APPT National ($1,000)

Flight A of the APPT National concluded at ITM of nine players led by Korea's Sungheon Hong with a stack of 387,000 (77 bb), setting the bar for the next flights. Hong was a dominant presence throughout, climbing to the top early and never once facing elimination. One of his key knockouts came after registration closed, when his AK out-kicked 2023 APPT Cambodia Main Event champion Chao Ting Cheng’s KJ.

The nine survivors now enjoy a day’s break before returning on Wednesday, May 7 for the next stage of the tournament. All are guaranteed a piece of the prize pool, which is on pace to smash its $150,000 guarantee.

Still to come are Flight B and Flight C (Turbo), offering the last opportunities to join the race for the first PokerStars shard trophy of the 2025 APPT season.

Max Deveson couldn't catch at the previous round to drop significantly in chips. With around 8 bb left, he risked it with Queen-Jack and got the boot from Bien Mai who dominated with Ace-Six. An ace also showed up on the board.

12 players remaining.

From the button, Bien Mai smooth-calls Anton Rubtsov's 17,000 raise out of the cutoff. Holding Q♣ 9♣ , Mai connects with top pair on the 9♦ 8♠ 5♣ flop. Rubtsov keeps up the pressure with a 14,000 continuation bet, and Mai flat-calls.

The turn is checked through, but on the Q♠ river, Rubtsov fires 30,000, Mai jams for 73,000, Rubtsov quickly calls, turning over A♦ Q♠ top pair. It wasn’t enough as Mai's top two pair locks up the pot and earns him a full double.

Adrien Berger raises 6000 from cutoff and big blind Bien Mai calls. No bets come on the flop 7♠ 9♣ 5♠ for a free turn 6♣ . Mai test-bets 5500 and Berger calls to complete the board with the 4♥ . Mai returns to checking, Berger shoves for 65,5000, Mai calls and shows A♣ 8♦ straight, Berger takes it down with T♣ 8♣ higher straight.

Armon Van Wijk opens for 6500 and big blind Bien Mai defends his big blind. Both players check the flop 6♥ 4♥ 2♠ then Mai fires 21,000 on the turn 9♣ . Wijk lets him have it.

Bien Mai opens from early position and finds a defender in the big blind, Anton Rubtsov. The flop lands A♣ A♠ Q♠ , and Rubtsov immediately takes the lead with a 10,000 bet, which Mai calls.

On the K♦ turn, Rubtsov backs down and checks for Mai to take over the betting with 18,000. Rubtsov flat-calls, and the river is Q♥ double-pairing the board. Rubtsov moves all in for 47,000, after considering his options, Mai decides to lay it down, conceding the pot to the aggression.

Action heavy preflop opens with a 3000 cutoff raise from Bien Mai that's met with a three-bet of 12,000 from small blind Armon Van Wijk. Action moves to big blind Adrien Berger who defends with a four-bet of 28,000, Mai and Wijk let go of their hands.

Bien Mai picks up K♦ T♦ under the gun and raises 2000. Both blinds - Sebastien Lapp and Sungheon Hong - call for a three-way to the flop T♠ 2♥ 7♦ . Mai is given the go-ahead and bets 3500, only Lapp continues to the turn 9♦ where both check. On the river 2♦ , Mai's top pair improves to a flush. He jumps out with a 15,000 bet, Lapp calls then mucks after seeing Mai’s hand.

Bien Mai continues the aggression, raising 1700 from under the gun. Action folds around to the small blind Sebastien Lapp, he jams his last 10,000 and Mai snap-calls.

Upon revealing, Lapp shows A♣ Q♣ and is in trouble with Mai ahead A♠ K♠ , however, lady luck is on his side and drops a queen on the flop. When the board completes A♥ Q♥ 9♦ T♦ 5♦ , neither have a diamond for the pair to grant Lapp a double.

Preflop action opens with Dorian Debals raising from under the gun only to be faced with a three-bet from small blind Bien Mai. Debals calls to bring the pot to around 16,000. Once the flop lands A♦ 3♣ 8♥ , Mai kept the pressure on with a c-bet of 3600, Debals calls to take them to the turn K♠ .

Mai pumps the brakes prompting Debals to fire 12,000. Mai calls then both players check the river Q♣ . Mai flips over A♠ J♦ top pair and Debals mucks his hand, conceding the pot.

Sebastien Lapp opened the action with a raise to 11,000 from early position and picked up calls from both blinds, Bien Mai and Aladin Reskallah, to go three-way to a flop of 5♦ K♣ 8♥ . Lapp kept up the pressure with a 3,000 c-bet, and again, both blinds called.

The turn brought the 8♦ , pairing the board. The blinds checked once more, and Lapp repeated his 3,000 bet, getting two more calls. On the river, facing a pot of around 38,000, Lapp took the lead again, this time for 10,000. The pressure finally paid off, as both blinds folded to give Lapp the pot.