APT Taipei 2026: Sviten Special Makes Historic Asian Debut
If there was any doubt that APT Taipei is one of the must-watch live poker stops of 2026, the schedule has already ended that conversation. An incredible 172 events are part of the schedule that goes from April 22 to May 3. Martin 'Franke' von Zweigbergk, owner of The Festival Series, will be heading over to Taiwan for this iconic moment in the history of Sviten Special.
Event: APT Taipei 2026
Whoever hasn't heard about APT Taipei yet, then you will do now. The event is having over $6,500,000 in guaranteed prize pools, and has literally something for any kind of poker player. Mixed games, satellites, bounty events, plenty of Hold'em and PLO, and a TWD 70 million guaranteed Main Event (over $2,000,000), which makes the event very attractive for pokers from all over the world.
But for us at The Festival Series, there is one event on the schedule that means even more.
Because at APT Taipei, Sviten Special will be played in Asia for the very first time.
That's more than just another t ournament added to the list. It is a true historical moment for one of poker's most entertaining and fastest-growing mixed game formats. §
A Swedish Original Goes Global
Sviten Special was born in Sweden, where it developed a loyal following among players looking for something different from standard hold’em and Omaha. We have been writing about it a lot, and Anders Bengtsson, who invented the game, has been interviewed loads of times. Why? Because we think that Sviten Special absolutely rocks it!
From the moment it got played in Sweden, the game expanded across Scandinavia and into the Baltics, mainly thanks to our very own Franke and the Cash Game Festival and later The Festival Series. As more players discovered the format, it became clear that Sviten Special was not just a novelty game. It had real staying power. Other personalities that really have put themselves on the line for the game are for example Teresa Nousiainen from Kings of Tallinn, and many others in the meantime.
Every stop, every new country, and every fresh player pool helped build its reputation. And now, the journey reaches another major milestone in Taipei.
>> Interview with Anders Bengtsson
Momentum Is Real
Earlier this year, at The Festival Bratislava, we got overwelmed by the visit of the winner of 20x WSOP rings and 4x WSOP bracelets, Ari Engel. He is a player that adores mixed games as well, and thus it was no surprise he would give it a try in Sviten Special as soon as he arrived, which he eventually conquered and walked away with the trophy.
After that, the next headliner, was at the Irish Open in Dublin, the longest-running poker festival in Europe and one of the most rspected brands in the game. The response was outstanding as the tournament drew 127 entries. It shows that players really like the game and once players try Sviten Special, such as all the Americans in the poker circuit, the game becomes a fan-favourite almost immediately.
Sviten Special Hits APT Taipei
The Asian debut comes in the form of Event #49: Turbo – PL Drawmaha Sviten, scheduled for:
- Saturday, April 25 – 7:45 PM
- Buy-in: TWD 10,000 (roughly 300 euros)
Thanks to Riku Koivurinne, who introduced the idea of adding Sviten Special to the calendar of APT Taipei to Neil Johnson, president of the Asian Poker Tour, it a fact that Sviten Special will make its debut. For mixed game fans, just like the two gentlemen we just mentioned, it is one of the most exciting side events on the entire schedule.
For The Festival Series, it is a proud moment to see a game with such strong Scandinavian roots continue to grow on the international stage.
Franke Heads to Taipei
Adding to the story, Martin “Franke” von Zweigbergk, will be in Taipei alongside several other European players (including Riku) making the trip. He doesn't travel too often to Asia just for poker, but in this case he wil. After all, who wants to miss out on the grand debut?
APT Taipei is already a major story because of its ginourmous scale with 172 events on the schedule, it's not a joke. it is an all-in festival designed for every type of player. We are just a bit worried about Franke, because usually he is not used to such big fields. Will he be able to win yet another tournament during his travels? Make sure to keep an eye on our social media channels, as we surely will share you several episodes of Franke's adventures!
A Big Moment for the Game
What started as a Swedish specialty has now travelled through Europe and landed on one of Asia’s biggest poker stages. We don't call it luck, we call it momentum. For everyone who has supported the game along the way, and for everyone who will discover it for the first time in Taipei, this is a moment worth celebrating.
APT Taipei was already going to be huge.
Now it is also part of Sviten Special history.
