The top prize of $600,210 was among Lee’s biggest for 2025 as he continues to make deep runs
American high-stakes pro Calvin Lee added another major title to his breakout year by winning the APT $50,000 Superstar Championship in Taipei. The event drew 36 entries and generated a prize pool of more than $1.8 million. Lee topped the field to secure the $600,210 first-place prize, continuing his strong run on the 2025 live circuit.
After the victory, Lee said the moment was special because his mother and aunt flew in from Seoul to watch him play. He noted that the last time his mother saw him compete, he finished second, making this win feel like a full-circle moment. The triumph marks one of the largest scores of his career and his third major title of the year.
Lee has been a consistent force throughout 2025. The 2015 WSOP six-max bracelet winner has collected four of his five biggest career cashes this year, including a runner-up finish in a Triton Jeju $25,000 event for nearly $1.2 million and a fifth-place showing in a $60,000 high roller for more than $600,000. His latest result pushes his career earnings to roughly $5.2 million.
The final table of the Superstar Championship featured several well-known players. Alex Wice was the first to fall in the money, followed by Steve O’Dwyer, who lost a key flip to Lee. Webster Lim and Vincent Huang also exited before the final three emerged. Dylan Linde finished third for $276,590 after losing a classic race to Daniel Neilson.
Heads-up play began with Neilson holding the chip advantage, but Lee turned the match around by picking off a bluff and then making two pair in a decisive pot. The final hand saw Lee shove the river and get called by Neilson’s third pair, which could not beat Lee’s two pair. Neilson earned $417,660, while Lee walked away with the title and 408 POY points, moving him up to 42nd in the standings.
