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.

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.

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.

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.