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.

When the flop lands Q♠ A♥ 8♠ , both players improved with Sorokin now ahead with two pair. Kaushik still had outs however they don't show up on the turn 5♠ and river Q♣ to fall just one spot to the money.

After a series of aggressive raises throughout the orbit, Maxim Sorokin finds himself in the big blind and facing a 10,000 open from Hoa Thinh Nguyen. Sorokin makes the call, then both players check down a dry board of 4♣ Q♦ J♥ 2♥ 7♦ where Sorokin leads out 10,000. Nguyen tosses in the call then mucks to Sorokin's J♦ T♦ second pair.

Sitting on the big blind, Igor Vakhnenko defends by calling Maxim Sorokin's 8000 raise. When the board lands 5♠ 3♠ 9♠ , Vakhnenko tosses in his last 7000 with K♦ 2♥ . Sorokin calls the cheap all in and is ahead with K♥ T♦ . The turn J♦ and river K♠ spells the end for Vakhnenko who is out-kicked.

The field is down to 11 players.

When the flop comes J♠ A♦ 4♠ , Sorokin jumps ahead and with the turn 2♦ and river 9♣ , he doubles up to a much healthier stack.

Everyone folds to the small blind Renji Mao and he limps in. Big blind Maxim Sorokin defends with a raise of 9000, Mao still wants to play and makes the call. Both players proceed to check down the board 4♣ 5♣ K♦ A♦ 7♥ . Mao shows Q♣ 7♣ for the winner.

Tom Eady picks up a couple of pots to slowly make his way to starting stack. On the first hand, players fold around to him on the button, Eady has A♣ 5♣ and boost the bet to 700. Big blind Maxim Sorokin defends then both players check the flop A♥ 9♦ 2♣ . When the turn comes 2♠ , Eady tosses in a light 600 that's called, and another 1000 bet on the river K♣ that's called once more. Eady flips open his cards and proceeds to claim the pot.

A few hands after, Eady three-bets from middle position and Igor Vakhnenko defends his raise. At the flop 9♥ J♣ K♠ , Eady continues for 5000 and it's enough to drag in the pot.