Chung Tang Lin

🇹🇼 Chung Tang Lin has done it! Just days after successfully defending his title at the Natural8 Open High Roller, 🇹🇼 Chung Tang Lin storms back into the spotlight, conquering the Natural8 Open Main Event for a stunning double-major sweep at the series. Riding the unstoppable momentum, Lin reflects humbly on his heater,

“I am very lucky. I am still learning throughout this journey but I was lucky to get big hands like aces to bust a player.”

The final moment was not an easy situation for Lin. With 🇭🇰 Hon Leung Ip all in on the river. Lin explains his thought process,

“I don’t see any combo that he can make. I am thinking only a jack can beat me. If he had the jack or the straight, he won’t shove.”

It was the right decision as Ip was bluffing. A truly spectacular run for the champion!

Final Table Payouts

⭐ Event Recap

At Day 3, 🇭🇰 Hon Leung Ip  is the player to catch as he enters the final table with a commanding 100 big blinds. Ip wastes no time asserting control, eliminating 🇰🇷 Hyundong Lee on just the third hand with pocket queens that hold against ace-king.

After 🇭🇰 Tin Yan Yim falls in 8th place to 🇹🇼 Wei Che Lin, 🇹🇼 Chung Tang Lin steps in and ends Wei’s run in 7th on a classic flip. This marks the beginning of Lin’s rocky climb as he struggles to overtake Ip. At one point, Ip takes a chunk of Lin’s stack by catching his bluff. Undeterred, Lin keeps the pressure on Ip, pulling a stone cold five-bet bluff.

After 🇹🇼 Yi Ming Hong and 🇭🇰 Chin Hei Chan are eliminated, a lengthy four-handed battle follows. It ends with Lin exploding into full control with back-to-back knockouts. The first one on his chopping block is 🇹🇼 Chang An Chen (4th) on a flip, then 🇹🇼 Kristof Segers (3rd), who shoves straight into his pocket aces. Lin enters heads up against Ip with a clear advantage of 92 big blinds to 20 big blinds.

Chung Tang Lin tanking on the final hand

Heads up runs a total of  29 hands. With his big stack, Lin maintains the pressure with nearly every hand seeing a board. This sends Ip down to just 12 big blinds until he recovers and claws up to 30 big blinds. On the final hand, Ip moves all in on a bold river bluff. Lin goes deep into the tank and emerges with a call to deny Ip’s bluff with second pair.

Scroll down for the hottest hands of the day.

You can also relive the final table action via the livestream, click here.

Hon Leung Ip limps in and Chung Tang Lin checks the big blind. After the flop comes , heavy bets erupt starting with a bet of 225,000 from Ip, Lin answers with a check-raise to 700,000 and Ip flats.

The turn comes and Lin takes the reins with a 1,000,000 bet, Ip flats again. When the lands on the river, Lin steps on the brakes and checks, Ip goes all in for 2,325,000.

After using up two time extensions, Lin calls. Ip laughs and tables bluff, and Lin triumphantly shows  to knock out Ip in 2nd place.

Chung Tang Lin limps in and Hon Leung Ip checks the big blind. Both players pass up the flop to proceed to a turn board . Ip slides out 150,000 and Lin calls. The  appears on the river and Ip bets 475,000. Lin calls then mucks to Ip’s full house.

After the double up, Hon Leung Ip opens and Chung Tang Lin calls out of the big blind. Ip continues 200,000 at the flop , and Lin check-calls.

The turn brings a change-up with Lin leading out 800,000 and after a bit of thought, Ip makes the call.

Both players step on the brakes on the river . Lin has  , Ip wins the pot with a rivered top pair .

Hon Leung Ip

Chung Tang Lin is in full command of the the heads up round, slowly grinding down Hon Leung Ip to just 12 big blinds. On the button, Lin jams and Ip finally takes a stand then celebrates seeing he is ahead.

Hon Leung Ip:

Chung Tang Lin:

The board runs clean with a king on the river to ensure Ip the win and a double up.

After five hours of play, it is down to the final two players with Chung Tang Lin versus Hong Leung Ip for the title. Lin is fresh from his repeat victory at the Natural8 High Roller and has a massive chip advantage of 92 big blinds to Ip’s 20 big blinds.

Up for grabs is TWD 1,350,000 and TWD 927,700 for the runner-up.

Chung Tang Lin is still arranging his winnings when raises on the button then Kristof Segers three-bets all in. Lin snap-calls and Segers is in big trouble.

Kristof Segers:

Chung Tang Lin:

The flop gives Segers a bit of hope with his king pairing up but nothing follows to fall after the runout turn and  river.

Chang An Chen

After a lengthy four-handed battle, Chang An Chen bows out in 4th place on a flip. Taking all of his chips is the leader Chung Tang Lin who snap-calls the three-bet jam.

Chang An Chen:

Chung Tang Lin:

The board favors Lin in every way, giving him an ace then the flush for an overkill defeat to Chen.

Chang An Chen’s chips have been draining without a fight until the massive chip leader Chung Tang Lin open-jams on the small blind. Chen snap-calls for his tournament life with just 1,345,000 behind.

Chang An Chen:

Chung Tang Lin:

Chen is ahead but Lin has live cards to keep him sweating until the last card lands on the board .

Kristof Segers

On the button, Kristof Segers is down to just 1,855,000 when he jams with . Hon Leung Ip asks for a count then makes the call

Segers sweats it as he hopes to fade an ace. The board stays clean   to award him a much needed boost.

Hon Leung Ip min-raises on the button and big blind Chang An Chen defends for a flop of then check-calls Ip’s 275,000 continuation bet.

No action on the turn with Ip checking back to Chen then Ip returns to betting when the river comes . Chen calls then mucks to Ip’s pair.

Level 29 is underway with four players on the hunt for the title. Blinds are up 60K-120K ante 120K.

Chung Tang Lin opens 200,000, button player Chang An Chen three-bets 450,000, then Kristof Segers four-bets 1,100,000. No risk-takers in the house for Segers to claim the pot.

Chung Tang Lin min-raises and the blinds defend for a rare three-way. At the flop , Lin continues for 125,000 and only big blind Kristof Segers gives him action for a turn card of .

Lin puts Segers to the test with a bet of 200,000 and still, Segers sticks around to see the river . Lin bets again, this time just the minimum and gets the call.

Lin turns over flush and rakes in the pot.

Kristof Segers limps in and go down the streets with big blind Hon Leung Ip on the big blind. When the board reaches its end , no bets land until Ip attempts a steal for 125,000. Action swings back to Segers who thinks about it while Ip says, “it’s one bb, just give it to me.”

Segers calls and Ip laughs as he turns over bluff that’s far behind Segers’s jack-high.

Level 28 is underway with four players remaining. Blinds are up 50K-100K ante 100K

Chin Hei Chan

Kristof Segers min-raises, Chin Hei Chan slides out nearly all of his chips then commits the rest after Segers pushes.

Chin Hei Chan:

Kristof Segers:

It’s not looking good for Chan with only the ace to spring him back to health. The board doesn’t help out to end his run in 5th place.

Out of the cutoff seat, Chung Tang Lin calls under the gun Hon Leung Ip’s 160,000 raise then watches as Ip bets 120,000 on a flop . Lin calls to see the turn . Ip fires 325,000 and Lin is unfazed, making the quick call for one more round on the river .

This time Lin switches gears with a lead bet of 500,000. Ip tanks then gives up his stake in the pot.

Chang An Chen

Chang An Chen is back in the game with back-to-back takedowns courtesy of Chung Tang Lin. The first hand kicks off with a raise from Lin at cutoff, Chen reraises to 350,000 on the button, Lin four-bets all in, and Chen snap-calls for his tournament life.

Chang An Chen:

Chung Tang Lin:

Chen is looking prime for a double up and with the flop in full favor, he does so when the board completes .

On the very next hand, Lin raises again 160,000 then four-bet jams on top of Chen’s 600,000 three-bet. Chen snap-calls like previous.

At risk again, Chen has   and is flipping against Lin’s overcards. The board runs keeping Chen safe for a second double up.

Chin Hei Chan

After Hon Leung Ip min-raises, Chin Hei Chan jams for his last 700,000 and Ip snap-calls.

Chin Hei Chan:

Hon Leung Ip:

It’s looking peachy for Chan with the best hand which holds throughout the board to secure a reload.

Chung Tang Lin is on a tear picking up another few pots with the largest up against the leader once again. Lin opens 160,000 at under the gun and Hon Leung Ip defends on the big blind.

At the flop of , Lin continues for 100,000 and gets the call. On the turn , Lin fires 250,000 and that does the job with Ip letting go of his hand.

Chung Tang Lin picks up three consecutive pots with the biggest one seeing a raise of 175,000 from the leader Hon Leung Ip on the button. Lin defends on the small blind with a raise to 525,000, Ip four-bets to 1,025,000, then Lin fires a cold 1,700,000 five-bet.

After Ip uses up one time extension, he frustratingly folds and Lin roars as he flips over semi bluff.

Level 28 is underway with five players remaining with blinds of 40K-80K ante 80K.

Immediately after shipping a big pot on Chung Tang Lin’s failed bluff, Hon Leong Ip raises to 125,000 and goes to the flop with Kristof Segers who defends on the big blind.

After the dealer spreads out , Ip barrels 225,000 and Segers check-calls to take them to the turn  . Again Ip barrels for 550,000 and it’s a repeat with Segers check-calling.

The board completes with a river card and Segers open-checks for the last time. Ip can’t find a third barrel to check back.

Segers has and it’s good enough to claim the pot.

Hon Leung Ip continues to command with his massive arsenal which just got bigger in this hand against Chung Tang Lin. It opens with everyone folding to the small blind Ip who raises to 200,000. Big blind Lin defends.

The pot swells further with a c-bet of 65,000 from Ip that’s called by Lin on a flop of . Action heads to the turn where Ip fires 225,000 and Lin check-calls again.

When the comes on the river, Ip triple barrels 375,000 only to be challenged with a 1,025,000 raise from Lin. After using up three time extensions, Ip finds the guts to call and Lin roars, can’t believe his bluff bet    low straight doesn’t succeed with Ip turning over the higher straight.

Yi Ming Hong

Yi Ming Hong raises a large 450,000 leaving 155,000 behind then commits it all after Chang An Chen three-bets all in.

Yi Ming Hong:

Chang An Chen:

Hong is in dire need of a miracle but instead it is Chen who improves on a flop . With the turn  , Hong is drawing dead. The river is a.

After a short 10-minute break, the six remaining players are back in their seats. Cards are now flying at Level 27 with blinds of 30K-60K ante 60K.

Lin Wei Che

Chung Tang Lin opens then snap-calls Lin Wei Che’s shove. Lin has the covering stack, putting Lin Wei Che at risk of elimination.

Lin Wei Che:

Chung Tang Lin:

Lin Wei Che needs to dodge the big cards but the window quickly produces an ace for Chung Tang Lin and holds through the runout  to end Lin We Che’s run in 7th place.

Hon Leung Ip

Hon Leung Ip puts the heat on starting with a min-raise that’s called by big blind defender Kristof Segers. When the board runs , Ip fires 75,000, 235,000 and 525,000. Segers calls the flop and turn bets then tank-folds to the river bet.

Kris Segers min-raises and big blind Chung Tang Lin defends. Segers continues to represent with an 85,000 bet on a flop of and Lin check-calls for the turn card . Both players check and check the river  as well.

Lin shows and takes the pot.

Level 26 is underway with blinds at 25K-50K ante 50K. Two players fell in the opening round leaving just seven players.

Hon Leung Ip opens 100,000 and Chang An Chen is the lone caller out of the cutoff seat. Ip continues for 60,000 at  the flop , and Chen tosses in the call to bring a turn card .

Both players check then Ip resumes on the river with a bet of 225,000. Chen tank-calls then mucks to Ip’s two pair.

Tin Yan Yim

Lin Wei Che min-raises out of the middle seat, big blind Tin Yan Yim defends, then snap-shoves his last 265,000 at the flop .  Lin calls to put him at risk of elimination.

Tin Yan Yim:

Lin Wei Che:

Yim is behind though drawing for the flush. The turn and river don’t cooperate, dropping    to end Yim’s run in 8th place.

Chang An Chen makes it 80,000 to go and Kris Segers at cutoff calls then small blind Hon Leung Ip three-bets to 240,000. Chen and Segers want to continue and top up. All three players proceed to check it to the river .

Chen slides out a 200,000 bet, Segers folds, then Ip tanks for one time extension before making the call. Chen flips over and it’s a winner.

Kristof Segers defends his big blind calling hijack Tin Yan Yim’s min-raise then they both check it to the turn . Yim resumes with a delayed 250,000 c-bet, Segers tests back with a check-raise to 500,000, Yim folds.

After getting a shove through, Yi Ming Hong opens from cutoff and big blind Chung Tang Lin defends for a flop to come . Hong continues for 40,000 and Lin sticks to him with a check-call leading to a turn card that both players pass up for a free river card .

Following a check from Lin, Hong resumes betting for 200,000. Lin check-calls then insta-mucks to Hong’s  trips.

Hyundong Lee

After winning the second pot of the day with a preflop raise followed by an uncalled c-bet at the flop, Hyundong Lee engages in a preflop battle against chip leader Hon Leung Ip.

The hand opens with an 80,000 raise by Ip, Lee three-bets 325,000, then Ip answers with a four-bet to 675,000. After several seconds, Lee jams for 1,660,000 and Ip calls with a covering stack.

Hyundong Lee:

Hon Leung Ip:

Lee rests his fate on the board and when it runs out he becomes the first casualty of the final table.

Hon Leung Ip opens with a min-raise on the first hand of the final table and finds two callers in Chung Tang Lin and big blind Kristof Segers. Ip continues for 80,000 on a flop of which gets Lin to fold while Segers check-raises to 210,000. Ip gives it up.

Shuffle up and deal! Final dash to the title is underway! Blinds are 20K-40K ante 40K with 53:40 remaining in the clock. Good luck to all!

The field of 565 entries is narrowed down to the final 9 players in the Natural8 Open Main Event of the Players Series Championship III Taipiei.
As the final table is formed, a significant gap has emerged at the top of the leaderboard.

🇭🇰 Hon Leung Ip holds the chiplead with 4,045,000 in chips. He is pursued by 🇹🇼 Chung Tang Lin and 🇹🇼 Kristof Segers, who are currently tied with 3,450,000. These three players have distanced themselves from the rest of the finalists, creating a clear advantage heading into the final showdown.

The total prize pool reaches TWD 8,054,700. The 9 finalists return today at 11:00 AM, to determine who will claim the prestigious trophy and the top prize of TWD 1,350,000.

Natural8 Open Main Event – Day 3 – Final Table Seat Draw