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.

With 5♥ 5♦ in the hole, Anton Rubtsov opens 10,000 and finds one customer in big blind Sungheon Hong. The flop runs 6♠ A♣ 5♠ , giving Rubtsov a set. He c-bets 10,000, only to face a check-raise to 22,000 from Hong. Rubtsov just calls.

The 8♣ lands on the turn, and this time Hong leads out for 45,000. Rubtsov stays the course with another call to complete the board with the A♠ river. Hong tanks while playing with his chips then opts to check. Rubtsov tanks back before jamming. Hong tanks again then releases his hand, for Rubtsov to scoop the pot. A♠ a friendly gesture, Rubtsov shows his set.

Dorian Debals is all in for his last 3 bb and needs to get past Amit Kaushik and Sungheon Hong to stay in the game. At the flop 2♥ 4♥ 9♣ , Kaushik bets 2500 for a side pot and Hong makes it happen. The turn Q♥ is checked down then Kaushik fuels the side pot 7000 more on the river 5♥ . This time Hong passes.

Kaushik wins the side pot and shows K♦ T♠ , Debals has T♦ 9♦ for a triple up with his pair.

Ivan Karatayeu raises to 3000, Sungheon Hong three-bets 8000, Karatayeu answers with a four-bet jam totaling 35,500 and wins the pot without further challenge.

The 2023 APPT Cambodia Main Event, Taiwan's Chao Ting Cheng, was eliminated holding King-Jack that couldn't get by Sungheon Hong who not only had a larger stack but also the bigger kicker with Ace-King.

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.

Sungheon Hong and David Yojiro Baba stare down a flop T♣ Q♣ 8♠ with 6000 already in the pot. Acting first, Hong leads out 3000 and Baba calls. The turn 9♦ sees Hong fire another 3000 bet and once again Baba calls to take them to the river 3♥ . Hong slows down with a check, Baba switches up and bets 2500, and after a brief pause, Hong calls only to muck when Baba reveals A♦ J♦ ace-high.

Sungheon Hong and Nuno Da Silva Alves called a raise to 800 from Jung Su Kim to see a flop of A♣ 7♦ 4♥ . Kim fired a 1100 c-bet, prompting Alves to fold while Hong made the call.

On the 7♣ turn, Kim tapped the brakes with a check, and Hong took the option to bet 2,500. Kim called, leading to the 5♥ river. Kim then led out for 3,500, but Hong came over the top with a raise to 11,200. The pressure was enough for Kim to release his hand, and Hong dragged in the pot.