Record Fields and Seven-Figure Pools Mark APT Incheon

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Samantha Doyle 1 hour ago
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  • APT Incheon 2026 set new records for entries and prize pools.
  • Stephen Pang won the richest Main Event in Incheon history.
  • Punnat Punsri and Chang Hwan Lee claimed major high-stakes titles.
APT Incheon

APT Incheon did not settle for breaking one record in 2026.


The Asian Poker Tour’s August stop at Paradise City produced 14,059 entries, almost KRW 16 billion in prize money and new marks across several of its biggest tournaments. Stephen Pang left with the Main Event Gold Lion, while Punnat Punsri and Chang Hwan Lee claimed two of the festival’s major high-stakes titles.

Three-Way Deal Precedes Pang’s Main Event Win

The Main Event attracted 1,393 entries, creating a KRW 3.008 billion prize pool and becoming the richest APT Main Event held in Incheon.

Stephen Pang started the final table with 13.55 million chips and entered its later stages still near the front. His pocket queens proved particularly useful, including in the hand that sent Tempei Kotani out in fourth and gave Pang control heading towards three-handed play.

APT Incheon Main Event Stephen Pang
Stephen Pang

Pang, Shoumin Zhang and Yifu He eventually agreed an ICM deal. He finished third, after which Zhang pushed Pang through a competitive heads-up battle before the Hong Kong player closed out his biggest live result.

APT Incheon Main Event Final Table


Place
Player
CountryPrize
1Stephen PangHong KongKRW 411,180,000
2Shoumin ZhangChinaKRW 366,500,000
3Yifu HeUnited StatesKRW 257,000,000
4Tempei KotaniJapanKRW 155,650,000
5Kazuki KoyamaJapanKRW 121,860,000
6Shinichiro KanoJapanKRW 92,440,000
7Phachara WongwichitThailandKRW 70,740,000
8Takeru EndoJapanKRW 50,130,000
9Ryo FujitaJapanKRW 38,580,000

Pang’s KRW 411.18 million cash was comfortably his largest recorded tournament result.

Punsri Adds Superstar Challenge to APT Record

Punnat Punsri picked up his seventh APT title by winning the KRW 35 million Superstar Challenge, the highest buy-in tournament on the Incheon schedule.


Punnat Punsri at APT Incheon 2026
Punnat Punsri

The 29-entry event generated KRW 961.35 million, with five players reaching the money. Punsri defeated Vietnam’s Khoa Anh Ngo heads-up for KRW 360 million, while defending champion Calvin Lee finished third for KRW 156.31 million


Place
Player
Prize
1Punnat PunsriKRW 360,000,000
2Khoa Anh NgoKRW 239,210,000
3Calvin LeeKRW 156,310,000

The result pushed Punsri’s earnings from the current era of the APT beyond $1.4 million.

Lee Claims the Final Signature High Roller

The festival’s final major Lion trophy went to Japan’s Chang Hwan Lee.


Chang Hwan Lee at APT Incheon 2026
Chang Hwan Lee.

Lee topped 222 entries in the KRW 5 million APT High Roller, which generated KRW 959.04 million. He entered heads-up against the UK’s Jun Li with roughly a three-to-one advantage and maintained control to earn KRW 199.87 million.


Li took KRW 134.57 million for second place, with APT Taipei Main Event champion Walter Lau finishing third for KRW 94.88 million.

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