APPT Main Event ($1,750)

The biggest influx in the APPT Cambodia 2025 (Event #40) Main Event went down in Day 1C when 234 entries graced the NagaWorld Integrated Resorts here in Phnom Penh and when the dust settled, 45 advanced to join the 50 that had already trudged on from the first 2 qualifiers.

This merges with those who made it from the Turbo Day 1D that took place later in the evening that had 85 entries and 26 advancing now brings the runner total to 121 that will converge on Sunday (May 11) as Day 2 commences here at 12:00PM (UCT+7). A total of 643 entries were logged in this US$1,000,000 GTD event.

Among the notables that made it to Day 2 from Day 1C were the Philippines’ lone WSOP bracelet winner Mike Takayama, Pokerstars LIVE Manila Super Series 12 Main Event titlist Hu Jin Long of China, APPT Manila Championship Pokerstars Red Dragon winner Aladin Reskallah of Canada and multi-titled Australian Daniel Nielson.

The race for the chip lead was a harrowing one as so many players traded seats atop the leaderboard, but in the end China’s Hao He rose to the top after busting out two in one hand towards the twilight of the session with a flush. Hao, who has amassed nearly US$250,000 in his career, carries a stack of 518,000 into Day 2 and is followed distantly by Somashekar Kurkhepally Nahadeva of India with 382,000 while Ireland’s Frank Lillis is third with 374,000.

Day 1D saw the likes of APPT Main Event runner-up Kim Donghyup of Korea, 4-time WPT Cambodia trophy winner Erik Rozhynskyi of the Ukraine and international campaigner Guy Taylor of England among those who will be seeing action in Day 2.

Malaysian Victor Chong acquired the most chips from Day 1D with 248,000. Chong, among whose many trophies is the 2023 WPT Passport to the World Championship Super High Roller championship title, shoved his last hand and was called by Japan’s Akihiro Konishi ending up as a full house to surge ahead of the field. Second in chips is the Philippines’ Richard Marquez with 195,000 while Pranav Bathjia of India captured third with 175,000.

Of the 121 players that will return for Day 2, only 95 will be ITM so the fight will resume with the sane ferocity that was required to make it this far.

Vietnam’s Ha Manh Tuong has it folded to him on the button and comes out raising it to 6,500. Frank Lillis of Ireland makes the call from the SB but India’s Avnesh Munjal decides to 3-bet shove from the BB for his remaining 56,000. Ha folds but Lillis choose to call.

Munjal shows A♦ 4♦ while the Irishman has a made hand: T♦ T♠ .

The first three community cards gave the Indian player more outs: 7♦ 4♥ J♥ but none of them showed up as runout concluded with the 9♥ and the 5♦ .

Munjal’s permanent sidelining in the flight also gives Lillis over 300,000 in chips and is looking good to advance to Day 2.

Ireland’s Frank Lillis opens from the cutoff for 5,000 and is met with a re-raise from the BB of Korean Yun Jungsup to 17,500. Lillis 4-bet shoves and gets called by Yun.

Lillis flips over K♠ T♠ while Yun has a slight lead with K♦ J♣ .

The runout goes: 5♣ 5♦ A♥ 2♠ 8♣ as Yun is awarded the pot by virtue of having a that Jack kicker over the Irishman’s ten kicker.

The double up puts the Korean back in contention while Lillis is still in the big stack conversation despite the hit.

Isaac Hechanova of the Philippines opens from the button for 2,500 and gets a call from Ireland’s Frank Lillis who chooses to defend his BB.

The flop is 6♣ 7♦ J♥ as Lillis checks. Hechanova CBets 2,600 and the Irishman makes the call. The turn is the Q♣ and this time both check. The river card is the 2♠ as now it’s Lillis’ turn to bet for 3,500. Hechanova calls.

Lillis turns over J♦ 8♦ for top air on the flop. The Filipino decides to muck.

t is folded to the cutoff where Dinh Van Tien of Vietnam raises it up to 2,200 and gets a call from the SB of Ireland’s Frank Lillis.

The flop comes A♠ A♣ A♦ as Lillis checks. Dinh continues for 1,500 and gets called. The turn card is the 5♦ and the Irishman checks again. This time, Dinh makes it 4,500 to go while Lillis still makes the call. The river is the 5♠ as Lillis checks for a third time. Dinh now bets 16,000. Lillis raises all-in and he covers the Vietnamese veteran. Dinh calls.

Lillis tables A♥ J♥ for quads on the flop while Dinh shows 6♣ 5♣.

Dinh has been railed and Lillis’ stack now hits six figures.

Victor Chong of Malaysia opens from UTG for 800and gets called in the hijack. by Ireland’s Frank Lillis. In the cutoff, Vietnam’s Nguyen Van Xuan 3-bets them to 2,600. Both call.

The flop is K♦ 8♣ 7♥ as it is checked back to the Vietnamese player who continues firing, this time for 2,500. Chong calls but Lillis drops out. It is Heads Up to the turn which produces the 4♠ . The Malaysian checks again as Nguyen makes it 6,500 to go. Chong folds.