Christopher Mateo’s Redemption Song: Filipino Phenom Claims APPT Cambodia Main Event Crown ($126,500)

The PokerStars APPT Cambodia 2024 has concluded after an exhilarating 10-day run at the opulent NagaWorld Integrated Resort in Phnom Penh. With 42 champions crowned and a mountain of cash won, the series was an undeniable success. But amidst the victors, one man stood tall—Filipino poker sensation Christopher Mateo (cover image), who seized the APPT Cambodia Main Event title and a whopping $126,500 prize.

The Main Event, a five-day battle royale from November 21 to 25, attracted a staggering 518 entrants across three starting days. Each player invested $1,650, obliterating the initial $500,000 guarantee and generating a massive $746,153 prize pool. Mateo, however, wasn’t intimidated. He navigated this treacherous field with the precision of a surgeon and the heart of a lion.

The final table was a star-studded affair, featuring poker heavyweights like David Erquiaga and Ceesvin Abraham, who ultimately finished fifth and sixth with $39,000 and $30,000, respectively. But it was Mateo who commanded the spotlight. Entering the final table as the chip leader, he exerted his dominance with an iron fist.

Mateo’s strategic brilliance was on full display in his heads-up battle against Donghyup Kim. He expertly adapted his strategy, reading his opponent like a book and exploiting every weakness. This calculated aggression allowed him to overcome Kim’s challenge, who ultimately settled for second place and $113,000 after a heads-up deal.

This victory was especially poignant for Mateo, who had tasted the bitterness of defeat in 2023, finishing as runner-up to Yuanning Wu in Manila. “I feel so good!” Mateo exclaimed after his triumph. “I am so nervous and happy. This is so special to me because in 2023, I finished second in Manil,a and now I finally did it. I got the trophy!”

India Makes Its Mark Despite Smaller Contingent

Team India, a dominant force in the South Asian poker scene, continued their impressive run at APPT Cambodia 2024, following strong performances at APT Phu Quoc 2024 and Poker Dream 13 Malaysia. Event with a small crew of players in attendance, the Indian players made their presence felt with 13 cash finishes, including seven final table appearances and one title win.

Arun Kishore Godiyal set the stage early by capturing India’s sole title in Event #7: $250 Bubble Rush. But it was Nageshwara Alaparthy who delivered the standout performance of the series.

Alaparthy, a rising star with just over a year of live tournament experience, came within a whisker of his first live title in Event #19: $300 Megastack. He ultimately finished second after a heads-up deal with South Korea’s Seonghun Park, who walked away with the title and $8,830. Alaparthy took home a career-best $7,715 (~₹6.50 Lakhs), the highest individual score by an Indian player in the series.

This single cash eclipsed the combined earnings of the next top-performing Indian, Arun Kishore Godiyal, who collected $7,083 (~₹5.98 Lakhs) across three deep runs.

Somasekhar Sanampuri, fresh off a deep run in the APPT Manila Championship High Roller Turbo, also made his mark. He cashed in the $300 Megastack, finishing 15th for $768 (~₹65,000), and added to his winnings with a previous score in Event #13: $600 Mystery Bounty, bringing his total series winnings to $1,368 (~₹1.15 Lakhs).

Other notable Indian performers included Sanjay Khatuwala, who finished eighth in Event #23: $300 Six Handed for $770 (~₹65,000), and Sriram Gajendran, who placed 23rd in Event #31: $200 Megastack Turbo for $301 (~₹25,000).

Team India Scores at APPT Cambodia 2024

APPT Cambodia 2024 List of Winners

Christopher Mateo’s Masterclass: Filipino Prodigy Conquers APPT Cambodia Main Event ($126,500)

The PokerStars APPT Cambodia 2024 descended upon the dazzling city of Phnom Penh, culminating in a Main Event showdown that will be etched in poker lore. From November 21 to 25, the NagaWorld Integrated Resort became a battleground for 518 entrants, each vying for a share of the colossal $746,153 prize pool – a figure that shattered the advertised $500,000 guarantee.

The path to victory was paved with intense battles and tough decisions as seasoned pros and ambitious newcomers clashed at the tables. The top 71 players were guaranteed a minimum payout of $2,700, and the money bubble burst with the elimination of Wai Kiat Lee in 72nd place.

Among those who successfully navigated their way into the money were notables like Adrien Berger (11th for $11,500), Agharazi Babayev (16th for $7,250), Mike Takayama (27th for $4,800), Leo Soma (34th for $3,600), and Luke Wozniak (47th for $3,100) crossed the money line.

The elimination of Sunghak Lee in 10th place ($11,500) set up the nine-handed final table.

Final Table Chip Counts

1. Christopher Mateo – 3,275,000 (82 BBs)
2. Nicola Spicher – 2,600,000 (65 BBs)
3. Ceesvin Abraham – 1,885,000 (47 BBs)
4. David Erquiaga – 1,755,000 (44 BBs)
5. Sven Mcdermott – 1,235,000 (31 BBs)
6. Ziad Zebib – 1,100,000 (28 BBs)
7. Trong Hieu Ngo – 850,000 (21 BBs)
8. Donghyup Kim – 820,000 (21 BBs)
9. Vaicheslav I – 530,000 (13 BBs)

Final Table Recap

Vaicheslav I, starting as the short stack, faced an uphill battle and was the first to fall. His lost the race against Ziad Zebib’s pocket sevens in a preflop all-in confrontation, sending him to the rail in ninth place.

Ziad Zebib, however, couldn’t capitalize on his early momentum. Just 17 hands in, his ran into Christopher Mateo’s . The board painted a picture of heartbreak for Zebib: , giving Mateo two pair and sending Zebib out in eighth.

The next elimination came 32 hands later when Irishman Sven McDermott‘s couldn’t improve against Donghyup Kim’s . The runout gave Kim a set of tens on the river, ending McDermott’s run in seventh place.

Play continued for two more levels before the tension reached a boiling point. Ceesvin Abraham, holding , found himself in a cooler against Kim’s . The board cruelly delivered Kim trips with , sending Abraham packing in sixth place.

Just five hands later, Filipino pro David Erquiaga met his demise. His proved to be no match for Hieu Ngo’s , ending his run in fifth place.

Nicola Spicher was the next to fall, his crushed by Kim’s dominating . He exited in fourth place.

The final three quickly became two when Trong Hieu Ngo‘s ran smack into Kim’s . The stage was set for a heads-up duel between Christopher Mateo and Donghyup Kim.

Armed with a commanding stack of 9.575 Million (120 BBs), Christopher Mateo faced off against Donghyup Kim, who held 5.965 Million c (75 BBs). Before the cards flew, the two struck an ICM deal, guaranteeing Mateo $126,500 and Kim $113,000. With the financial aspect settled, the battle for the coveted PokerStars Shard Trophy and APPT Cambodia Main Event champion title commenced.

The heads-up duel was a tense affair, spanning 39 hands. Mateo, however, never relinquished his lead. On the final hand, Kim raised to 300,000 from the button, and Mateo called. The flop came . Kim bet 200,000, Mateo raised to 800,000, and Kim moved all-in for 2.2 Million. Mateo snap-called, turning over for top pair. Kim tabled , needing a jack to survive. The turn and river bricked off, and Christopher Mateo erupted in celebration as the newly crowned APPT Cambodia Main Event champion!

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Christopher Mateo – $126,500*
2. Donghyup Kim – $113,000*
3. Trong Hieu Ngo – $66,000
4. Nicola Spicher – $50,600
5. David Erquiaga – $39,000
6. Ceesvin Abraham – $30,000
7. Sven McDermott – $23,000
8. Ziad Zebib – $17,700
9. Vaicheslav I – $13,953

*denotes a heads-up deal

Content & Images Courtesy: So Much Poker