APT High Roller - Day 1 - VND 2,500,000,000 GTD

Phanlert Sukonthachartnant

Thailand’s Phanlert Sukonthachartnant, who broke the USD 1.5 million milestone in live earnings, leads the remaining 28 players in the VND 80,000,000 APT Phu Quoc High Roller. A total of 139 (85 unique) entries were recorded, creating a prize pool of VND 9,707,760,000 (~$ 382,195), generating 20 spots in the money. The winner will receive a top prize of VND 2,329,880,000 (~$91,730) and the prestigious Bronze Lion trophy.

Sukonthachartnant, the 2024 APT Taipei Super High Roller champion, maintained his stellar form today, crossing the one-million chip mark after flopping a flush against Bach Quang Minh’s queen-six to secure an elimination, and kept up his momentum to amass 1,221,000 chips at the end of day's play.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Nevan Chang, a decorated APT regular with eight titles and over USD two million in live earnings, finished the day with the second-highest stack of 1,132,000. Chang demonstrated masterful play, claiming Adrien Favre’s elimination with pocket kings and using a rivered full house to chip away at Juyeol Lee. Both players have set themselves up as frontrunners heading into the Final Day.

Duy Thuc Nguyen

Duy Thuc Nguyen became the third player to cross the one-million chip mark after skillfully navigating through sixteen 40-minute levels. Nguyen, a two-time champion with titles from the APT Phu Quoc 2023 Single Day High Roller and the APT Summer Series Da Nang Single Day High Roller 8-Max, ended the day with an impressive 1,084,000 chips. He is well-positioned to make a strong push in tomorrow's Final Day as he eyes another APT title for his record.

William Teoh (837,000), a three-time APT champion, including his recent triumph in the 2024 APT Manila Super High Roller, is back in contention for another prestigious title. Teoh showcased his skills throughout the day, solidifying his position near the top of the leaderboard. Hot on his heels is Jennifer Cassell, two-time APT Women’s Event winner and the only woman to advance to Day 2. Cassell continues to impress, navigating a tough field with determination as she aims to make history once again in this tournament.

Other notables that made it to Day 2 are Mikael Andersson (685,000), Hayato Kitajima (483,000), Sean Ooi (407,000), and David Erquiaga (416,000).

Top Ten APT High Roller Stacks

Day 2 of the APT Phu Quoc High Roller will continue at 11:15 am local time. The final table will be live-streamed and can be seen through all social media channels of the Asian Poker Tour.

Youtube

Twitch

A full survivors list can be found by clicking HERE.

The full payout distribution can be found by clicking HERE

Day 1 of the APT High Roller is a wrap. The remaining 28 players are currently bagging up their chips and will come tomorrow at 11:15pm. Stay tuned here for a full recap of todays action.

John Perry

Shardul Aramudha open-shoved from middle position for 54,000 and John Perry called from the small blind.

Shardul Aramudha: A♥ 7♦

John Perry: A♠ K♠

Perry held command on the flop of 4♠ Q♠ 7♠, flopping a flush against Aramudha’s one pair. The runout brought Q♦ J♥, completing the board and officially marking Aramudha’s elimination.

Sean Ooi

Sean Ooi opened the hijack to 20,000 only to be jammed by Ka-Man Kwok on the button, and Ooi made the call.

Ka-Man Kwok: A♠ Q♣

Sean Ooi: T♠ T♥

Ooi held the lead on a flop of K♥ 3♥ 4♣ with his pair of tens.

The turn brought the T♦, upgrading Ooi to a set and leaving Kwok needing a jack to survive.

The river revealed a bricky 9♦, ending Kwok’s tournament run.

The action was picked up on the flop of 5♥ 7♠ J♥, with around 60,000 in the middle, with Duy Thuc Nguyen in the small blind to act.

Nguyen checked to Ankit Ahuja, in the big blind, who led out for 20,000. Nguyen put in a re-raise to 60,000, but this did not deter his opponent from making a four-bet to 100,000.

After tanking for a long time, Nguyen eventually tossed his cards into the muck

Manh Cuong Bui limped from middle position and John Perry checked from the big blind.

The flop ran out Q♠ 6♥ 4♥, and both players checked through to see the 9♥ hit on the turn.

Perry checked the action to Bui, who led out for 10,000. Perry dropped in a call.

The river came out the K♦, and Perry checked again to which Bui shoved all in, putting Perry in a tough situation.

Eventually, Perry threw his cards into the muck.

Duy Nguyen opened from middle-position and John Perry three-bet from the button.

Nguyen called and the flop came A♣ T♠ 8♠.

Both players checked and the turn came another A♦. Nguyen led out for 30,000 which Perry called.

The river was the 7♥ and Nguyen put out a hefty bet of 100,000. Perry did only think for a few seconds before making the call.

Nguyen showed his hand and was very surprised when his J♥ T♥ was the best. "I wanted to bluff you off jacks or queens" he said.

Pham Thanh Nghia

The flop rolled off 8♦ 5♣ 9♦, and Nghia checked the action to Zhang, who continued with a bet of 35,000.

This didn’t deter Nghia from re-raising to 75,000, to which Zhang went over the top, to be all in. After thinking for a long time Nghia called off his remaining chips.

Pham Thanh Nghia: 7♣ 7♥

Zhuoqun Zhang: J♥ J♣

Zhang maintained the lead with pocket jacks, and Nghia was looking to spike a six or seven.

The runout came 4♦ J♦, improving Zhang to a set and sending Nghia to the rail.

Sean Ooi

It folded around to Sean Ooi in the small-blind who put Kannapong Thanarattrakul under pressure with a raise to 32,000. The Thai national called.

The players saw the T♣ 5♣ 3♠ flop. Ooi checked and Thanarattrakul bet out 20,000. The Malaysian Ooi raised to 55,000 which got called by the Thai player.

The turn brought the K♥ and Ooi continued his aggression with a 120,000 bet. The big-blind called once more.

A river 2♠ and Ooi decided to check, but Thanarattrakul had other plans and moved all-in for 342,000, covering Ooi.

The Malaysian player used all of his three remaining time banks and at the end, with time running out decided to let his hand go.

Phanlert Sukonthachartnant raised to 18,000 from under the gun, Sebastian Iargo three-bet to 38,000 and Wade Gillett then shoved all in for 77,000. Only Iargo dropped in a call to put Gillett at risk.

Sabastian Iargo: A♥ T♥

Wade Gillett: A♣ Q♣

Gillett held the lead with the queen kicker, and the deader quickly delivered a clean board of 5♦ 6♦ 6♣ A♠ 2♦, securing Gillett a double-up.