HomeAPT 2019 season opener kicked off strong at partner and host venue Pro Poker Club in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The 174 entries for the opening Monster Stack event nearly packed the entire first floor with a few tables taken up by the Super High Rollers event. Both of these events will resume tomorrow. We’ve got recaps for you below.
Also needing mention is the first of three Main Event satellites that took place in the evening. There were a total of 101 entries. This turnout along with the healthy opening events are certainly indicative of a big Main Event to come.
Monster Stack
174 entries for the opening Monster Stack event had a solid showing of notable players from all over the region. After 16 rounds of play, some survived, some fell. Only 54 players will return tomorrow for the race to the money and the first prize. Cards back in the air at 1pm. Blinds at 2000-4000 ante 4000. Average stack 96,667 with 5,220,000 total chips in play.
Taking a look at the numbers, with each entry costing VND 11,000,000, the prize pool came to VND 1,687,800,000 (~USD 72,660). 29 players will see a cut of that. The eventual winner will pocket VND 383,346,000 (~USD 16,500) and set the pace in the APT Player of the Series race.
Monster Stack prize pool
Among the players through to the final day were Norbert Koh, SJ Kim, Duy Ho, Huy Coshet, Aditya Sushant, Raymond Chiu, Iori Yogo, Lim Yohwan, Nguyen Van Dung, and Jin Yong. Bagging up a big stack was Michael Kim Falcon with 206,500. The player amassing the largest was local pro Tran Kim Dong with 390,000. We were lucky enough to catch two hands that helped Dong get there.
Tran Kim Dong
On a board of 10♥ 4♦ K♣ 5♥ with progressive betting at every stage, Dong shoved that sent the opening bettor tanking for nearly five minutes. The bettor called for his tournament life and saw his K♥ Q♣ top pair behind Dong’s K♦ 10♣ two pair. The river 10♥ sealed the win with a full house.
The next one was three hands before the close of day. With blinds at 1500-3000 ante 3000, hijack Nguyen Huu Tuan raised to 6500, cutoff Dong called, big blind player shoved his remaining 36k. Tuan and Dong called. The board ran 4♣ 10♦ 2♥ K♦ with both players checking. On the river J♥, Dong bet for a side pot but Tuan folded. Dong held a dominating A♣ Q♥ straight to boot out the at-risk player with A♥ 10♣ pair.
Super High Rollers
The Super High Rollers drew a healthy 24 players to the felt with four re-entering to bring the total to 28. With each one ponying up the VND 107,500,000 buy-in, the prize pool fattened up to VND 2,716,000,000 (~USD 116,825). Only five players will shave that down with the lowest payout at VND 192,191,000 (~USD 8,700) and the top at very profitable VND 1,160,333,000 (~USD 50,000).
After 12 rounds of 40 minute blinds, the event wrapped up just before midnight. 13 players advanced, among them were Ji Xia Qing (1,584,000), Feng Hua Huan (1,498,000), Linh Tran (1,241,000), Alan King Lun Lau (418,000), and Phachara Wongwichit (309,000). Bagging up the chip lead was UK’s Alex Lindop with 2,533,000.
Cards are back in the air tomorrow, Thursday, January 10 at 2pm. Blinds pick up at Level 13: 12K-24K ante 24K. Average stack at 800,000 with 11,200,000 total chips in play.