Blind level
Level 16: 2,000 / 5,000 ante: 5,000
Entries
10/61
Total Chips
1,830,000
Average
183,000

Flight A

TriciaTricia
5/5/2025, 5:21:48 PM

Sungheon Hong Sets The Pace As Flight A Wraps Up

Level 16: 2,000 / 5,000 ante: 5,000
Sungheon Hong - Flight A chip leader

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.

PlayerChips
SH
Sungheon HongKorea (Republic of) [KOR]Korea (Republic of)
387,000(77 BB)
MS
Maxim SorokinRussian Federation [RUS]Russian Federation
320,000(64 BB)
AR
Anton RubtsovRussian Federation [RUS]Russian Federation
285,000(57 BB)
BM
Bien MaiViet Nam [VNM]Viet Nam
264,000(53 BB)
194,000(39 BB)
RM
191,000(38 BB)
73,000(15 BB)
AV
62,000(12 BB)
55,000(11 BB)
TriciaTricia
5/5/2025, 5:15:11 PM

Amit Kaushik Bubbles Flight A

Level 16: 2,000 / 5,000 ante: 5,000
Amit Kaushik Bubbles Flight A

Bubble pressure from Maxim Sorokin with a 100,000 raise and only short stacked Amit Kaushik risks for his last 7 bb .

PlayerHandChips
AK
D
busted
MS
Maxim SorokinRussian Federation [RUS]Russian Federation
Q8
CO
320,000(64 BB)

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.

TriciaTricia
5/5/2025, 4:29:24 PM

Maxim Sorokin Grinding

Level 15: 2,000 / 4,000 ante: 4,000
Maxim Sorokin

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.

TriciaTricia
5/5/2025, 3:08:52 PM

Short Stacked Igor Vakhnenko Runs Out

Level 15: 2,000 / 4,000 ante: 4,000
Igor Vakhnenko

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.

PlayerChips
MS
Maxim SorokinRussian Federation [RUS]Russian Federation
208,000(52 BB)
IV
Igor VakhnenkoRussian Federation [RUS]Russian Federation
busted
TriciaTricia
5/5/2025, 2:20:17 PM

Maxim Sorokin's Risk Pays Off

Level 14: 1,500 / 3,000 ante: 3,000

Everyone folds to the small blind Renji Mao who bullies with a shove, big blind Maxim Sorokin sees an ace in the hole and goes for it with a decent 66,000 (22 bb) stack.

PlayerHandChips
RM
QQ
SB
131,000(44 BB)
MS
Maxim SorokinRussian Federation [RUS]Russian Federation
A5
BB
140,000(47 BB)

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.

TriciaTricia
5/5/2025, 2:07:30 PM

Chip Counts

Level 14: 1,500 / 3,000 ante: 3,000
PlayerChips
SH
Sungheon HongKorea (Republic of) [KOR]Korea (Republic of)
327,000(109 BB)
RM
188,500(63 BB)
BM
Bien MaiViet Nam [VNM]Viet Nam
179,500(60 BB)
146,000(49 BB)
AR
Anton RubtsovRussian Federation [RUS]Russian Federation
145,500(49 BB)
AV
133,500(45 BB)
131,000(44 BB)
MD
Max DevesonUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [GBR]United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
117,000(39 BB)
109,500(37 BB)
83,000(28 BB)
81,000(27 BB)
71,000(24 BB)
MS
Maxim SorokinRussian Federation [RUS]Russian Federation
68,000(23 BB)
IV
Igor VakhnenkoRussian Federation [RUS]Russian Federation
50,000(17 BB)
TriciaTricia
5/5/2025, 1:49:23 PM

Battle Of The Blinds

Level 13: 1,000 / 2,500 ante: 2,500

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.

PlayerChips
RM
104,500(42 BB)
MS
Maxim SorokinRussian Federation [RUS]Russian Federation
57,500(23 BB)
TriciaTricia
5/5/2025, 1:41:24 PM

Debals Last Stand Falls Short

Level 13: 1,000 / 2,500 ante: 2,500
Dorian Debals

Dorian Debals had been battling with a short stack for most of the past two levels, and though he managed to double up twice, the pressure from surrounding big stacks never let up. On his final hand, Debals shoved for 17,500 and was called by Maxim Sorokin. It was a classic flip at showdown, but luck didn’t swing Debals’ way, missing his outs to get sent to the rail.

PlayerHandChips
MS
Maxim SorokinRussian Federation [RUS]Russian Federation
99
MP
78,000(31 BB)
AQ
UTG
busted
Board:32TJ5
TriciaTricia
5/5/2025, 1:37:59 PM

Chip Counts

Level 13: 1,000 / 2,500 ante: 2,500
PlayerChips
BM
Bien MaiViet Nam [VNM]Viet Nam
201,000(80 BB)
SH
Sungheon HongKorea (Republic of) [KOR]Korea (Republic of)
148,000(59 BB)
AV
119,000(48 BB)
111,000(44 BB)
108,000(43 BB)
IV
Igor VakhnenkoRussian Federation [RUS]Russian Federation
70,000(28 BB)
MD
Max DevesonUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [GBR]United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
70,000(28 BB)
AR
Anton RubtsovRussian Federation [RUS]Russian Federation
67,000(27 BB)
58,000(23 BB)
JM
Joseph MagnottiUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
52,000(21 BB)
MS
Maxim SorokinRussian Federation [RUS]Russian Federation
38,000(15 BB)
22,500(9 BB)
TriciaTricia
5/5/2025, 10:46:14 AM

Table 4 Update

Level 9: 600 / 1,200 ante: 1,200
PlayerChipsTableSeat
126,900(106 BB)41
RA
Ronald Ashley LaneUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
44,700(37 BB)43
MS
Maxim SorokinRussian Federation [RUS]Russian Federation
19,500(16 BB)44
65,000(54 BB)46
JY
Jia Yi LowSingapore [SGP]Singapore
49,200(41 BB)47
IV
Igor VakhnenkoRussian Federation [RUS]Russian Federation
340,000(283 BB)48
TriciaTricia
5/5/2025, 8:43:24 AM

Table 4 Update

Level 6: 300 / 600 ante: 600
PlayerChipsTableSeat
41,500(69 BB)41
RA
Ronald Ashley LaneUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
50,500(84 BB)43
MS
Maxim SorokinRussian Federation [RUS]Russian Federation
30,500(51 BB)44
48,800(81 BB)45
82,000(137 BB)46
JY
Jia Yi LowSingapore [SGP]Singapore
43,000(72 BB)47
IV
Igor VakhnenkoRussian Federation [RUS]Russian Federation
16,600(28 BB)48
TriciaTricia
5/5/2025, 7:19:29 AM

Table 4 Update

Level 3: 100 / 300 ante: 300
PlayerChipsTableSeat
CJ
Craig Jones (2)United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [GBR]United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
28,000(93 BB)41
TE
Tom EadyUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [GBR]United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
31,600(105 BB)42
RA
Ronald Ashley LaneUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
42,000(140 BB)43
MS
Maxim SorokinRussian Federation [RUS]Russian Federation
24,600(82 BB)44
30,000(100 BB)45
71,000(237 BB)46
IV
Igor VakhnenkoRussian Federation [RUS]Russian Federation
40,600(135 BB)48
TriciaTricia
5/5/2025, 6:43:24 AM

Tom Eady On The Grind

Level 3: 100 / 300 ante: 300

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.

PlayerChips
IV
Igor VakhnenkoRussian Federation [RUS]Russian Federation
33,000(110 BB)
TE
Tom EadyUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [GBR]United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
28,000(93 BB)
MS
Maxim SorokinRussian Federation [RUS]Russian Federation
26,000(87 BB)