APT Finale Taiwan: Zhou Yueyang wins the Main Event; early winners include Pete Chen and Im Sangguk

After ten events in the region, the Asian Poker Tour is in Taipei City hosting its last festival of the year at the Chinese Texas Hold’em Poker Association (CTP Club). APT Finale Taiwan 2019 got underway on November 28 to conclude on December 9. Half of the games have already completed including the Main Event won by China’s Zhou Yueyang for his first-ever live victory. Among the side winners were Pete Yen Han Chen and Im Sangguk at the High Rollers. We’ve got those results for you below.

Main Event: ZHOU YUEYANG – NT$ 2,138,200 (~US$ 70,000)

After a strong performance on the final day, the last APT Main Event title was claimed by newcomer Zhou Yueyang. This was Zhou’s first-ever live victory and largest live score of NT$ 2,138,200 (~US$ 70,000)

The tour’s highlight tournament ran for six days, from November 29 to December 4. It brought in 319 for a prize pool of NT$ 9,282,900 (~US$ 304,000). For the 83 Day 1A entries they were treated to a christmas discount promo of only NT$ 31,000 while the remaining 236 paid the full NT$ 33,000 buy-in.

Day 3 action witnessed the money grab begin at 32 places whenMalaysian pro Michael Soyzafell on the bubble. Claiming all his chips was Hong Kong’s Hwang Sang Yeon who proceeded to bring his big stack to the final 8 as front runner. This was Hwang’s second time up top having also bagged the lead at the end of Day 2.

At the final 8 race, the most decorated player was Hong Kong pro Lau King Lun Alan however his short stack stayed behind to exit first at the hands of Hwang. USA’s Jeff Davis and Hsu Piying followed, to bring about what was to be the longest round.

Five-handed ran for 3.5 hours until the hot-running Taiwanese Kuang Hung Lee went way up then way down and out at the hands of Zhou. Lee was looking to score his first APT title having won an impressive three Main Event titles at the CTP Club since December 2018. He won the inaugural Masters Poker Series, the Boyaa Poker Tournament,andKPPA Taiwan Premier League. Adding to his achievements, he alsoplaced 3rd at WPT Korea Incheon Main Event.

After Lee’s fall, action sped up. Zhou railed Hwang in 4th place and WPT Vietnam runner-up Takao Shimizu in 3rd place to enter heads up nearly 10:1 in chips against Hsiao Yun Yang. Despite two double ups earned by Hsiao, he took 2nd place on a two pair vs higher two pair.

Final 8 payouts
1st Zhou Yueyang – China – NT$ 2,138,200
2nd Hsiao Yun Yang – Taiwan – NT$ 1,425,500
3rd Takao Shimizu – Japan – NT$ 991,000
4th Hwang Sang Yeon – Hong Kong SAR – NT$ 715,800
5th Luke Kuang Hung Lee – Taiwan – NT$ 535,300
6th Hsu Piying – Taiwan – NT$ 413,100
7th Jeff Davis – USA – NT$ 328,100
8th Lau King Lun Alan – Hong Kong SAR – NT$ 267,300

Monster Stack: BINGZHI YAP – NT$ 515,100 (~US$ 17,000)

The festival opened with the Monster Stack 1 at NT$ 16,500 (~US$ 540) to enter. 152 signed up for a pot worth NT$ 2,211,600 (~US$ 72,500). Singapore’s Bingzhi Yap overcame a deficit at heads up to to steal the win from Chen Shou Dien and pocket the NT$ 515,100 first place cash. This was Yap’s first live victory and largest live score. 26 players cashed at this event.

Final 8 payouts

1st Bingzhi Yap – Singapore – NT$ 515,100
2nd Shou Dien Chen – Taiwan – NT$ 343,600
3rd Chi Chung Ho – Hong Kong SAR – NT$ 238,900
4th Keon Yong Ma- Taiwan – NT$ 172,500
5th Shinya Nakai – Japan – NT$ 129,000
6th Mean Feng Huang – Taiwan – NT$ 99,600
7th Pang Long Chun – Hong Kong SAR – NT$ 79,100
8th Kai Paulsen – Norway – NT$ 64,400
9th Wei Chu Liang – Taiwan – NT$ 53,700

High Rollers Single Day: IM SANGGUK – NT$ 627,500 (~US$ 20,500)

Last month, Korea’s Im Sangguk missed the APT Vietnam High Rollers Single Day win falling in 3rd place. Returning for another attempt, this time proved he had the skills to bring it home. Sangguk rose above a tough field of 34 heavyweights to nail it down and collect his largest payday of NT$ 627,500 (~US$ 20,500). This was also his first live career title. Buy-in for the event was NT$ 55,000 (~US$ 1,800) to generate a prize pool of NT$ 1,649,000 (~US$ 54,000).

Payouts
1st Im Sangguk – Korea – NT$ 627,500
2nd James Mun Kit Leong – Singapore – NT$385,300
3rd Natalie Teh – Malaysia – NT$ 250,200
4th Michael Soyza – Malaysia – $ 171,100
5th Chen Sin Ren – Taiwan – NT$ 122,800
6th Soo Jo Kim – Korea – NT$ 92,100

High Rollers: PETE YEN HAN CHEN – NT$ 864,800 (~US$ 28,400)

Another big buy-in event in the roster, this one coming in at a heftier NT$ 88,000 (~US$ 2,900). 37 took interest for a prize pool of NT$ 2,871,200 (~US$ 94,000). Taiwanese pro Pete Yen Han Chen dominated at heads up against Vincent Li to capture the win and NT $ 864,800 (~US$ 28,400). This was his 14th five-figure cash for 2019 and is now over US$ 2.8 Million in career live earnings.

For Li, despite finishing in 2nd place, his performance at the APT continues to be outstanding. At the previous APT series, he won two High Rollers titles and placed 2nd in two others. His latest score of NT$ 756,100 (~US$ 24,800) was his 7th five-figure cash of 2019 and the largest.

Payouts
1st Pete Yen Han Chen – Taiwan – NT$ 864,800 (deal made)
2nd Vincent Li – Hong Kong SAR – NT$ 756,100 (deal made)
3rd Peter Chien – Canada – NT$ 427,500
4th Michael Soyza – Malaysia – NT$ 301,200
5th Chan Tsun Ming – Hong Kong SAR – NT$ 221,000
6th Alex Lindop – UK – NT$ 168,200
7th Natalie Teh – Malaysia – NT$ 132,400

Other Events

Event #2: Ladies of Poker

Buy-in: NT$ 7,700 (~US$ 150)
Entries: 22
Prize pool: NT$ 149,400 (~US$ 4,900)
ITM: 4 places
Winner: Chen Yi Liu – Taiwan – NT$ 73,100 (~US 2,400)

Event #3: Head Hunter

Buy-in: NT$ 11,000 (!US$ 360)
Entries: 86
Cash Prize pool: NT$ 66,200 (~US$ 21,700
ITM: 15 places
Winner: He Zong Chi – Taiwan – NT$ 176,900 (~US$ 5,800)

Event #5: Pot Limit Omaha 1

Buy-in: NT$ 8,800 (~US$ 290)
Entries: 48
Prize pool: NT$ 372,500 (~US$ 12,200)
ITM: 8 places
Winner: Ryan Ko – USA – NT$ 116,900 (~US$ 3,800)

Event #7: No Limit Hold’em Single Day

Buy-in: NT$ 7,700 (~US$ 150)
Entries: 106
Prize pool: NT$ 719,700 (~US$ 23,500)
ITM: 18 places
Winner: Chen Chi Jen – Taiwan – NT$ 183,500 (~US$ 6,000)

Event #8: No Limit Hold’em 1

Buy-in: NT$ 9,900 (~US$ 325)
Entries: 124
Prize pool: NT$ 1,082,500 (~US$ 35,400)
ITM: 21 places
Winner: Cheng Chao Ting – Taiwan – NT$ 234,300 (~US$ 7,700)

Event #9: No Limit Hold’em 2

Buy-in: NT$ 9,900 (~US$ 325)
Entries: 119
Prize pool: NT$ 1,038,900 (~US$ 34,000)
ITM: 20 places
Winner: Chan Hiu Tung – Hong Kong – NT$ 258,100 (~US$ 8,500)

At the time of writing, the APT Championships Event is underway. This event has a NT$ 6 Million (~US$ 196,700) guarantee. Buy-in is NT$ 49,500 (~US$ 1,600). It runs from December 5 to 9 with two entry days. Players can sign up as late as Day 2, closing at the end of the opening level.