Taiwan Millions Tournament (TMT) 19 Kicks Off with Record Numbers and Star Power

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Callum Jury
Callum Jury, one of Somuchpoker’s newest Live Reporters, hails from the Lake District in the UK and joined the live poker reporting scene in 2025. Before moving into poker journalism, Callum built a career in business, drawing on his strong analytical skills. His passion for storytelling first developed during higher education, where he studied media and photography, sharpening his ability to capture moments with precision and creativity. Since joining Somuchpoker, Callum has covered major international poker events in Asia in 2025, bringing a mix of media expertise and keen attention to detail to the team’s live reporting.

The 19th edition of the Taiwan Millions Tournament (TMT 19) is officially underway, marking a significant start to the 2026 poker season in Taipei. Running from January 22 to February 09, the series features a dual-venue setup, beginning at the Asia Poker Arena (Jan 22–31) before moving to RED SPACE a day early on January 31 until February 9 for the final stages.

Opening Weekend Highlights

The festival opened to capacity crowds, with the initial events significantly exceeding their projected prize pools. The Warm-Up GiantStack , the first trophy event of the series, drew a record-breaking 964 entries. This massive turnout pushed the prize pool to NT$2,700,000, more than doubling its original guarantee.

Taiwan’s Wu Chien Yu emerged as the inaugural champion of TMT 19, taking home NT$426,200 and a seat in the TMTC Main Event valued at NT$35,000.

Taiwan Millions Tournament
Taiwan Millions Tournament – Warm Up GiantStack Champion Wu Chien Yu

#1 Warm-Up GiantStack (3,500 TWD)
Warm-Up GiantStack
Total Prize USD
$87,130
Total Prize
NT$2,753,200
Guaranteed
NT$1,000,000
Entries
964
ITM
145
#PayoutPlayer
SPI
1NT$461,200
$14,595
WC
1,393.38
2NT$283,000
$8,955
JN
Jaemin Nam
South Korea [KOR]South Korea
985.27
3NT$210,000
$6,645
SY
804.47
4NT$157,000
$4,970
BY
696.69
5NT$118,000
$3,735
HT
623.14
6NT$90,000
$2,850
YC
568.84
7NT$69,000
$2,185
SC
526.65
8NT$54,000
$1,710
492.63
9NT$42,000
$1,330
KC
Kenneth Chak
Hong Kong [HKG]Hong Kong
464.46
Check the 145 Payouts & Results ...

Other early winners include:

Global Pro Shiina Okamoto Joins the Field

Shiina Okamoto
Shiina Okamoto

Adding to the competitive atmosphere, world-renowned professional Shiina Okamoto has officially arrived to compete in the full TMT 19 series. Okamoto, a two-time WSOP bracelet winner and GTO Wizard Ambassador, is expected to be a major contender throughout the festival. Fans and players can expect to see her elite-level gameplay live across various events from Day 1 through the final showdowns.

The TMT 19 schedule is anchored by several high-guarantee events designed for a wide range of bankrolls. Below are the key highlights remaining in the series:

EventDateBuy-In (TWD)Guaranteed (NT$)
Taipei City CupJan 26 – 273,0001,000,000
Mystery & Survival BountyJan 27 – 296,0004,000,000
Mini MainJan 29 – Feb 016,00010,000,000
Main EventFeb 01 – 099,00030,000,000
Master NLHFeb 02 – 0415,0005,000,000

Main Event Exclusive Incentives

As the festival prepares to transition to the Main Event starting February 1, organizers have announced exclusive rewards for early registrants. For each of the 8 starting flights, the first 100 players to register will receive a limited-edition CTP × TMT Keychain. These collectible items are produced in limited quantities and are not available for purchase, serving as a unique memento for participants in this record-breaking edition.

With a total guaranteed prize pool across the series exceeding NT$59,000,000, TMT 19 continues to establish itself as a premier destination for poker in Asia.