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 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.

Small pot for Minh Thang Tran starts with a raise of 3500 from Renji Mao. Middle position Tran calls and big blind John Matsuda defends. The flop is checked for a turn board Q♥ 6♠ 4♠ 8♦ . Matsuda and Mao check again but Tran chooses otherwise and sends out 8000. No one calls and Tran claims the pot easy.