APT Finale Philippines 2018: Phachara Wongwichit Wins Super High Rollers For PHP 953,700, Chi Hung Ho Leads Final 8 in Opening Event

The 2018 Asian Poker Tour (APT) is hosting its final stop of the year at Resorts World Manila (RWM). Right as the Opening Event drew 220 entries, smashing the PHP 1 Million prize pool guarantee twice over with the prize pool building to PHP 2,134,000 (₹28.76 Lakhs), another event, i.e. the Super High Rollers event kicked off, with only three players joining in the proceedings.

End of day, the Super High Rollers culminated with Thailand’s Phachara Wongwichit winning the title. Wongwichit who is currently ranked third in the Thailand all-time money list has been playing live tournaments since 2011. He also visited India earlier this year and made his India-debut at the Baadshah Gaming Live Tournament (BLT) held in Goa (April 5-9)where he banked ₹79,925 for a sixth-place finish in the Main Event.

Coming into the Super High Rollers, Wongwichit bested his two other opponents, 2018 APT Philippines Main Event winner Lester Edoc and Soobum Kim to earn his maiden APT title along with the top prize of PHP 953,700 (₹12.81 Lakhs).

Alongside, the Opening event has now reached its eight-handed final table with Chi Hung ‘Logan’ Ho (581,000) in the chip lead with accomplished Asian regular from the Philippines, Mike Takayama (425,000) close on his coattails.

Takayama has this year, won the prestigious PokerStars’ 2018 Asia Player of the Year (APOY) title on the back of big wins at various events from November 27, 2017 to August 12,2018. The former Billiards player’s list of achievements this year includes two title wins at the 2018 PokerStars LIVE Manila Super Series 5 (Feb) and a 2018 World Series of Poker (WSOP) title in the $1,000 NLHE Super Turbo Bounty ($198,568). Armed with a big stack, Takayama is clearly the hot favorite at the event.

Meanwhile, the opening flights of the PHP 10,000,000 GTD Main Event are scheduled to kick off today, with a number of other events to follow.

PHP 500,000 Super High Rollers

The Super High Rollers featuring a PHP 500,000 buy-in saw only three runners, Phachara Wongwichit, Lester Edoc and Soobum Kim, making up for a prize pool of PHP 1,453,700. Wongwichit was the last man standing and claimed a well-deserved career-first APT title and PHP 953,700 (₹12.81 Lakhs) in prize money.

It wasn’t an easy ride for Wongwichit to the top though, since he had an accomplished opponent in Edoc to ward off.

Soobum Kim who lost a big portion of his stack early into play vainly attempted a comeback. Kim did manage to score three successful double ups but ended up losing it all in a hand where his were dominated by Edoc’s . With Kim bowing out in third place, only Edoc and Wongwichit were left in play for the title.

The heads-up match between Lester Edoc and Wongwichit saw the latter double up twice on Edoc to even it out on chips. He first side-stepped Edoc’s bluff in a hand where he min-raised to 8,000 and was called by Edoc. On the flop and the turn, both players checked their option. Edoc checked on the river and Wongwichit bet 15,000. Here, Edoc jammed and Wongwichit called for his tournament life. Edoc tabled to lose the hand to Wongwichit’s two pair.

The very next hand, Edoc raised for 13,000 and Wongwichit decided to call. The flop came down and Edoc 3-bet 12,500 on which Wongwichit raised to 34,000. Edoc called again. On the turn, Edoc check-called 70,000. The appeared on the river and Edoc check-called Wongwichit’s all in move. Wongwichit who held scooped the pot with his full house.

Soon, a deal was reached, assuring the runner-up PHP 500,000. Action continued hereon and the final hand saw Edoc moving all in with on the board with Wongwichit holding for three-of-a-kind fives.The on the river closed out the tournament as Wongwichit picked up the title.

Results (PHP)

1.Phachara Wongwichit – PHP 953,700

2. Lester Edoc – PHP 500,000

3. Soobum Kim – PHP 1,453,700

Opening Event

The series opener kicked off with a huge turnout, and the numbers reached 220 as registrations closed, obliterating the PHP 1 Million guarantee to reach an impressive PHP 2,134,000 (₹28.76 Lakhs) in prize money.

After grueling hours on the felts, Chi Hung ‘Logan’ Ho emerged as the end-of-day chip leader with 581,000 in his bag. Mike Takayama was second in chips with 425,000 and Czar Ian Marcos held the third largest stack of 336,000.

Earlier, the money round was reached when only 38 players remained in the hunt. APT open champion Julius Lagman was the first player to exit in the money, in 37^th place. Following Lagman to the rail were notables like Michael De Leon (15^th), Bobby Zhang (20^th), Martin Gonzales (21^st), William Ysmael (31^st) and Valeriy Pak (36^th).

The final table will get rolling today with all eyes on the PHP 445,800 top prize along with the chance of adding crucial points in his tally for the 2018 APT Player of the Series leaderboard.

Final Table Chip Counts

1.Chi Hung ‘Logan’ Ho – 581,000

2. Mike Takayama – 425,000

3. Czar Ian Marcos – 336,000

4. Marco Almerez – 291,000

5. Tomohiro Tanaka – 219,000

6. Rio Kitaoji – 188,000

7. JC Sayo – 134,000

8. Si Yang Phua – 25,0000

2018 Asian Poker Tour (APT) Finale Philippines Schedule

Starting from November 27, the 2018 Asian Poker Tour (APT) Finale Philippines will comprise of a total of 18 events, including the PHP 55,000 Main Event and PHP 165,000 Championships Event.

With a guarantee of PHP 10,000,000, the Main Event will get underway today and will have two starting flights. Meanwhile, the Championships Event will run from December 3 to 6, and also boast of a PHP 10,000,000 guarantee.

Other special events on the schedule include the PHP 5,500 MegaSportsWorld Deep Stack Turbo with a PHP 1,000,000 guarantee and the PHP 107,500 “Short Deck” High Rollers Single Day (Shot Clock).

Content and images courtesy: www.theasianpokertour.com