HomeNot bad for a first-timer. The final table of the main event featured eight players coming from eight different nations and after roughly nine hours of play, it was New Zealand which ruled all and it was Paul Hockin who was crowned the champion in the APT Asian Series Cebu 2014 Main Event at the All-In Poker Club in Cebu, Philippines.
APT Asian Series Cebu 2014 Main Event Champion, Paul Hockin
For his efforts, the Kiwi earned PHP 3,235,000 in what was his first-ever APT experience.
“I’ve never played before. I just played two side events this series, no good; and then into the main event,” declared Hockin.
Hockin is not the most decorated of the pros in the final table or the main event. According to the WeLoveSport.com player database, the New Zealander has had only four cashes in four major events in Asia and Australia. However, two times out of four ITMs, he went all the way to the title.
And according to the newly-crowned APT champion, this APT title is more special than past victories he experienced:
“I prefer this one. (My previous main event title) was for a little bit more money $100,000 and this one might be 90-ish or something but this one was more satisfying. I got a lot of hands in the previous one— cases of aces, kings, queens and I won most of them there (compared) to this one when I had to work a little bit harder for it,” shared Hockin.
Hard work—and a bit of luck were needed for this title run.
In one hand that brought him to the chip lead when play was 5-handed, Hockin completed his straight on the river holding Q♣ 10♣ against the Philippines’ Maria Bernadette Lina, who was ahead on a the flop 9♥ J♣ 5♥ and turn 2♦ with pocket fives.
Both players had all their chips in the middle when the 8♠ arrived giving Hockin the big pot and busting out the Filipino at 5th place (PHP 724,000).
“That was such a lucky hand. I’ve seen her raise a few hands like ace-six, ace-seven so I thought when I re-raised I thought she might fold, but she called and I flopped an open-ended straight. And considering how much I put into the pot I thought of getting it in,” admitted Hockin who was even apologetic about the whole thing.
“I felt kind of bad. I really didn’t want to (cause) she’s the hometown hero and was a real nice lady. That’s probably the worst I felt ever winning chips in my life.”
And when he didn’t rely on luck, he depended on his poker skills.
Hockin took matters into his own hands when the players were down to three. He busted out Ivan Zalac (Australia) first hitting a set with his 9♣ 9♦ on a board of 3♣ 10♣ 9♠ Q♠ 4♦. The Australian was ousted at 3rd place for PHP 1,267,000.
And in what was one of the fastest heads-up play in APT history, Hockin took down the title after cold-calling Japanese Azusa Maeda’s all-in worth over 1.5 million.
Maeda was caught stealing with 9♦ 10♦ and Hockin made the call with just K♥ 10♠. The dealer tabled A♠ 4♣ 6♦ J♥ 5♣ and officially gave the New Zealander the title. Maeda’s runner-up finish earned him PHP 1,881,000.
The action was fast and furious in the first few rounds as previous chip leaders got the boot within the first hour. Sun Tan (Malaysia), who led after Day 1 and Stephen Miles (England), who led entering Day 3, were both eliminated and had to settle for 8th place (PHP 360,000) and 7th place (PHP 454,000), respectively.
In the first four hours, three other players were eliminated namely Do Hoang Anh (Vietnam) at 6th place (PHP 574,000), Lina and another lady in Mo Yong Wei (China) at 4th (PHP 894,000).
And when asked for what he intends to splurge on first after the huge haul in Cebu, Hockin’s answer was simple:
“I really want to go for a jet-ski and the Philippines is a nice place to go to on holidays, you have nice beaches and everyone is friendly. So probably just go to a beach do a bit of jet-skiing or para-sailing, stuff like that.”
Not bad a plan and not bad a result for the APT first-timer.
Main Event Champion Paul Hockin with 2nd runner up Azusa Maeda and the APT Girls
Check all the winners at the APT Asian Series Cebu 2014 Results Page.