PASAY CITY, Philippines – Paul Kiem of the United States wins the Championships Event in the Asian Poker Tour (APT) 2022 Philippines in record-breaking fashion, needing only one hand to be dealt in the Heads-Up duel against William Teoh of Malaysia to collect the top prize of PhP4,196,300 (US$74,008) besting a field of 236 entries at the Grand Wing Casino, Newport World Resorts here.
Paul Kiem (USA) needed only one hand in Heads-Up to win the APT Championships Event
Kiem, whose older brother Peter is a veteran on the tour, came into the Heads-Up encounter for the title with a stack of 8.6 million after busting out third placer James Mendoza of the Philippines. Prior to that he was in a huge hand against Teoh wherein which he almost leveled the chip-counts.
Before coming over on the prodding of Peter, Paul had a few cashes in Los Angeles and Las Vegas but none anywhere close to the significance of this haul.
Teoh, on the other hand, lands his second runner-up finish in the Championships Event as also feel short against eventual titlist Dave “Spade” Erquiaga last September.
Making it to two straight Heads-Up showdowns, though, is more than impressive for the young Malaysian whose aggressive brand of play has made him among the most feared competitor in the field.
(R) William Teoh (MAS) made it to the Heads-Up finale in back-to-back stagings
Teoh collected PhP2,797,700 (US$49,342) for his amazing effort while Mendoza got PhP1,944,900 (US$34,302) for his third place finish.
Here are complete payouts of the Final 8 in the Championships Event:
- Paul Kiem (USA) – PhP4,196,300 (US$74,008)
- William Teoh (MAS) – PhP2,797,700 (US$49,342)
- James Mendoza (PHI) – PhP1,944,900 (US$34,302)
- William Fasano (ENG) – PhP1,404,800 (US$24,776)
- Renniel Galvez (PHI) – PhP1,050,000 (US$18,519)
- Bell Perez (PHI) – PhP810,800 (US$14,300)
- Li Lok Ching (AUS) – PhP643,800 (US$11,354)
- Jose Drilon (PHI) – PhP524,600 (US$9,252)