Home“It’s all over folks!” Those were the words echoed on the mic as soon the river card came down. “Lester Edoc is the APT Main Event champion!” The Filipino pro was undoubtedly the most decorated player at the Final 8 and seizing the title further exemplified that. Edoc was awarded the championship trophy, the exclusive APT Championship Ring, and the Php2,674,900 first place cash.
Main Event Champion, Lester Edoc
The Main Event was the first featured tournament of the APT Philippines Championships 2018. The event ran from March 24-28 at Resorts World Manila with 325 entries ponying up the Php55,000 entry fee. This turned up a very rich Php15,762,500 prize pool with 55 players earning a cut. Yesterday, the field trimmed down to the Final 8 which played out today. You can view the results and payout via this link.
Final 8 recap as they fell…
As soon as the cards were in the air, it was evident, there would be no shortage of action. Everyone was out to win and they showed it. The opening hands immediately saw two players push their stacks in the middle. The first was Hiroyuki Yoshimura. He didn’t get the call but still picked up a good pot. Next was Yun Bong, he got the call from Yoshimura and doubled up. That was the trend. Lots of action and lots of chips moving around the felt.
6th – 8th place
After taking several hits to his stack, Hanna Khalife went from the day’s entering chip leader to 8th place. He was railed by Yun with A-K spiking a higher pair to defeat Q-Q. Next out was Dylan Kii in 7th. His fall was also courtesy of Yun whose 6-6 improved to a full house to overtake 8-8.
Before they lost another player, Flo Campomanes landed a massive double up through Yun hat would send him to the leader’s seat where he would camp out for quite some time. Campomanes had 6-7 full house on a board 7-8-9-7-6. The shoves were on the river with Yun holding A-10 straight.
Our eventual champion Lester Edoc delivered the next casualty. Patrick Liang hoped his 8-8 would survive the heat but it didn’t. Edoc’s A-7 prevailed with an ace turning up in the window and a seven on the river. Liang exited 6th.
3rd – 5th place
Five-handed was one of the longest rounds of the Final 8. Campomanes dominated in chips, at one point amassing half of the chips in play, while everyone else played catch up. Biting the bullet next was Yun in 5th place. Despite playing superbly, his 5♣ 5♥ shove was outdrawn by Campomanes’s A♠ J♥ with an ace showing up on the board.
Down to four players, other than Campomanes, everyone else’s stacks would see some swings. In a funny moment, Derrick Hernandez shoved on the small blind and was snap-called by Yoshimura on the big blind. Hearing the call, Hernandez said “joke only” which drew some laughter from the railbirds. Yoshimura eliminated Hernandez in 4th place with A♣ Q♥ over Q♣ J♥ on a dry board.
With three remaining, Campomanes, Yoshimura, and Edoc, the game went up a notch. Nearly every hand saw a raise. Campomanes’s towers were being attacked with Edoc eventually capitalizing on a double up. Edoc’s Q♥ J♥ paired up on a board 2♠ Q♠ 4♠ 3♣ 8♦ to win over Campomanes’s 6♦ 6♣.
Then came a huge game-changer. Here’s how it went down.
Edoc limped in on the button, Yoshimura limped on the sb, then Campomanes shoved. Edoc folded sending the action to Yoshimura who tanked. This came as a surprise to the players and even more so when he announced “call!” Campomanes flipped over 10♣ 10♠ and was shocked to see Yoshimura’s J♦ J♠. The board bricked out and Yoshimura jumped to half the chips in play while Campomanes plummeted to four bbs. Edoc put him out of his misery in 3rd place with A♣ A♠.
Heads up: Lester Edoc vs Hiroyuki Yoshimura
This brought us to the heads up round. For Edoc, this was a familiar place. Back in 2013, he faced off against Czardy Rivera for the title and lost. Here was a second chance at glory. It was time to cross that barrier and finally add an APT championship title to his belt.
The round began fairly even with Edoc just one bb up on Yoshimura. Yoshimura took a clear lead after landing a straight holding 4♥ 3♦ on a board 6♦ 5♦ 2♠ Q♠ Q♥ with bets at every round. Edoc challenged back, grinding and winning a majority of small pots, but Yoshimura also won his fair share to maintain his 4:1 lead.
After numerous all ins, Edoc finally got called. His A♥ 8♥ prevailed over Yoshimura’s K♣ 2♦ giving him a double up. Though still behind, this was just the boost he needed. His next double up happened with both players all in on the turn on a board 8♦ 5♣ 2♣ 9♠ 2♦. Edoc had 9♣ 5♥ and Yoshimura with 8♣ 6♥. Up nearly 6:1 on Yoshimura, Edoc tried to close it out with 8♦ 9♠ but instead doubled up Yoshimura who held Q♣ 6♣.
The final hand arrived with Edoc A♠ 9♦ and Yoshimura risking it all on K♣ 4♦. The board ran 7♦ 8♣ 6♠ Q♣ 8♥ and the newest champion emerged.
Congratulations to Lester Edoc, the newest APT Main Event champion!!