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.

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.

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.

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♣ .

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.