Superstar Challenge - Final Day

Joseph Cheong lifting the exclusive Black Lion trophy

Joseph Cheong put on a sublime performance to win the KRW 30,000,000 Superstar Challenge at APT Jeju for KRW 374,700,000 (~$272,160) after topping the 36-player (28 unique) field. Cheong overcame an eight-to-one chip deficit against Tianyuan "Terry" Tang in a fascinating heads-up duel that spanned fifty-four hands and saw the Chinese player bank KRW 258,230,000 (~$187,560) for his runner-up finish.

The prize pool of KRW 1,012,680,000 (~$735,655) sets a new APT country record as the richest the Superstar Challenge has generated in South Korea — another record which was broken at the tour's first visit to Jeju in seven years.

APT host Gregory "Greg Goes All In" Liow had a chance to speak to Cheong after his victory.

Liow: What does this trophy mean to you?

"Umm, it's a nice trophy, I'd prefer one of those lions though." joked Cheong in reference to the award-winning APT lion trophy.

Liow asked Cheong how he managed to keep calm after some big coolers and huge folds that he made.

"I made some big folds, I had some good reads on people, and I ran pretty well heads up so, you know, it worked out pretty well."

"I thought I would have to win a lot of all-ins, which I did in the beginning, then it just kind of evened out and it was good, smooth sailing from there." replied Cheong when Liow asked about the huge chip deficit going into heads-up play.

This is Cheong's second APT title after the American player won a HKD 1,000,000 buy-in event eleven years ago for HKD 10,428,000 (~$1,350,000) — it's fair to say that Cheong knows his way around the high-roller tables.

After an eventful Day 1 just seven players managed to survive and make it into the second and final chapter of the Superstar Challenge. The first objective was simple — make it into the money. Just five spots were being paid which meant two of the finalists would be going home empty-handed and miss out on the biggest min-cash of the APT's new era valued at KRW 96,200,000 (~$69,875), over three times the buy-in.

Natural8 Ambassador Danny Tang scraped into Day 2 with just ten big blinds but that number hit zero just five hands in after the player from Hong Kong shoved all in with king-four and ran into the pocket kings of APT Main Event champion Daisuke Ogita.

The bubble was close to bursting almost instantaneously as Taiwan's Pete Chen got his ace-queen into the middle against the pocket eights of Cheong. Chen was behind preflop, on the flop, and the turn but managed to river a flush to keep himself alive, much to the dismay of the shortest stacks at the table.

Thomas Ward

Thomas Ward then had to sweat a runout when his pocket queens were at risk against the ace-king of Chen. Despite the number two ranked tournament player in Taiwan flopping a flush draw, Ward's pocket queens managed to hold up which sent the stack of Chen to near extinction.

The only player at the table who seemed to be enjoying the bubble was Tang as his stack kept growing after he consistently applied maximum pressure to the shorter stacks which saw his stack swell to more than five million chips — well over half the chips in play.

Chen could never recover after losing that earlier flip with Big Slick and eventually held the unfortunate title of Superstar Challenge bubble boy when his king-three couldn't improve against the pocket threes of the eventual champion Cheong.

Pete Chen

Chi-Jen "Justin" Chu had seen his stack dwindle to just four big blinds after being handcuffed during the intense bubble period but did score two double-ups in the space of three hands which both came at the expense of Tang. First, Chu's ace-seven held against the king-five of Tang thanks to an ace-high flop then the Taiwanese player's ace-queen held up against king-queen which brought him right back into contention.

Cheong was amongst the shortest stacks at the table and was in desperate need of a double-up when he shoved ace-ten and ran into Ogita's pocket queens. Just as it looked Cheong would be eliminated in fifth, an ace on the flop ensured his survival and kickstarted his run to the title.

Ogita was then eliminated when he flopped a flush draw and turned top pair with king-four and got all the chips into the middle against Tang's pocket tens, who had flopped a set. A brick on the river meant Ogita was eliminated and the reigning APT Main Event champion took home KRW 96,200,000 (~$69,875) for his run.

Daisuke Ogita

Chu and Ward had very similar stacks when they both clashed in a pot that crippled the player from New Zealand's stack to less than half a big blind. Taiwan's Chu had shoved the button with ace-five and Ward made the quick call with ace-jack from the big blind but just as it looked as if we would be down to the final three, Chu hit a five on the turn to deliver a crushing blow to Ward.

Despite winning a pot that quintupled up his stack, Ward couldn't spark a miracle comeback after his nine-six didn't improve against the ten-four of Cheong which eliminated him in fourth for KRW 118,990,000 (~$86,430).

Play wasn't three-handed for long as just twelve hands later Chu would exit the tournament and take the first of the podium spots. Chu had shoved ace-four over Tang's open and been called by the Chinese player's ace-nine. There was no three-outer for Chu this time as a nine on the flop sealed his fate and sent him to the rail with KRW 164,560,000 (~$119,530) for his efforts.

Chi-Jen "Justin" Chu

Tang started heads-up play with an over five-to-one chip advantage but soon increased that to an eight-to-one lead and it seemed that it was only a matter of time before the Chinese player would be crowned the Superstar Challenge champion.

It could have been all over just seven hands into the duel as Cheong shoved with jack-nine and was in a rough spot against the pocket nines of Tang. However, a jack on the turn gave Cheong the lifeline he needed and ignited a comeback that nobody had expected mere moments before.

Cheong had almost evened out the stacks with some impeccable timing and smallball poker that even the great Daniel Negreanu would be proud of. Nevertheless, Tang fought back and had another chance to win the title when his pocket deuces were up against Cheong's king-six in a coinflip situation. A straight on the turn helped Cheong double up and once again deny Tang the victory.

Tianyuan Tang

Tang had held the chip lead since the start of the day but soon found himself relinquishing it after failing to eliminate Cheong for a third time. The chips had flown into the middle with Cheong's queen-jack flopping top pair and Tang's eight-five looking to complete an open-ended straight draw. Two more bricks on the turn and river meant Tang had to slide over half of his stack to the American player and the tables had well and truly turned.

Cheong had his chance at lifting the trophy when his queen-ten had Tang's ace-deuce at risk for around half of the chips in play. It looked to be over as Cheong flopped a ten but an ace on the river kept Tang alive and regained him the chip lead in the rollercoaster heads-up match.

Tang didn't seme to have an answer to Cheong's tactical prowess and soon found his stack being eaten away by the ever-increasing blinds. In the last hand of the night Cheong shoved all in with eight-nine and Tang made the call with king-deuce. A nine on the flop was devastating for Tang and this time he couldn't find his three-outer which meant he had to settle for second and the payday of KRW 258,230,000 (~$187,560).

Congratulations to Cheong on a wonderful victory and only the second Black Lion trophy awarded at an APT live event.

Joseph Cheong being awarded the exclusive Black Lion trophy by APT Host Gregory Liow

Joseph Cheong wins the Superstar Challenge for KRW 374,700,000 (~$272,160).

A full write-up of the day's action will follow shortly.

Tianyuan Tang and Joseph Cheong share a handshake

Tianyuan Tang has been eliminated in 2nd place for KRW 258,230,000 (~$187,560).

Hand 139 Joseph Cheong shoved all in from the button and Tianyuan Tang made the call for his stack of 2,400,000 from the big bling.

Cheong 9♦ 8♠

Tang K♣ 2♣

Another all-in-and-call situation in this heads-up duel with Tang being the at-risk player again, but he was in the lead with his king-high.

That lead was eradicated on the 9♥ Q♣ 7♥ flop as Cheong paired his nine to give him the advantage.

No help arrived for Tang on the 4♦ turn which meant, just as he did before, he needed to catch a three-outer on the river.

Lightning didn't strike twice for Tang as the 2♠ landed on the river and eliminated him from the Superstar Challenge.

Hand 135 Joseph Cheong limped in and Tianyuan Tang checked. Tang folded to a bet from Cheong on the K♥ 6♣ 9♦ flop.

Hand 136 Cheong got a walk.

Hand 137 Cheong shoved all in and won the pot.

Hand 138 Tang shoved all in and won the pot.

Joseph Cheong

Hand 131 Joseph Cheong limped in and Tianyuan Tang checked his big blind. The flop came 3♦ A♥ K♠ and Tang check-called a bet of 200,000 from Cheong. A Q♣ landed on the turn and Tang check-called another bet of 700,000 from Cheong. The 4♦ completed the runout which Tang checked, Cheong bet 2,000,000, and Tang folded.

Hand 132 Tang raised to 500,000 and Cheong made the call. A J♦ 3♠ J♥ flop saw Cheong check, Tang bet 450,000, Cheong raised to 1,100,000, and Tang folded.

Hand 133 Cheong limped in and Tang checked. On an all-diamond flop of 2♦ Q♦ T♦, Tang check-called a bet of 200,000 from Cheong. A 3♠ came on the turn which Tang checked, Cheong bet 700,000, and Tang folded.

Hand 134 Tang limped in and Cheong checked. A flop of 8♥ 3♠ 2♥ was checked to the J♥ turn. Cheong check-folded to a bet from Tang.

There will be a short 5-minute break.

Hand 128 Tianyuan Tang raised to 500,000 and Joseph Cheong called. The flop came 3♠ A♥ 7♣ and both players checked to the 2♦ turn. It went check-check again and the 5♠ river saw Tang bet 375,000, which Cheong called. Tang showed A♦ 8♥ to win the pot with a pair of aces.

Hand 129 Cheong limped in and Tang checked. On the Q♠ 2♦ A♥ flop, Tang check-folded to Cheong's bet.

Hand 130 Tang limped in and Cheong raised to 550,000. Tang folded.

Hand 126 Tianyuan Tang shoved all in and took down the pot.

Hand 127 Joseph Cheong shoved all in and Tang made the call for his 2,500,000 chips.

Cheong Q♦ T♣

Tang A♠ 2♦

After having multiple chances to win the trophy, Tang was now at risk for his tournament life.

Cheong paired his ten on the K♣ T♠ K♠ flop which sent him into the lead and a huge step closer to winning the title.

A 9♥ turn card brought no help for Tang who needed an ace and an ace only in order to survive.

When the A♥ hit the river, Tang had improved to a higher pair and kept himself alive in this topsy-turvy heads-up match.

Tianyuan Tang

Hand 122 Tianyuan Tang limped in and Joseph Cheong checked. They saw a flop of 2♥ 5♣ 9♦ which went check-check to the 3♣ turn. Cheong bet 200,000 and Tang called. A J♠ fell on the river which Cheong checked, Tang bet 1,700,000, and Cheong folded.

Hand 123 Cheong limped in and Tang shoved all in. Cheong folded.

Hand 124 Tang limped in and Cheong checked. A royal-looking flop of A♣ Q♠ J♦ got Cheong to check-fold to Tang's bet.

Hand 125 Cheong limped in and Tang checked. On the Q♠ 7♥ J♣ flop, Tang checked, Cheong bet 160,000, Tang raised to 480,000, and Cheong called. An A♦ fell on the turn and Tang slowed down with a check, Cheong bet 500,000, and Tang folded.