At CTP Poker Club in Taipei City, Taiwan, the Asia Series Poker Tour (ASPT) marked a memorable chapter for Japan’s Kaoru Nozaki.Taking home the series’ main event, Nozaki etched his name as the latest ASPT Main Event victor.
Drawn by the attractive NT$7,000,000 guarantee, the NT$33,000 buy-in Main Event exceeded expectations with 308 entrants. This surge pushed the final prize pool to an impressive NT$8,970,200 ($279,580), benefiting the top 47 contestants.
Japan and Taiwan dominated the roster of winners, though representation from Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea, and notably Andrew Chou from the United States added diversity. The final table was a nine-player showdown, with Mitsuyo Yomogida from Japan being the first to exit. Taiwan’s players, starting with Chia Ko, then faced a series of exits. Hua Wei Lin, Chi Jen Chu, Douhoung Chien, and Chien Hung followed, pocketing between NT$327,800 ($10,217) and NT$635,200 ($19,798).
After Japanese poker enthusiast Takashi Yagura secured third place and NT$770,000 ($23,999), the stage was set for a gripping heads-up between Nozaki and Hong Kong’s Sze Wing Ho. Both players eyed their first major live win. In this duel, Nozaki claimed victory and the title of 2023 ASPT Taiwan Main Event champion, accompanied by a NT$1,377,200 ($42,924) prize. A commendable NT$1,124,800 ($35,057) went to Ho as the second prize.
Final Table Results
| Result | Player | Country | Prize (NT$) | Prize (US$) |
| 1 | Kaoru Nozaki | Japan | $1,377,200 | $42,924 |
| 2 | Sze Wing Ho | Hong Kong | $1,124,800 | $35,057 |
| 3 | Takashi Yagura | Japan | $770,000 | $23,999 |
| 4 | Chien Hung | Taiwan | $635,200 | $19,798 |
| 5 | Douhoung Chien | Taiwan | $534,000 | $16,644 |
| 6 | Chi Jen Chu | Taiwan | $453,000 | $14,119 |
| 7 | Hua Wei Lin | Taiwan | $385,600 | $12,018 |
| 8 | Chia Ko | Taiwan | $327,800 | $10,217 |
| 9 | Mitsuyo Yomogida | Japan | $277,200 | $8,640 |
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