Nishant Sharma

The final day of the APT Championship (APTC) Main Event brought one of the biggest moments in Asian poker history. With 671 entries and a TWD 194,080,973 (~USD 6,220,550) prize pool — the largest ever on the Asian Poker Tour — the atmosphere at Red Space felt charged long before the first hand was dealt.

India’s Nishant Sharma began the final table as the runaway chip leader and never lost control. Playing in the biggest USD 10,000 freezeout outside of Las Vegas in the last decade, he stayed calm, composed, and in command from start to finish.

When the final cards hit the felt, it was Sharma who lifted the 24K Gold Lion Trophy after defeating the Philippines’ John Costiniano heads up. The victory earned him TWD 37,030,773 (~USD 1,186,880) — the biggest first-place prize in APT Main Event history — and made him only the third Indian player ever to record a seven-figure score. The win also bumps Sharma up three spots in India's All-Time Money List to fifth.

APT Championship Main Event Final Table Results

Sharma's Reaction to Striking Gold

A few minutes after his win, Sharma sat back in disbelief. “It will take some time, like probably two days or three days, like what I have achieved, you know,” he said. “I know it's like a very big thing, and also I was going to not come here because I applied for the visa and it was taking way too long. I thought ok, whatever, if it doesn't come, then I won't come, but thankfully I got the visa in time and I was able to come.”

Sharma smiled when asked about his recent run of results. “Great, great, I've been running great in MTTs since the last two or three years, mainly after my marriage, so probably because of her [my wife], yeah,” he said. “She puts a lot of pressure on me, you know, to work hard on my game. I was never that serious, you know, like I mean I was serious, but I never used to grind that hard. Now I have to be more responsible. I have to be able to answer her, so I give more than 100 percent.”

Nishant Sharma celebrates with his wife

It wasn’t just the win that made it special. Sharma entered the Main Event through a USD 1,700 satellite, turning a small buy-in into a life-changing result. “Yeah, I mean, I tried the satellite and I was lucky enough to win that,” he said. “But you know it looks good when you win the tournament from $1.7K you know, so max value, awesome!”

Even with the lead from wire to wire, Sharma said it took focus and adjustment to close it out. “I had a good stack and there were so many good players on my table, so I just didn't want them to know like I was feeling pressure, but I wasn't feeling pressure,” he said. “Because probably there were three players better than me, and to go and win it, it's a big achievement.

So I had to adjust, usually I would have been going berserk from the start, but I had to control it and let the field absorb how it's going and all that, and then I was changing gears from three to five depending on the situation.”

Nishant Sharma celebrates with friends and family

Sharma also praised the APT’s bold move to run a USD 10K freezeout in Asia. “To be frank, I didn't expect, first of all, that any poker series will have that big of a guarantee in Asia,” he said. “And for APT to do that like it was very, very ballsy move. I think this is probably one of the softest $10Ks anybody will play. So for those people who didn't come here, I want to tell them don't miss out next year, because it's probably the softest after the WSOP 10K main event.”

When asked what comes next, Sharma kept things simple. “I don't know, invest. Like I'm more of a bankroll nit, so I won't be, you won't be seeing me in a big series like big buy-in tournaments,” he said. “I won't be playing that unless my game is that good. I'll work on my game and if I think I can beat those stakes, I'll play those. Otherwise I'll invest and make more money off it.”

Before heading off to celebrate, he had one final message. “Thank you to everyone who supported me — the rail was crazy,” he said. “I’ve been getting messages from all over. This win is for all of them.”

How the Final Table Played Out

There were fireworks from the off as Martin Finger doubled his short stack when his pocket fives won a flip against the ace-ten of Dominik Nitsche.

However, on the last hand of the first orbit, Finger’s run came to an end in a brutal cooler. Finger three-bet shoved ace-king but ran into the pocket aces of Matas Cimbolas. There was a chance at survival when Finger turned a combo draw, but the river bricked, leaving him out in ninth for TWD 3,047,100 (~USD 97,660).

Martin Finger

Two hands later, there was almost another elimination as Alexandru Papazian survived by the skin of his teeth. Nishant Sharma raised and Cimbolas called from the small blind with pocket queens. Papazian then shoved from the big blind holding ace-jack, which Cimbolas called. Just as it seemed Papazian would be hitting the exit, a backdoor flush gave him the double-up and a much healthier stack to work with.

Two more full levels were played with no eliminations, but that didn’t mean the action slowed down. Costiniano pulled off an outrageous bluff against Hao Chuang, which sent everybody into a frenzy.

John Costiniano celebrates getting the bluff through

Costiniano raised preflop with ace-ten, and Chuang called with king-queen in the small blind. Chuang check-raised the flop and bet the turn. When he rivered a straight on the paired board, he fired big and Costiniano shoved for not much more.

Chuang was in a world of pain and despite the great price he was getting, he couldn't see a world where Costiniano was bluffing, so eventually folded. Costiniano then instantly showed his bluff and leapt out of his seat to celebrate. Chuang did the same but with totally opposite emotions, which left him at the bottom of the counts after the dust settled.

Hao Chuang

Neng Zhao started to loosen up but couldn’t get much going. In one hand, he opened ace-king and called a flop check-raise and a turn bet from Sharma before finally giving up on the river against the Indian player’s full house. Zhao did manage to find a double when his ace-nine turned the nuts against Hao Shan Huang’s pocket sixes, keeping his run alive for a little longer.

Cimbolas then picked up pocket queens again and was in great shape against the ace-queen of Huang after the chips flew in. However, the flop was less than friendly for the Lithuanian player when Huang paired his ace, and when no queen arrived, Cimbolas exited in eighth for TWD 3,846,700 (~USD 123,290).

Matas Cimbolas

After being bluffed earlier in the day, Chuang’s stack was on life support and he couldn’t hang on much longer. Zhao moved all in with pocket sevens, Chuang called with ace-ten, and Nitsche came along with ace-queen to put both at risk. A full house on the flop secured a triple-up for Zhao, leaving Chuang drawing thin. The board ran out with no surprises, sending Chuang out in seventh for TWD 5,628,300 (~USD 180,395).

By the time the fourth level got underway, Sharma had over double the stack of Costiniano in second, with Papazian occupying bottom spot. Huang was fourth, but it was him that fell next in brutal fashion

Sharma had been applying a lot of pressure to anybody who dared to try and take chips out of his stack, and Huang was trying to do just that with ace-king. Sharma shoved with pocket deuces, and with shorter stacks still on the table, Huang called for around 24 big blinds.

Hao Shan Huang

Huang flopped a king and turned trips, but a devastating deuce on the river ended his run in sixth and Sharma made a full house. It wasn't all bad news for Huang, as he qualified for the Main Event via a USD 350 Step 1 Satellite and turned that into a payday TWD 7,724,400 (~USD 247,575), which is over 700 times his money — not bad for five days of work.

Nitsche and Zhao had been in constant battles with each other throughout the final table, but it was the latter who lost the biggest one as he shoved 21 big blinds effective with ten-deuce over the small blind limp of his opponent, who held king-jack. Neither player improved on the board, which meant Nitsche doubled and Zhao's stack was severely dented.

Neng Zhao

Papazian's stack dwindled some more, but he flopped trip threes and doubled against the ten-seven of Costiniano, who had opened the button. That was bad news for Zhao, who despite getting a few shoves through, eventually fell at the hands of the champion.

Zhao moved in with king-ten and was called by Sharma with queen-eight. A queen on the flop sealed it, and Zhao exited in fifth for TWD 9,917,500 (~USD 317,870).

When four-handed play got underway, Sharma held two-thirds of the chips in play, while Costiniano, Papazian, and Nitsche all seemed to be tussling for a ladder. The dinner break came and went, then just four hands after the restart, Nitsche met his demise. Dominik Nitsche

Nitsche had made a pot-committing raise with pocket fives and then called off the shove of Papazian, who held pocket kings. No fives were found on the runout, and Nitsche hit the exit in fourth, narrowly missing the podium, but leaving TWD 12,518,200 (~USD 401,225) better off.

With three players remaining, Sharma showed no signs of slowing down and kept on chipping away at his two opponents. Papazian came off worse over a few clashes with Sharma, including one where he paid off a river bet with ace-high against the eventual champion's pocket tens.

Papazian then limp-called off his stack from the small blind with king-ten and was ahead of the queen-deuce of Costiniano. A clean flop left Papazian two cards from a double-up, but a queen on the turn was enough to send Romania's number one rated tournament player to the rail in third for TWD 16,341,600 (~USD 523,770).

Alexandru Papazian

Sharma brought a five-to-one chip advantage into heads-up play, which could have been over within two hands. Sharma won the first hand and halved his opponent's stack, then the two played an all-in pot immediately after. Costiniano held pocket deuces and called Sharma's shove, who held jack-ten.

A deuce on the flop gave Costiniano a set, but his work wasn't done as Sharma flopped a gutshot. The board ran clean, and Costiniano doubled up, but only to get right back where he started heads-up.

John Costiniano & Nishant Sharma

In the fourteenth hand of their duel, it was all over. Sharma limped the button with kings and Costiniano checked his option with jack-three, and flopped trip threes. Chips went in on the flop and stacks got in on the turn as Sharma picked up a flush draw. Costiniano just had to fade one card to double up and get right back in contention, but a heart on the river for Sharma was enough to give him a flush and the pot.

A valiant effort from Costiniano, but he had to settle for second and the TWD 22,862,700 (~USD 732,780) payday that came with it.

As the dust settled in Red Space, Sharma’s win stood as a quiet reminder of what’s possible in poker. From a USD 1,700 satellite to a seven-figure payday, his journey summed up the spirit of the APT Championship Main Event — patience, belief, and the right run at the right time.

Nishant Sharma

Nishant Sharma has done it.

After five grueling days on the felt, Sharma successfully navigated a 671-player field and defeated John Costiniano heads-up to claim victory in the APT Championship Main Event.

Sharma will take home TWD 37,030,773 (~USD 1,186,880) for his performance in addition the 24K Gold Lion Main Event Trophy.

Stay tuned for a recap of the historic event.

John Costiniano

Hand #192: Nishant Sharma limepd on the button and John Costiniano checked his option.

The flop came 3 3 6 and Sharma called a 200,000 bet from Costiniano.

Costiniano barreled 500,000 into the middle on the Q turn and Sharma raised to 1,200,000. Costiniano tanked a bit as he weighed his options and then shoved for 4,100,000 total. Sharma quickly called to put Costiniano at risk and a showdown was held.

John Costiniano: J 3

Nishant Sharma: K K

It was a slow play gone wrong for Sharma, who found himself in rough shape against Costiniano's trips; however, the A landed on the river — improving Sharma to a winning flush and sending his rail into a frenzy as Costiniano had been eliminated in second place.

John Costiniano Eliminated in Second Place

Nishant Sharma

Hand #190: Nishant Sharma raised to 500,000 with A K and John Costiniano called with 8 2

The flop came 7 7 4 and Costiniano checked it over with his flush draw, then Sharma bet 400,000. Costiniano raised to 1,400,000, which Sharma called.

The 9 fell on the turn and Costiniano found the double barrel with a bet of 2,200,000. Sharma didn't take too long before he called.

When the J fell on the river, Costiniano checked, and Sharma checked back to win the hand with ace-high.

Hand #191: Costiniano limped with J T and Sharma shoved T 9 . Costiniano folded.

John Costiniano

Hand #185: John Costiniano raised to 500,000 on the button with J 4 and Nishant Sharma defended his big blind with 9 6 .

The flop came 8 3 5 and Sharma led out for a 500,000 bet, which Costiniano called.

Sharma then check-folded on the J turn after Costiniano bet 1,000,000.

Hand #186: Sharma raised to 500,000 on the button with K 2 and folded after Costiniano three-bet to 2,000,000 holding A Q .

Hand #187: Costiniano limped on the button with K 3 and called after Sharma made it 700,000 to go holding A J .

Both players checked on the T T 7 flop, but Costiniano folded after Sharma bet 700,000 on the 2 turn.

Hand #188: Sharma limped on the button with 8 7 and Costiniano checked his option in the big blind holding A 2 .

The A K 3 flop improved both players, but left Sharma drawing nearly dead. Costiniano check-called a 200,000 bet from Sharma and the both players checked on the K turn.

Costiniano bet 600,000 after the Q landed on the river and Sharma let his whiffed hand go.

Hand #189: Costiniano raised to 400,000 on the button holding 8 3 and Sharma called with K 2 .

Sharma check-called a 400,000 bet from Costiniano on the 6 7 A flop, but check-folded after Costiniano barreled 850,000 on the 5 turn.

Nishant Sharma

Hand #181: John Costiniano looked down at A 4 on the button and limped in. Nishant Sharma had 4 2 in the big blind and checked his option.

The flop came Q 3 K and both checked to the 6 turn, which gave Sharma a straight flush draw. It was Sharma who fired as he bet 500,000, and Costiniano called.

A 3 fell on the river and Sharma checked it over. Costiniano checked it back and took it down with ace-high.

Hand #182: Sharma got dealt K 7 on the button limped in. Costiniano checked T 4 and they saw a flop of Q 7 5 .

Costiniano checked, Sharma bet 200,000, and Costiniano let it go.

Hand #183: Costiniano got dealt T 4 again and limped in. Sharma raised K J and took it down.

Hand #184: Sharma limped 4 2 and Costiniano checked T 2 .

On the T K Q flop, Costiniano checked and Sharma bet 200,000. Costiniano called to the Q turn and both checked it to the J river.

Costiniano checked and Sharma bet 400,000 with just four-high. Costiniano called it off and took it down with his pair of tens.

John Costiniano

Hand #179: John Costiniano limped on the button with J T and called after Nishant Sharma raised to 700,000 holding J J .

Costiniano called a 500,000 bet from Sharma on the 2 5 5 flop and a 1,400,000 bet from Sharma on the 9 turn.

The 8 river bricked out and Costiniano folded after Sharma shoved, which was enough to put Costiniano all in for his last 3,000,000.

Hand #180: Sharma shoved on the button and Costiniano called all in to put himself at risk.

John Costiniano: 2 2

Nishant Sharma: J T

It was a race for it all, but the 9 2 7 flop improved Costiniano to a set for a commanding lead.

Nishant would need an eight to claim the title, however, the A turn and Q river bricked out — awarding Costiniano a much-needed double up to keep his Main Event dreams alive.

John Costiniano and Nishant Sharma are taking a brief break before beginning their heads-up duel.

When they return, they will battle for the TWD 37,030,773 (~USD 1,186,880) top prize, the 24K Gold Lion Main Event Trophy, and the right to be called an APT Main Event Champion.

Costiniano will have his work cut out for him, as Sharma currently holds an overwhelming 28,000,000 to Costiniano's 5,600,000.

Alexandru Papazian

Hand #178: Alexandru Papazian called from the small blind and John Costiniano shoved from the big blind to put Papazian all in. Papazian snap-called all in for 2,000,000 total and hands were revealed.

Alexandru Papazian: K T

John Constiniano: Q 2

Papazian got his chips in good and he looked poised to double up after the 5 4 A flop kept him ahead.

However, the Q landed on the turn — improving Costiniano to a pair of queens and leaving Papazian drawing to either a king or a jack.

It wasn't meant to be, as the 4 river bricked out for Papazian to eliminate him in third place.

Alexandru Papazian Elimianted in Third Place

Hand #176: Alexandru Papazian opened the button with Q T to 400,000 and Nishant Sharma three-bet J J from the big blind to 1,100,000. Papazian folded.

Hand #177: Sharma looked down at T T in the small blind and made it 625,000. Papazian was in the big blind and called holding A 8

The flop of 5 5 J was laid out and Sharma bet 300,000. Papazian peeled one off to see the 4 hit the turn, which both checked to the J river.

Sharma went for some value with a bet of 1,200,000 with his pair of tens, and Papazian paid it off with his ace-high.