APT Kickoff Vietnam 2018 Main Event


Adrian Esslen rails Nguyen Hoang Anh in 3rd place – VND 606,720,000

Level: 33 Blinds: 150K-300K Ante: 50K

The loose and wild playing Nguyen Hoang Anh has just fallen in the Main Event and the player that delivered the hatchet was Adrian Esslen. On a board showing A Q 5 2, Nguyen checked, Esslen slid out a 1.050M bet and Nguyen called. On the river 2, Esslen announced all in and Nguyen barely flinched when he called for all his chips.

Esslen A Q higher two pair
Nguyen A 10

Nguyen earned VND 606,720,000 for his deep run in the Main Event.

We are now heads up!


Le Hong Nghia takes over the chip lead

Level: 33 Blinds: 150K-300K Ante: 50K

For the first time all day, Le Hong Nghia has found himself in the leader’s seat and it is all courtesy of Adrian Esslen who seems to be Le’s ATM machine at the moment. Prior to this hand, Le picked up big pots off Esslen and now a huge double up.

Le A Q
Esslen J J

The board ran 5 A 8 10 4 for a winning higher pair to Le. He now has around 13.8M in chips.


Le Hong Nghia gets some pay from the leader again

Level: 33 Blinds: 150K-300K Ante: 50K

Le Hong Nghia earned himself another sizable pot through the leader Adrian Esslen. The hand kicked off with a raise to 725k by Esslen and Le called. On the flop 4 7 J, both checked. On the 2 turn, Esslen bet 450k and Le called. Then with the 6 river, Le switched up and led for 1M. Esslen called. Le opened up K 7 for a winning flush.


Le Hong Nghia gets a boost from Adrian Esslen

Level: 33 Blinds: 150K-300K Ante: 50K

Le Hong Nghia was all in and got the quick call from the leader Adrian Esslen.

Nghia A K
Esslen A 3

The board came 5 7 8 9 4 for a gorgeous nut flush to Nghia. He doubled up to 5M.


Lam Kim Long out in 4th place – VND 437,650,000

Level: 33 Blinds: 150K-300K Ante: 50K

After losing an earlier pot against Nguyen Hoang Anh, Lam Kim Long had only two moves to choose form: shove or fold. Looking down at Q 10, he shoved and was called by Adrian Esslen with A Q. The board ran K 6 4 J 4 and that ended Long’s great run at the Main Event. He earned VND 437,650,000 for his deep finish.

We are down to 3 players.


Adrian Esslen with a massive double up, claims over half the chips in play

Level: 32 Blinds: 120K-240K Ante: 40K

With only four remaining, big stacks were bound to battle and when they did, someone was sure to soar. In this case, it was Adrian Esslen who banked it on a hand against the chip leader Nguyen Hoang Anh.

On a raised pot preflop, the board read 2 4 8. Esslen check-raised Nguyen’s 590k bet to make it 1.7M. Nguyen called. On the 6 turn, Esslen took the reins and fired out 2M. Once again Nguyen was there to call. On the 6 river, Esslen was all in for his remaining 4.83M and Nguyen didn’t even flinch. He tossed in the call. Esslen turned over his 8 8 for a full house and his rail celebrated as Nguyen mucked.

Esslen amassed 19M which is over half of the chips in play (33,000,000). He is the overwhelming chip leader.


Macaron Tan railed by Adrian Esslen – VND 328,480,000

Level: 32 Blinds: 120K-240K Ante: 40K

Macaron Tan moved in from the utg seat and almost dodged a call with everyone folding until it landed on the big blind Adrian Esslen.

Tan 2 2
Esslen Q Q

The board ran K A 10 7 10 and Tan was out in 5th place.


Lam Kim Long can’t shake Nguyen Hoang Anh

Level: 32 Blinds: 120K-240K Ante: 40K

Lam Kim Long and Nguyen stared down a flop 9 8 8 with a raised pot preflop brewed in the middle. Long checked to Nguyen who bet 700k then called. At the 10 turn both checked. Then on the 5 river, Long led for 1.5M and Nguyen snap-called.

Long 7-7 two pair
Nguyen 9-6 higher two pair

Long down to 1.87M.


Le Hong Nghia doubles up

Level: 32 Blinds: 120K-240K Ante: 40K

Short stacked Le Hong Nghia with just over 6 blinds and decided to three-bet it all in on top of Lam Kim Long’s 550k raise. Long called and Nghia was at risk of elimination.

Long K Q
Le A 10

The board trained out K 5 10 4 A for top pair and a double up to over 3M to Le. A couple of hands after, Le shoved again and won the blinds and antes.