APT Main Event - VND 10,000,000,000 GTD Final Day

The APT Phu Quoc Main Event has been won by Jacque Ramsden of the United Kingdom. Ramsden was the sole survivor of the 507-strong field and takes home ₫2,304,200,000 ($99,080) for his first-place finish after cutting a deal with heads-up opponent Julien Tran that saw the Vietnamese player lock up ₫2,337,300,000 ($100,500) with the duo then playing it out for the title, trophy and a further ₫107,500,000 ($4,600) in cash. Ramsden already boasts two APT final table appearances and has now won the most coveted of them all, the Main Event.

Ramsden was interviewed after his momentous victory and the Manila-based real estate agent was very humble with his responses.

When asked what he thought of his performance Ramsden replied “I’d just say I ran very well throughout the tournament in multiple good spots with aces versus ace-king and then was patient when nothing was coming my way, and was aggressive when I needed to be.”

Ramsden started playing poker more regularly during the pandemic, and the APT Phu Quoc Main Event is only the second-ever APT Main Event the Brit has played as he usually sticks to the side events. Of course, that might change now with a career best score on his poker resume.

“I’ll probably buy a watch and then maybe invest a little bit,” said Ramsden when asked what he planned to do with his winnings in his post-match interview.

We think you should invest in more APT Main Events, Jacque!

“Thanks for all the support guys, and good luck to everyone else in the next one!” stated Ramsden before heading off to enjoy the fruits of his labour.

The final table started with nine players all fighting it out to be the next Main Event champion. The first to fall was China's Dong Chen who reterned as the shortest stack; his ace-king racing against the pocket queens of Julien Tran. There would be no help as the board ran clean for his Vietnamese opponent, meaning Chen was sent home in ninth for a payday of ₫258,190,000 ($11,100).

The next elimination came as a surprise to some, with Albert Gorelik the next player to hit the rail in eighth. Gorelik came into the final table with a commanding lead of over 1.5 million in chips more than next closest rival Satoshi Kuriga, but attempted an ill-timed bluff against the Australian John Perry early on that saw the US player drop down the chip counts.

The US player would recoup some chips and double up with pocket tens against the pocket nines of Japan's Hayato Kitajima, but eventually, Gorelik would be eliminated by Natural8 Ambassador Phachara Wongwichit; Gorelik shoved with king-ten and Wongwichit woke up with ace-ten suited, pairing his ace on the flop, and rivering another to bring Gorelik's Main Event to an abrupt end.

Gorelik may feel a little disappointed with the result but a payday of ₫326,060,000 ($14,020) will help ease the suffering.

Eliminations came thick and fast following Gorelik's departure, with the Final Table's only other US player Peter Kiem hitting the rail in seventh place on the same level. Kiem was short-stacked throughout the final table but managed to ladder up two places before getting his king-queen all-in against the ace-jack of Kitajima. Kitajima's hand would hold up when an ace appeared on the flop and Kiem was awarded ₫467,690,000 ($19,650) for his efforts.

It would be Japan's Kitajima involved in the next elimination, taking out fellow countryman Satoshi Kuriga in sixth. Kuriga got his pocket nines all in pre-flop against Kitajami's ace-queen, and with one card to come, he looked in good shape to double up. Not for the first time during the final table, a devastating ace fell on the river to snatch the pot from Kuriga's grasp and send the Japanese player to the rail in sixth for ₫621,130,000 ($26,080).

John Perry

Australia's John Perry, who looked the crowd favorite to take the title, was next to fall after clashing with Tran. The Vietnamese player took a bet-bet-shove line with flopped trips and Perry couldn't find the fold with a flopped pair. Prior to Perry's bust-out hand, he had doubled up through Wongwichit when his pocket sixes beat the Thai player's ace-king – turning a set when both players were all in pre-flop. Perry won a High Roller event just a few weeks ago and will be pleased to follow it up with another final table appearance here in the APT Main Event for a payday of ₫795,220,000 ($33,400).

Wongwichit did not get to enjoy his newly won chip for long, falling on the fifth level played at the hands of Ramsden. It was left to a good old fashioned race to decide the Thai player's fate, with Wongwichit's pocket fives flipping against the Brit's ace-jack, with the latter flopping a pair and rivering a full house.

Wongwichit survived a scare earlier on when his ace-jack was all in pre-flop against the pocket queens of Perry. The Natural8 Ambassador found an ace of spades on the river to survive that time, but ironically it was the same ace of spades Ramsden connected with that sent Wongwichit out in fourth for ₫1,012,100,000 ($43,250).

With three players remaining, there were brief talks of a deal as players discussed the numbers but the trio could not come to an agreement and play continued.

Julien Tran

Kitajima was involved in a big hand against Ramsden when the Japanese player bet three streets as a bluff and was called down by the Brit. Kitajima would then get his remaining chips in the middle with ace-six, only to see Tran have him crushed with ace-jack. Tran had Kitajima drawing dead on the turn, sending the Japanese man home in third for a score of ₫1,285,050,000 ($55,250).

When heads-up play began there wasn't much between the players in terms of chip stacks with Tran just edging Ramsden in the counts, but it was the British player who would deliver the first blow.

Ramsden would 3-bet shove the turn against Tran, who later laid his hand down giving the Brit a 2:1 chip lead. Ramsden's fast-paced action seemed to affect the slow and steady rhythm of Tran.

The next big hand also went the way of Ramsden as he rivered a straight against the turned trips of Tran and bet big on the river. Tran couldn't lay his hand down and now Ramsden could sense he was moments away from winning the APT Main Event. He held a 12:1 chip advantage and there seemed no way back for the Vietnamese player, Tran.

Julien Tran and Jacque Patrick Ramsden

In the final hand, Ramsden would shove seven-four of diamonds and Tran called off his last few big blinds with pocket threes. Ramsden had to win a flip to become the Main Event champion, and while it didn't look likely on the flop the Brit turned a backdoor diamond draw and rivered the flush to scoop the pot and claim his first major title. Ramsden fist-bumped the air and shook Tran's hand before lifting the trophy he so thoroughly deserved.

You can watch all the action as it played out via the APT live stream:

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Join us for the next leg – the APT Taipei 2023 – running April 28-May 7 at the Asia Poker Arena. The Main Event has a buy-in of TWD50,000 and a TWD30,000,000 ($1,000,000) guarantee! Do you have what it takes to be the next APT Main Event champion? Come and find out – see you in Taiwan!

Those interested in more live updates can check out the action in Day 1 of the ₫55,000,000 APT High Roller, which has attracted a 102-strong field.

Julien Tran and Jacque Patrick Ramsden

Julien Tran has been eliminated in 2nd place from the APT Main Event for ₫2,337,300,000 ($100,500).

Jacque Patrick Ramsden shoved pre-flop and Julien Tran called to put himself at risk.

Ramsden 7♦ 4♦

Tran 3♠ 3♦

If Tran could hold he would double up to 2,900,000 chips but if Ramsden could find a way to win the hand he would be our APT Main Event champion!

No time to waste then. Let's see the runout.

The flop Q♠ 9♦ K♥.

So far, so good for Tran. His pocket threes were still in the lead over the seven-four of Ramsden, who needed to pair his hand. Ramsden also had a backdoor diamond draw that he could fall back on.

A turn 8♦ did give Ramsden that flush draw and now he needed a seven, a four, or a diamond to win the Main Event title. Tran was still the favorite to double up but he needed to fade 14 outs.

The river card.

A♦. Jacque Patrick Ramsden has done it. Ramsden rivers a flush when he needed it most to win the Main Event. Ramsden raises his hands in the air as his name is announced through the cardroom that he is our APT Main Event champion. Tran is a worthy runner-up and also gets a round of applause for his brilliant effort.

Julien Tran shoves his last 1,500,000 into the middle and Jacque Patrick Ramsden let his hand go.

"You're too good, I can't double you up" remarked Ramsden.

Julien Tran

Julien Tran doesn't seem confident about his chances here. He is at a 12-1 chip disadvantage against Jacque Patrick Ramsden.

"Can we still late reg the High Roller?" joked Tran. Or was he joking?

He has 7 big blinds.

Jacque Patrick Ramsden

Jacque Patrick Ramsden opened to 450,000 and Julien Tran called.

The flop came 3♥ Q♠ T♠ and Ramsden bet 325,000. Tran called to see a turn card .

The turn paired the board when the Q♥ fell and Ramsden continued his trend of betting fast and hard when he slid out 1,200,000. Tran called once again and this pot was close to 4,000,000 as we got to the river.

An A♦ completed the board and Ramsden bet big. 3,500,000 to be exact. If Tran called and lost this hand he would be extremely short-stacked with around 1,500,000 to Ramsden's 19,000,000. The Vietnamese player had to think very carefully here. Were Ramsden's big bets a sign of strength or weakness?

Tran muttered to himself and then said to Ramsden that he didn't think he could fold.

"Cooler, cooler" said Tran. Tran put in calling chips and Ramsden announced that he had a straight and showed the K♣ J♦. It was good! Tran mucked while shaking his head and Ramsden was on the brink of winning the APT Main Event Title.

He has one hand on the trophy.

Julien Tran opened to 450,000 and Jacque Patrick Ramsden called.

Tran continued for 300,000 on a flop of T♠ Q♠ J♣ and Ramsden let his hand go.

Blinds are up and are now 100,000/200,000/200,000.

Jacque Patrick Ramsden opened to 400,000 only for Tran to rip his stack in the middle. His all-in was for around 6,300,000 chips which is close to 40 big blinds.

Is this a sign of impatience from the normally calm and collected Tran?

Ramsden folds but smells blood.

Julien Tran opened to 400,000 and Ramsden 3-bet to 1,200,000. Tran made the call and we saw a flop.

A♦ 5♥ 6♥. Ramsden, again acting very quickly, immediately bet out 1,500,000 which made Tran fold.

I love this fast play from Ramsden.

Jacque Patrick Ramsden opened to 400,000 and was called by Julien Tran.

The flop came K♦ 7♦ 8♦ and Ramsden bet 250,000. Tran called and we saw a turn card.

When the T♠ fell on the turn Ramsden announced a bet of 1,000,000, who has a habit of betting big and fast in certain spots. Tran responded with a sizable raise to 2,500,000 and before he could even slide his bet forward, Ramsden had said that he was all in. Tran seemed confused by the quick actions of Ramsden and eventually folded his hand.