Photo: Chung Tang Lin

The ultra-thrilling heads-up match concludes with the defending champion, 🇹🇼 Chung Tang Lin, overcoming the swings for an outstanding back-to-back victory. Lin brings home a matching trophy for his victory shelf and the TWD 380,500 champion’s payout.

Congratulations to the champ!

The Natural8 Open High Roller pulls in 36 entries over thirteen levels of registration, nudging the prize pool past the guarantee to TWD 1,026,500. Just six players make the money, and once again it’s defending champion Chung Tang Lin standing tall with the biggest share.

Prior to the final table, the early momentum belongs to 🇹🇭 Weeraphat Manasakool, knocking out multiple players. He becomes the first player to spin his stack past seven digits.

After 🇰🇷 Seunghyuk Jung falls on the bubble, Lin wins a monster pot against Manasakool to snatch the chip lead for the first time all day. He then eliminates 🇹🇼 Chun Yu Yeh (6th) and 🇹🇼 Chih-I Fang (4th) to swell his stack to nearly two-thirds of the chips in play.

Manasakool catches up by knocking out 🇹🇭 Matuphoom Pangsrivinij (3rd), setting up heads-up with stacks close to even, Lin slightly ahead.

What follows is a pure heavyweight exchange. Lin fires a bluff that gets picked off for Manasakool to surge back in front. Lin returns the favor, catching a bluff to pull to even. The lead changes hands again as both players double through in a relentless back-and-forth battle.

It remains thrilling to the very end as both players improve on the river with two pair for Manasakool and Lin a straight for a hard-earned back-to-back title.

Scroll down to read up on the action.

Photo: Weeraphat Manasakool (L) Chung Tang Lin (R)

Chung Tang Lin limps in then calls Weeraphat Manasakool’s 200,000 raise. Manasakool continues for 200,000 at the flop and Lin tank-calls after one time extension.

Heavy decision for Lin on the turn with Manasakool announcing all in. Lin doesn’t take too long to decide and calls.

Weeraphat Manasakool:

Chung Tang Lin:

Lin is ahead with top pair. A dramatic comes on the river to give Manasakool two pair and upon review, it’s a straight for Lin who can’t believe his eyes.

Another all in showdown with Weeraphat Manasakool open-jamming and Chung Tang Lin calls for his tournament life with  .

Lin calls out “no ace, no ace” and no ace comes as the board completes for a double up.

Chung Tang Lin opens shoves and Weeraphat Manasakool calls for his tournament life.

Lin is ahead with and Manaskool has hope with live cards. The flop brings Manasakool one of his outs, , and with the runout  , he sits back down to scoop up his newfound chips.

Photo: Chung Tang Lin

Chung Tang Lin limps in and Weeraphat Manasakool checks to see a flop cheap. The dealer spreads , and betting begins with Manasakool sliding out 110,000. Lin calls and they head to the turn .

Manasakool backs down and checks, Lin hits the pedal with a 125,000 bet, and Manaskool calls.

After the river comes . action repeats with Manaskool checking again and Lin firing 300,000. Manaskool calls and turns over   two pair, Lin has  for a higher two pair.

Out of the button seat, Chung Tang Lin opens 135,000, Weeraphat Manasakool jams, Lin snap-calls for his tournament life.

Chung Tang Lin:

Weeraphat Manasakool:

Manasakool laughs as he opens his rag hand. Though he pairs up at the flop , that’s all the deck gives him as it runs out for a set to Lin and a double up.

Level 24 is underway with blinds of 30K-60K ante 60K. It is heads up for the title and the TWD 380,500 top prize.

With a pot of 250,000 already in the middle and a board at its limit of , Weeraphat Manasakool overbets 350,000. Lin tank-calls.

Manasakool laughs as he opens up bluff. Lin takes it down with  pair.

Immediately after the failed bluff, Chung Tang Lin goes all in holding and Weeraphat Manasakool snap-calls with  .

Lin needs to hit the board and quickly grants him a pair which holds through the runout to avoid the rail.

Photo: Weeraphat Manasakool 

Chung Tang Lin controlled the final table for a large portion of the day and now leadership has switched with Weeraphat Manasakool dragging in a big pot on a failed bluff by Lin. With a board showing , Lin fires a 600,000 bet onto a pot of 950,000. Manasakool tanks then finds the reason to call.

It’s the right decision as Lin turns over bluff. Manasakool earns the pot with pair.

Photo: Weeraphat Manasakool and Chung Tang Lin

The trophy is on the felt with the table down to the final two players. They are closely matched in chips. Will the defending champion Chung Tang Lin achieve a repeat?

Photo: Matuphoom Pangsrivinij

Matuphoom Pangsrivinij open-jams and Weeraphat Manasakool follows suit. Chung Tang Lin also likes his hole cards but open-folds instead one card

Weeraphat Manasakool :

Matuphoom Pangsrivinij :

The others also have an ace with Manasakool holding the better kicker. The board drops blanks for Pangsrivinij to fall in 3rd place.

Weeraphat Manasakool is all in for his last 490,000 and is ahead of caller Matuphoom Pangsvirinij who has live cards.

Weeraphat Manasakool:

Matuphoom Pangsvirinij:

Manasakool calls out, “no king, no king!” The dealer still drops one but an ace as well to keep him ahead . With the turn and river , Manasakool doubles up.

After raising to 100,000, Matuphoom Pangsvirinij calls for all of his chips on Chung Tang Lin’s shove.

Matuphoom Pangsvirinij:

Chung Tang Lin:

It’s the right decision as he is ahead and the possibility of a boost is high. The board ensures it as it runs nine-high.

Chung Tang Lin has been claiming a majority of the pots with uncalled raises and follow up bets. His opponents are slowly draining to the ten big blind danger zone.

Level 23 is underway with blinds of 25K-50K ante 50K. Only three players remain out of a field of 36 entries. Average stack is 1,200,000.

Chip count update. Average stack is 1,200,000.

Chip count update. Average stack is 1,200,000.

Matuphoom Pangsrivinij open-shoves 405,000 on the button and big blind Chung Tang Lin calls to put him on the ropes.

Matuphoom Pangsrivinij:

Chung Tang Lin:

Pangsrivinij needs to only fade the ace and does so on a board running to secure a double up.

After a couple of uncalled shoves, no more steals for Chih-I Fang with the chip leader Chung Tang Lin sliding out the 345,000 call.

Chih-I Fang:

Chung Tang Lin:

It’s not looking good for Fang and with no hits on the board , instead further improving the leader, Fang finishes in 4th place.

Level 22 is underway with 4 players remaining. Average stack is 900,000.

Just before the break, Matuphoom Pangsrivinij three-bet shoves 231,000 and initial raiser Weeraphat Manasakool snap-calls.

Pangsrivinij turns over   and is flipping against Manasakool’s .

No help arrives on the flop and turn and as he gets up to go, the finds the river to award him a double up.

Chung Tang Lin min-raises from the button and goes flop hunting with small blind caller Matuphoom Pangsrivinij. Lin likes the spread and continues for 60,000. Pangsrivinij calls and they head to the turn  where both players check.

The free river card comes . Pangsrivinij tanks then bets 105,000. Lin tanks as well then raises to 300,000. Pangsrivinij folds.

Three hands later, Lin opens 60,000 from under the gun and Weeraphat Manasakool defends. Lin continues for 75,000 at the flop and Manasakool check-calls. Both players check the turn and river  .

Manasakool turns over straight and wins the pot besting Lin’s .

Weeraphat Manasakool open-jams out of the small blind and in a snap, big blind chip leader Chung Tang Lin calls.

Manasakool is at risk however has the better hand.

Weeraphat Manasakool:

Chung Tang Lin: 

The board ensures Manasakool the reload as it runs out .

Photo: Chamanan Arthachinta

After under the gun Chih-I Fang open-shoves 329,000, next to act Chamanan Arthachinta tanks and asks “do you have a pair? I wish you have a pair.” Fang only smiles. Arthachinta then riskx his tournament life with less behind.

Upon showdown, Fang does not have a pair, instead has the better kicker.

Chamanan Arthachinta: 

Chih-I Fang:

Needing help to stay in the game, the board doesn’t produce for Arthachinta to exit in 5th place.

Final 5 players. Average stack is 720,000.

Level 21 is underway with blinds of 15K-30K ante 30K. Only five players remain from a field of 36 entries.

On a board of with and 122,000 in the pot, big blind positioned Matuphoom Pangsrivinij bets 79,000 that sends small blind Chung Tang Lin in the think tank. After spending a time extension, Lin folds and says “I think you bluff.”

Pangsrivinij just smiles back while scooping up his winnings.

After numerous uncalled shoves, Matuphoom Pangsvirinij is at risk against caller Chamanan Arthachinta who defends his initial raise.

Matuphoom Pangsrivinij: 

Chamanan Arthachinta:

Hanging on for his tournament life, Pangsrivinij finds relief after the dealer fans a board to double through.

Final 5 players. Average stack is 720,000.

Level 20 is underway with blinds of 12K-24K ante 24K. Only five players remain on the hunt out of the 36 total entries.

Chih-I Fang limps in and gets to see a flop with big blind Chamanan Arthachinta who checks.

They proceed to check it to the turn  where Fang bets 20,000. Arthachinta calls and they head to the river . Action erupts with a bet of 75,000 from Fang. Arthachinta jams 415,000, Fang calls, then both players turn over seven-five for the straight to split it up.

Final 5 players. Average stack is 720,000.

Photo: Chun Yu Yeh

Chun Yu Yeh three-bets his last 145,000 and initial raiser Chung Tang Lin doesn’t hesitate to call and dominates when they flip them over.

Chun Yu Yeh:

Chung Tang Lin:

Though behind, Chun has live cards however misses at the flop to change nothing until the   lands on the turn to improve to a pair. As quick as it came, the finds the river to burn Chun into 6th place.

Following a min-raise by the leader Chung Tang Lin at cutoff, small blind Chih-I Fang jams his last 325,000 and is on the ropes when Lin calls.

It is the best Fang can hope with a flip at hand.

Chih-I Fang:

Chung Tang Lin:

Fang quickly improves at the flop  then doubles up after the run out  .

Level 19 is underway with blinds at 10K-20K ante 20K. Only six players remain 0ut of the 36 total entries. They are now in the money. Average stack is 600,000.

The final six players are on a ten minute break. Below are the chip counts.

Chung Tang Lin and Chih-I Fang are at the turn with 150,000 up for grabs. Big blind positioned Chih-I Fang makes a bid for it with a 60,000 bet, Lin wants it as well and calls. The river comes .  Fang decides to slow down and check. Lin checks back then shows . Fang mucks.

Massive pot of 348,000 with Weeraphat Manasakool and Chung Tang Lin left to slug it out. The board is at its fullest of . Out of the big blind seat, Manasakool bets 175,000 sending Lin to the think tank.

Lin emerges after three time extensions and announces all in. Manasakool snap-folds. Lin has now taken the lead and sets his sights on a repeat victory.

Photo: Seunghyuk Jung

Seunghyuk Jung opens 32,000 at cutoff and finds one customer in Chamanan Arthachinta. Jung proceeds to check the flop giving Arthachinta the green light to bet. Arthachinta lays out 30,000 and Jung proceeds to tank then shoves 187,000.

This sends Arthachinta tanking until he uses up two time extensions before tossing in the call with a covering stack to put Jung at risk of elimination.

Seunghyuk Jung:

Chamanan Arthachinta:

Jung has a gutter and overcards and one of his outs land on the turn to take the lead with top pair. However, the river   burns his hand to fall on the bubble with Arthachinta improving to a straight.

Level 18 is underway with blinds of 8K-16K ante 16K. It is now bubble time with 7 players remaining out of a field of 36 entries.

Photo: Liam Herry

Liam Herry is all in holding and runs into Chamanan Arthachinta’s . No miracles come on the nine-high board to bring the field down to seven players.

It is now bubble time.

Chih-I Fang raises 25,000 on the button and Seunghyuk Hung defends his big blind to take the battle to the flop. The dealer fans , and more chips find the middle with Fang c-betting 24,000 and Jung check-calls.

No slowing down on the turn   with Fang barreling 48,000 and again it doesn’t shake off Jung who check-calls once more to bring the river.

Jung checks again, Fang opts to check back. Jung has second pair, Fang takes down the pot with  top pair.

Matuphoom Pangsrivinij raises 171,000 leaving just 5,000 behind, Liam Herry calls on the button.

As soon as the flop lands , Pangsrivinij tosses in his last 5,000 and Herry snap-calls.

Matuphoom Pangsrivinij:

Liam Herry:

Pangsrivinij needs only to dodge the turn and river which he does with the turn   and river to double through.

From middle position, Chun Yu Yeh raises the minimum and nearly steals the blinds and ante until big blind Matuphoom Pangsrivinij puts the stopper and calls. Both players check the flop , then Chun sends out a delayed c-bet of 30,000 on the turn . Pangsrivinij check-calls to see the come on the river.

Pangsrivinij checks again, Chun fires 100,000, and this time Pangsrivinij gives respect and folds.

Level 17 is underway with blinds of 6K-12K ante 12K. Only 8 players remaining from a field of 36 entries. Average stack is 450,000. ITM starts at the final six.

Short stack Sung Chi Wen sees an ace in the hole and goes all in for his last 69,000. A few spots over Matuphoom Pangsrivinij also likes his hand and shoves 169,000. With no other takers, they flip them over.

Sung Chi Wen:

Matuphoom Pangsrivinij:

Wen’s only hope is the ace and while it misses the flop , he does pair up for additional outs. The turn  and river are not any of them to fall three spots to the money.

It is down to 8 players. ITM at the final six.

Back (L-R): Weeraphat Manasakool, Matuphoom Pangsrivinij, Chung Tang LIn, Suenghyuk Jung, Sung Chi Wen
Front (L-R): Chamanan Arthachinta, Chih-I Fang, Chun Yu Yeh, Liam Herry

The Natural8 Open High Roller has reached the final table with 9 players remaining. The money is just three spots away. Below are the chip counts:

Short stack John Costiniano risks his tournament life with and is up against bigger stacked Chun Yu Yeh with a dominating . The board doesn’t heed his call, throwing blanks to get the kingly boot.

Photo: Sung Chi Wen

Hon Cheong Lee is flipping for his tournament life holding   against caller Sung Chi Wen with .

The board crushes his hand by the turn for broadway to Sung. and completes .

Within minutes of the new level Cheng Yu Hsuan fires it all in and is denied the big blind steal with Chung Tang Lin making the call with a covering stack. Upon revealing, Cheng’s pair is in bad shape against Lin’s bigger pocket.

Cheng Yu Hsuan:

Chung Tang Lin:

The flop brings Cheng some hope for an open-ended but with the turn and river  , he finds the rail instead.

Level 16 is underway with blinds of 5K-10K ante 10K. Only 12 players remaining from a field of 36 entries. Below are the chip counts.

Slight swing for Chih-I Fang going up then a dip. The rise is through a double up off Chun Yu Yeh defends his big blind.

Fang is behind with . Chun has .

The board grants Fang all of his needs running .

On the next hand, Fang raises to 16,000 from under the gun and John Costiniano defends his big blind. Both players check it to the turn where Costiniano takes control for 25,000 which Fang calls. On the river , Costiniano shoves with his last 53,000 and it’s enough to win the pot uncontested.

Photo: Weeraphat Manasakool

Weeraphat Manasakool is the overwhelming chip leader with the field now down to just 13 players. Manasakool was the demise of one of them, cleaning out Kenneth Chuang.

Level 15 is underway with blinds up to 4K-8K ante 8K. Only 15 players remain out of a field of 36 entries. ITM begins at the final six.

Massive takedown for Weeraphat Manasakool in a hand against Cheng Yu Huan. On a board showing , and 250,000 in the pot, Cheng checks to Manasakool who goes all in for 271,000. Cheng can afford it but first goes deep in the tank to decide. He emerges with a call then sees the bad news.

Weeraphat Manasakool:

Cheng Yu Hsuan:

Manasakool has the top kicker to secure a double up and catapult to the top of the counts.

Immediately following the hand, Cheng recovers some of the lost chips on a double up through Rong Zhang. Cheng’s outdrew Zhang’s   on a board . Zhang plunges to 1.5 big blinds and busts shortly after.

The day’s entering chip leader Seunghyuk Jung successfully defends his big blind against the small blind player Chen Kuan Lun. On a board showing , with 76,000 in the pot, Chen bets 34,000 then calls Jung’s shove of 117,000.

Small blind quickly reveals , Jung has that beat with higher two pair.

Small rush for Cheng Yu Hsuan as he picks up two pots in succession. The first one sees a board at the turn with Chung Tang Lin testing for 30,000 onto a pot of 100,000, however Cheng pumps it up to 80,000 to earn the pot after a slight tank from Lin who folds.

On the next hand, Rong Zhang opens from under the gun and Cheng is the lone caller on the small blind. At the flop of , Zhang continues for 14,000 and Cheng stays to defend to bring the turn card. Open-check again from Cheng and Zhang steps off the brakes and checks back.

As the river comes , Cheng switches gears and slides out a bet but before the count, Zhang snap-folds.

The prize pool is up, and it’s another guarantee breach with the pot settling at TWD 1,026,500. The top six players out of the 36 entries will dip into it with the champion set to claim the TWD 380,500 top prize.

Level 14 is underway with blind of 3K-6K ante 6K. There are 19 players remaining out of a field of 36 entries. Average stack us 189,473.

Down to just 52,000, So Kuen Shing open-shoves, down the orbit Fabian Rolli joins with a covering stack, then big blind Chun Yu Yeh calls for a three-way with the largest stack.

So Kuen Shing:

Fabian Rolli: 

Chun Yu Yeh: 

As soon as the flop lands , Chun’s outs increase further, and with the turn , Shing and Rolli are drawing dead. The river is a meaningless .

Photo: Kenneth Chuang

After a table break, So Kuen Shing is moved to Kenneth Chuang’s table where both players face-off for a pot that opens with a 12,000 raise from Shing at cutoff. Chuang three-bets to 29,000 on the button, and Shing tops up to see the flop come .

Continuing the aggression, Chuang bets 30,000 and Shing check-calls. Action turns quiet on the turn with no bets until the river  where Chuang resumes for 16,000. Shing folds and Chuang claims a good pot.

Three players in a single raised pot see a flop of   where it checks to So Kuen Shing on the button. Shing bets just under a third of the pot for 10,000 and only preflop raiser Lin Yu Hsien calls.

On the turn, Shing fires again for 25,000 and still doesn’t shake Lin who slides out the call for the river card  .

Lin checks again, Shing opts to back down and check as well. Shing is first to show and has   bottom pair, Lin takes the pot with top pair.

After two levels completed, registration closes with 36 entries. Level 13 is now underway with blinds of 2K-5K ante 5K. 26 players remain. Standby for the prize pool and payouts.

The Natural8 Open High Roller event enters its final day with 10 players returning out of the 14 total entries at Day 1. Interested players still have two levels to jump in, with registration closing at the start of Level 13 at 1:30PM. For a buy in of TWD 33,000, incoming players begin with a starting stack of 100,000 with blinds increasing every 40 minutes.

Day 2 begins at 12PM with blinds at 2K-4K ante 4K.

Follow the action via the live updates which will be running all day until a champion is crowned.