PS Championship III Taipei: Hogyun Kang, Shi Rong Wang Top Day 2 Highlights
The Players Series Championship III Taipei 2026 continues to light up the Asia Poker Arena, with Day 2 now complete. Running from February 26 to March 10, the festival offered another exciting day of poker, with marquee events drawing the spotlight and plenty of competitive action all around the floor.
By the time the last event crowned its champion, a total of seven players walked away minted – six of whom were locals -, while others advanced through the phased events. Here's a look at the highlights from today's play.
Hogyun Kang Dominates the Natural8 Open Super High Roller
Running on the first two days of the series, the Natural8 Open Super High Roller attracted a total field of 47 entries for a prize pool of TWD 2,030,400. With registration remaining open through the first two levels of Day 2, several late entries joined the action, including Hogyun Kang who fired a second bullet after falling on Day 1.
This time, Kang made it count. He bulldozed through the final table, eliminating four of his last seven opponents to seize control of the game and capture his first-ever Players Series trophy along with the TWD 710,000 top prize.
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Hogyun Kang | TWD 710,000 |
| 2nd | Kuan Han Lee | TWD 422,000 |
| 3rd | Yu-Chung Chang | TWD 268,000 |
| 4th | Nirunrut Rachburom | TWD 186,000 |
| 5th | Yohwan Lim | TWD 139,000 |
| 6th | Andrei Chershakin | TWD 115,200 |
| 7th | Meng Ling Lin | TWD 100,200 |
| 8th | John Niko Costiniano | TWD 90,000 |
Shi Rong Wang Hails At the PS Warm Up
The PS Warm Up drew 285 entries across three flights for a prize pool of TWD 1,190,200. On Day 2, 45 players returned to battle for the top spot. In the end, the local contingent celebrated a champion of their own, as Shi Rong Wang outlasted the field to claim the TWD 222,000 champion's payout.
Natural8 Open Main Event: Flight B Recap
The Natural8 Open Main Event filled up a large portion of the tournament floor with 104 runners turning up for Flight B. The heat closed with 15 survivors led by two players with exactly the same stacks: Mao Lun Yu and Tin Yan Yim. Both players bagged up 479,000.
Natural8 Open Main Event: Flight C Recap
The Flight C Turbo gave many evening warriors and Flight B fallouts a faster route to qualification with blinds increasing every 20 minutes. Across ten levels of registration, 83 entered to boost the cumulative total to 252. After the bubble burst, 13 players secured their spot in the money round / Day 2.
At the top of the heap was Min Woo Kang making his Players Series debut. Kang bagged 403,000 chips, placing him fifth in the current Day 2 standings.
Natural8 Open High Roller: Day 1 Recap
The TWD 1M GTD Natural8 Open High Roller event attracted a field of 14 head strong players, each one ponying up the TWD 33,000 buy-in. Only 10 players survived the ten levels of Day 1 play with Seung Hyuk Jung bagging 281,000 to place him at the top of the counts.
| Player | Chips |
|---|---|
| Seung Hyuk Jung | 281,000 |
| Matuphoom Pangsri Vinij | 199,000 |
| Hon Cheong Lee | 189,000 |
| Suphachet Kopatta | 174,000 |
| Rong Zhang | 133,000 |
| Chih I Fang | 130,000 |
| Weeraphat Manasakool | 87,000 |
| Giboum Kim | 77,000 |
| Chamanan Arthachinta | 69,000 |
| Kwon Taeyoung | 60,000 |
Action resumes at 12PM on Saturday, February 28 for Day 2. Registration remains open for another two levels, closing at the start of Level 13 at 1:30PM.
Taenaatak High Roller Masters: Day 1 Recap
A strong contingent of Thai players was visible from the festival's opening day, with even more joining the action on Day 2. Several were among the 21 entries of the Taenaatak High Roller Masters. Out of the 14 that survived, poker host, actor, and comedian Napat Chokejindachai stood out, bagging the event's lone seven-digit stack of 1,116,000.
| Player | Chips |
|---|---|
| Napat Chokejindachai | 1,116,000 |
| Dong Ju Han | 849,000 |
| Methavee Taveekitvatee | 606,000 |
| Seungmook Jung | 464,000 |
| Manuel Fritz | 364,000 |
| Teeraphat Rangkatekarn | 307,000 |
| Chingyu Tsai | 297,000 |
| Sung Jin Yun | 231,000 |
| Wutikrai Phraikhieo | 205,000 |
| John Niko Costiniano | 200,000 |
| Pussacha Nonsing | 192,000 |
| Kitty Kuo | 176,000 |
| Han Andrew | 172,000 |
| Fabian Rolli | 58,000 |
Polun Chao Outlasts At The Ultra Stack Freezeout
With just one bullet allowed, Polun Chao was the last player standing at the Ultra Stack Freezeout to claim his first ever Players Series trophy. Chao outlasted a field of 62 players to pocket the lion's share of the TWD 529,800 prize pool worth TWD 170,800.
Yi Chieh Hsieh Holds Head High At Bounty Huntress
Another local player brought home a pink trophy with Yi Chieh Hsieh holding her head high above at the Bounty Huntress event. Hsieh overcame the 33 entry field, defeating Teerin Dansuwan at heads up to collect the top payout of TWD 25,000 along with a slew of bounties.
Career Second PS Trophy for Taowei Chang at Mixed NLH/PLO Deepstack
Taowei Chang lifted his career second Players Series trophy at the Mixed NLH/PLO Deepstack denying a field of 31 entries that included opening day's Alfie Adam (PLO Deepstack winner) as runner-up. For Chang's victory, he earned TWD 108,900 out of the TWD 264,900 prize pool.
Philip King Chung Wang Finally Wins A PS Trophy at Win The Button
After cashing in eleven Players Series past events, Philip King Chung Wang finally closed one out. Wang bested the 48 entry field of the Win The Button event. Along with his first PS trophy, he earned a payout of TWD 91,000.
Shuwei Yang Wins The Hyper Turbo
One of the final events to conclude on Day 2 was the Hyper Turbo, a fast-paced game where all-in shoves dominated the action in the final stages.
In the end, Shuwei Yang emerged as the luckiest, defeating Thomas Liffick at heads up to claim TWD 81,000 and his first Players Series trophy.
The PS Championship III Taipei is just getting warmed up with 11 days of action still ahead, concluding on March 10. With a total of 84 tournaments and TWD 60 million in guarantees, there are plenty of chances to walk away a champion and hoist one of the trophies on display.
