APPT Main Event ($1,750)

After a riveting day of intense ups and downs, 26 runners trudge on to Day 2 of the APPT Cambodia 2025 Main Event at the NagaWorld Integrated Resorts here in Phnom Penh, Cambodia where 172 saw action in Day 1B of the competition.

Former APPT Cambodia Main Event champion Alexander Puchalski of Canada finally made it through to Day 2, albeit with the shortest stack among the qualifiers and is joined by the likes High Roller Turbo winner Nikesh Chawla of India, WPT Championship Event Final Table participant Neng Zhao of Australia and multi-titled Vietnamese icon Nguyen Huu Dung.

The biggest stack, however, belongs to Bo Su of Taiwan who used a late crippling of erstwhile big stack Craig Jones when the Englishman had Q♦ Q♥ against the A♠ T♠ of the Taiwanese player and eventually lost most of his stack on a board that went 4♣ T♥ 7♣ A♣ 8♥ . The result of that encounter gave Bo a stack of 509,000 and ended with 521,000 which dwarfs the stack of Day 1A chip leader Nguyen Hoa Trinh of Vietnam who carries 375,000 into Day 2.

Bo’s only cash on record is an 54th place finish in the WPT Championship Event here earlier this year but is poised to make a major splash if he can build on his edge heading into the deep waters of the competition.

Second in chips is Li Shankui of China with 487,000 while third is Vietnam’s Tran Hai Ha with 451,000.

Day 1C will happen on Saturday (May 10) still at 11: 30AM (UCT+7) while the Turbo version (Day 1D—20minute blinds) occurs later on at 6:30PM.

After being outdrawn and getting crippled a few hands prior, England’s Craig Jones makes a bid to advance to Day 2 and he opens from the +1 position and it gets folded to the BB of big stack Tran Hai Ha of Vietnam who 3-bets all-in. Jones makes the call.

Tran tables 5♦ 5♠ while Jones is in a flip with K♥ J♣ .

The runout goes: 4♦ 6♠ 2♠ 9♣ 9♠ as Jones misses everything and the small pocket pair of Tran holds to eliminate the Englishman in an unfortunate chain of events.

The win puts Tran in the top three from this flight with a stack of over 450,000.

The action is folded to the blinds and one of the big stack is in the SB as Craig Jones of England limps in but Taiwan’s Bo Su raises it up to 13,000 on the BB. Jones then 3-bets it to 51,000 and gets a 4-bet shove from the Taiwanese player. Jones makes the call in a clash of stacks of over 200,000. Jones barely covers Bo.

The Englishman flips over Q♦ Q♥ while Bo shows A♠ T♠ .

The flop goes 4♣ T♥ 7♣ to give Bo an additional out. The turn, however, brings in the A♣ and the river is the 8♥ to severely cripple Jones and now give the chip leader tag to the player from Taiwan as Day 1B nears its conclusion.

Bo’s stack of over 500,000 gives him the overall tournament lead.

India’s Abhijith Cheruku raises it to 8,000 from the +1 position and it folds to the BB of Australian Neng Zhao who makes the call.

The flop is 8♠ T♠ 9♠ as Zhao checks. Cheruku CBets 7,500 and gets check-raised by the Australian to 26,000. Cheruku makes the call. The turn card is the 2♦ as this time, Zhao fires 35,000. The Indian still calls. The river is the 6♣ as Zhao goes all-in and is quickly called.

Chekuru flips over A♠ 4♠ for the nut flush on the flop and Zhao mucks his hand. Chekuru’s victory brings his stack into the big stack conversation as Zhao has some regrinding to do.

From the +1 position, India’s Nikesh Chawla raises it up to 8,000 and by the time it gets folded to Alexander Puchalski in the hijack, the Canadian 3-bet shoves.

Chawla folds. Puchalski nears the century chip mark anew.

England’s Craig Jones raises from the +1 position to 8,000 and it folds to the BB of fellow big stack Tran Hai Ha who defends.

The flop comes T♦ 2♦ J♣ as both check. The turn is the 4♠ and once again no action ensues. The river card is the 4♣ as Tran checks a third time. Now Jones bets 6,000 and is called.

Jones shows 9♣ 9♠ for third pair and the Vietnamese player chooses to muck. Hardly any damage was brought about this minor clash.

The action is folded to the blinds and Malaysian Kar Wee Chee shoves from the SB and gets called by Valeriy Fokin of Russia in the BB.

Chee shows 2♠ 2♥ while Fokin has 6♥ 6♣ . The Russian is at risk.

The runout had no threats for Fokin: K♦ Q♦ 3♦ A♠ 7♣ as he earns a much needed double up.

The action gets folded to Canada’s Alexander Puchalski on the button and he raises it up to 6,000. On the BB is Belarus’ Ivan Karatayeu who decides to defend.

The flop goes Q♦ 3♦ 2♦ as Karatayeu checks. Puchalski CBets to 3,000 and gets called. The turn is the A♠ and this time both players check. The river card is the K♣ and no further action ensues.

The Belarusian tables 7♦ 5♦ for a baby flush on the flop while the former APPT Main Event titlist mucks.

In a battle of Taiwan, Chao Ting Cheng raises from the lowjack and gets 3-bet on the cutoff by Bo Su to 16,000. Cao makes the call.

The flop is Q♥ 7♦ 4♣ . Chao checks and Bo continues for 13,000. Chao calls. The turn card is the 2♣ and this time, both check. The river is the 6♥ as Chao checks again. Bo then declares he is all-in as Chao tanks and eventually decides to call.

Bo tables K♥ Q♦ for top pair on the flop while Chao shows 8♣ 8♠ and got outdrawn.

Chao’s stack is now down to less than two BBs.

Valeriy Fokin of Russia opens from the hijack for 6,500 but gets re-raised from the cutoff by Spain’s Jesus Espinosa Fernandez to 14,500. Another Russian in Dmitry Nemiroysky makes the call on the button but Fokin suddenly goes for a 4-bet shove and gets isolated by another all-in declaration, this time from Fernandez. Nemiroysky gets out of the way.

Fokin shows J♣ J♦ while the Spaniard turns over A♥ A♣ .

The flop kept the advantage to Fernandez: 3♣ A♦ 8♦ top set and the Russian was drawing dead on the turn card being the 4♥ . The 7♣ on the river made Fernandez’s double-up official as now Fokin’s stack is barely above the 50,000 mark.

Nguyen Huu Dung of Vietnam opens from the cutoff for 6,000 and draws in the SB of Australian Neng Zhao and the BB of India’s Umang Kakarania.

The flop comes A♦ 5♥ 5♦ as the blinds check. Nguyen CBets 5,000 and gets a call from Zhao. However, Kakarania check-raises it to 16,000 and the Vietnamese players abandons his plans and folds. The Australian, though, 3-bet shoves and gets called.

Zhang shows A♣ 7♣ for top pair while the Indian turns over 9♦ 6♦ for a flush draw, which he hits on the turn when the 3♦ arrives. The river card of the J♥ makes Kakarania’s triumph official.

The double now brings Kakarania stack into the six-figure mark while Zhao still has a healthy stack despite the hit.

Taiwan’s Bo Su raises it up from UTG to 5,000 ad gets calls from Kim Donghyup of Korea in the hijack and Englishman/Monster Stack Craig Jones in the BB.

The flop goes 5♣ K♣ T♦ as Jones checks. Bo continues firing for 9,000 and gets a call from Kim. Jones exits. It is Heads Up to the turn that produces the 9♠ . Unrelenting, Bo unloads 20,000. Kim still makes the call. T♥ river card is the 2♥ as the Taiwanese player barrels again, this time for 62,000. Kim folds.

Bo flashes Q♥ J♣ for a made straight on the turn.

The action is folded to the lowjack where Fu Xiaohua of China opens for 5,000 but right beside him in the hijack, Taiwan’s Chao Ting Cheng repops it 16,000. Big stack Craig Jones of England makes the call from the cutoff and Fu considers his position and opts not to go any further in the hand.

The flop shows K♣ 8♣ T♥ as Chao check. Jones leads out for 15,000 and gets called. The turn is the 8♠ and this time, both players decide to check. The river is the J♦ . Chao bets 35,000 and Jones raises all-in. Needless to say, Chao is covered. The Taiwanese player opts to let it go.

The Englishman is finding ways to become the chip bully at his table.

Thailand’s Pongrut Lemongkol opens from the +1 position for 5,000 and gets called by Nguyen Trung C hien of Vietnam in the BB.

The flop comes T♥ 6♣ A♠ as Nguyen checks. Lemongkol CBets to 4,000 and completes the steal.

In the early levels, China’s Hao He was one of the first to hit the century mark. Now, he’s reduced to not even a middling stack but is still in there on his first bullet and figures in a hand with Nguyen Pham Duy of Vietnam who has risen in the ranks and is one of the big stacks.

The action gets folded to Nguyen in the hijack and he raises it up to 5,000 and Hao decides on a BB defense.

The flop goes Q♦ Q♣ 3♦ as both players check. The turn card is the 2♣ and after the Chinese players a second time, Nguyen comes in for 4,000. Hao folds as Nguyen builds his stack one heist at a time.

Romit Advani of India opens from hijack for 5,000 and gets called by China’s Hu Jinlong in the cutoff. However, by the time it gets to the SB Matthew Russell, he 3-bets it to 16,500. The earlier participants decide to make the call.

The flop is A♣ K♦ J♥ as Russell CBets to 15,000 and takes the pot with zero resistance.

The action is folded to the button where Canada’s Gordon Smith raises it to 4,500 as Nguyen Huu Dung of Vietnam chises to defend his BB.

The flop is T♥ 3♦ J♦ and Smith fires 5,000 and it is enough to win the pot.

Liew Lee Wee of Malaysia opens from the hijack for 4,500 and gets a BB defense from India’s Umang Kakarania.

The flop comes 3♠ 9♥ 3♦ as both players check. The turn card is the 2♥ and again no aggression is exchanged. The river is the 4♣ and again both check.

Liew shows A♣ T♠ while Kakarania shows a King and mucks his hand.

Indian poker icon Abhinav Iyer is once again in action and is raising from the +1 position to 3,000 and when it gets folded to Pongrut Lemongkol in the SB, the Thai’s response is a 3-bet to 10,000. Iyer 4-bets all-in and gets called by Lemongkol who covers the Indian.

Iyer flips over A♣ A♦ while Lemongkol has A♥ K♥ .

The runout could not reverse the situation: 7♠ 3♣ 4♣ J♦ Q♣ .

The Thai player takes a big hit while Iyer obtains that badly needed double up.

Among the chip leaders is Vietnam’s Tran Hai Ha who raises from the +1 position to 3,000 and the action is folded to the button where Sanjeev Kapoor of India re-raises it to 9,500. Tran calls.

The flop goes 4♣ 3♦ J♦ as Tran leads out for 2,200. Then Kapoor shoves his substantial stack of 81,500. The Vietnamese player goes into the tank and eventually decides to make the call.

Kapoor turns over K♠ K♦ while Tran shows A♦ J♥ for top pair-top kicker on the flop, of course now behind to the Indian’s Cowboys.

The turn is the 5♣ but the river card is the J♠ which gives Tran trips and boots out Kapoor.

Tran is now among the big stacks in Day 1B.

An intense hand begins with Taiwan’s Chao Ting Cheng make a raise from the cutoff for 3,000 which becomes 3-bet by Abhijith Cheruku of India to 8,000. Chao tanks a bit but makes the call.

The flop goes 9♠ 5♠ 8♦ as both players check. The turn is the 5♦ as Chao checks. Cheruku bets 35,000 as the Taiwanese player goes into the anew and decides to make the call. The river card is the 3♣ and Chao checks again. Cheruku goes all-in and once again Chao goes deep in thought to ponder his decision. He opts to call.

Cheruku tables A♦ 2♦ while Chao triumphantly shows 6♣ 6♠ for the win and the acquisition of some much needed artillery.

Somasekhar Sanampuri of India opens from UTG for 11,000 and the action gets folded to the button where Canada’s Alexander Puchalski 3-bet shoves for 26,500. When it gets folded back to Sanampuri, he makes the call.

Pudalski shows K♥ K♦ while Sanampuri tables J♣ T♣ .

The flop gave the Indian a direct out: Q♦ J♦ Q♠ but another Jack failed to materialize with the last two community cards being the 5♠ and the 8♣ .

The action is folded to David Erquiaga of the Philippines who decides to shove from the hijack and gets called in the BB by England’s Craig Jones who covers the Filipino.

Erquiaga shows A♦ Q♦ while Jones already has made hand, albeit flimsy, with 6♦ 6♣ .

The runout goes: 8♣ 7♣ J♣ J♥ 2♥ as the low pocket pair of the Englishman holds and eliminates Erquiaga for the moment.

Jones’ stack now nears the double century mark.

Malaysia’s Mok Jo Seng opens from the cutoff for 2,400 and gets 3-bet by Zheng Xiaosheng of China from the SB for 11,000. Out of nowhere, Mauricio Sanchez of Colombia 4-bets all-in for 56.400.

Mok immediately folds while Zheng takes a moment to ponder and go deep in thought before deciding that prudence is the better pay of valor and throw his hole cards into the muck.

In a battle of the blinds, Kaifan Wang of the United States raises it to 3,500 in the SB while Ukrainian Erik Rozhynskyi decides on a BB defense.

The flop is T♥ A♣ 8♣ as Wang continues firing for 2,500. Rozhynskyi calls. The turn card is the K♠ and this time the American makes it 8,500 to go. Rozhynskyi still calls. The river is the 2♠ as Wang declares he is all-in. Rozhynskyi makes the call.

Wang turns over Q♠ 7♥ and tried to use aggression to make the Ukrainian fold. However, Rozhynskyi shows K♣ T♠ making it tough to fold two pairs in that spot.

The stack of Wang takes a huge hit after the bluff attempt goes awry.

The action is folded to the button of Malaysia’s Liew Lee Wee who raises it up 2,500 and gets a call from Indian player Somashekar Kurkhepally Nahadeva. However, China’s Luan Haitao makes a 3-bet to 9,500 which still elicits calls from the previous two players.

The flop shows 4♠ 3♣ 6♥ as all three players choose to check. The turn is the 5♦ and with his stack at about SPR 1, Nahadeva goes all-in for his remaining 28,400. His opponents fold.

Colombia’s Mauricio Sanchez has the action folded to his button where he proceeds to raise it to 2,500 as Taiwan’s Chao Ting Cheng (playing on his second bullet) decides to defend his BB.

The flop comes T♥ 3♦ A♥ as Chao checks. Sanchez fires another 2,500 bet and it is enough to make the Taiwanese player walk away.

David Sommer of Germany opens from UTG for 2,500 but then gets 3-bet in the cutoff by Xiao Jinhui of China for 6,500. Another Chinese player in Li Shankui ups it even further by 4-betting to 20,000 from the SB. Sommer folds but Xiao makes the call.

The flop goes 8♠ 7♣ 4♠ as Li keeps it on for 15,000. Xiao calls. The turn is the 3♠ and this time, Li puts in 47,000. Xiao thinks a bit before relinquishing his hand.

Li tables A♠ A♥ and ups his stack to close to a quarter of a million.

With the task of posting the BB and the ante looming, APPT Main Event runner-up Kim Donghyup of Korea places his remaining stack of 7,400 in the middle UTG and gets an isolation shove on the button from Japan’s Takashi Hirukawa—also among the late casualties in Day 1A action yesterday.

Kim turns over 7♣ 5♣ which are live against Hirukawa’s A♣ Q♣ .

The first three community cards are 4♠ J♠ 4♥ and then the turn gives the Korean a sliver of hope as the 3♠ arrived for additional outs to a gutshot. However, the river card is the J♣ as the Japanese player prevails with ace high and sends Kim heading back to the registration area.

This time around, his first bullet lasted longer.

The action gets folded to Xin Yuan of China who raises it up to 2,600 from the cutoff. On the button, India’s Umang Kakarania 3-bet shoves for the starting stack and gets a call from Chen Xinhong of China in the SB. Xin folds.

Kakarania turns over A♣ K♠ while Chen realizes he is dominated holding A♠ J♣ .

The runout goes: 9♣ T♦ 4♥ 5♥ 4♣ as the Indian’s holdings still prevail sending Chen to the sidelines.

China’s Xin Yuan raises from UTG to 2,400 while opting to call are a pair of Koreans in Yun Hyeonsik on the button and Hong Hyunil in the BB.

The flop comes T♣ Q♥ 5♦ as all three players skip this street. The turn is the 7♦ as Xin, the original raiser, bets 3,000. Yun calls but Hong folds. It is Heads Up to the river which brings in the 9♠ Xin unloads again, this time for 5,000 but now gets raised to 16,000 by Yun. Xin makes the call.

Yun tables 5♥ 5♣ for bottom set on the flop while a surprised Xin mucks his hand.

With the win, Yun nears the century chip mark

Australia’s Matthew Russell opens from UTG for 2,200 and get the blinds to call.

The flop is T♥ 6♠ 4♥ and the two Chinese players in the blinds (Li Shankui in the SB and Hao He in the BB) both check. Russell CBets to 3,500. The blinds still call. The turn is the J♦ as this time. Li leads out for 12,000. Hao and Russell make the call. The river is the 4♠ and now Li bombards it for 30,000. Hao and Russell fold.

Hao’s plummet from chip leader to middling stack is alarming while Li is beginning gain momentum.

Korea’s Lee Juyeol opens from UTG and gets called by Japan’s John Matsuda and Craig Jones of England but then Taiwan’s Chao Ting Cheng 3-bets all-in for 12,500. It gets folded back to Lee who opts to fold, but then Matsuda declares he is all-in for over 20,000. Jones still calls.

Chao shows pocket Jacks while Matsuda is behind with pocket Tens . Jones has Ace Queen .

Jones flops an ace and the runout did not help either of his opponents.

Chao and Matsuda are shown the door—for now—and Jones’ stack now rises to way over the century mark with the double kill.

Lee Juyeol of Korea opens from UTG for 1,600 and gets calls from Japan’s John Matsuda in the hijack, Frenchwoman Rosalie Petit in the cutoff and getting insane odds to join in Zhu He of China in the BB.

The flop goes Q♣ K♦ 8♦ as it is checked to Petit who bets 1,500 and gets no callers.

Former APPT Main Event champion Alexander Puchalski of Canada is back in action and is raising from UTG to 1,600. He gets a call from Russia’s Valeriy Fokin on the button but suddenly a short stacked Jesus Espinosa Fernandez of Spain gos all-in for his remaining 8,100 from the SB. Puchalski calls and Fokin folds.

Puchalski turns over A♠ Q♥ while Fernandez shows live cards in K♣ J♣ .

Fernandez outdraws Puchalski as the runout goes: 3♠ K♥ 8♠ 2♠ (a sweat card for the nut flush) 3♦ .

The hit sends the Canadian’s stack down to below starting levels and Fernandez gets a new lease on his tournament life.

Last year’s APPT Main Event runner-up is looking to minimize his use of bullets as he utilized three in yesterday’s Day 1A.

Korean Kim Donghyup is in the BB and when the action folds to the SB of Switzerland’s Dinesh Alt, it is just completed. Kim announces a raise to 2,800 which is still called by Alt.

The flop goes 7♥ 3♣ A♦ as Alt checks. Kim continues for 2,000 and Alt folds.

With the action folded to the button of Sumit Supra, the Indian raises it to 1,600 and gets calls from the SB of China’s Pang Junpeng and the BB of another Chinese player in Hao He—one of the current chip leaders.

The flop is A♦ K♦ 3♠ as the blinds check. Supra continues firing, this time for 2,500. Pan folds, but Hao remains interested. It is Heads Up to the turn where the 7♣ appears and Hao checks again. Supra now loads it up to 6,500 and once again gets called. The river is the 9♦ as Hao checks a third time. Supra now bets 13,000. Hao still calls.

Supra turns over J♦ 8♦ for a rivered flush while Hao chooses to muck his hand.

Hao’s stack is still substantial albeit the moderate hit absorbed from the Indian.

India’s Sumit Sapra starts the action from UTG for a raise to 1,600 and gets called on the hijack by Hao He of China. Australian Matthew Russell, however, 3-bets it from the cutoff to 5,100 and gets called by the initial participants.

The flop comes 8♥ 3♦ 6♠ as it is checked back to Russell who CBets to 7,000. He gets no callers.

Russell’s stack now goes over the century mark and is shaping up to be one of the early chip leaders of this Day 1B.

The action is folded to the hijack where Sweden’s Fritz Douhan raises it up to 1,600 and gets a BB defense from Luan Haitao of China.

The flop is T♥ Q♥ 5♥ as the monochrome board makes both players check. The turn is the J♠ and again both opt to skip this street. The river is the 9♦ as Luan checks a third time. Now, Douhan bets 4,000. Luan gives it a think before folding and showing a Q before throwing his hand into the muck.

Korea’s Lee Juyeol opens it from the hijack for 1,200 as blinds join in.

The flop comes 8♣ 7♣ 5♥ as England’s Craig Jones checks in from the SB and Chao Ting Cheng also check from the BB. Lee checks as well. The turn is the 8♥ as Jones checks again but this time, Chao fires 2,500 and gets no reply from his opponents.

Jean Philippe Testa of France opens from UTG for 1,500 and is greeted by a 3-bet from England’s Guy Taylor on the button for 3,500. From the SB, however, Kyle Bao Diep of Vietnam 4-bets it to 8,500 as Testa 5-bet shoves all-in for 30,000. Taylor folds while Bao calls for his tournament life.

Testa flips over A♥ Q♥ while Bao shows Q♦ Q♣ .

The Frenchman missed his three-outer on the subsequent runout: 7♦ 3♦ 2♠ 2♦ 5♣ as the Vietnamese player doubles up and Testa sees his chips reduced to below the starting stack.

French grinder Fabian Rolli had already outflopped England’s Guy Taylor. Rolli moved all-in after a series of preflop raises and got called by Taylor who tables Ace Queen after Rolli turned over Ace Ten .

The flop gave the lead to the Frenchman as it came T 5 2 but then a Jack came on the turn and the miracle came to pass on the river when a King arrived to dash Rolli’s first bullet.

Taylor’s stack now goes above the 80,000 mark.

France’s Rosalie Petit opens from UTG for 1,200 and when the action gets folded to Carig Jones, the Englishman 3-bets it to 4,500 to which the Frenchwoman opts to call.

The flop shows 7♦ 6♣ A♥ as Petit checks. Jones CBets to 2,600 as Petit makes the call. The turn is the 2♦ as once again Petit checks. Jones now fires 12,000 and still gets called. The river is the J♣ and Petit checks a third time. This time, Jones chooses to check behind.

Petit unveils A♠ J♠ for top pair on the flop and top two pairs on the river. Jones mucks and the pot sends Petit’s stack past the 50,000 mark.

Avneesh Munjal of India opens from the hijack for 1,200 and gets called by France’s Ira Blumenthal from the button.

The flop goes 9♣ 8s7d as Munjal leads out and gets called by the Frenchman. The turn is the A♣ as Munjal fires again but this time gets raised by Blumenthal. The Indian then moves all-in and gets called.

Munjal tables 9♥ 8♥ for top two pairs on the flop while Blumenthal shows A♠ J♠ for top pair on the turn and a gutshot straight draw which he gets on the river as the T♠ arrives.

The completed straight knocks Munjal out of contention for the moment and brings Blumenthal’s stack closer to the six figure mark.

Japan’s John Matsuda is back in action and he raises from the hijack to 1,000 and gets quickly called by Rosalie Petit of France in the cutoff. Everyone else steers clear.

The flop is 6♠ 3♦ J♣ as Matsuda continues for 1,000 again and again gets called by the Frenchwoman. The turn card is the 9♣ and the Japanese player now makes it 4,000. Petit still calls. The river is the 6♣ as Matsuda now goes into the tank. After a while, he unloads 13,400 as Petit now goes into deep thought.

After pondering, Petit opts to fold with her chips still slightly above the starting stack.

Johnni Nielsen of Sweden opens from the hijack for 900 and gets re-raised on the cutoff by Dinesh Alt of Switzerland. Everyone steers clear as it folds back to Nielsen who makes the call.

The flop comes 8♥ 7♣ T♠ as Nielsen checks. Alt CBets to 2,200 and the Swede makes the call. The turn is the Q♥ as once again Nielsen checks and Alt fires, now for 7,000. Nielsen just won’t go away as he calls again. The river is the 7♠ as Nielsen checks a third time. The Swiss player now unleashes a river bet of 17,000. Nielsen folds.