Nevan Chang Claims Record $337K Win in APT Jeju Superstar Challenge
Nevan Chang took the top prize in the richest ever Asian Poker Tour Superstar Challenge at Jeju, prevailing over a record 51 entries to win $337K and cement his position among Asia's elite.
Key Takeaways
- Nevan Chang won the richest ever APT Superstar Challenge for $337,000 in Jeju.
- The event drew 51 entries at a $27,000 buy-in, creating a prize pool of $1.25 million.
- The final table featured players from eight countries including Taiwan, Germany, and Indonesia.
- Chang's win marks a new personal best and boosts his career earnings over $4.4 million.
Nevan Chang has secured the largest-ever prize in the Asian Poker Tour (APT) Superstar Challenge, outlasting a field of 51 entries at LES A Casino in Jeju Shinhwa World to take home $337,000. This edition marked a new record for both prize pool and attendance since the buy-in was increased to $27,000 in 2024. The final table was contested by players representing eight countries, further highlighting the global reach of the APT.
Inside the $27K Superstar Challenge Final Table
The richest APT Superstar Challenge to date attracted 51 players, creating a prize pool of approximately $1.25 million. The event broke the previous entry record since the buy-in was raised, with top professionals from regions including Taiwan, Germany, Vietnam, and the Netherlands. Finalists were:
- Yu Chung 'Nevan' Chang (Taiwan)
- Fabian Gumz (Germany)
- Johan Pedersen (Denmark)
- Renji Mao (China)
- Rudy Edenata (Indonesia)
- Rob Hollink (The Netherlands)
- Yoko Sasaki (Japan)
- Nang Quang Nguyen (Vietnam)
- Chih Wei Fan (Taiwan)
The tournament structure provided no live stream, allowing a relaxed atmosphere with players using their phones between hands and interacting freely—rare for a million-dollar final table.
Payouts and Final Table Results
Nine players made the money, with each finalist securing a significant return on their $27,000 investment. The results were as follows:
- Yu Chung 'Nevan' Chang: KRW 451,777,500 (~$337,000)
- Rudy Edenata: KRW 341,060,000 (~$254,000)
- Nang Quang Nguyen: KRW 243,610,000 (~$181,000)
- Rob Hollink: KRW 187,800,000 (~$140,000)
- Renji Mao: KRW 132,880,000 (~$99,000)
- Johan Pedersen: KRW 99,220,000 (~$74,000)
- Yoko Sasaki: KRW 77,960,000 (~$58,000)
- Chih Wei Fan: KRW 67,330,000 (~$50,000)
- Fabian Gumz: KRW 60,240,000 (~$45,000)
Other notable payouts included Christian Harder (KRW 56,700,000, ~$42,000) and Lester Edoc (KRW 53,150,000, ~$39,000), highlighting the depth of talent in attendance.
How the Superstar Challenge Played Out
The bubble burst at 11 players, setting up a diverse final table. Early eliminations included Fabian Gumz (9th) and Chih Wei Fan (8th). Yoko Sasaki, the only woman to reach the final table, exited in 7th after being unable to recover from a short stack. As play narrowed, Rob Hollink—The Netherlands' all-time top 10 money earner—finished 4th.
Momentum shifted during three-handed play when Chang eliminated Nang Quang Nguyen in third place ($181,000), then entered heads-up against Indonesia’s Rudy Edenata holding a chip advantage.
The heads-up match was brief, lasting only three hands. Edenata moved all-in on the turn with two pair but ran into Chang’s flopped flush. The river sealed it, delivering Chang a career-best result.
"Everybody likes playing on a stream because it’s more exciting, but it also means people are very careful, and can watch hands back on the break. This was a bit different. I just had to see who was a nit and who was loose, and play my best." — Nevan Chang, after his victory
A Landmark Victory for Nevan Chang
Nevan Chang’s win adds $337,000 to existing lifetime poker tournament earnings of more than $4.4 million. The Taiwanese pro has final-table appearances in World Series of Poker bracelet events in 2024 and 2025, demonstrating his ability to adapt to both streamed and non-streamed formats. The outcome in Jeju also surpasses Chang’s previous highest cash of $282,000, earned earlier in 2026 for a 4th place finish in a Triton Poker $25K event in the same city. Alongside the prize money, Chang secures a ticket to the $10,000 APT Championship Main Event, set for November in Taipei.
Broader Context: APT Expansion and Jeju Poker Boom
The APT Jeju stop featured a packed schedule, with the Main Event exceeding its $1.6 million guarantee ahead of schedule, an Ultra Stack High Roller awarding $160,000 to the winner and other single-day high roller events running alongside the Superstar Challenge. This reflects broader interest in APT events across Asia and growing prize pools year over year. Jeju’s emergence as a poker destination has become apparent, attracting players from around the globe with rich guarantees and major series overlaying regular seasonal offerings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2026 APT Jeju Superstar Challenge?
Yu Chung 'Nevan' Chang took first place in the 2026 APT Jeju Superstar Challenge, claiming $337,000 and earning a ticket to the APT Championship Main Event.
What was the buy-in and prize pool for the APT Superstar Challenge in Jeju?
The tournament featured a $27,000 buy-in with a total prize pool of $1.25 million, the largest in APT Superstar Challenge history.
Who finished runner-up in the Jeju APT Superstar Challenge?
Rudy Edenata placed second, earning KRW 341,060,000 (approximately $254,000), after a short heads-up duel with Chang.
How many different countries were represented at the final table?
The final table included nine players from eight different countries, highlighting the international appeal of the event.
Did Nevan Chang beat his previous largest career poker win with this result?
The $337,000 prize is Chang's new personal best, exceeding his prior $282,000 win at the Triton Poker $25K earlier in 2026.
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About the author
Daniel Reyes
Poker Correspondent
Daniel Reyes covers live and online poker — tournament series from the WSOP and EPT down to the daily online grind, room news, promotions, and the industry moves behind them. The reports keep every score, prize pool, and player name exactly as the record shows, and follow the story past the final hand: who qualified, what the payout structure rewarded, and how the field is shifting. For roster changes, software updates, and regulatory knocks on the poker economy, Daniel Reyes is the desk's first read.
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