If you’re an Asian poker fan watching the 2026 World Series of Poker on YouTube this summer, you could walk away with a free trip to Taipei worth $15,000 — just for getting creative with a lion.
The Asian Poker Tour (APT) has announced a brand-new official partnership with the WSOP for its 2026 livestream coverage. Starting May 26, 100 bracelet events will be streamed daily on the WSOP’s YouTube channel throughout the seven-week festival running to July 15 — and the APT is right at the heart of it, providing special guests for commentary and bringing Asia’s voice to the world’s biggest poker stage.
What the APT x WSOP Deal Means for Asian Players
The partnership is more than just a sponsorship logo on a livestream. For players across the APAC region, it signals that the two biggest pillars of Asian tournament poker — the APT circuit and the WSOP — are actively bridging the gap between Vegas and Asia. The APT’s Lion trophy branding will be visible to a global audience of hundreds of thousands of poker fans tuning in from Thailand, Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines and beyond.
The APT enters 2026 celebrating its 20th anniversary year, making this collaboration feel especially significant. And as a cherry on top, the tour is running a free-to-enter contest that gives fans a genuine shot at over $1 million in prize money.
The Contest: Get Creative, Win a $15K Package
Here’s how it works. Create an image inspired by the iconic APT Lion trophy, then post it on Facebook, Instagram or X with the hashtags #APTContest and #APTC2026. That’s it. You can download official APT Lion stickers at theasianpokertour.com/wsop to help spark your creativity.
The contest is open from May 26 at 9am PST through July 15 at 11:59pm PST — running the entire length of the WSOP series. One winner will be selected and awarded:
- A $10,000 seat in the APT Championship Main Event ($5M GTD)
- Up to $2,000 for flights to Taipei
- Up to $3,000 for hotel accommodation
The APT Championship takes place at Red Space in Taipei, Taiwan from November 13–29, 2026. It’s a freezeout format with a $5 million guaranteed prize pool — earning its reputation as “Asia’s Main Event.” Last year, Nishant Sharma topped a field of 671 entries to take home over $1 million at the 2025 APT Championship Main Event. Expect the 2026 field and prize pool to be even larger, with live poker booming across the region.
Why This Matters Right Now
Live poker in Asia is experiencing a genuine surge. GGPoker-backed platforms continue to attract record player pools, and the appetite for major live events — whether in Taipei, Manila, Seoul or beyond — has never been stronger. The APT x WSOP partnership is a sign that the global poker industry is paying close attention to the APAC market, and offering real pathways for regional players to compete at the highest levels.
If you’re heading to Las Vegas for the WSOP this summer, you can also check out the APT Lion trophies in person at the APT booth near the tournament area.
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