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The action has intensified at the 2023 APT Phu Quoc, playing out at the Sapphire Conference Room at the luxurious Corona Resort & Casino, with the VN₫ 10 Billion GTD Main Event stirring up things on Monday. The first of four starting heats, Flight A, clocked 172 entries (124 unique), and 66 players advanced to Day 2
With three tournaments playing down to a winner, the Main Event was where Team India made its presence, as five ‘desi’ pros carried stacks to Day 2. Deepak Bothra (298,700) led the charge for the Indian battalion, finishing second in the day-end chip counts.
Paawan Bansal (167,400), Event #4: VN₫ 88 Million APT Super High Roller – 8 Max sixth-place finisher Shardul Parthasarathi (56,100), India`s poker pioneer Aditya Agarwal (49,600), and VN₫ 8.8 Million Sunday Super Stack fifth-place finisher Dhaval Mudgal (29,600) were other seasoned Indian pros advancing to Day 2.
With three more starting flights left and late registration open till the start of Day 2 on March 30, we can safely assume more Indians getting into contention.
Three side events crowned champions on March 27. Japan’s Hayato Kitajima was the day`s top scorer as he clinched his maiden APT title in Event #14: VN₫ 44 Million NLH/PLO for VN₫ 430.68 Million.
Vietnam’s Tran Huy Hoang grabbed his career-second APT trophy in Event #15: VN₫ 16.50 Million NLHE Monday Madness for VN₫ 111.74 Million.
Mongolia’s Purevdorj Erdenebulgan captured his career-first APT title in Event #17: VN₫ 5.50 Million NLH/PLO – Turbo – 8 Max for VN₫ 64.60 Million.
South Korea’s Wanghee Lee Headlines 66 Survivors From Flight A of the Main Event; India’s Deepak Bothra Bags Second-Biggest Stack
The magnum opus of the APT Phu Quoc, the VN₫ 10 Billion GTD Event #13: VN₫ 33 Million Main Event kicked off on Monday. The first of four starting flights, Flight A, commenced at noon (local time) and clocked 172 entries (124 unique). After ten 60-minute levels of play, only 66 players managed to keep their title hopes alive.
South Korea’s Wanghee Lee (379,600) bagged the day-end chip lead and was the only player to cross the 300K barrier in chips. He climbed up the ranks in Level 4 and never once relinquished the advantage.
India’s Deepak Bothra (298,700), fresh off a deep run in the series-opener APT Kickoff, also enjoyed a great day at the felts, finishing second in chips.
Paawan Bansal (167,400), Young Gun Shardul Parthasarathi (56,100), Aditya Agarwal (49,600), and Dhaval Mudgal (29,600) were the other Indian pros surviving the day`s onslaught.
The Main Event still has three more flights to run. Flight B began at noon (local time) on Tuesday, March 28. The two turbo flights, Flight C (12 PM) and Flight D (5 PM) will play out on Wednesday, March 29. However, late registrations remain open until the start of Day 2 on Thursday, March 30 (12 PM).
Top 10 Chip Counts at the End of Flight A
Japan’s Hayato Kitajima Champions Event #14: VN₫44 Million NLH/PLO Single Day High Roller For VN₫ 430.68 Million
Buy-in – VN₫ 44,000,000
Entries – 21
Re-entries – 9
Prize Pool – VN₫ 1,164,000,000
Places Paid – 5
The VN₫ 44 Million buy-in Event #14: NLH/PLO Single Day High Roller – 8 Max was the talk of the town beside the APT Main Event yesterday, as 21 players (30 overall entries) of Asia`s finest high-stakes players gathered for a chance at grabbing a share of the massive VN₫1.164 Billion prize pool.
The field was filled with several top names, including Natural8 Ambassador Phachara Wongwichit, Japan’s Ken Okada, and Super High Roller finalists Anarbayasgalan Sainjargal and Roman Hrabec.
Still, Japan’s Hayato Kitajima showcased his skill in the mixed-game NLHE/PLO tournament, as he bounced back from behind to clinch his maiden APT title after a grueling five 30-minute level-long heads-up battle against fellow countryman Motoyoshi Okamura. Kitajima took home the title and the top prize of VN₫ 430.68 Million. Okamura put up a tough fight but had to settle for second place, collecting VN₫ 296.82 Million for his efforts.
Meanwhile, Mongolia’s Anarbayasgalan Sainjargal proved that his runner-up finish in Event #5: APT Super High Roller was no fluke, claiming the bronze and VN₫ 189.15 Million in third place.
Five players made it to the money, with Vietnam’s Manh Hung Dinh (4th for VN₫ 136.77 Million) and Mongolia’s Bat-Erdene Erdenebayar (5th for VN₫ 110.58 Million) rounding out the payouts list.
Complete Results (VN₫)
Vietnam’s Tran Huy Hoang Wins Career-Second APT Title in Event #15: VN₫ 16.50 Million NLHE Monday Madness For VN₫ 111.74 Million
Buy-in – VN₫ 16,500,000
Entries – 15
Re-entries – 1
Prize Pool – VN₫ 232,800,000
Places Paid – 3
The APT Vietnam Hanoi June 2022 Event #8: NLHE Single Day winner Tran Huy Hoang bagged his second APT title yesterday. The Vietnamese pro outlasted the 16-player field (15 unique) in Event #15: NLHE Monday Madness to bank the top prize worth VN₫ 111.74 Million.
Initially scheduled to be a two-day event, the participants opted to play the tournament down to a conclusion. Hoang was in fine form, and he defeated France’s Romain Morvan heads-up to clinch the coveted prize. Morvan put up a great fight but ultimately settled for a runner-up payday of VN₫ 74.50 Million.
The VN₫ 16.50 Million buy-in event collected VN₫ 232.80 Million in the prize pool and paid out the top three finishers.
Japan’s Ken Okada secured the third position, earning a payout of VN₫ 46.56 Million.
Complete Results (VN₫)
Mongolia’s Purevdorj Erdenebulgan Wins Maiden APT Title in Event #17: VN₫ 5.50 Million NLH/PLO – Turbo – 8 Max For VN₫ 64.60 Million
Buy-in: VN₫ 5,500,000
Entries: 28
Re-entries: 8
Prize Pool: VN₫ 174,600,000
Places Paid: 5
The second PLO tournament of the series, Event #17: VN₫ 5.50 Million NLH/PLO – Turbo – 8 Max, registered 36 entries (28 unique), creating a VN₫ 174.60 Million prize pool.
It was an all-Mongolian heads-up with Purevdorj Erdenebulgan and compatriot Gantail Gombodorj facing off. Ultimately, Erdenebulgan prevailed, clinching his maiden APT title and VN₫ 64.60 Million in first-place prize money. Gombodorj took home VN₫ 44.53 Million for his runner-up finish.
India’s Vikhyat Ahlawat and Amit Kaushik participated in the tournament but fell out empty-handed.
Complete Payouts (VN₫)
Content & Images Courtesy: Asian Poker Tour
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