Christopher Mateo has done it! Coming into the final table as chip leader he maintained his big stack throughout then crushed Donghyup Kim at heads up to hoist the PokerStars shard trophy that he was denied back in 2023.

"I feel so good. I am so nervous and happy. This is so special to me because in 2023 I finished second in Manila and now I finally did it."

At six handed, Mateo admitted to switching to a tight strategy noticing everyone was overly active and aggressive. By four handed, he flipped the script, raking in more pots than he had all day. After Kim knocked out the remaining players, it was heads up with Mateo in the lead and never relinquished.

"Kim was aggressive but I was more aggressive. I knew how to play him. I grinded him down until he was short and I did it. I finally won the event."

Congratulations to Christopher Mateo for his incredible achievement!

Final Table Results

1st Christopher Mateo - Philippines - US$ 126,500

2nd Donghyup Kim - Korea - US$ 113,000

3rd Trong Hieu Ngo - Philippines - US$ 66,000

4th Nicola Spicher - Switzerland - US$ 55,600

5th David Erquiaga - Philippines - US$ 39,000

6th Abraham Ceesvin - Singapore - US$ 30,000

7th Sven McDermott - Ireland - US$ 23,000

8th Ziad Zebib - USA - US$ 17,700

9th Vaicheslav I - Russia - US$ 13,953

The third annual APPT Cambodia Main Event taking place at NagaWorld Integrated Resorts in Phnom Penh, ran from November 21 to 25, 2024 with 518 entries across three starting days. With each entry at US$ 1,650, the half a million USD guarantee was obliterated for a larger US$ 746,153 prize pool.

Returning today, the final 9 players were each guaranteed US$ 13,953. On just the second hand, Vaicheslav I was eliminated by Ziad Zebib on a flip however he Zebib wasn't able to hold on to the new found chips very long as he also fell on a flip to Christopher Mateo.

APPT Manila Championship winner Trong Hieu Ngo was nearly out when his Q♦ Q♥ bad beat Sven McDermott's K♣ K♠ with a Q♠ turning up on the river. McDermott was chunked to 1 bb and was soon out in 7th place.

At six-handed, chips shifted rapidly leading to the fall of Ceesvin Abraham on a bad beat by Kim. David Erquiaga followed in 5th place with Trong also coming from behind. Down to four players, Nicola Spicher could not keep up pace with the leaders and was drained out leaving the final three with heavy stacks behind.

At this stage, it was anyone's game with each one well-stacked and the average quite deep. That changed when Kim got the better of Trong, denying him a back-to-back title. Trong pushed into Kim's aces to finish in 3rd place.

The final two players quickly struck an ICM deal that ensured six figures to both. When play resumed, the tide shifted. Mateo's counter aggression outmatched Kim to steadily chip away at his stack. With the counts heavily in his favor, Mateo sealed the deal with a decisive top pair finish and well deserved victory.

Read up on the Final Day via the updates just below.

On Hand #200, the final hand of the APPT Cambodia Main Event was deal. Donghyup Kim open 300,000, Christopher Mateo calls to take the battle to the flop 2♦ 3♥ 9♣ . Kim c-bets 200,000, Mateo check-raises 800,000, Kim jams 2,200,000, and Mateo snap-calls.

Mateo flip open Q♣ 9♥ top pair, Kim has Q♥ J♦ , the turn 3♠ and river 7♠ are no help to Kim to finish in 2nd place.

Hand #194: Christopher Mateo opens for 250,000, Donghyup Kim three-bets 700,000, Mateo flats then they check it to the turn 3♠ J♦ 6♥ 5♣ . Kim leads out 400,000 and the call is made. On the river 3♦ , Kim resumes checking, Mateo test bets 600,000 and it's good enough to ship.

Hand #191: Donghyup Kim opens 300,000, Christopher Mateo calls for a flop A♣ J♠ T♥ . Kim c-bets 375,000 then bets 650,000 on the turn 2♦ . Mateo calls both. The river K♣ is checked slowing down the action. Kim wins it A♠ 4♦ top pair over Mateo's J♦ 5♣ mid pair.

Hand #187: Christopher Mateo continues to railroad Donghyup Kim winning nine consecutive pots. His lates saw him call Kim's 300,000 preflop raise then call a 1,000,000 flop bet on a board 8♣ A♦ 7♠ . The turn 3♠ and river 5♣ are checked. Mateo rakes it in with 6♦ 7♦ pair.

Hand #181: Christopher Mateo opens 250,000 then fires 360,000 on the flop 6♣ T♠ 8♦ and 450,000 on the turn A♦ . Kim doesn't continue to the river.

Hand #182: Christopher Mateo opens 275,000 and after the call is made, they check it down 3♠ 3♦ 6♠ 9♣ 9♠ . Mateo's K♥ 5♠ wins the pot over 5♥ 4♣ .

Hand #183: After Donghyup Kim's limp, Christopher Mateo raises 300,000, Kim folds.

Hand #184: On a limped pot and a board 5♦ 5♠ T♥ Q♠ , Christopher Mateo bet 200,000 and wins the pot.

Hand #185: Facing a 250,000 raise, Christopher Mateo three-bets 800,000 and wins the pot.

Hand #170: Donghyup Kim raises 250,000 gets popped to 700,000, Kim calls. At the flop Q♣ 7♣ 8♠ , Mateo sends out 350,000, Kim raises 1,000,000 and it's good enough to claim over a million from the leader.

Hand #171: Christopher Mateo opens and takes down the pot.

Hand #172: Donghyup Kim opens and takes down the pot.

Hand #173: Donghyup Kim calls Christopher Mateo's 250,000 raise and then check-calls another 200,000 at the flop T♠ Q♥ J♥ . No bets land on the turn 9♠ . The river 3♣ sees Kim fire 500,000, gets the call again and wins the pot with Q♦ 8♥ straight.

Hand #174: Third consecutive pot for Donghyup Kim who raises 250,000, Christopher Mateo three-bets 700,000, Kim four-bets 1,500,000, Mateo gives up the fight.

Hand #156: Donghyup Kim opens 300,00 and wins the first hands of heads up.

Hand #157: Second pot goes to the leader Christopher Mateo with K♥ 8♣ on a board 7♥ 9♣ 6♦ 6♥ J♠ . Starting off as a limped pot, Mateo calls Kim's 175,000 turn bet. Though he missed the board, his King was still best.

Hand #158: Donghyup Kim opens 275,000 and gets no call.

Hand #159: Christopher Mateo raises 200,000, Donghyup Kim calls then folds to the 175,000 flop bet on a board K♣ 2♣ 2♠ .

Hand #160: Christopher Mateo claims another pot by first defending on the big blind. After the flop is checked, Mateo check-raises from 200,000 to make it 650,000. Kim folds.

Hand #161: Christopher Mateo continues to dominate, claiming another pot with follow up bet on the flop 4♣ 3♣ A♣ .

The finalists have reached an ICM deal and will play for the title and the PokerStars shard trophy.

Christopher Mateo - US$ 126,500

Donghyup Kim - US$ 113,000

The APPT Cambodia Main Event is down to two players, Christopher Mateo and Donghyup Kim. Both players are vying for the US$ 147,500 top prize and the PokerStars shard trophy. For the runner up is US$ 92,000.

It will be a long grind with average stack at 77 bb.

Hand #134: Nicola Spicher walks.

Hand #135: Trong Hieu Ngo raises 160,000 from utg and Christopher Mateo won't let him take his big blind that easy. At the flop 3♠ 7♥ 6♣ , Trong c-bets 150,000 then faces a check-raise of 500,000, Trong gives it up.

Hand #136: Donghyup Kim looks down at A♦ Q♦ and makes the customary raise, big blind Trong Hieu Ngo won't let it pass without seeing the board 9♥ J♦ 3♥ . Both players check to the turn A♣ where Kim fires 225,000. Trong check-calls and check-calls again on the river 2♥ for 500,000. Kim isn't bluffing and rakes in a hefty pot.

Hand #131: The charging Trong Hieu Ngo is stopped by Christopher Mateo by taking charge in this hand. Facing a 200,000 raise, Mateo three-bets 700,000, Trong flats for a big pot in the middle.

Flop runs 3♦ 4♥ K♠ , Mateo shoots a bet of 300,000 then another 700,000 on the turn 9♣ . Both are called by Trong then they play it safe on the river 7♠ . Mateo flips over K♣ T♠ top pair and collects the pot after Trong mucks.

Hand #132: Christopher Mateo bumps it up to 200,000 and again its him and Trong Hieu Ngo. At the flop K♠ K♣ K♦ , Mateo bets 180,000 and wins the pot uncontested.

Hand #133: Christopher Mateo raises again and is called by two players then they all check the flop 7♣ A♥ Q♣ . The turn 9♣ , it is checked to Mateo who bets 300,000, no takers.

Hand #126: After knocking out David Erquiaga, Trong Hieu Ngo continued to chip up winning multiple pots. The first one saw Trong raise 160,000 preflop then c-bet 130,000 on the flop T♦ K♦ J♠ to which Nicola Spicher folded.

Hand #130: Four hands later, from the button, Trong Hieu Ngo matched up Christopher Mateo's 200,00 raise then they checked the board 8♦ T♥ Q♠ . On the turn 2♠ , Mateo's follow up bet of 200,000 was called again for the river T♣ . Mateo holds back sending the option to Trong who bet 600,000. Mateo folded.

Hand #109: Nicola Spicher opens 120,000, called by Trong Hieu Ngo from the button, then Spicher barrels down the streets on a board 9♥ 2♣ 4♥ 4♣ 8♥ . Spicher bet 100,000, 225,000, and 450,000. Trong called the flop and turn, on the river he raises 1,600,000, Spicher folds giving up nearly 900,000 in chips.

Hand #93-94: David Erquiaga is clawing his way out of danger after claiming two double ups back to back. First one sees him open shove his last 2 bb with Q♠ 8♠ and rivers the winner on a board 2♦ 4♣ 7♠ 5♦ Q♥ to overake Nicola Spichar's J♦ 7♣ pair on the flop.

Next hand Erquiaga shoves again with 2♦ 2♣ and is called by Christopher Mateo with K♥ Q♦ . Mateo misses the board 4♥ 5♥ 8♣ 3♦ 6♥ .

Hand #90: Trong Hieu Ngo wins a pot on a three bet.

Hand #91: Trong Hieu Ngo wins another pot by shoving on the button.

Hand #92: Nicola Spicher opens, sees a flop 6♣ T♦ 4♠ with caller Christopher Mateo, then folds to Mateo's 150,000 bet.

Hand #83: Trong Hieu Ngo defends his big blind by calling hijack Ceesvin Abraham's 150,000 raise. Both see a flop 7♥ Q♣ 2♦ . Abraham continues for 100,000 and takes it down easy.

Hand 84: Action packed preflop opens with Ceesvin raising 120,000, cutoff Nicola Spicher three-bets 250,000, big blind Donghyup Kim four-bets all in, only Spichar calls. Both players flip open K♣ Q♠ and K♦ Q♦ , and proceed to chop the pot on a board 2♥ J♣ 7♠ 5♣ T♣ .

Hand #85: Ceesvin Abraham gets a walk.

Hand #86: Christopher Mateo walks.

Hand #87: David Erquiaga open shoves and wins the blind and ante.

Hand #88: Nicola Spicher limps in from the small blind and big blind Christopher Mateo checks. The flop Q♦ 5♦ J♦ sees Spicher c-bets 125,000, gets called, then take it to the turn A♥ . Both players check it to see the river Q♣ . Mateo leads out 150,000, Spicher calls then mucks to Q♠ T♦ trips.

Hand #75: Light preflop betting war with Ceesvin Abraham three-betting 300,000 to claim Christopher Mateo's 150,000 open raise.

Hand #76: Donghyup Kim opens150,000 then folds to David Erquiaga's 650,000 jam.

Hand #77: David Erquiaga raises 600,00, finds no callers to win a second consecutive pot.

Hand #78: Christopher Mateo opens 120,000 and wins the blinds and ante.

Hand #79: Christopher Mateo raises again and again no callers.

Hand #80: Christopher Mateo wants to make it a hat trick but this ime his 120,000 raise is met with a three-bet from Hieu Ngo of 350,000. Mateo is stopped in his tracks.

Hand #81: Ceesvin Abraham suffers the same fate by raising 120,000 then giving it up to Nicola Spicher's 350,000 three-bet.

Hand #82: Still no fllops with Nicola Spicher raising 120,000 and giving up his cards on Christopher Mateo's 300,000 three-bet.

Hand #73: Nicola Spicher three-bets 400,000 and gets David Erquiaga to give it up.

Hand #74: Looking down at A♠ A♥ , Christopher Mateo raises 140,000 and gets some action from Trong Hieu Ngo. On the flop 8♠ Q♥ 3♠ , Mateo continues 100,000 and Trong matches it. Mateo takes a backseat on the turn 2♦ and checks, Trong takes his cue with a 400,000 bet. Mateo calls for a hefty pot in the middle. On the river 4♠ , check again from Mateo but this time, Trong doesn't take the bait. He checks back then mucks to the aces.

Hand #69: David Erquiaga raises from the small blind and wins Nicola Spicher's big blind and ante.

Hand #70: Small blind Nicola Spicher limps and gets to see the flop cheap with Christopher Mateo checking. Cards land 2♣ 8♥ 4♠ , they check to the turn A♦ . Spicher sends 125,000 bet, Mateo calls then it is back to checking the river 9♦ . Spicher has Q♠ 3♠ air, Mateo claims the pot with T♦ 2♠ bottom pair.

Hand #71: David Erquiaga lights up the action with a raise of 100,000 from cutoff and big blind Trong Hieu Ngo makes the call. No bets follow until the river 9♦ 9♣ T♠ 8♣ 3♠ with Trong betting 130,000 for 5♣ 3♥ two pair and gets paid with Erquiaga calling.

Hand #68: Christopher Mateo opens 125,000 from hijack, Trong Hieu Ngo re-raises 350,000, Mateo wants to see the flop and calls. Cards land 7♥ 4♣ 2♥ , Trong continues 200,000 and Mateo calls to keep him honest. On the turn 7♣ , both players check for a free river 4♥ . Mateo switches gears and leads out 575,000, Trong calls then mucks to the 9♥ 9♠ .

Hand #62: Donghyup Kim opens then gives it up to David Erquiaga's 800,000 reraise.

Hand #63: On a limped pot, small blind David Erquiaga tries to take it down with a 125,000 flop bet on a board K♦ 4♠ J♦ but with big blind Nicola Spicher raising 225,000, he gives up the challenge.

Hand #64: Limped pot, the board is checked to the river 6♣ 4♦ A♠ 7♦ 2♦ . Small blind Nicola Spicher bets 125,000 and gets no action to claim the pot.

Hand #65: Spicher wins another pot by raising preflop then c-betting 100,000 on a board K♣ 6♦ T♦ . Big blind defender Trong Hieu Ngo folds.

Hand #66: David Erquiaga doesn't get his 115,000 raise through with Trong Hieu Ngo shoving his massive stack. Erquiaga folds.

Hand #67: Another three-bet situation with Nicola Spichar raising 100,000 which is wasted on Christopher Mateo's 315,000 three-bet. Spichar dips below a million.

Hand #59: David Erquiaga raises then folds to Nicola Spicher's 300,000 re-raise.

Hand #60: Donghyup Kim calls 150,000 from the big blind and goes to the flop 4♣ 9♠ Q♦ with small blind Trong Hieu Ngo. Trong continues for 130,000 and Kim calls then action switches on the turn K♦ with Kim taking control sending out a 125,000 bet that Trong calls. On the river A♠ , Trong tries to reclaim control with a 125,000 bet, Kim answers with a 1,000,000 raise that Trong opts not to challenge.

Hand #56: Christopher Mateo raises 125,000 and goes to the flop 3♣ 5♣ J♣ with big blind defender David Erquiaga. Mateo c-bets 100,000 and that's all it takes to win this one.

Hand #57: On a flop 6♣ T♦ 8♦ , Trong Hieu Ngo c-bets 125,000 and Donghyup Kim folds.

Hand #58: Action folds to the small blind Nicola Spicher who limps for a cheap look at the flop A♣ J♦ 6♥ with big blind Christopher Mateo checking. Spicher continues to charge with a 125,000 c-bet, and 225,000 on the turn 4♥ . Mateo calls both then they play it safe on the river J♠ with checks. Mateo shows A♥ 9♥ for the pot.

Hand #50: David Erquiaga defends the big blind by calling the flop then lead out on the flop 5♠ 6♥ 9♥ for 75,000 that Christopher Mateo opts not to challenge.

Hand #51: David Erquiaga attempts for another pot by raising 100,000 but is stopped by small blind Nicola Spicher with a 250,000 re-raise.

Hand #52: Christopher Mateo gets a walk.

Hand #53: Christopher Mateo uses his small blind position to have edge on the big blind Trong Hieu Ngo by raising preflop and c-betting 150,000 on 3♠ A♣ 2♥ . Trong defends then tests Mateo with a small 80,000 bet on the turn Q♦ . Mateo gives it up.

Hand #54: Christopher Mateo makes it 150,000 from the button and wins the blinds and ante.

Hand #55: From cutoff, Christopher Mateo continues to get involved by min-raising, get popped to 300,000 by button Trong Hieu Ngo, Mateo calls to buy an expensive flop 5♦ 4♣ 2♦ . Mateo checks to the aggressor Trong who c-bets 150,000, Mateo folds to lose more chips.

With the board running low, Trong is in danger then the lucky two-outer finds the river Q♠ and Trong roars in celebration.

Hand #44: Nicola Spicher won't let the leader Christopher Mateo steal his blinds and three-bets 400,000. It's enough to induce the fold.

Hand #45: Small blind Nicola Spicher limps in and Christopher Mateo checks it. They both check it all the way down 6♠ K♦ 7♣ 8♣ 9♣ . Spicher wins with a king on hand.

Hand #46: Donghyup Kim raises preflop and Ceesvin Abraham calls from hijack. Following a check, Abraham bets 100,000 and wins the pot quite easy.

Hand #47: Christopher Mateo raises from the button and Donghyup Kim won't let go of his big blind that easy. At the flop T♠ 6♥ T♣ , Kim check-calls a 50,000 c-bet. After the turn is 3cchecked, Mateo goes back to betting, this time a large 500,000 on the river Q♠ , Kim calls once more and catches the bluff J♣ 4♣ . Kim rakes in the pot with T♥ 9♣ trips.

Hand #43: David Erquiaga is back up over a million after some chips from Nicola Spicher who opened the action with a min-raise. Defending his big blind, Erquiaga flated and they check it to the river 4♦ 3♠ Q♠ K♠ 5♥ . Erquiaga overbets 300,000, looking like a steal, Spicher calls and sees the dominating Q♦ Q♥ set.

Hand #37: Trong Hieu Ngo and Nicola Spicher call Christopher Mateo's min-raise and see a flop Q♣ 6♠ 3♥. . Following two lazy checks, Trong takes the opportunity to bet 100,000 and it's enough to drag in the pot.

Hand #38: On a limped pot, big blind Christopher Mateo takes control on the flop 3 4♣ Q♦ for 150,000 and fires another 225,000 on the turn 3♥ . Small blind Nicola Spicher folds on fourth street.

Hand #39: Sven McDermott min-raises then checks the flop with caller Trong Hieu Ngo in defense of the big blind. At the Q♥ turn , McDermott resumes for 130,000 and it's an easy score with Trong folding.

Hand #40: Three players in a raised pot check down to the river 9♠ K♦ Q♦ 5♥ 5♠ . Small blind Trong Hieu Ngo test bets just under pot for 300,000, no takers.

Hand #41: Christopher Mateo finds no callers to his cutoff raise.

Hand #42: David Erquiaga bets a third of his stack amounting to 200,000 and no one gives him action.

Hand #32: Min-raise by Sven McDermott, three-bet by David Erquiaga of 250,000 both get nowhere with Trong Hieu Ngo's four-bet of 420,000 turned down.

Hand #33: Ceesvin Abraham doesn't get his raise through with Christopher Mateo bumping it up to 200,000 that he passes up.

Hand #34: Another three-bet situation with Trong Hieu Ngo getting punched back this time by Donghyup Kim who sends it from 80,000 to 900,000 to continue. No go for Ngo.

Hand #35: David Erquiaga and Ceesvin Abraham in a min-raised pot finally reach a flop 6♠ 8♣ 2♦ . Aggressor Erquiaga c-bets 110,000, Abraham sends it back with a 1,100,000 shove, Erquiaga is not interested and continues to drop.

Hand #36: David Erquiaga gets a walk.

Hand #28: Battle of the blinds, Sven McDermott opens 220,000 from the small blind and is challenged back by big blind Ceesvin Abraham with a 500,000 re-raise. McDermott doesn't bite.

Hand #29: David Erquiaga gets a walk.

Hand #30: David Erquiaga opens a large 300,000 from the small blind and again wins the pot easy.

Hand #31: David Erquiaga limps from the button and so does the small blind Nicola Spicher as the big blind Christopher Mateo checks for a cheap flop of T♦ 4♥ T♠ . Mateo takes the reins for 50,000, Erquiaga raises 125,000, Spicher gets out of the firing line and Mateo does the same to award Erquiaga the pot.

Hand #23: Nicola Spicher defends the big blind by calling Trong Hieu Ngo's min-raise and the follow up 80,000 on the flop 5♣ 3♣ 3♥ . Both players check the turn A♦ and river 8♠ . Spicher's 7♦ 7♠ wins the pot.

Hand #24: Ceesvin Abraham gets called by the big blind to be denied the blinds and ante but the 65,00 c-bet on the flop A♠ 2♦ J♣ is enough to earn it right there.

Hand #25: David Erquiaga opens and finds no callers.

Hand #18: Trong Hieu Ngo gets a walk.

Hand #19: Dong Hyup Kim gets a walk.

Hand #20: After two walks, a flop lands with button Trong Hieu Ngo finally getting called by the small blind Sven McDermott. On the flop 4♥ 3♠ T♠ , Trong c-bets 150,000 and quickly picks up the pot.

Hand #21: David Erquiaga bumps it up to 80,000 only to get re-raised 270,000 by Nicola Spicher. Erquiaga gives it up.

Hand #22: David Erquiaga gets a walk.

With Mateo pairing up both of his cards and Zebib unable to catch up, Zebib turned his US$ 165 flipout buy in ticket into a sweet US$ 17,700 payout.

Hand #15: Sven McDermott joins the action with a three-bet of 200,000 that's called by open raiser Christopher Mateo. McDermott maintains aggression at the flop J♠ K♠ 6♣ for 155,000 that's called again, then they check the turn 3♠ . Wasting no time counting, McDermott announces all in, Mateo gives it up.

Hand #16: David Erquiaga from the small blind and big blind Nicola Spicher call the button raise by Ceesvin Abraham and take it to the flop 3♥ K♣ J♥ . Sending the action to Abraham, a 100,000 bet is slid out front. Erquiaga check-raises 285,000 and it's enough to induce two folds.

Hand #12: Battle of the blinds enter the flop, small blind Trong Hieu Ngo bets 40,000 on the flop 3♠ T♣ 5♣ and 175,000 on the turn Q♥ , Donghyup Kim folds on the turn.

Hand #13: No callers on David Erquiaga's raise again.

Hand #14: Trong Hieu Ngo also finds no callers to his min-raise.

Hand #9: No action for David Erquiaga's button raise.

Hand #10: Trong Hieu Ngo and Nicola Spicher take it the full distance with the latter calling the min-raise from the button. Both players check the flop T♣ 9♦ 4♠ then Trong bets 100,000 on the turn that Spicher calls to see the river Q♠ . Liking what he sees, Spicher fires 275,000 and wins the pot with Trong letting go of his hand.

Hand #11: Nicola Spicher takes down another pot. This time no board was seen. Instead, he opened 80,000, got called by Christopher Mateo, Trong Hieu Ngo three-bet 360,000, back to Spicher who jammed all in pushing his challengers out of the hand.

Hand #7-8: Raiser Christopher Mateo is joined by the blinds to the flop A♦ K♣ T♣ with only Ceesvin Abraham continuing to the turn A♥ by calling Mateo's 100,000 c-bet. Both players check for a free river 4♥ . Abraham tests the waters with a 150,000 bet then believes Mateo has it by folding to the massive 1,000,000 raise.

Following the hand, Mateo rakes in the next one which he kicks off with another min-raise. Big blind Nicola Spicher defends and the bring the bout to the flop 5♣ 3♣ 5♦ . Mateo c-bets another light 80,000 and it's enough for Spicher to pay to see the turn 5♥ . Mateo barrels a third time for 150,000, Spicher gives up the challenge.

Hand #3: David Erquiaga opened 95,000 from hijack but couldn't pull the trigger on Nicola Spicher's 240,00 reraise to give up the pot.

Hand #4: Big blind Donghyup Kim folds to small blind Trong Hieu Ngo's raise.

Hand #5: Nicola Spicher raises then wins the blinds and ante with no takers.

Hand #6: Still no action with Christopher Mateo min-raising and winning the blinds and ante.

Hand #1: Opening hand of the APPT Cambodia Main Event saw everyone fold to the small blind Nicola Spicher who limped and checked by the big blind. On the flop A♦ 7♥ 3♠ , Spicher led for 50,000 and got called. Both player proceeded to check the turn 2♠ and river A♥ . Zebib showed 3♦ 6♥ two pair to claim the pot over Spicher's K♦ 5♦ .

Cards are now flying! The hunt for the APPT Cambodia Main Event title has begun, good luck to all!

The record breaking APPT Cambodia Main Event with taking place at the Nagaworld Integrated Resorts in Phnom Penh, is down to the final 9 players! The race to the title begins at 12pm today where one player will claim the coveted title and the US$ 147,500 top prize.

This year's APPT Cambodia headliner was bigger than ever with 518 entries ponying up the slightly larger US$ 1,650 buy in. This sent the prize pool surging past the US$ 500K guarantee with 71 players earning a piece. The largest portion will be distributed today, but who will take the crown is up in the air with the final table loaded with talent.

The player in best position to do so is Christopher Mateo as he enters in pole position. At his heels is Nicola Spicher, and rounding out top three is none other than Trong Hieu Ngo who is in prime form to becoming the first ever APPT back to back tour champion. Trong won the APPT Manila Championship title just last month.

Game resumes at blinds of 20,000-40,000 increasing every 75 minutes until heads up where it drops to 30 minutes.

SMP will bring you all the action until the champion emerges.