Commanding Tan Grabs the Pewter Lion; Malaysian Pro Shows Class in APT Super High Roller

APT PHU QUOC 2024 SCHEDULE | OFFICIAL RESULTS | IMAGES | WINNERS | PLAYERS LIST

PHU QUOC, VIETNAM, November 10, 2024 — Action at the ten-day APT Phu Quoc 2024 festival—run in partnership with VPT at the Corona Theater located within the luxurious Corona Resort & Casino—is beginning to come to the boil with the Final Day of both the VND 120M APT Super High Roller and the VND 9M Vietnam National Cup playing down to a thrilling conclusion.

It was the APT Super High Roller that crowned a champion first, bequeathing the first of the festival’s three award-winning lion trophies to a worthy champion; just 13 players out of the 55 entry (37 unique) field returned for the Final Day all looking to earn their slice of the VND 5,761,800,000 (~USD 226,840) prize pool and hunt down the pewter lion APT Super High Roller trophy and the VND 1,728,540,000 (~USD 68,050) top prize.

With only eight of the returning players making the money five would be departing with nothing to show for their efforts, with Australia’s Nelson Dong, former APT High Roller champion Thanisorn Saelor, and China’s Zhongxian Li all hitting the rail in the first 40-minute level played, and in that order.

India’s Ankit Ahuja departed right at the start of level 18 to set up the final table and bring the nine remaining players to the money bubble. While former APT Super High Roller champion Julian Warhurst was able to survive his all-in to avoid elimination, Mikael Andersson was not so fortunate.

The Swede clashed with fellow Scandinavian Martin Stausholm, and while Andersson got it in good with a dominating ace, Stausholm rivered two pair to guarantee the eight remaining players a payday of at least VND 230,470,000 (~USD 9,075).

The bubble bursting heralded an exciting set of levels as the final eight battled it out with several action-packed hands. In the end, Taiwan’s Nevan Chang was the one to min-cash as he was eliminated first by Day 2 starting chip leader The Naing from Singapore, followed soon after by Japan’s Motoyoshi Okamura. Warhurst was next-in-line, eliminated by Malaysia’s Win Meng Tan followed by Manuel Blaschke from Austria at the courtesy of Stausholm.

With four left and the money jumps getting significant from hereon, a thick sense of tension was felt in the air as Naing, struggling for chips after starting the day as chip leader, pushed all in, getting a call from local livewire Nguyen Phuong Tan. Naing’s Queens could not hold and he was sent to the rail in fourth place.

With the podium set, Stausholm was next to go all-in, getting it in good with ace-deuce off against Phuong Tan’s five-nine suited. Stausholm held until the river paired Nguyen’s nine, sending the rail into a frenzy as Stausholm makes his way to the exit in third place. Heads up loomed for Phuong Tan and Tan for the Super High Roller title.

The battle for the pewter lion started off well for Tan, as multiple showdowns went in the Malaysian’s favor. Tan had a near 10-1 chip lead at one point before Phuong Tan showed his survival instinct with much needed double ups.

However, Tan was commanding and won the duel on level 27 with a flopped straight against Phuong Tan who hit top pair on the flop. For his victory, Tan collected the pewter trophy and a career-high score of VND 1,728,540,000 (~USD 68,050), while Phuong Tan, relatively fresh on the poker circuit also brought home his career-best prize of VND 1,250,310,000 (~USD 49,225).

APT SUPER HIGH ROLLER RESULTS

For APT Super High Roller Final Result please CLICK HERE

You can read about all the thrills and spills as the tournament played out via the APT Blog. All tournament information can be found on the APT Super High Roller - Final Day tournament page.

Krisada Pinthakasetrin Towers Above All in Vietnam National Cup

Thailand's Krisada Pinthakasetrin looking confident after a career-best finish in live tournaments.

Just 84 survivors out of a 579 entry (276 unique) field returned for the Final Day of the VND 9M Event #1: Vietnam National Cup - VND 5,000,000,000 GTD all guaranteed a payout of VND 15,650,000 (~USD 615) from the VND 5,000,000,000 (~USD196,850) prize pool.

Thailand's Krisada Pinthakasetrin ultimately proved that he had what it takes to outlast the others as he laid claim to victory in the opening event. He takes home a first prize purse of VND 996,430,000 (~$38,050), a career-high score along with the APT silver lion silhouette trophy.

Coming in close was Japan's Shohei Osugi, who had the misfortune of losing to the dreaded runner-runner in what proved to be the last hand of heads up. He takes home VND 601,590,000 (~$23,685) for his efforts. Interestingly, Osugi had no recorded cashes at live events, making this second place finish his first live cash ever. Beating 577 others will certainly be a silver lining in his first outing in live poker. The top three was rounded off by local Tuan Tai Nguyen, enough for a VND 430,500,000 (~$16,590) score.

India’s Kunal Patni held a monstrous stack going into the Final Day. He managed to maneuver himself to the final table but ultimately bowed out at ninth place.

VIETNAM NATIONAL CUP FINAL TABLE RESULTS

For Vietnam National Cup Results please CLICK HERE

You can read all about the highs and lows of the tournament via the APT Blog. All tournament information can be found on the Vietnam National Cup - Final Day tournament page.

Nghiem Xuan Thieu Proves Himself Super with First APT Title in Sunday Super Stack

Nghiem Xuan Thieu’s first recorded live cash is a victorious one.

Vietnam's own Nghiem Xuan Thieu captured the spotlight in Event #12: Sunday Super Stack, marking his first APT title and first recorded live cash in the poker circuit. The local amateur outlasted a sizable field of 217 entries (177 unique), securing the top prize of VND 480,862,000 (~USD 18,933).

The tournament featured some fierce competition, including runner-up John Joseph Panish of the United States, who claimed VND 323,720,000 (~USD 12,748). Panish, familiar to the APT circuit, had previously finished second in the High Roller Double Stack at APT Manila 2024. Khuc Van Hung, also from Vietnam joined his fellow countryman on the podium with his third place finish for VND 228,240,000 (~USD 9,316).

Aussie John Perry, member of the final table who took fifth place with VND 146,400,000 (~USD 5,765), had recently celebrated his first APT victory just days prior, setting up momentum for Perry to have a memorable series.

31 players made it into the money, with the final table results as follows:

SUNDAY SUPER STACK FINAL TABLE RESULTS

For Sunday Super Stack Player List please CLICK HERE

For Sunday Super Stack Results please CLICK HERE

All tournament information can be found on the Sunday Super Stack tournament page.