HomeAfter nine days of festivities, with 19 thrilling side events and a heavy-weighted US$2,200 Main Event, the Asian Poker Tour Philippines 2016 II came to a close at Resorts World Manila in Newport City, Philippines. The seventh leg of the APT 2016 calendar year of events brought together players from around the globe, with 21 countries represented and nearly 1400 attendees, for an overall prize pool of US$570,000. Here are the exciting highlights of the event and the last of the winners.
The festival began with Filipino favorite, Richard “Hotsauce” Marquez, capturing the highly popular Opening Event US$50,000 Guaranteed. Days later, Korea’s John Kim captured his fourth-ever APT Open Face Chinese Pineapple title and then closed out the final day of the festival winning another trophy, the 6 Handed Turbo w/Antes event.
The man who seized the highlight trophy and the largest cash prize overall was Japan’s Shinichiro Tone who outlasted many past champions at the Main Event and then defeated Korean favorite Lim Yohwan aka Boxer at the heads up round to take home the US$56,600 first place cash prize, the APT Championship Trophy, and the APT Championship Ring.
With the top two players in the APT Player of the Year 2016 standings present throughout the festival, it was no surprise to see them rake in some points. Current leader, Japan’s Iori Yogo won the No Limit Hold’em event and the Ante Only Turbo, and also cashed at the final event of the festival. UK’s Samad Razavi, the APT POY quadruple champion 2012-2015 and the player running second in the standings, won one event, the Pot Limit Omaha Hi. He also cashed at the Head Hunter event. Both players maintained their standings with Yogo pulling further away having accrued more points.
The last two days of the APT Philippines 2016 II awarded its final six side event trophies. Here is a list of all those happy winners.
Vietnam’s Phu Danh Nguyen wins the Monster Stack
Monster Stack Champion, Phu Danh Nguyen
The Monster Stack event was a two-day event with a field of 77 entries for a prize pool of US$52,280. There were many APT regulars in the field with several making it into the money but it was Vietnam’s Phu Danh Nguyen and Malaysia’s Victor Chong who went head-to-head for the title. The final hand was very dramatic with Nguyen all in with pocket tens full house defeating Chong’s trip nines. Both players struck a deal awarding first place US$11,910 and the event trophy.
Japan’s Iori Yogo wins No Limit Hold’em- captures second event trophy
NLH Champion, Iori Yogo
Japan’s Iori Yogo bested a field of 43 entries at the No Limit Hold’em event to win his second event trophy of the festival. Yogo faced off against Korea’s Byung Il Park at the heads up round. Both players already held one side event trophy and battled for who would capture his second. Yogo rose to victory, earning the first place money of US$8,350.
High Rollers goes to Japan’s Ken Okada
High Rollers Champion, Ken Okada
There were only 5 players who coughed up the US$3,300 High Rollers event entry fee for a winner-take-all prize pool of US$14,500. The heads up round saw Japan’s Ken Okada eliminate Canada’s Linh Tran in just two hands to claim the winnings and the event trophy.
Eric Leong Zheng claims the Super Deep Stack Turbo
Super Deep Stack Turbo Champion, Eric Leong Zheng
The Super Deep Stack Turbo event saw 55 entries for a total prize pool of US$16,000. There were nine players who earned a profit with Malaysia’s Eric Leong Zhong getting the biggest cut of US$4,440. Zheng overcame a very tough competitor at the heads up round, Norway’s Henrik Tollefsen, to claim the title and the event trophy.
Exciting victory for Korea’s John Kim at the 6 Handed Turbo w/Antes
6 Handed Turbo w/ Antes Champion, John Kim
Korea’s John Kim won his second trophy of the festival after defeating fellow countryman, Kimura Jongyeol Lee in exciting fashion at the heads up round. Lee was behind in chips but landed a huge double up that reversed the stack sizes dramatically. Short-stacked, Kim followed it up with double up of his own and took the overwhelming lead on yet another double up with his A-9 winning against Lee’s A-4. Crippled way down, Lee proceeded to win four consecutive double up pots to be almost at par with Kim in stack. But the win would still be Kim’s as they were both all in with Q-6 versus J-3, and Kim’s higher hand improving to two pair to seal the win and his second event trophy.
There were 58 total entries for a prize pool of US$11,250. Kim won the first place purse of US$3,110.
India’s Vikram Kumar wins the last side event trophy – Deep Stack Hyper Turbo
Deep Stack Hyper Turbo Champion, Vikram Kumar
The last event of the festival, the Deep Stack Hyper Turbo, was won by India’s Vikram Kumar. Kumar had a roller coaster ride to the top, chunking down Japan’s Toshiyuki Onda at three-handed with K-7 landing trips. Onda eventually fell in 3rd place leaving Kumar up against Japan’s Yoshito Iwama at the final battle. Kumar was ahead in chips but with his K-10 losing to K-6, Kumar went way down in chips. This would not discourage him as he landed a double up with pocket jacks, then went on to win it with A-9 spiking an ace on the river against Iwama’s pocket sixes.
Kumar bested a field of 51 entries and took home US$2,060 in cash out of the US$7,420 prize pool.
Congratulations to all the winners! The APT would like to thank everyone who came out to support the APT Philippines 2016 II! You can relive the moment and watch the daily highlights at the APT YouTube channel. Also check out the table action at the events featured on the RFID table at the APT Twitch.tv.
We will return next month for the APT Poker Weekend Series running from August 9-17, 2016 at our hub, the APT Poker Room at the Waterfront Manila Pavilion Hotel and Casino in Ermita, Metro Manila.