Record-breaking numbers at the 12th edition of the Taiwan Millions Tournament which ran from July 8 to 25 at the Chinese Texas Hold’em Poker Association (CTP Club). For years, this biannual homegrown festival has been one of the most sought after events in Taipei City, Taiwan, and for this season, the results were through the roof. Over the 18 days, it amassed a grand prize pool of NT$ 39,563,475 (~US$ 1,320,500), which was a hair shy of four times the advertised NT$ 10M guarantee. In addition, both the Main Event and Mini Main Event set new records. Emerging as the biggest winners were Zhong Hao Lee and Zong Chi He while You Da Tsai topped the Player of the Series. Here are the highlights.
*All photos courtesy of CTP Club
Festival review
Festival prize pool: NT$ 39,563,475 (~US$ 1,320,500)
Events: 56
Entries: 9,602
Main Event champion: Zhong Hao Lee – NT$ 2,310,000
Player of the Series: You Da Tsai
Highest earner: Zong Chi He – NT$ 2,633,700
Multiple wins: You Da Tsai, Wu Chiayun, Zong Chi He, Chi Jen Chen, Hung Wei Ye
Record breaker: Main Event – 1895 entries
Record breaker: Mini Main Event – 1,728,entries
Main Event: ZHONG HAO LEE – NT$ 2,310,000 (~US$ 77,100)
This season of the Main Event was a sight to see as players poured in for a chance at the TMT’s most coveted title. To sweeten the deal, out of the NT$ 5 Million guarantee, a minimum of NT$ 1 Million was guaranteed to the eventual champion. Over the three starting days, it amassed a record turnout of 1,895 entries, easily crushing the previous 1,522 high attendance set at TMT 8. In turn, the prize pool also swelled over 2.5 times for a jaw-dropping NT$ 12,886,000 (~US$ 430,100). After six days of competition, Zhong Hao Lee defeated hot running local pro Zong Chi He to seize the NT$ 2,310,000 (~US$ 77,100) first prize. This was Lee’s largest known score and first career takedown. As for He, it was another incredible performance having won the one of the High Roller events and the festival’s Mini Main Event days prior.
Briefly recapping Lee’s race to the crown, he entered Day 2 just below average and was wedged in the middle of the 224 qualifiers. By the time the final table was formed, he had navigated to 3rd in chips until he eliminated Wei Chia Huang (5th) with 
king on the flop outdrawing 
to climb to second rank. After the fall of Sian Zong Huang in 4th place, the final three players – Zong Chi He, Kuan Hsueh Lu, and Lee took turns up top until Lee eliminated Lu in 3rd place. Lee entered heads up with a massive 100 BB stack against He’s 35 BB stack. It only took fifteen minutes to close it out with 
higher straight on a board that completed 
, He had 
.
Dates: July 20 to 25
Buy in: NT$ 8,000 (~US$ 267)
Guarantee: NT$ 5,000,000
Entries: 1,895
Prize pool: NT$ 12,886,000 (~US$ 430,100)
ITM: 224 places
Final table payouts
Place
Name
Country
Payout
1
Zhong Hao Lee
Taiwan
NT$ 2,310,000
2
Zong Chi He
Taiwan
NT$ 1,420,000
3
Kuan Hsueh Lu
Taiwan
NT$ 875,000
4
Sian Zong Huang
Taiwan
NT$ 632,000
5
Wei Chia Huang
Taiwan
NT$ 421,000
6
Kingston Wang
Taiwan
NT$ 300,000
7
Jian Tsung Yang
Taiwan
NT$ 254,700
8
Chiun Shiang Gau
Taiwan
NT$ 217,000
9
Shihchuan Hu
Taiwan
NT$ 182,000
Biggest earner / Mini Main Event champion: ZONG CHI HE
Local pro Zong Chi He emerged the biggest earner at the series, besting even the massive payout of the Main Event champion. He shipped two events, Event 16: $22K High Roller for NT$ 391,500 and the record breaking Mystery Bounty / Mini Main Event for NT$ 754,000. In addition, he finished 2nd at the Main Event for a NT$ 1,420,000 payout. These three combined to a total score of NT$ 2,633,700.
This season’s Mini Main Event was changed to a Mystery Bounty format. It drew a record turnout of 1,728 entries and with buy in at NT$ 4K each, it blew away the NT$ 2M guarantee for a crushing prize pool of NT$ 5,875,200. At heads up, eventual champion He carried in a massive 82 BB stack against Ping Chieh Wu’s 20 BB. Wu was able to cut the gap on a lucky runner runner trips but still could not overtake He who closed it out with Ace-Queen over King-Queen.
Buy in: NT$ 4,000
Guarantee: NT$ 2,000,000
Entries: 1,728
Prize pool: NT$ 5,875,200 (~US$ 196,100)
ITM: 202 places
Final table payouts
Place
Name
Country
Payout
1
Zong Chi He
Taiwan
NT$ 754000
2
Ping Chieh Wu
Taiwan
NT$ 445300
3
Xiao Yung Lung
Taiwan
NT$ 276300
4
Po Theng Huang
Taiwan
NT$ 198000
5
Chu Ling Hsu
Taiwan
NT$ 133000
6
Yu Hung Liu
Taiwan
NT$ 93300
7
Ming Chang Xiao
Taiwan
NT$ 81200
8
Min Feng Huang
Taiwan
NT$ 69300
9
Yiching Lin
Taiwan
NT$ 58600
Kick-Off Event: SHIH WEI HOU
The festival opened its doors with the NT$ 2K Warm Up event and with 372 turning up, it was a sign of larger things to come. And it did. Two days later, the Kick-Off Event saw a storm of 805 entries and at NT$ 3,500 each, it built a prize pool of NT$ 2,394,875 (~US$ 79,933), breaching the advertised NT$ 750K gtd three times over. Taking it to the limit for his first known live tournament victory was Shih Wei Hou to pocket the NT$ 496,500 (~US$ 16,570) first prize for his largest career payout.
Buy in: NT$ 3,500 (~US$ 117)
Guarantee: NT$ 750,000 (~US$ 25,030)
Entries: 805
Prize pool: NT$ 2,394,875 (~U$ 79,933)
ITM: 101 places
Final table payouts
Place
Name
Country
Payout
1
Shih Wei Hou
Taiwan
NT$ 496,500
2
Wei Chia Huang
Taiwan
NT$ 305,200
3
Huiheng Wu
Taiwan
NT$ 185,500
4
Chen Sheng Wen
Taiwan
NT$ 136,400
5
Yan Chen Jiang
Taiwan
NT$ 92,200
6
Tsai Yuchung
Taiwan
NT$ 67,300
7
Tsulin Tsao
Taiwan
NT$ 55,100
8
Zi Wei Tung
Taiwan
NT$ 47,900
9
Chia Hui Tu
Taiwan
NT$ 40,700
Player of the Series: YOU DA TSAI – 625.41 points
Player You Da Tsai dethroned three-time winner Wu Chia Yun by winning Player of the Series. Among his many cashes were victories. His first win was at the Daily Deepstack, topping a field of 90 entries. The following day he shipped Event 16: No Limit Hold’em Turbo, defeating the 64 entry field. Five days later, he claimed Event 22: Head Hunter NLH where he bested an larger field of 101 entries. For his achievement, Tsai was awarded a TMT 13 Package worth NT$ 20K and the POS trophy.
Coming in 2nd was Xiao Yung Lung who was awarded a TMT 13 Package worth NT$ 15K, and in 3rd place was Hung Wei Yeh who won a TMT 13 Package worth NT$ 10K.
Other Highlights
Event 6: Fighters NLH
Buy in: NT$ 3,500 (~US$ 117)
Guarantee: NT$ 200,000 (~US$ 6,675)
Entries: 214
Prize pool: NT$ 636,650 (~US$ 21,250)
ITM: 24 places
Winner: HUNGLIN TSENG – Taiwan – NT$ 151,200
Event 10: Giant Stack
Buy in: NT$ 5,000 (~US$ 167)
Guarantee: NT$ 500,000 (~US$ 16,690)
Entries: 371
Prize pool: NT$ 1,576,750 (~US$ 52,625)
ITM: 45 places
Event 26: Monster Stack Turbo
Buy in: NT$ 2,500 (~US$ 84)
Guarantee: NT$ 200,000 (~US$ 6,675)
Entries: 200
Prize pool: NT$ 425,000 (~US$ 14,185)
ITM: 26 places
Winner: CHIA HAO HSU – Taiwan – NT$ 101,000 (~US$ 3,370)
High Roller winners
Yu Chung Chang
Event 9: High Roller
Buy in: NT$ 15,000 (~US$ 500)
Entries: 101
Prize pool: NT$ 1,363,500 (~US$ 45,510)
ITM: 12 places
Winner: YU CHUNG CHANG – Taiwan – NT$ 351,200 (~US$ 11,720)
Event 16: High Roller
Buy in: NT$ 22,000 (~US$ 735)
Entries: 69
Prize pool: NT$ 1,380,000 (~US$ 46,060)
ITM: 9 places
Winner: ZONG CHI HE – Taiwan – NT$ 391,500 (~US$ 13,070)
Event 25: High Roller
Buy in: NT$ 15,000 (~US$ 500)
Entries: 115
Prize pool: NT$ 1,552,500 (~US$ 51,817)
ITM: 126 places
Winner: ZI WEI TUNG – Taiwan – NT$ 385,800 (~US$ 12,876)
Event 31: High Roller
Buy in: NT$ 22,000 (~US$ 735)
Entries: 41
Prize pool: NT$ 820,000 (~US$ 27,370)
ITM: 6 places
Winner: YEN LIANG YAO – Taiwan – NT$ 270,400 (~US$ 9,025)
Tzu Hao Tseng
Event 38: High Roller
Buy in: NT$ 33,000 (~US$ 1,100)
Entries: 80
Prize pool: NT$ 2,400,000 (~US$ 80,100)
ITM: 11 places
Winner: TZU HAO TSENG – Taiwan – NT$ 640,300 (~US$ 21,370)
2nd: Yu Chung Chang – Taiwan – NT$ 455,100
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