APT Kickoff Vietnam 2018 Main Event


Nguyen Hoang Anh muscles with his big stack

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

Nguyen Hoang Anh called a raise of 550k from Le Hong Nghia and the flop landed 2 J[8d}. Nguyen checked, Le bet 600k, Nguyen check-raised all in, and Le folded without a thought. Nguyen showed one card 2.


Adrian Esslen and Lam Kim Long win some off the leader

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

Chip leader Nguyen Hoang Anh has just lost two pots but it didn’t’ seem to hurt his stack too much. The first pot saw him raise to 520k and Adrian Esslen called on the big blind. At the flop 2 J 9, Esslen checked to Nguyen who continued with a 630k bet. Esslen called. On the A turn and 4 river, no bets arrived and Esslen won with 7 9 pair.

The next losing pot for the leader was up against Lam Kim Long. Nguyen limped in then called Long’s 650k raise. At the flop 8 J 3, Nguyen led for 625k, Long raised to 1.73m, and won it with Nguyen folding up. Nguyen showed his J top pair. Long returned the gesture and showed his A J.

Nguyen still sitting on 10M despite the loss. 


Macaron Tan loses the gamble to Lam Kim Long

Level: 31 Blinds: 100K-200K Ante: 30K

Lam Kim Long just landed himself a sweet double up with Macaron Tan on the losing end. The hand began with Long raising it up to 500k, Tan three-betting to 1.4M, Long moved all in for 3.625M, and Tan banged in the call knowing he was behind in the gamble.

Long K J
Tan 10 9

The board ran A 7 2 A J and the king high was good for a double up to Long. He now had over 7.4M. Tan dropped to 2.4M.


Nguyen Hoang Anh tanks Adrian Esslen, nears 12M

Level: 31 Blinds: 100K-200K Ante: 30K

Nguyen Hoang Anh went head-to-head against the other massive stacked player Adrian Esslen. Both players were sporting over 9M when this hand came down. Nguyen raised to 500k, Esslen three-bet to 1.450M, Nguyen four-bet to 5.150M, and Esslen tanked. The timer was eventually called on Esslen. He folded. Nguyen slapped open his K 9 hole cards.

Nguyen now close to 12M and is our chip leader at the moment.


Nguyen Hoang Anh rails another; Vu Minh Tri out 6th – VND 256,990,000

Level: 31 Blinds: 100K-200K Ante: 30K

Several hands after Nguyen Hoang Anh eliminated Dmitrii Ilin he delivered the axe to another player, this time it was Vu Minh Tri. The hand began with Tri raising and Nguyen with the call. At the flop A 7 5, Tri shoved and was snap-called by Nguyen.

Tri 7 6
Nguyen A 10

The turn J and river 2 completed the board and Tri was ousted in 6th place. He earned VND 256,990,000.


Dmitrii Ilin exits in 7th place – VND 208,680,000

Level: 31 Blinds: 100K-200K Ante: 30K

The first hand after the break and immediately we’ve got action with Dmitrii Ilin all in. He was called by Nguyen Hoang Anh who had him well covered.

Ilin K J
Nguyen 6 6

The board ran Q 9 5 7 8 for a winning straight to Nguyen. Ilin exited in 7th place and earned VND 208,680,000 for his great run.

Nguyen Hoang Anh now with 7.4M. 


Adrian Esslen on the move, claims another big pot

Level: 30 Blinds: 80K-160K Ante: 20K

Adrian Esslen is distancing himself from the pack and has now climbed to 9.6M. While he already had a huge stack he beefed it up further against Lam Kim Long. The hand saw Long limp in, Esslen raise to 450k, Long three-bet to 950k, Esslen four-bet to 1.77M, then taking it down with Long surrendering his stake on the pot. Esslen showed his cards, K J.


Chip leader Adrian Esslen climbing

Level: 30 Blinds: 80K-160K Ante: 20K

Adrian Esslen just picked up two pots to add to his enormous artillery. The first pot was against Nguyen Hoang Anh. Esslen raised to 375k and was called by Nguyen on the small blind. At the flop 7 J 4, Nguyen checked, Esslen bet 400k, and won it then and there with Nguyen mucking his cards.

The next pot was up against Dmitrii Ilin who raised to 350k from the utg seat. Esslen defended his big blind. At the flop 5 2 6, Esslen checked, Ilin continued with a 350k bet, Esslen announced all in, and claimed it with no call from Ilin.


Flo Campomanes falls to aces – VND 176,800,000

Level: 30 Blinds: 80K-160K Ante: 20K

Flo Campomanes was down to his last 650k and moved it in the middle while on the button. He was called by sb Lam Kim Long but bb player Le Hong Nghia protected with a three-bet to 1.8M. Long folded while showing pocket nines.

Campomanes A 4
Nghia A A

The board bricked out Q 7 Q 6 K and Campomanes became the first casualty of the Final 8. He earned VND 176,800,000 for his deep finish.

We are now down to 7 players.