APPT Main Event ($1,750)

After five levels of 75-minutes each, Day 3 of the APPT Cambodia Main Event wrapped up with the Final 6 players determined. At the top of that short list is India's Somashekhar Nahadeva with a 73 bb stack which is a comfortable 25 bb lead over his closest challenger China's Yuanning Wu with 48 bb.

Nahadeva jumped far ahead after winning three big pots, kicked off by first burning Abhishek Paul's set with a straight. Second ranked Wu was also picked up a big pot late in the day when he exposed Le Ngoc Minh's bluff.

The next three down the rung were all Vietnamese players - Hai Ha Tran (40 bb), Le Ngoc Minh (31 bb), Minh Thang Tran (29 bb) - and rounding out the pack was Taiwan's Bo Su with 17 bb.

When they return on Tuesday, May 13, blinds pick up at 40,000-80,000 ante 80,000 with average at 40 bb. Everyone is guaranteed $38,840 with the top prize set at $191,000.

The APPT Cambodia Main Event kicked off on May 8 at NagaWorld and after four flights, it drew 643 entries with only 121 advancing to Day 2. The money flowed starting at 95th place and by the end of regulation, only 24 advanced to Day 3 led by Le Ngoc Minh.

First to go was Singapore's last hope, Lionel Loh fell to the chip leader followed out by Vietnam's Huu Dung Nguyen when his set was burned by a runner runner straight.

The field continued to thin as Huidong Gu, Mike Takayama, Yunsheng Sun, Phraikhieo Wutikrai, and Amit Kaushik all booted by dominated pocket pairs, and missing the final 6 by one spot was China's last hope, Xiaosheng Zheng with top pair falling to a set.

Read up on all the action down below.

Yuanning Wu makes it 160,000 to go and big blind Hai Tran gives him some action to see a flop K♠ 9♦ J♥ . Wu continues for 125,000, Tran answers with a check-raise of 335,000, Wu calls. On the turn 8♦ , Tran tanks for a time bank then bets 700,000 which is enough to claim the pot uncontested.

Minh Tran opens 160,000 then gets faced with a three-bet of 425,000 from Bo Su, Tran tanks and after a minute, he jams. Action back on Bo who tanks as well then folds.

With the board running 9♦ 8♠ 5♦ 4♠ J♣ , the instant two pair at the flop holds for a double up to Zheng.

Somashekhar Nahadeva defended his big blind then check-called an 85,000 bet on the flop 4♦ A♣ 8♠ . On the turn 8♦ , Nahadeva led out 175,000, Hai Ha Tran tanked then reluctantly called. Nahadeva fired again on the river 7♥ for a large 800,000. This time Tran quickly gave up his hand.

Defending his big blind, Xiaosheng Zheng goes on to check-call a 110,000 bet from Hai Tran at the flop 5♠ A♥ 3♥ . Both players opt on checking the turn A♠ then with the 6♠ river, Tran fires 245,000, Zheng tanks using up three time banks then tosses his hand in the muck.

The charging Le Ngoc Minh has been given the brakes by Yuanning Wu who defended preflop. When the board completed 4♦ J♦ 7♥ Q♣ K♠ , Wu check-called 120,000, 360,000 and 1,010,000.

Le Ngoc had A♥ 8♠ bluff, Wu took it down with K♥ Q♥ .

Le Ngoc Minh is on a roll picking up another pot. He raises 120,000 preflop and goes hunting at the flop 6♦ A♠ 3♥ with caller Hai Tran from the button. Le Ngoc continues for 100,000 and Tran calls. The action then fizzles with both players checking the turn 4♦ and river Q♣ .

Le Ngoc flips open A♣ 9♣ top pair and wins the pot with Tran mucking.

Le Ngoc Minh looks down at 2♦ 2♣ and defends it on the button to go to the flop with aggressor Bo Su. When the cards felt Q♠ Q♥ 9♠ , it is checked. The turn Q♦ ignites with a 110,000 bet from Bo that Le Ngoc calls. Another 300,000 fired by Bo is again called by Le Ngoc.

Bo flips open K♣ J♥ air, Le Ngoc's ducks take down the pot.

Somashekhar Nahadeva has Q♦ Q♣ and gives it respect with a raise of 150,000. Le Ngoc Minh defends. Nahadeva continues at the flop 2♠ 5♠ T♥ for 200,000, again it's called. When the turn 5♥ pairs the board, both check and do the same on the river K♦ .

Le Ngoc shows 3♦ 4♦ , Nahadeva ships it and continues his ascent.

Only 7 players remaining which means one more bust for Day 3 to wrap up.

Paul is behind with his set against Nahadeva's straight. The river 3♣ seals Paul's fate in 8th place.

Yuanning Wu raises 100,000 from cutoff and big blind Le Ngoc Minh calls to bring them to a flop 2♣ J♥ 4♣ . Wu continues for 80,000 only to face a check-raise of 320,000 from Le Ngoc. Wu won't be bullied and calls.

The turn 2♥ sees more chips go in the pot with Le Ngoc checking then tanking to Wu's 600,000 bet. Le Ngoc calls then both check the river 6♠ .

Le Ngoc opens A♣ 9♣ missed draw, Wu has Q♦ Q♥ and drags in a big pot.

At cutoff, Somashekhar Nahadeva calls a min-raise from Minh Tran then calls an 80,000 c-bet on the flop 3♥ J♠ 3♠ . On the turn J♥ , Tran backs down and checks, Nahadeva gives it a go for 110,000, Tran tanks using up three time extensions then finally surrenders his hand.

The river 5♥ keeps Paul ahead to ship the pot.

Acting first, Bo Su raises 100,000 and the blinds defend. They all check it to the turn J♦ J♣ 8♦ 9♥ , where big blind Yuanning Wu bets 125,000, raised to 305,000 by Bo, both blinds let go of their hands.

Abhishek Paul is on the short end of the stick and slipped further down in two hands. The first one was against Yuanning Wu who three-bet 260,000 and Paul called. At the flop T♦ 9♦ 6♣ , Paul passed the baton to aggressor Wu who fired again but Paul quickly folded.

Next hand, Paul defends on the big blind then folds to Le Ngoc Minh's 60,000 c-bet on the flop T♠ 2♦ Q♣ .

Looking like a double up for Li when the flop comes 8♦ 4♣ J♥ , however with the turn Q♠ and river T♦ , it's a runner runner straight for Le Ngoc to burn Li in 9th place.

After losing three pots, Le Ngoc Minh raises 100,000 again and finds two players to tango. They all check the flop Q♦ T♦ Q♠ while on the turn 2♠ , two checks to Hai Ha Tran at cutoff sees him test-bet 225,000. Only Le Ngoc check-calls to see the K♦ land on the turn.

Acting first, Le Ngoc fires 200,000, Tran tanks using up a time bank then tosses his hand in the muck.

Again action from the big stacked Le Ngoc Minh continues for 100,000 and the blinds call. When the flop comes 5♣ 9♦ 3♠ , small blind Hai Ha Tran leads out 100,000 getting big blind Shankui Li to fold while Minh makes the call.

Heavier bets are seen on the turn 8♦ with Minh betting 200,000, Tran check-raising to 500,000, Minh tanks for over a minute then calls. The river T♥ completes the board. Tran jumps back out for 1,000,000 and it's enough for Minh to believe as he folds.

Another pot not going the way of the leader Le Ngoc Minh who limps in and goes to the flop 3♦ 4♦ A♠ after big blind Hai Ha Tran checked. Minh bets 50,000 and Tran calls. The turn J♣ and river Q♠ are checked down by both. Minh shows 5♦ 9♦ missed draw, Tran rakes in the pot with Q♥ J♥ .

Le Ngoc Minh kicks off the final table with a raise of 100,000 then gets challenged with a 320,000 bet from Minh Thang Tran. After using up a time-bank, Le Ngoc lets him have it.

It has been decided that they will play down to the Final 6. At this time, everyone is guaranteed $17,670 with the top prize of $191,000 within reach.

Minh was far ahead with the set and when the turn came K♥ , Antezana was drawing dead.

Down below 9bb, Amit Kaushik has 6♥ 6♠ and three-bets it all however, original raiser Bo Su has T♦ T♥ and snap-calls.

With the board running 4♥ 7♥ 5♠ , Kaushik has hope with a draw but with the turn 7♦ and river T♠ it doesn’t materialize. Instead, Bo lands the boat to crush Kaushik’s hopes.

Shankui Li kicked off the action for 100,000 at cutoff that drew in the blinds. Li continued to fire at the flop 2♣ T♦ A♦ for 100,000 and only Somashekhar Nahadeva continued.

On the turn 6♥ , Li fires again for 270,000 but this time it’s met with a raise of 650,000. Li calls to take them to 5th street where 2♥ lands. Nahadeva leads out 175,000 and after all that heavy betting, Li opts to fold.

Battle of the blinds, Amit Kaushik limps in and big blind Bo Su checks. When the flop lands 2♥ 9♦ T♥ , it is checked to Bo who f

bets 40,000 and it’s called. Bo fires another 80,000 on the turn K♥ that’s call again.

On the river 7♦ , Bo picks up a chunk worth 240,000 and sends it out, this time Kaushik goes deep in the tank before letting go of his hand.

Lots of betting begins with cutoff Hai Ha Tran raising 85,000 then small blind Le Ngoc Minh three-bets 260,000. Tran tanks then calls to go post flop.

When the board runs 6♣ 8♥ 9♦ , more chips go in with Minh betting 160,000, Tran raises to 350,000, then Minh jams his big stack. Tran is unafraid and risks his tournament life.

Tran is far ahead with a set that holds on the turn 3♥ and river Q♣ to bank a double and steal the top spot.

Somashekhar Nahadeva has K♣ J♣ to min- raise from under the gun. He nearly steals the blinds and ante when big blind Yuanning Wu sees T♥ T♦ and three-bets 250,000. Nahadeva calls and they head down the streets.

On a board running A♠ 7♦ K♥ 7♣ 4♥ , Wu bets 110,000 and 300,000 that’s both called, then the river is checked. Upon showing, Nahadeva ships it with the higher pair.

With no action before him, Minh Thang Tran limps in then calls big blind Edgar Antezana’s 140,000 raise. When they get to the flop Q♣ 6♥ 7♠ , Antezana continues for 100,000 and Tran sticks with him. Both opt to pass on the turn Q♥ but on the river 9♥ , Tran takes command for 300,000 and easily wins the pot uncontested.

Getting close to the final table with 11 players remaining. Le Ngoc Minh leads with 2.4M.

Yao Liu three-bet jams from the button and is snap-called by the original raiser Xiaosheng Zheng.

Liu is dominated and doesn’t improve to past Zheng to finish in 12th place.

Phraikhieo Wutikrai opens a huge 245,000 from cutoff and gets a caller in button player Le Ngoc Minh. Chips go flying at the flop 9♥ 9♦ 3♣ with a jam from Minh. Wutikrai commits his stack and is covered.

Wutikrai opens 7♠ 7♣ , Minh is far ahead with K♠ K♥ , the turn 3♠ and river 5♣ doesn’t improve Wutikrai to fall in 13th place.

After plunging on a cooler, Felix Von Rahden goes all in with 9♥ 6♣ and loses the rest of his stack to Le Ngoc Minh with J♦ T♣ . He finishes in 14th place.

Xiaosheng Zheng looks down K♥ K♣ and puts in a min-raise. Several spots over Felix Von Rahden with Q♠ Q♣ flats, and with no other callers the flop spreads an all spade board of 7♠ 6♠ K♠ .

Zheng bets the minimum of 40,0000 for his set, again Rahden calls. On the turn Q♥ , Rahden also lands a set and calls to complete the board 7♥ .

Zheng fires all in, Rahden doesn’t hesitate and calls. Both show and Rahden pays the double up.

Following a raise from Le Ngoc Minh, cutoff player Ivan Karatayeu raises a huge 520,000 leaving himself 40,000 behind. Minh calls for a flop to come 4♥ 9♦ 4♠ .

Minh quickly puts Karatayeu all in the Belarusian makes the call for his tournament life.

At showdown, Karatayeu has A♦ Q♥ , Minh is ahead with 7♣ 7♦ . The turn 4♦ and river J♦ changes nothing for Karatayeu to exit in 16th place.

After Somashekhar Nahadeva opens, Chun Chieh Liu shoves, Minh Thang Tran calls, and it’s a heads up showdown with Nahadeva folding.

Tran is ahead with K♥ K♠, Liu has A♣ J♦ one overcard. The board comes down J♠ K♦ 7♥ 7♦ 8♦ to end Liu’s run in 16th place.

Amit Kaushik defends his big blind from Xiaosheng Zheng’s raise then check it to the turn 5♣ 6♦ 9♦ A♣ . Following another check from Kaushik, Zheng bets 60,000, Kaushik raises to 150,000, and Zheng calls to continue the duel.

On the river 5♥ , Kaushik jams 325,000, Zheng tanks for one time bank then gives up his hand.

Not much action from Yuanning Wu but we did get this hand. Facing a limp from small blind Shankui Li, big blind Wu raised to 125,000 and Li called. Both players kept it safe by checking to the river 3♠ J♠ 5♠ 2♣ T♠ . Li decided to test for 80,000, Wu challenged back for 225,000, Li folded.

Shankui Li opened from early position then defended by calling Hai Ha

Tran's 160,000 three-bet. Both players stayed friendly at the flop 6♠ K♦ A♦ then Li switched back to betting for 150,000 on the turn 4♦ . Tran called. When the river came 3♥ , Li fired again this time for 300,000, Tran tossed his hand in the muck.

The field is now down to 16 players across two tables. Play continues until it reaches the final 9.

Karatayeu is ahead with the ace but needs to dodge Bo's live cards. With the board running 9♦ 8♥ K♥ A♠ K♦ , Karatayeu survives and doubles through.

Following a min-raise from Abhishek Paul, button Yunsheng Sun gives him action. At the flop 2♦ 5♦ 8♥ , Sun sends out 85,000, Paul check-raises to 205,000, Sun answers with a shove, Paul lets it go.

Bo Su opened then called big blind Yao Liu's 185,000 three-bet. At the flop 9♣ 2♠ K♥ , Liu continues for 110,000 and Bo calls. On the turn 4♥ , Liu barrels 260,000 and still doesn't shake off Bo to bring them to the river K♠ . Liu slows down and checks, Bo tests the waters for 600,000, Liu uses up a time bank then gives up his stake in the pot for Bo to scoop up a big one.

Small blind Yao Liu has 5♥ 5♦ on hand and raises 80,000, big blind Ivan Karatayeu calls. When the board runs 5♣ 7♥ 9♦ 3♣ , Liu lands his set and bets the flop and turn, Karatayeu calls both to build a 300,000 pot by the river A♠ .

Liu fires again for 600,000, Karatayeu pays to see then mucks sending a big pot to Liu.

On the big blind, Phraikhieo Wutikrai defends from Le Ngoc Minh's 60,000 raise. They see a flop K♦ 7♣ 7♥ where Minh continues for 40,000 and Wutikrai calls again. On the turn 5♦ and river 9♣ , both players keep it friendly.

Wutikrai shows 7♦ 3♦ pair and wins the pot

Action folds to the small blind Le Ngoc Minh who min-raises and big blind Yao Liu calls. Minh continues at the flop 2♠ 5♦ T♣ then jams the turn J♠ . Liu calls for his tournament life

Minh shows J♣ 7♦ , Liu is ahead Q♠ J♦ , the river T♠ secures Liu the double up.

Mike Takayama gets dealt Q♣ Q♠ and raises from early position. Several spots over, Somahshekhar Nahadeva has K♠ K♥ and three-bets 200,000. Back to Takayama, he flats.

Heavy action continues at the flop 9♠ 9♦ T♣ where Nahadeva goes all in and Takayama calls with about the same stack.

When their cards are on their backs, Takayama is in trouble. The turn 6♦ and river J♦ don't help, and after the count, Nahadeva doubles up as Takayama plunges to just 10,000. Shortly after Takayama busts in 19th place.

Mike Takayama defends on the big blind calling Chun Chieh Liu's 60,000 raise. When the board runs 6♥ 8♣ J♠ Q♣ they check it until the river Q♠ . Takayama leads out 140,000 sending Liu tanking then folds.

Takayama goes on to win the next hand that sees Sumit Sapra raise 50,000 from the button then folding to Takayama's shove.

Yao Liu defends on the big blind by calling button Hoa Thinh Nguyen's 50,000 raise then they check the flop J♥ 4♦ K♥ . On the turn T♣ , Liu jumps out for 35,000, Nguyen calls to take them to the river 9♥ . Again Liu takes the reins for 85,000, and after tanking, Nguyen gives up his stake in the pot.

Bo Su opens 50,000 from early position, beside him Phraikhieo Wutikrai three-bets 120,000, after everyone else folds, Bo uses one time bank then shoves. Wutikrai also uses up a time bank before opting to fold.

Following a raise from Yunsheng Sun, button player Felix Von Rahden calls and after the blinds fold, they see a flip 3♥ 4♦ Q♣ . Sun checks it, Rahden senses weakness and test-bets 30,000. Sun calls to take them to the turn 3♠ . Again Sun checks, this time Rahden fires 100,000. This is enough to claim the pot uncontested.

In a battle of the blinds, Sumit Sapra limps in and gets to see a cheap flop 7♠ 6♠ 4♣ with big blind Mike Takayama. Sapra checks then calls Takayama's 35,000 steal bet. Action fades on the turn 5♠ and river K♦ . Sapra shows Q♦ 7♣ and it's good to take down the pot.

In the pre-flop action, Su from Taiwan opens for 50,000. In the UTG+1 position, Wutikrai from Thailand reraises to 120,000. Su uses 1 time bank and decides to go all-in for 730,000. Wutikrai thinks about it, using up a time bank, and eventually folds.

Felix Von Rahden opens from cutoff with 55,000, Abhishek Paul from India reraises, Rahden takes it to the limit, and still finds Paul there to put him at risk.

Felix Von Rahden: Q♣ A♥

Abhishek Paul: A♣ J♠

The board: T♠ 7♥ 5♣ Q♠ Q♥

Rahden aheand and still rivers trips to ship a reload.

Sumit Sapra from India limps in the SB position and Takayama checks to see the flop.

The flop shows 7♠ Q♠ 4♣ . Mike Takayama from the Philippines bets 35,000 and Sapra calls.

Both players check all the way to the river as Sapra shows Q♦ 7♣ to hit the two-pair which makes Takayama muck his cards.

In the blinds battle, Yuanning Wu gets aggressive and pushes all in. Short stacked Huu Dung Nguyen calls for his last 10 bb in hopes of a double up.

Yuanning Wu: T♠ 9♦

Huu Dung Nguyen: Q♦ Q♣

When the flop runs 8♥ Q♠ 9♠ , Nguyen improves to a set but with the runner runner K♦ J♠ , Wu rivers a straight to send Nguyen out in 23rd place.

Le Ngoc Minh opens with 50,000 and Bo Su calls it then big blind Lionel Loh in desperate times goes all-in for his last 275,000, and only Le calls it.

Le Ngoc Minh: K♦ J♠

Wen Hong Loh: 8♣ 7♣

The board runs 9♣ 7♦ K♣ 4♥ 4♠ . Minh lands the higher pair to end Loh's run as first out in 24th place.

China's Yunsheng Sun at under the gun opens for 55,000 and Edgar Antezana calls. Following a check from Sun at the flop 7♦ K♥ Q♥ Antezana unloads 75,000. Sun thinks about it but eventually makes the decision to fold his cards.

Edgar Antezana opens for 50,000 from cutoff and the blinds call. All three proceed to check the flop T♦ J♣ K♥ then action resumes on the turn A♦ . Antezana bets 75,000 and only Abhishek Paul calls. When the river comes 4♠ , Paul leads out for 125,000, Antezana calls then mucks to Paul's Q♥ 2♥ straight.

Entering with just 4 bb, Huu Dung Nguyen jams it with A♦ 3♦ and gets called by Somashekhar Nahadeva with 5♣ 5♠ .

The board runs 4♠ K♣ A♥ 6♥ 7♥ , Nguyen spikes the Ace for a double up.

Cards are now flying at the APPT Cambodia Main Event with 24 players looking to secure a seat to the final table. Everyone is guaranteed a minimum payout of $2,700 but of course, the top prize of $191,000 is the target.

Stick with Somuchpoker as we bring you the action throughout the day.

The APPT Cambodia Main Event continues at NagaWorld with 24 hopefuls returning for the next stage of the race. Day 3 will see the field narrowed down to the final 9 contenders, each eyeing the coveted title and the US$ 191,000 top prize. All remaining players are already guaranteed at least US$ 5,428.

Leading in the pack is Vietnam's Le Ngoc Minh with 91 bb, which is 20 big ahead of his closest challenger, Belarusian Ivan Karatayeu who he will be tabled with at the start of day. Two players to watch for are Yuanning Wu and Mike Takayama. In 2023, Wu won the APPT Manila Main Event and in 2019 Takayama finished 3rd also in Manila. Both players are at Table 43.

The blinds resume at 10,000-20,000 ante 20,000 with 8 minutes remaining. Blinds continue to escalate every 60 minutes.

The APPT Cambodia Main Event drew 643 entries across four flights. While it fell just shy of the US$1 million guarantee, it still set a new record as the largest prize pool ever recorded by the brand in Cambodia.

Stay tuned to Somuchpoker as we bring you updates until the final table is reached.