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.

Ha Manh tuong of Vietnam continues to stay active as he opens from the +1 position for 8,000 and gets calls from the SB of Korea’s Yun Jungsup and the BB of Englishman Craig Jones.

The flop goes 6♦ 3♥ 5♠ as the blinds check. Ha CBets to 16,000 and the blinds call. The turn card is the A♥ and the blinds check again. This time, Ha puts in 33,000. Both blinds are still in there. The river is the 5♦ and this time the Vietnamese player joins in the checkfest.

Yun is first to show and he tables A J for top pair and his opponents muck.

Big stack Ha Manh Tuong of Vietnam opens from UTG for 6,500 and it gets folded to the button where Korea’s Yun Jungsup—in dire need of a double-up—3-bets all-in for his last 70,500. When it gets back to Ha, he calls.

Yun turns over A♥ 2♦ while the Vietnamese player has him dominated with A♣ Q♣ .

The first three community cards gives the Korean a glimmer of hope, albeit also giving Ha a draw: J♠ 2♣ T♥ . That slight chance comes to fruition on the fourth card for Yun as the 2♠ arrives. Now down to any of the four Kings in the deck to reverse this situation, the last card is the 2♥ for running quads and still a chance to advance after the double up.

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.

France’s Fabian Rolli begins this from UTG by raising it up to 1,200. He gets calls from Yun Jungsup of Korea in the +1 position, Vietnam’s Ho Anh Tuan on the button and Sumit Sapra of India in the SB.

The flop goes 6♣ T♠ Q♠ as all four players check. The turn is the J♠ as Supra checks again and Rolli suddenly shows interest by betting 2,500. Yun and Ho fold, but the Indian is also interested and makes the call. The river card is the A♦ as Sapra checks a third time and the Frenchman unloads 4,000. Sapra calls.

Rolli shows A♣ K♥ while Sapra tables K♣ Q♣ as it becomes a split pot with both players holding a King. Much ado about chopping.