PS Championship IV: First Champions Rise As N8 Open Main Event Action Begins

Players Series Championship IV is in full swing at Asia Poker Arena with the first marquee titles awarded and the Natural8 Open Main Event now underway.

Sheng Ju Shih and Wipawadee Kanaraksapong were among the big winners, while Man Hin Cheung set the early pace in the first Main Event headliner.

Here’s a look at the highlights and results from the first two days of action in Taipei.

Natural8 Open Main Event: Flight A Results

Sponsored by Natural8, the first headliner of PSC IV hit the felt with the Natural8 Open Main Event drawing 62 entries for Flight A.

Among the familiar faces in the field was Man Hin Cheung who cashed in eleven events at PSC III. Cheung has already added another guaranteed cash to his PSC record after he bagged the chip lead of 523,000 (87 big blinds).

By the time the flight reached the bubble round, Cheung and Dicky Tsang Siu-Hang were neck-and-neck for the chip lead while Chen-Yu Hung found himself riding a rollercoaster.

Hung first picked up a double up through Hung Te Lee with A♥A♣ over Q♠Q♦. However the reload didn't stay intact for long. Hung lost a chunk to Tsang, who value-bet the river on a board 4♣10♠J♠4♠K♠ with A♠10♦ nut flush that Hung paid off.

Hung's swings ultimately ended on the bubble. On a board of 10♥2♦2♣A♦8♦, he checked to the big-stacked Cheung who shoved. Hung went deep into the tank, burning through several time cards before he hero-called with A♦Q♦.

To his disappointment, Cheung revealed A♥8♥ for a higher two pair, to send Hung out on the bubble.

Flight A Survivors: 10 Players

The survivors now have a couple of days off before returning to action on Day 2 which takes place on Sunday, August 23 at 11:00 AM.

With a total of five starting flights on the schedule, the NT$ 16,500 buy-in event has plenty more action ahead as players chase a share of the NT$ 5,000,000 guaranteed prize pool.

Next up are Flight B and Flight C. Both take place on Friday, August 21. Flight B starts at 11:00 and Flight C (Turbo) begins at 17:00.

Sheng Ju Shih Wins PS National Cup

The first PSC IV marquee champion was crowned with Sheng Ju Shih overcoming a short stack to win the PS National Cup. Sheng topped the 165 entry field to clinch his first ever Players Series title and claim the lion's share of the NT$ 1,500,000 prize pool, a career high score of NT$ 350,000.

Entering the final day with just nine big blinds, Sheng quickly turned it around. With pure aggression, he climbed fast up the ranks to claim his seat at the final table as one of the leaders. At three-handed, he stopped the bulldozing Jian Hong Chen before defeating Lin Chienyu at heads up to secure the trophy.

Relive Sheng's run to the title via the full recap.

You can also scroll through the live updates for the final day action.

Final Table Payouts

Wipawadee Kanaraksapong Seals N8 Open High Roller Victory

The Natural8 Open High Roller is in the books and hoisting the trophy was a very happy Wipawadee Kanaraksapong who ever-so-patiently worked her way out of the short stack zone to seal the victory and claim the NT$ 459,000 top prize.

The NT$ 35,000 buy-in event drew 47 entries for a NT$ 1,421,280 prize pool, with the top eight players getting paid.

Relive the final table action via the Players Series YouTube channel or scroll down for the recap.

Teeraphat Takes Charge

Andrei Cherkashin entered Day 2 as one of the leaders and continued his strong run, carrying a massive stack into the final table. At the time, his nearest rival was behind by 27 big blinds. Even after the bubble burst, stacks remained deep with the average sitting at 49 big blinds.

However, hot on Cherkashin's heels was Teeraphat Rangkatekarn who kept the pressure on and steadily closed the gap after eliminating Jason Lau Wai-Kit in 7th place. Several hands after, Teeraphat overtook Cherkashin with a set over top pair,and from there, he continued to distance himself from the rest.

For two-time defending champion Lin Chung-Tang the three-peat was not to be. A failed bluff triggered a downward slide that eventually ended his title defense in 6th place.

Kanaraksapong Finds Her Wings

While Teeraphat was busy grinding, Kanaraksapong was fighting just to stay alive. At Hand #80, during eight-handed play, she was down to seven big blinds when she tripled up with 6♠6♥ that, in turn, sent Ren Xian Ng out in 8th place.

When the field trimmed to five players, Kanaraksapong was back in familiar ground with just seven big blinds again. At Hand #120, Teeraphat shoved from the small blind. On the big blind, Kanaraksapong risked it with A♦10♣ and was ahead of Teeraphat's Q♦2♦. She was nearly out when the flop ran 2♠4♥5♥ until the turn and river 5♦4♣ saved her with the higher kicker.

The double up sparked momentum with another double up on the very next hand. Kanaraksapong's 7♥7♣ held against Guo Jin Zeng's A♦K♥. Guo was down to crumbs and exited in 5th place. The rush continued, earning her first takedown in Po Yi Liu then knocked out Cherkashin next in 3rd place to face Teeraphat for the title.

All-Thai Heads Up For the Title

Entering heads up, Teeraphat was ahead 54 big blinds to Kanaraksapong's 40 big blinds. The gap disappeared almost immediately then Kanaraksapong nailed it shut at Hand #146.

Kanaraksapong limped in with J♣J♦, Teeraphat raised with A♣3♥. Kanaraksapong three-bet then called Teeraphat's shove. The board bricked for hooks to hold and crown Kanaraksapong as the champion.

Natural8 Open High Roller Payouts

Other Results

The first two days also minted eight other champions across the side events, including a winner in the new Juniors' Event, open to players aged 25 and below.

With the festival still in its opening stretch and 104 events running through August 31, expect the list of champions to grow quickly as more PS hardware finds its owners.