In a record-breaking event at South Korea’s APT, Japan’s Shoichiro Tamaki took the reign as newly crowned champion. His stunning victory took place at the lavish Paradise City Casino, where Tamaki bested the large field of 930 participants to claim the championship title.
With a whopping prize pool of KRW 1,867,347,000 (~USD $1,419,183.92), the competition was fierce from the start. As the tournament progressed to its fourth day, only 16 of the original contenders remained, each assured a minimum KRW 15,300,000 (~USD $11,628). Yet, the eyes of all participants were firmly set on the Main Event’s top prize.
Having begun the day as the chip leader, Tamaki faced a few challenges but remained undeterred. He expressed his disbelief after the win, stating, “I hoped, I hoped, but I didn’t expect.” He continued with gratitude, “Thanks to everyone, I was able to win the championship! Thank you for your support. I was happy with your messages – it was really encouraging.”
For his impressive victory, Tamaki took home KRW 271,447,000 (~USD $206,299). His win came after negotiating a three-way deal with China’s Tsz To Wan and Thailand’s Napat Chokejindachai, leaving KRW 26,347,000 (~USD $20,000) along with the title and trophy still up for grabs.
The battle continued with Thailand’s Napat being eliminated first, securing KRW 222,200,000 (~USD $168,871) for third place. Wan, who entered the final round with a slight chip lead, faced off against Tamaki. After 29 intense hands, Tamaki seized victory, leaving Wan with a still remarkable KRW 211,200,000 (~USD $160,512). Notably, Wan had secured his spot in the event through a free online seat, providing a remarkable return on investment.
Final Table Results APT Incheon 2023 Main Event
| Position | Name | Country | Prize in KRW | Prize in USD |
| 1st | Shoichiro Tamaki | Japan | KRW 271,447,000 | $206,299.92 |
| 2nd | Tsz To Wan | China | KRW 211,200,000 | $160,512.00 |
| 3rd | Napat Chokejindachai | Thailand | KRW 222,200,000 | $168,871.20 |
| 4th | Veleriy Pak | Uzbekistan | KRW 110,900,000 | $84,284.00 |
| 5th | Abraham Ceesvin | Singapore | KRW 86,300,000 | $65,588.00 |
| 6th | King Wai Cheung | Hong Kong | KRW 63,900,000 | $48,564.00 |
| 7th | Jason Lau | Malaysia | KRW 45,700,000 | $34,732.00 |
| 8th | Masahiro Adachi | Japan | KRW 32,600,000 | $24,776.00 |
| 9th | Raul Martinez Gallego | Spain | KRW 25,700,000 | $19,532.00 |
The post APT Main Event Crowns Tamaki with $206,030 Prize in Incheon, South Korea appeared first on iGaming.org.