Calvin Lee looked down at A 9 on the button and raised to 300,000. Daniel Neilson had an even better hand as he three-bet to 900,000 with A A . Lee called.

The flop came 6 Q K and Neilson bet 460,000, which got the job done as Lee folded.

Hand #94: Neilson limped in with Q 5 and Lee checked his option with A 4 .

On the 8 Q K flop, Lee checked and Neilson fired 120,000. Lee peeled one off to see the 2 on the turn, where he checked it over. Neilson then bet 400,000, and Lee folded.

Hand #95: Lee limped with J 2 and Neilson checked 9 6 .

On the J 8 3 flop, Neilson check-folded to Lee's bet of 180,000.

Hand #96: Neilson raised to 240,000 with 4 3 and Lee called holding Q 6 .

Lee caught top pair on the T 8 Q flop and checked it over. Neilson bet 150,000, and Lee called with his queen.

A 2 on the turn drew another check out of Lee, then Neilson fired 650,000. Lee called again.

On the T river, Lee checked for a third time, and Neilson took some time before he checked it back with four-high.

Calvin Lee

Hand #89: Calvin Lee raised to 300,000 on the button with A 5 and Daniel Neilson defended his blind holding 8 7

The flop came 4 K 3 and Neilson check-folded facing a 200,000 bet from Lee.

Hand #90: Neilson limped on the button with 8 5 and Lee checked his option with 9 6 .

Lee then check-folded facing a 120,000 bet from Neilson on the 4 A A flop.

Hand #91: Lee raised to 280,000 on the button with Q 4 and Neilson defended his blind with K 7 .

The flop came 8 3 J and Neilson check-folded facing a 300,000 bet from Lee.

Hand #92: Neilson limped on the button with T 3 and Lee checked his option holding 8 2 .

The Q Q 2 flop paired Lee's deuce and he check-raised to 420,000 after Neilson bet 120,000. Neilson called.

Lee checked after the A fell on the turn and Neilson fired 700,000 into the middle. Lee thought it over and made the call.

The 8 filled the river and both players checked, awarding Lee the sizable pot.

Calvin Lee

Hand #84: Daniel Neilson limped in with J 2 on the button and Calvin Lee checked his option with 9 3 .

The 7 T 8 flop was checked through to the 2 turn, where Lee bet 200,000. Neilson called to the Q river, where Lee fired 350,000 as a bluff. Neilson only had a pair of deuces, and his hand went into the muck.

Hand #85: Lee limped in with A 6 and Neilson raised to 350,000. Lee then shoved 2,500,000, and Neilson folded.

Hand #86: Neilson limped with Q 2 and Lee raised to 450,000. with 5 5 . Neilson folded.

Hand #87: Lee limped with 5 2 and Neilson checked 9 8 .

On the flop of Q 4 7 Neilson check-folded to a bet of 100,000 from Lee.

Hand #88: Neilson made it 200,000 with 6 4 on the button and Lee defended A 6 .

Lee checked the 3 T 4 and then folded when Neilson threw out 250,000.

Daniel Neilson

Hand #80: Daniel Neilson limped on the button with 9 3 and Calvin Lee checked his option holding T 5

The flop came 7 2 5 and Lee check-called a 200,000 bet from Neilson.

Both players checked down on the 2 turn, but Lee led out for 150,000 on the 6 river.

Neilson contemplated his decision and landed on a bluff-raise to 1,000,000. Lee tanked a while, but eventually laid down the best hand.

Hand #81: Lee limped on the button with 8 6 and Neilson checked his option with 6 5 .

Both players checked on the 4 Q 3 flop and then Neilson check-raised to 400,000 after Lee bet 100,000 on the A turn. Lee laid his hand down and Neilson claimed the pot.

Hand #82: Neilson limped on the button with J 6 and Lee checked his option with 9 5 .

The flop came A Q K and Lee check-folded facing a 100,000 bet from Neilson.

Hand #83: Lee limped on the button with 9 7 and Neilson checked his option with T 8 .

Neilson check-called a 125,000 bet from Lee on the K 5 8 flop and both players checked on the 2 turn.

The 3 completed the board and Lee folded after Neilson bet 160,000.

Calvin Lee and Daniel Neilson

Daniel Neilson and Calvin Lee are taking a short break before starting their heads-up duel for the TWD 18,726,503 (~USD 600,210) first-place prize and the APTC Rose Gold Lion Trophy.

Neilson will enter their battle with a nearly 2:1 chip advantage holding 6,400,000 to Lee's 3,300,000.