From October 25 to November 5, 2024, the first-ever TMT Championship captivated poker fans at the Asia Poker Arena in Taipei City, Taiwan. With 31 winners crowned, Chiehchi Liu’s thrilling triumph at the Main Event earned him widespread recognition. On the same day, Anton Lu made headlines as the only player to secure two titles at the series.
TMT 17 Announced for January 2025 with a $1M Guaranteed Main Event
Following the success of the TMT Championship, the next Taiwan Millions Tournament (TMT 17) is set to run from January 12 to 20, 2025. It promises an even grander Main Event with a $1,000,000 guarantee, sure to draw in top talent from around the world.
Record-Breaking TMT 16 Main Event
As Taiwan’s premier low-stakes poker series, TMT 16 attracted an impressive 6,953 entries, resulting in a prize pool of over NT$51 million (approximately $1.57 million). The Main Event champion, Lam Ka Fai, turned a modest NT$8,800 ($280) buy-in into a massive NT$5,748,790 ($175,000) payout, underscoring the tournament’s wide appeal and life-changing prizes.
TMTC Main Event: Chiehchi Liu Claims the Title
At the TMT Championship’s signature event, the TMTC Main Event boasted a $600,000 guarantee but exceeded expectations with 936 entries, swelling the prize pool to NT$27,237,600 ($852,000). The final table featured a strong contingent of Taiwanese players, with Chiehchi Liu emerging victorious after dispatching six competitors, including Macau’s Manlok Chan in an intense three-hand showdown.
Anton Lu Wins Two Events in a Stellar Performance
Australian poker pro Anton Lu had an exceptional series, notching up four final table appearances, including victories in the High Roller Single Day and the Super High Roller events. His impressive run earned him NT$2,997,800 ($93,860), making him the only double titleholder at the TMT Championship.
Other Noteworthy Winners and Events
Taiwan’s Yu Yung Lin took home the Mystery Bounty title, sponsored by PokerFace Global Tournament (PFGT), which drew 444 entries. Lin’s win secured him NT$971,000 ($30,400), and he also earned a 4th-place finish at the Mini Main for NT$342,000 ($10,700). Meanwhile, Kristof Segers captured The Hendon Mob Championship title and took second place at the inaugural World Poker Federation (WPF) Taiwan Open, won by Macau’s Eurico Machado.
WPF and APSA Collaborate to Promote Poker as a Mind Sport
During the event, the World Poker Federation (WPF) and the Asian Poker Sports Alliance (APSA) hosted a groundbreaking meeting at the Asia Poker Arena. Leaders shared their vision for promoting poker as a recognized mind sport across Asia, fostering collaboration among countries including Thailand, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan.