Fritz Wins Record Baby Superstar Challenge at APT Jeju

Fritz tops the record-breaking Baby Superstar Challenge field

APT Jeju 2026 delivered a headline side event on Day 9 as the Baby Superstar Challenge came to a close. Austria’s Manuel Martin Fritz started the final day as chip leader and converted that advantage into a breakthrough victory, earning his first Asian Poker Tour title.

The tournament drew 119 entries and generated a massive KRW 799,680,000 prize pool, roughly USD 590,170. That made it the second-largest Baby Superstar Challenge ever and, more importantly, the biggest and richest edition of the event APT has staged in South Korea.

For players who follow the live circuit closely, that matters. A strong field, a healthy prize pool and a prestigious regional stop all combine to make the title more meaningful. If you are mapping out your next live trip, it is worth watching how poker rooms and poker clubs connect online preparation with major festival schedules.

How Fritz closed out the final five and won his first APT title

Play had been paused the previous night with five players left, and Fritz returned with the lead over Jieming Xu, Elmer Kalaquian, Weiran Pu and Wengang Wang. That kind of setup usually creates a fascinating tension: the leader must balance pressure and survival, while the shorter stacks look for the right spot to double up and change the shape of the table.

Fritz eventually reached heads-up play against Chinese pro Weiran Pu. The two players agreed to a deal, leaving KRW 6,500,000 and the trophy still on the line. Pu locked up the larger guaranteed payout through the deal, but Fritz won the final battle and secured the title.

His victory paid KRW 166,930,000 in total, around USD 123,196. It also pushed his career live earnings to just under USD 8 million. That is a meaningful milestone for any high-level tournament player: it reflects not just one good run, but long-term consistency across tough fields.

Final table results and the key names in the money

A total of 17 players cashed in the event, and the final table featured a strong mix of international talent. That is one of the reasons APT side events have become so respected: they are not soft field warmups, but real tests of structure, stamina and decision-making.

• Manuel Martin Fritz (Austria) — 1st place, KRW 166,930,000
• Weiran Pu (China) — 2nd place, KRW 170,250,000
• Elmer Kalaquian (Philippines) — 3rd place, KRW 88,360,000

Pu came within inches of his first APT title and actually collected the largest payout because of the deal, but the trophy and official win went to Fritz. Kalaquian, a seasoned Filipino live pro, added another strong result to an already impressive APT résumé.

For players studying tournament poker, this final table is a good reminder that strong results come from more than just card distribution. Stack depth, ICM pressure and timing all matter, which is why structured study through a poker school can pay real dividends in multi-day events.

Ultra Stack breaks through the guarantee with 274 entries

Another event that stood out on Day 9 was Event #85: Ultra Stack, a two-day tournament that comfortably surpassed its KRW 150 million guarantee. The event drew 274 entries across three opening flights and built a KRW 284 million prize pool.

After the flights wrapped up, 40 players remained and will return for the Final Day, where the title and a first-place prize of KRW 57,673,200 — about USD 42,563 — are still to be decided.

• Flight A: Chi Jen Chen (Taiwan) — 2,671,000
• Flight B: Cheng Xin (China) — 1,689,000
• Flight C: Masayuki Tsuchida (Japan) — 1,770,000

Chi Jen Chen not only topped Flight A but also heads into Day 2 as the overall chip leader. That matters in deep-stack events, where chip accumulation early on can create a huge edge in later-stage pots and ICM-heavy spots.

Tran Hanh reaches 10 APT titles in Open Face Chinese Poker

Austria’s Tran Hanh reached a major career milestone by winning Event #86: Open Face Chinese Poker - Heads Up. He defeated Japan’s Daisuke Someya to claim the trophy and KRW 4,294,400.

Hanh entered APT Jeju 2026 with eight titles, then added a ninth by winning Event #55: Masters Fixed Limit Draw Poker. This latest success pushed him to 10 career APT titles, making him a double-digit champion on the tour.

Hanh and Someya agreed to an ICM deal before playing on for the trophy. Someya took KRW 4,000,000 for second place, while Hanh finished the job and added another major line to his resume.

That kind of achievement is especially notable in mixed-game and OFC formats, where success depends on discipline, pattern recognition and the ability to manage variance. For players looking to build a bankroll for live travel, keeping an eye on promotions & bonuses can help make the journey more efficient.

Anqi Luo wins her first APT title and mixed-game momentum keeps rolling

China’s Anqi Luo joined the APT winners’ circle by taking down Event #88: Fixed Limit - Choose Your Own Adventure. She defeated compatriot Xinze Li heads-up to win KRW 1,310,217 and her maiden APT title.

Li had already captured his first APT title earlier in the festival in Event #65: Masters Fixed Limit Seven Card Stud, so he came close to going back-to-back. Instead, he settled for second place and KRW 870,000.

Thailand’s Sorawit Suriyakarn continued his impressive mixed-game run with a third-place finish worth KRW 540,000. He had won Event #80: Fixed Limit - R-O-S-E-T just one day earlier, which means he now has six APT titles.

This is a good example of why mixed-game specialists are so dangerous at festival series: when formats change quickly, the players with the broadest technical base can keep producing results across multiple events.

Expert analysis: what APT Jeju tells us about today’s live poker landscape

APT Jeju keeps proving something important: the live ecosystem is no longer about a single marquee event. Side events with deep structures, strong guarantees and international fields now matter just as much for player development and tour prestige.

• Deep-stack formats reward real skill, especially postflop and in late-stage ICM spots.
• Deals are part of modern tournament poker, and smart players know when to lock up equity.
• Mixed games are growing in value because they separate adaptable players from one-format specialists.
• Regional tours like APT are career builders, not just travel stops.

For aspiring live pros, the lesson is clear: preparation has to be broader than one format or one venue. A player who studies structure, bankroll management and field selection can gain a real edge before the cards are even dealt. That is also why many serious players pair live schedules with the right poker agent and a long-term travel plan.

Final thoughts: a strong Day 9 for APT Jeju 2026

Day 9 at APT Jeju 2026 was a strong snapshot of what makes the tour so appealing. Fritz captured a record-breaking Baby Superstar Challenge, Hanh became a 10-time APT champion, Luo earned her first tour title, and Ultra Stack set up a compelling final day.

The bigger picture is just as important. Jeju continues to cement its place as one of Asia’s premier poker destinations, offering players high-value side events, deep fields and a chance to build lasting résumés. For anyone tracking the live scene, this is the kind of festival that shapes careers, not just results.

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