APT Championship Main Event Freezeout (311,000 TWD)

The final day of the APT Championship (APTC) Main Event brought one of the biggest moments in Asian poker history. With 671 entries and a TWD 194,080,973 (~USD 6,220,550) prize pool — the largest ever on the Asian Poker Tour — the atmosphere at Red Space felt charged long before the first hand was dealt.

India’s Nishant Sharma began the final table as the runaway chip leader and never lost control. Playing in the biggest USD 10,000 freezeout outside of Las Vegas in the last decade, he stayed calm, composed, and in command from start to finish.

When the final cards hit the felt, it was Sharma who lifted the 24K Gold Lion Trophy after defeating the Philippines’ John Costiniano heads up. The victory earned him TWD 37,030,773 (~USD 1,186,880) — the biggest first-place prize in APT Main Event history — and made him only the third Indian player ever to record a seven-figure score. The win also bumps Sharma up three spots in India's All-Time Money List to fifth.

A few minutes after his win, Sharma sat back in disbelief. “It will take some time, like probably two days or three days, like what I have achieved, you know,” he said. “I know it's like a very big thing, and also I was going to not come here because I applied for the visa and it was taking way too long. I thought ok, whatever, if it doesn't come, then I won't come, but thankfully I got the visa in time and I was able to come.”

Sharma smiled when asked about his recent run of results. “Great, great, I've been running great in MTTs since the last two or three years, mainly after my marriage, so probably because of her [my wife], yeah,” he said. “She puts a lot of pressure on me, you know, to work hard on my game. I was never that serious, you know, like I mean I was serious, but I never used to grind that hard. Now I have to be more responsible. I have to be able to answer her, so I give more than 100 percent.”

It wasn’t just the win that made it special. Sharma entered the Main Event through a USD 1,700 satellite, turning a small buy-in into a life-changing result. “Yeah, I mean, I tried the satellite and I was lucky enough to win that,” he said. “But you know it looks good when you win the tournament from $1.7K you know, so max value, awesome!”

Even with the lead from wire to wire, Sharma said it took focus and adjustment to close it out. “I had a good stack and there were so many good players on my table, so I just didn't want them to know like I was feeling pressure, but I wasn't feeling pressure,” he said. “Because probably there were three players better than me, and to go and win it, it's a big achievement.

So I had to adjust, usually I would have been going berserk from the start, but I had to control it and let the field absorb how it's going and all that, and then I was changing gears from three to five depending on the situation.”

Sharma also praised the APT’s bold move to run a USD 10K freezeout in Asia. “To be frank, I didn't expect, first of all, that any poker series will have that big of a guarantee in Asia,” he said. “And for APT to do that like it was very, very ballsy move. I think this is probably one of the softest $10Ks anybody will play. So for those people who didn't come here, I want to tell them don't miss out next year, because it's probably the softest after the WSOP 10K main event.”

When asked what comes next, Sharma kept things simple. “I don't know, invest. Like I'm more of a bankroll nit, so I won't be, you won't be seeing me in a big series like big buy-in tournaments,” he said. “I won't be playing that unless my game is that good. I'll work on my game and if I think I can beat those stakes, I'll play those. Otherwise I'll invest and make more money off it.”

Before heading off to celebrate, he had one final message. “Thank you to everyone who supported me — the rail was crazy,” he said. “I’ve been getting messages from all over. This win is for all of them.”

There were fireworks from the off as Martin Finger doubled his short stack when his pocket fives won a flip against the ace-ten of Dominik Nitsche.

However, on the last hand of the first orbit, Finger’s run came to an end in a brutal cooler. Finger three-bet shoved ace-king but ran into the pocket aces of Matas Cimbolas. There was a chance at survival when Finger turned a combo draw, but the river bricked, leaving him out in ninth for TWD 3,047,100 (~USD 97,660).

Two hands later, there was almost another elimination as Alexandru Papazian survived by the skin of his teeth. Nishant Sharma raised and Cimbolas called from the small blind with pocket queens. Papazian then shoved from the big blind holding ace-jack, which Cimbolas called. Just as it seemed Papazian would be hitting the exit, a backdoor flush gave him the double-up and a much healthier stack to work with.

Two more full levels were played with no eliminations, but that didn’t mean the action slowed down. Costiniano pulled off an outrageous bluff against Hao Chuang, which sent everybody into a frenzy.

Costiniano raised preflop with ace-ten, and Chuang called with king-queen in the small blind. Chuang check-raised the flop and bet the turn. When he rivered a straight on the paired board, he fired big and Costiniano shoved for not much more.

Chuang was in a world of pain and despite the great price he was getting, he couldn't see a world where Costiniano was bluffing, so he eventually folded. Costiniano then instantly showed his bluff and leapt out of his seat to celebrate. Chuang did the same but with totally opposite emotions, which left him at the bottom of the counts after the dust settled.

Neng Zhao started to loosen up but couldn’t get much going. In one hand, he opened ace-king and called a flop check-raise and a turn bet from Sharma before finally giving up on the river against the Indian player’s full house. Zhao did manage to find a double when his ace-nine turned the nuts against Hao Shan Huang’s pocket sixes, keeping his run alive for a little longer.

Cimbolas then picked up pocket queens again and was in great shape against the ace-queen of Huang after the chips flew in. However, the flop was less than friendly for the Lithuanian player when Huang paired his ace, and when no queen arrived, Cimbolas exited in eighth for TWD 3,846,700 (~USD 123,290).

After being bluffed earlier in the day, Chuang’s stack was on life support and he couldn’t hang on much longer. Zhao moved all in with pocket sevens, Chuang called with ace-ten, and Nitsche came along with ace-queen to put both at risk. A full house on the flop secured a triple-up for Zhao, leaving Chuang drawing thin. The board ran out with no surprises, sending Chuang out in seventh for TWD 5,628,300 (~USD 180,395).

By the time the fourth level got underway, Sharma had over double the stack of Costiniano in second, with Papazian occupying the bottom spot. Huang was fourth, but it was he who fell next in brutal fashion.

Sharma had been applying a lot of pressure to anybody who dared to try and take chips out of his stack, and Huang was trying to do just that with ace-king. Sharma shoved with pocket deuces, and with shorter stacks still on the table, Huang called for around 24 big blinds.

Huang flopped a king and turned trips, but a devastating deuce on the river ended his run in sixth and Sharma made a full house. It wasn't all bad news for Huang, as he qualified for the Main Event via a USD 350 Step 1 Satellite and turned that into a payday TWD 7,724,400 (~USD 247,575), which is over 700 times his money — not bad for five days of work.

Nitsche and Zhao had been in constant battles with each other throughout the final table, but it was the latter who lost the biggest one as he shoved 21 big blinds effective with ten-deuce over the small blind limp of his opponent, who held king-jack. Neither player improved on the board, which meant Nitsche doubled and Zhao's stack was severely dented.

Papazian's stack dwindled some more, but he flopped trip threes and doubled against the ten-seven of Costiniano, who had opened the button. That was bad news for Zhao, who despite getting a few shoves through, eventually fell at the hands of the champion.

Zhao moved in with king-ten and was called by Sharma with queen-eight. A queen on the flop sealed it, and Zhao exited in fifth for TWD 9,917,500 (~USD 317,870).

When four-handed play got underway, Sharma held two-thirds of the chips in play, while Costiniano, Papazian, and Nitsche all seemed to be tussling for a ladder. The dinner break came and went, then just four hands after the restart, Nitsche met his demise.

Nitsche had made a pot-committing raise with pocket fives and then called off the shove of Papazian, who held pocket kings. No fives were found on the runout, and Nitsche hit the exit in fourth, narrowly missing the podium, but leaving TWD 12,518,200 (~USD 401,225) better off.

With three players remaining, Sharma showed no signs of slowing down and kept on chipping away at his two opponents. Papazian came off worse over a few clashes with Sharma, including one where he paid off a river bet with ace-high against the eventual champion's pocket tens.

Papazian then limp-called off his stack from the small blind with king-ten and was ahead of the queen-deuce of Costiniano. A clean flop left Papazian two cards from a double-up, but a queen on the turn was enough to send Romania's number one rated tournament player to the rail in third for TWD 16,341,600 (~USD 523,770).

Sharma brought a five-to-one chip advantage into heads-up play, which could have been over within two hands. Sharma won the first hand and halved his opponent's stack, then the two played an all-in pot immediately after. Costiniano held pocket deuces and called Sharma's shove, who held jack-ten.

A deuce on the flop gave Costiniano a set, but his work wasn't done as Sharma flopped a gutshot. The board ran clean, and Costiniano doubled up, but only to get right back where he started heads-up.

In the fourteenth hand of their duel, it was all over. Sharma limped the button with kings and Costiniano checked his option with jack-three, and flopped trip threes. Chips went in on the flop and stacks got in on the turn as Sharma picked up a flush draw. Costiniano just had to fade one card to double up and get right back in contention, but a heart on the river for Sharma was enough to give him a flush and the pot.

A valiant effort from Costiniano, but he had to settle for second and the TWD 22,862,700 (~USD 732,780) payday that came with it.

When the dust settled in Red Space, Sharma’s win stood as a quiet reminder of what’s possible in poker. From a USD 1,700 satellite to a seven-figure payday, his journey summed up the spirit of the APT Championship Main Event — patience, belief, and the right run at the right time.

Nishant Sharma has done it.

After five grueling days on the felt, Sharma successfully navigated a 671-player field and defeated John Costiniano heads-up to claim victory in the APT Championship Main Event.

Sharma will take home TWD 37,030,773 (~USD 1,186,880) for his performance in addition the 24K Gold Lion Main Event Trophy.

Stay tuned for a recap of the final table.

Hand #192: Nishant Sharma limepd on the button and John Costiniano checked his option.

The flop came 3♥ 3♠ 6♥ and Sharma called a 200,000 bet from Costiniano.

Costiniano barreled 500,000 into the middle on the Q♥ turn and Sharma raised to 1,200,000. Costiniano tanked a bit as he weighed his options and then shoved for 4,100,000 total. Sharma quickly called to put Costiniano at risk and a showdown was held.

John Costiniano: J♠ 3♣

Nishant Sharma: K♠ K♥

It was a slow play gone wrong for Sharma, who found himself in rough shape against Costiniano's trips; however, the A♥ landed on the river — improving Sharma to a winning flush and sending his rail into a frenzy as Costiniano had been eliminated in second place.

Hand #190: Nishant Sharma raised to 500,000 with A♣ K♦ and John Costiniano called with 8♣ 2♣

The flop came 7♣ 7♦ 4♣ and Costiniano checked it over with his flush draw, then Sharma bet 400,000. Costiniano raised to 1,400,000, which Sharma called.

The 9♦ fell on the turn and Costiniano found the double barrel with a bet of 2,200,000. Sharma didn't take too long before he called.

When the J♦ fell on the river, Costiniano checked, and Sharma checked back to win the hand with ace-high.

Hand #191: Costiniano limped with J♠ T♣ and Sharma shoved T♠ 9♠. Costiniano folded.

Hand #185: John Costiniano raised to 500,000 on the button with J♠ 4♦ and Nishant Sharma defended his big blind with 9♣ 6♠.

The flop came 8♦ 3♠ 5♠ and Sharma led out for a 500,000 bet, which Costiniano called.

Sharma then check-folded on the J♦ turn after Costiniano bet 1,000,000.

Hand #186: Sharma raised to 500,000 on the button with K♦ 2♠ and folded after Costiniano three-bet to 2,000,000 holding A♥ Q♣.

Hand #187: Costiniano limped on the button with K♦ 3♠ and called after Sharma made it 700,000 to go holding A♠ J♦.

Both players checked on the T♦ T♥ 7♣ flop, but Costiniano folded after Sharma bet 700,000 on the 2♦ turn.

Hand #188: Sharma limped on the button with 8♣ 7♣ and Costiniano checked his option in the big blind holding A♣ 2♣.

The A♦ K♣ 3♣ flop improved both players, but left Sharma drawing nearly dead. Costiniano check-called a 200,000 bet from Sharma and the both players checked on the K♦ turn.

Costiniano bet 600,000 after the Q♥ landed on the river and Sharma let his whiffed hand go.

Hand #189: Costiniano raised to 400,000 on the button holding 8♦ 3♦ and Sharma called with K♦ 2♦.

Sharma check-called a 400,000 bet from Costiniano on the 6♥ 7♦ A♥ flop, but check-folded after Costiniano barreled 850,000 on the 5♥ turn.

Hand #181: John Costiniano looked down at A♠ 4♠ on the button and limped in. Nishant Sharma had 4♥ 2♥ in the big blind and checked his option.

The flop came Q♣ 3♥ K♣ and both checked to the 6♥ turn, which gave Sharma a straight flush draw. It was Sharma who fired as he bet 500,000, and Costiniano called.

A 3♣ fell on the river and Sharma checked it over. Costiniano checked it back and took it down with ace-high.

Hand #182: Sharma got dealt K♦ 7♥ on the button limped in. Costiniano checked T♠ 4♥ and they saw a flop of Q♠ 7♣ 5♥.

Costiniano checked, Sharma bet 200,000, and Costiniano let it go.

Hand #183: Costiniano got dealt T♥ 4♦ again and limped in. Sharma raised K♠ J♠ and took it down.

Hand #184: Sharma limped 4♠ 2♥ and Costiniano checked T♣ 2♠.

On the T♥ K♦ Q♥ flop, Costiniano checked and Sharma bet 200,000. Costiniano called to the Q♦ turn and both checked it to the J♠ river.

Costiniano checked and Sharma bet 400,000 with just four-high. Costiniano called it off and took it down with his pair of tens.

Hand #179: John Costiniano limped on the button with J♦ T♦ and called after Nishant Sharma raised to 700,000 holding J♠ J♣.

Costiniano called a 500,000 bet from Sharma on the 2♦ 5♦ 5♣ flop and a 1,400,000 bet from Sharma on the 9♣ turn.

The 8♥ river bricked out and Costiniano folded after Sharma shoved, which was enough to put Costiniano all in for his last 3,000,000.

Hand #180: Sharma shoved on the button and Costiniano called all in to put himself at risk.

John Costiniano: 2♠ 2♥

Nishant Sharma: J♠ T♣

It was a race for it all, but the 9♠ 2♣ 7♠ flop improved Costiniano to a set for a commanding lead.

Nishant would need an eight to claim the title, but the A♦ turn and Q♠ river bricked out — awarding Costiniano a much-needed double up to keep his Main Event dreams alive.

John Costiniano and Nishant Sharma are taking a brief break before beginning their heads-up duel.

When they return, they will battle for the TWD 37,030,773 (~USD 1,186,880) top prize, the 24K Gold Lion Main Event Trophy, and the right to be called an APT Main Event Champion.

Costiniano will have his work cut out for him, as Sharma currently holds an overwhelming 28,000,000 to Costiniano's 5,600,000.

Hand #178: Alexandru Papazian called from the small blind and John Costiniano shoved from the big blind to put Papazian all in. Papazian snap-called all in for 2,000,000 total and hands were revealed.

Alexandru Papazian: K♥ T♦

John Constiniano: Q♦ 2♠

Papazian got his chips in good and he looked poised to double up after the 5♠ 4♣ A♥ flop kept him ahead.

However, the Q♣ landed on the turn — improving Costiniano to a pair of queens and leaving Papazian drawing to either a king or a jack.

It wasn't meant to be, as the 4♠ river bricked out for Papazian to eliminate him in third place.

Hand #176: Alexandru Papazian opened the button with Q♠ T♦ to 400,000 and Nishant Sharma three-bet J♠ J♥ from the big blind to 1,100,000. Papazian folded.

Hand #177: Sharma looked down at T♥ T♣ in the small blind and made it 625,000. Papazian was in the big blind and called holding A♠ 8♦.

The flop of 5♦ 5♥ J♣ was laid out and Sharma bet 300,000. Papazian peeled one off to see the 4♥ hit the turn, which both checked to the :Js river.

Sharma went for some value with a bet of 1,200,000 with his pair of tens, and Papazian paid it off with his ace-high.

Hand #169: Nishant Sharma raised to 400,000 with J♥ T♠ on the button and Alexandru Papazian three-bet to 1,400,000 with K♦ J♠ from the small blind.

It was folded back to Sharma, who grabbed several 500k placards and placed them into the middle for a four-bet to 2,700,000, which got Papazian to lay down the best hand.

Hand #170: Sharma got a walk.

Hand #171: Papazian got a walk.

Hand #172: Sharma opened to 400,000 on the button and John Costiniano defended his big blind holding Q♣ 8♣.

The flop came T♦ 4♠ 4♦ and Costiniano folded facing a 300,000 bet from Sharma.

Hand #173: Sharma got a walk.

Hand #174: Papazian got a walk.

Hand #175: Sharma raised to 400,000 with A♣ T♣ on the button and was called by Papazian in the small blind holding 3♠ 3♣.

Papazian checked to Sharma, who continued for a 400,000 bet on the 9♣ 7♣ 2♦ flop. Papazian then check-raised to 1,100,000 and Sharma called with his flush draw and overcards.

The 5♠ landed on the turn and Papazian check-folded after Sharma bet 1,000,000, sending a nice pot Sharma's way to further his chip lead.

Hand #163 Nishant Sharma opened A♥ 3♣ on the button and took it down.

Hand #164: John Costiniano opened Q♣ 5♦ to 600,000 from the small blind and won the pot.

Hand #165: Alexandru Papazian got a walk.

Hand #166: Sharma opened the button with J♣ 4♣ and took it down.

Hand #167: Papazian made it 400,000 with 9♣ 7♣ on the button and John Costiniano three-bet the small blind with Q♠ Q♦ to 1,100,000. Papazian folded.

Hand #168: Sharma looked down at Q♠ 7♦ in the small blind and raised to 600,000. Papazian called with K♦ 4♦ in the big blind.

The flop came 6♣ K♥ Q♣ and Sharma checked it over to Papazian, who knuckled it back to the 3♦ turn. Sharma bet 450,000, and Papzian called with top pair.

A 6♥ hit the river and after Sharma checked, Papazian bet 1,700,000. Sharma used some extra time while he pondered how to proceed, then eventually laid it down.

Hand #162: Dominik Nitsche raised to 2,000,000 first to act and action folded to Alexandru Papazian, who shoved from the big blind to put Nitsche all in. Nitsche called all in for 2,800,000 total and a showdown was held.

Dominik Nitsche: 5♠ 5♦

Alexandru Papazian: K♦ K♣

Nitsche was in dire straits against Papazian's Cowboys, and the T♥ 3♦ 8♣ 6♦ 4♣ runout changed nothing to eliminate Nitsche in fourth place.

Hand #159: Nishant Sharma raised to 400,000 with J 3 on the button and took down the blinds.

Hand #160: Sharma raised to 400,000 first to act with J 9 and folded after John Costiniano shoved from the big blind with A Q.

Hand #161: Sharma got a walk in the big blind.

The remaining four players are on a 60-minute dinner break.

Hao Shan Huang saw his journey brutally come to an end in sixth when he called off a shove with ace-king and turned trips against Nishant Sharma's pocket deuces. However, a deuce on the river sent the Taiwanese player out.

Neng Zhao then saw most of his stack head over to Dominik Nitsche, before his king-ten came up short against the queen-eight of Sharma.

Sharma holds a huge chip lead heading into dinner.

Hand #148: Nishant Sharma raised to 325,000 first to act with K♣ 5♦ and took down the blinds.

Hand #149: Dominik Nitsche looked down at A♦ J♣ and raised to 320,000 on the button. Sharma called in the big blind holding T♣ 7♣.

Both players checked on the 2♣ 9♥ K♣ flop, K♠ turn, and 7♠ river, awarding the pot to Nishant with his seven.

Hand #150: John Costiniano opened to 320,000 on the button with K♣ 8♣ and everyone folded.

Hand #151: Sharma raised to 325,000 on the button holding T♠ 7♣ and Nitsche defended his big blind with 6♠ 5♣.

Nitsche check-called a 235,000 bet from Sharma on the 7♠ J♥ 4♦ flop, but check-folded after Sharma bet 650,000 on the 7♥ turn.

Hand #152: Sharma opened to 325,000 first to act with K♠ 7♣ and folded after Alexandru Papazian three-bet to 2,000,000 on the button to award Papazian the pot.

Hand #153: Sharma got a walk in the big blind.

Hand #154: Sharma called from the small blind with Q♠ 3♥ and Papazian checked his option with 9♣ 4♦ in the big blind.

Sharma bet 160,000 on the A♠ 3♦ 7♥ flop, which was met with a raise to 440,000 by Papazian. Sharma called.

Both players checked on the A♦ turn and K♥ river and Sharma took down the pot with his three.

Hand #155: Sharma opened to 325,000 on the button with J♣ 8♠ and Papazian three-bet to 2,200,000 with 4♠ 4♦ in the small blind. Everyone folded and Papazian was sent the pot.

Hand #156: Nitsche raised to 480,000 from the small blind with 7♦ 3♣ and folded after Costiniano three-bet to 1,100,000 from the big blind.

Hand #157: Nitsche picked up 8♠ 8♦ on the button and raised to 320,000. Sharma called with 6♥ 2♦ in the big blind.

The flop came 9♣ Q♠ T♣ and Sharma check-folded facing a 220,00 bet from Nitsche.

Hand #158: Costiniano limped on the button with K♥ T♠ and Sharma called in the small blind holding 7♦ 5♣. Papazian checked his option with 5♥ 3♠ in the big blind.

Action checked to Costiniano on the A♣ J♦ 5♦ flop and he bet 160,000. Sharma called and Papazian folded.

Both players checked on the 3♣ turn and then Sharma led out for 1,100,000 after catching two pair on the 7♠ river. Costiniano quickly laid his hand down and Sharma picked up the pot.

Hand #147: Neng Zhao shoved from under the gun for 470,000 and Nishant Sharma three-bet the button to isolate.

Neng Zhao: K♦ T♣

Nishant Sharma: Q♥ 8♣

Zhao was ahead, but not for long as the 6♣ 4♠ Q♣ flop gave Sharma top pair.

A 7♦ on the turn prompted Zhao to give the table the "nice hand" move to try and tempt the poker gods into giving him a king.

However, it didn't work as the 7♣ river meant Zhao was eliminated in fifth.

Hand #139: Nishant Sharma opened to 325,000 from under the gun with 9♦ 8♦ and took down the pot.

Hand #140: Neng Zhao raised to 1,500,000 (leaving himself just 50,000 behind) with A♦ 9♦ and eveyone folded.

Hand #141: Zhao picked up A♥ J♠ in the cutoff and made it 325,000 to go. Alexandru Papazian called in the big blind holding K♥ 3♥.

The flop came Q♠ 6♥ Q♣ and Papazian checked to Zhao, who continued for 210,000. Papazian then check-raised to 425,000 and Zhao called.

Papazian checked again after picking up a flush draw on the 8♥ turn and Zhao bet 325,000. Papazian went for a double check-raise and shoved for 1,800,000, which got a quick fold from Zhao.

Hand #142: Sharma raised to 325,000 on the button with 9♦ 5♠ and picked up the blinds.

Hand #143: Papazian raised to 360,000 holding A♠ Q♠ on the button and took down the pot.

Hand #144: Sharma raised to 325,000 with Q♣ 8♣ first to act and everyone folded.

Hand #145: Papazian was dealt A♠ 4♠ from under the gun and picked up the pot preflop after raising to 360,000.

Hand #146: Sharma raised from the small blind with 6♣ 5♠ and Papazian immediately folded in the big blind holding 4♣ 3♠.

Hand #132: Neng Zhao shoved 1,100,000 from under the gun with Q♣ T♥ and got it through.

Hand #133: Dominik Nitsche shoved the small blind with J♥ 7♠ and won the pot.

Hand #134: Nishant Sharma raised A♦ 5♦ under the gun to 325,000 and John Costiniano defended 9♥ 9♣ in the big blind.

On a flop of T♣ 3♥ J♥, Costiniano check-called a bet of 250,000 from Sharma to the K♦ turn, where he knuckled it over again. Sharma then bet 700,000, and Costiniano quickly folded.

Hand #135: Zhao shoved 6♠ 6♣ on the button for 1,100,000 and got it through.

Hand #136: Nitsche raised Q♣ T♣ from under the gun to 320,000 and won the pot.

Hand #137: Zhao shoved A♠ J♠ from under the gun for 1,500,000 and took it down.

Hand #138: Sharma opened A♥ 8♠ from the cutoff to 325,000 and won the pot.

Hand #129: Dominik Nitsche raised to 320,000 on the button holding K♥ Q♣ and John Costiniano defended his big blind with 8♣ 6♠.

Costiniano caught a pair of eights on the 4♥ 9♠ 8♦ flop and both players checked.

Nitsche then quickly folded after Costiniano bet 500,000 on the 7 sturn.

Hand #130: Nitsche raised to 320,000 with A♠ K♣ in the cutoff and Nishant Sharma called in the big blind holding 7♣ 4♦.

Both players checked on the 5♣ A♥ 2♥ flop and 3♦ turn, but Sharma bet 600,000 with his wheel on the 3♥ river.

Nitsche quickly called and Sharma showed him the bad news to claim the pot.

Hand #131: Costiniano made it 350,000 to go on the button and Alexandru Papazian called in the big blind.

Papazian checked on the 3♠ 4♦ 3♣ flop and Costiniano shoved to put Papazian all in for his last 1,600,000. Papazian snap-called and hands were revealed.

Alexandru Papazian: A♣ 3♥

John Costiniano: T♠ 7♠

Papazian had Costiniano crushed with trip threes and the K♦ turn left Costiniano drawing dead.

An irrelevant 5♦ completed the board and Papazian was awarded the double up.

Hand #128: Dominik Nitsche limped in for 80,000 in the small blind and Neng Zhao shoved the big big blind. Nitsche snap-called for his stack of 3,300,000.

Dominik Nitsche: K♠ J♦

Neng Zhao: T♠ 2♠

Zhao was getting loose and had a huge portion of his stack at risk. A flop of 9♥ A♥ 6♥ missed everybody, as did the 4♦ turn. Only a ten or a deuce could eliminate Nitsche, but he survived when the 5♣ rolled off.

Zhao becomes the new short stack, and Nitsche vaults up the counts to third.

Hand #122: Dominik Nitsche got a walk.

Hand #123: Nishant Sharma raised to 325,000 with Q♥ 7♦ and everyone folded.

Hand #124: Sharma raised to 325,000 first to act with K♥ 4♣ and took down the blinds.

Hand #125: John Costiniano called from the small blind with A♦ 9♦ and called after Sharma raised to 450,000 from the big blind.

Costiniano check-called a 180,000 bet from Sharma on the 8♠ A♠ 2♥ flop and a 450,000 bet from Sharma on the 4♠ turn.

Both players checked on the 7♥ river and Costiniano was sent the pot with his pair of aces.

Hand #126: Nishant Sharma picked up the blinds after shoving from the small blind with 7♦ 3♦ and getting a fold from Alexandru Papazian, who held Q♣ 9♦.

Hand #127: Papazian shoved for 1,200,000 from the small blind with 8♥ 5♥ and Nitsche laid his hand down in the big blind.

Hand #121: Hao Shan Huang opened 320,000 from the hijack and Nishant Sharma ripped in his stack of 12,000,000 from the small blind. When it got back to Huang, he called off his 3,700,000.

Hao Shan Huang: A♥ K♠

Nishant Sharma: 2♥ 2♣

Huang called it off with smaller stacks around him, but it seemed that was going to pay off as the 6♣ K♣ 5♦ flop gave him top pair.

Further improvements came for Huang on the K♥ turn as he made trips, but it didn't change the fact that he only needed to avoid a deuce on the river to double up.

That was too much of an ask as the brutal 2♠ dropped on the river, which gave Sharma a full house and sent Huang out in sixth.

Brutal for Huang. Half the chips in play for Sharma!

Hand #118: Nishant Sharma opened to 325,000 from the hijack with 7♥ 6♥ and took down the blinds.

Hand #119: Hao Shan Huang raised to 320,000 on the button with Q♥ 2♥ and was called by Neng Zhao in the small blind holding K♣ J♣ and John Costiniano in the big blind with J♥ 5♥.

Everyone checked on the 6♣ 9♣ 6♦ flop and then Zhao bet 325,000 on the 8♦ turn. Both Costiniano and Huang folded, conceding the pot to Zhao.

Hand #120: Costiniano called from the small blind with 9♥ 7♥ and called after Sharma made it 450,000 to go holding A♦ 6♣ from the big blind.

Costiniano checked on the 3♥ T♥ J♦ flop with his flush draw and called a 250,000 bet from Sharma.

Neither player put a bet in on the T♦ turn or 5♥ river and Costiniano took down the pot with his flush.

The final six players have been sent on another 15-minute break.

Two players saw their Main Event runs end in Level 31, with Matas Cimbolas falling in eighth place after getting his queens cracked by Hao Shan Huang, while Hao Chuang exited in seventh after losing a three-way all in between him, Dominik Nitsche and Neng Zhao.

Hand #114: Alexandru Papazian opened under the gun with Q♠ J♦ to 240,000 and Hao Shan Huang called in the cutoff holding A♥ T♥.

Neng Zhao committed his stack with A♦ 5♦ by three-betting to 3,700,000 on the button, and that got the job done as his two opponents folded.

Hand #115: Nishant Sharma got dealt A♠ Q♦ in the small blind and raised to 375,000. Papazian was in the big blind with T♦ T♣ and called.

The flop came Q♥ 4♥ 9♥ and Sharma continued with a bet of 225,000, which Papazian called to the 5♣ turn. Another bet came in from Sharma as he put 600,000 out there, and again Papazian called.

A 4♦ river kept the pair of queens of Sharma in the lead, and he used some extra time before firing out 850,000. Papazian used some extra time of his own before he flicked in the call, then saw the bad news as Sharma showed his queen.

Hand #116: John Costiniano opened A♠ 5♥ to 250,000 from the cutoff and Dominik Nitsche called with T♦ 7♦ in the big blind.

Both checked the 9♣ 8♠ K♦ flop to the 6♠ turn, which gave Nitsche the nuts. He fired 340,000, and Costiniano folded.

Hand #117: Nitsche limped in from the small blind holding T♣ 8♦ and Huang raised with 6 6 to 350,000 from the big blind. Nitsche called.

The flop of 7♠ 5♣ A♠ hit the felt and Nitsche check-folded to a bet of 240,000 from Huang.

Hand #109: Neng Zhao raised to 240,000 from the cutoff with J♣ T♦ and Alexandru Papizian defended his big blind holding Q♥ 9♣.

Papazian check-called a 200,000 bet from Zhao on the 9♦ 8♠ K♣ flop and then both players checked on the 5♣ turn.

The 8♥ completed the board and Papazian led out for 350,000, which got a fold from Zhao after a bit of thought.

Hand #110: Hao Shan Huang opened to 250,000 first to act with J♥ 9♥ and folded after Nishant Sharma three-bet to 700,000 on the button holding A♣ T♥.

Hand #111: Papazian took down the blinds after raising to 275,000 with 7♠ 7♥ on the button.

Hand #112: John Costiniano raised to 240,000 from under the gun with K♣ T♦ and Zhao defended his big blind holding A♦ J♦.

Both players checked on the 6♥ K♥ 2♥ flop and then Zhao check-called a 205,000 bet from Costiniano on the 5♦ turn.

The 8♠ appeared on the river and Zhao checked a final time, prompting a bet of 450,000 from Costiniano. Zhao laid his hand down and Costiniano dragged the pot.

Hand #113: Huang picked up Q♥ 5♥ on the button and made it 240,000 to go, but folded after Zhao three-bet to 800,000.

Hand #103: Dominik Nitsche opened A♣ K♦ from under the gun to 240,000 and took it down.

Hand #104: Alexandru Papazian looked down at Q♥ 7♦ in the small blind and raised to 360,000, which earned him the pot.

Hand #105: Nitsche limped in the small blind with A♥ 3♦ and Hao Shan Huang raised T♠ 5♣ to 380,000 in the big blind. Nitsche then shoved 2,500,000, and Huang folded.

Hand #106: Alexandru Papazian looked down at K♥ Q♦ in the cutoff and made it 275,000 to go. Nitsche picked up K♠ K♦ and three-bet the button to 660,000. Papazian let it go.

Hand #107: Nitsche raised J♥ T♦ in the cutoff to 240,000 and took it down.

Hand #108: John Costiniano raised to 125,000 in the small blind with K♥ 9♥ and Nishant Sharma defended 8♣ 7♦ in the big blind.

The flop of 9♠ J♣ 8♠ hit both players and it checked through to the 4♣ turn. Costiniano then fired 250,000, which Sharma called with his pair and gutshot.

A 5♥ river saw Costiniano fire again for 425,000, and Sharma paid it off with his pair of eights.

Hand #98: Hao Shan Haung raised to 240,000 from under the gun and was called by Nishant Sharma on the button holding 5♥ 5♣ and Dominik Nitsche in the big blind with K♦ 5♦ for a three-way pot.

Nitsche checked to Huang, who continued for 255,000 on the K♣ 2♣ 8♦ flop. Sharma and Nitsche both called.

The 8♣ turn improved Huang to the nut flush and he barreled 365,000 into the middle after Nitsche checked to him. Sharma and Nitsche both laid their hands down and Huang collected the pot.

Hand #99: Nitsche raised to 360,000 from the small blind with 4♣ 2♣ and folded after Huang three-bet to 745,000 holding A♦ K♠.

Hand #100: Nitsche raised to 240,000 on the button with 5♣ 4♣ and was called by Neng Zhao in the big blind hodling Q♣ T♥.

The flop came 7♠ 9♥ Q♠ and Zhao check-called a 180,000 bet from Nitsche.

Both players checked on the K♦ turn and then Nitsche quickly folded facing a 225,000 bet from Zhao on the 6♠ river.

Hand #101: Sharma looked down at A♣ 8♠ and made it 250,000 to go, which got a fold from everyone.

Hand #102: Huang raised to 225,000 from the cutoff with K♣ 3♣ and Sharma defended his big bind holding A♥ T♥.

Sharma checked on 9♦ K♥ 2♥ flop with the nut flush draw and then called a 215,000 bet from Haung, who flopped a pair of kings.

Both players checked on the Q♣ turn and then Sharma check-folded facing a 900,000 from Huang on the 2♣ river.

Hand #93: Nishant Sharma raised to 250,00 with J♦ 7♦ from the hijack and Hao Shan Huang defended his big blind holding K♣ 8♥.

Both missed the Q♠ 5♦ 9♣ flop and when it got to Sharma, he took it down with a bet of 275,000.

Hand #94: Huang limped in from the small blind with K♠ 7♣ and Neng Zhao raised to 400,000 holding - 9♣ 5♦ in the big blind. Huang folded.

Hand #95: Alexandru Papazian picked up A♥ T♠ in the hijack and raised to 240,000, and John Costiniano defended his big blind holding K♥ 7♦.

The 3♥ 6♥ A♠ flop gave Papazian made top pair and when it checked to him, he bet 175,000. Costiniano folded.

Hand #96: Papazian raised again when he looked down at A♠ J♦ to 240,000 from under the gun and Dominik Nitsche three-bet A♥ K♠ in the hijack to 600,000. Papazian folded.

Hand #97: Costiniano raised to 250,000 with 6♦ 5♦ on the button and Papazian saw A♠ K♠ in the big blind before he three-bet to 775,000. Costiniano made the call.

The flop came 3♣ J♠ T♥ and Papazian made a huge bet of 2,300,000. Costiniano quickly folded.

Hand #92: Neng Zhao shoved for 1,300,000, leaving himself just 30,000 behind, from early position and Hao Chuang shoved for 1,600,000 from the small blind. Just behind him, Dominik Nitsche called cold to put Chuang as risk and Neng called as well for a three-way all-in.

Neng Zhao: 7♠ 7♥

Hao Chuang: A♣ T♣

Dominik Nitsche: A♦ Q♦

The 7♦ 6♥ 6♠ flop gave Zhao an overwhelming lead with a full house and neither the J♠ turn nor 2♣ river changed anything — eliminating Chuang in seventh place while Zhao nearly tripled his stack.

Hand #88: Hao Shan Huang raised J♠ J♣ on the button to 250,000 and took it down.

Hand #89: Alexandru Papazian made it 240,000 with Q♠ J♠ from under the gun and Huang called with A♣ Q♣ in the cutoff. Nishant Sharma looked down at T♦ T♣ in the big blind and shipped in his monster stack. Papazian and Huang both folded.

Hand #90: Dominik Nitsche raised J♠ J♥ from early position to 240,000 and won the pot.

Hand #91: Nitsche raised 5♠ 5♥ to 240,000 from under the gun and took it down.

Hand #86: Dominik Nitsche raised to 360,000 from the small blind with 6♦ 5♥ and Hao Shan Huang folded in the big blind.

Hand #87: Matas Cimbolas raised to 240,000 from middle position and it was folded to Huang, who shoved from the small blind for 2,400,000 total. Cimbolas quickly called all in for his last million and a showdown was held.

Matas Cimbolas: Q♥ Q♣

Hao Shan Huang: A♣ Q♠

Cimbolas was in good shape to double with his queens, but the 3♣ A♥ 5 flop left him drawing to one out after pairing Huang's ace.

The 2♥ turn brought some outs to a chop, but the K♣ river bricked out — eliminating Cimbolas in eighth place on a bad beat.

The remaining eight players have been sent on another 15-minute break.

It was another level of no eliminations, with Sharama holding steady in the lead. John Costiniano now sits second in chips, largely as a result of pulling off a sick bluff against Hao Chuang.

Hand #82: Nishant Sharma looked down at T♥ 9♠ in the small blind and shoved, which earned him the pot.

Hand #83: Hao Shan Huang made it 205,00 in middle position and Neng Zhao shoved for 935,000 from the hijack. When it got back to Huang, he flicked in the chip to leave Zhao at risk.

Neng Zhao: A♣ 9♣

Hao Shan Huang: 6♥ 6♣

Zhao needed to improve, and found an interesting flop as he picked up a flush draw on 7♣ 5♣ Q♥. It was all over on the T♣ turn as Zhao made his flush, with the meaningless 7♦ falling on the river.

Hand #84: Zhao raised to 200,000 with A♠ 9♣ from middle position and took it down.

Hand #85: Zhao raised again to 200,000 holding A♦ 2♦ in early position and Alexandru Papazian called with J♣ T♣ on the button. Dominik Nitsche also came along from the big blind with 5♣ 4♦.

The three saw a flop of A♠ 8♠ Q♣ and when it checked to Papazian, he bet 140,000. Nitsche folded, but Zhao called with his pair of aces to see the T♦ fall on the turn.

Zhao checked again and Papazian bet 400,000 with his pair and straight draw. Zhao called once more and the 5♥ landed on the river, which drew a third check from him. Papazian then bet 1,700,000, and Zhao folded.

Hand #76: Dominik Nitsche picked up 7♠ 7♣ first to act and opened to 200,000. Nishant Sharma called with 4♥ 4♣ in the cutoff and Hao Chuang called holding Q♦ T♣ in the big blind for a three-way pot.

Action checked to Sharma, who wagered 250,000 on T♥ 8♠ 5♥ flop. Chuang then shoved for 1,300,000 with his pair of tens, which got folds from both Nitsche and Sharama to earn him the pot.

Hand #77: Alexandru Papazian raised to 225,000 with A♦ J♠ and picked up the blinds.

Hand #78: Sharma raised to 200,000 with A♣ 7♣ from middle position and was called by Hao Chuang, who held K♠ J♠ on the button. Nitsche then shoved for his entire 3,700,000 with K♣ J♣ in the small blind, which earned him the pot after everyone folded.

Hand #79: Hao Shan Huang called with K♠ T♠ in the small blind and Neng Zhao checked his option in the big blind holding K♦ 9♥.

Zhao called a 105,000 bet from Huang on the K♣ 8♦ 6♣ flop and a 140,000 bet from Huang on the J♣ turn.

The 7♠ completed the board and Huang stuck 235,000 into the middle. Zhao used up a time bank before calling, awarding the pot to Huang with his ten-kicker.

Hand #80: Nitsche took a look down at A♥ 2♥ and raised to 200,000 from the cutoff. Zhao shoved for 1,700,000 from the small blind with A♣ 4♣ and Nitsche quickly let his hand go.

Hand 81: Zhao opened to 200,000 with A♦ K♦ on the button and Sharma defended his big blind holding 7♠ 6♠.

The 4♦ 4♠ 7♣ flop paired Sharma's seven and he checked to Zhao, who continued for a 105,000 bet. Sharma then check-raised to 375,000 and Zhao called.

Sharma boated up after the 7♦ landed on the turn and he fired 550,000 into the middle. Zhao again called.

The 8♥ completed the board and Sharma shoved, which was enough to put Zhao all in for his last 935,000. Zhao tanked for quite some time, but eventually opted to send his cards into the muck.

Hand #70: Nishant Sharma raised Q♥ 8♠ from middle position to 200,000 and took it down.

Hand #71: Sharma made it 200,000 from early position holding A♥ T♠ and won the pot.

Hand #72: Matas Cimbolas min-raised to 200,000 from early position holding Q♦ J♥ and John Costiniano defended 4♣ 2♣ in the big blind.

Costiniano checked, Cimbolas bet 125,000, and Costiniano called to the Q♥ turn. Another check came in from Costiniano before Cimbolas bet 300,000, leaving 195,000 behind. Costiniano let it go.

Hand #73: Cimbolas picked up A♣ Q♥ under the gun and min-raised to 200,000, which earned him the pot.

Hand #74: Alexandru Papazian got dealt A♦ Q♦ under the gun and raised to 200,000. Neng Zhao three-bet to 575,000 holding A♠ 4♠ from the cutoff, but folded when Papazian four-bet to 1,900,000 total.

Hand #75: Hao Shan Huang raised to 200,000 holding A♣ J♠ from middle position and Costiniano called with T♣ 9♣ from the cutoff.

The flop came 6♥ 7♠ 4♥ and Huang check-folded to Costiniano's bet of 250,000.

Hand #67: Neng Zhao raised to 200,000 with T♠ T♣ in the hijack and Alexandru Papzian defended his big blind with A♦ 5♣.

The flop came 8♦ 2♦ 9♣ and Papazian check-folded facing a 275,000 bet from Zhao.

Hand #68: Papazian called in the small blind with 5♠ 5♥ and Hao Chuang checked his option in the big blind with J♣ 3♣.

The flop came 2♠ T♥ 6♣ and Papazian check-folded facing a 150,000 bet from Chuang.

Hand #69: John Costininao raised to 200,000 with A♣ T♠ and was called by Chaung, who held K♥ Q♦ in the small blind.

Chaung then check-raised a 150,000 bet from Costiniano to 410,000 on the 2♣ J♠ Jd: flop. Costiniano called.

The 9♥ fell on the turn and Chaung continued for 760,000. Costiniano again called.

Chuang caught a straight on the T♦ river and fired 1,800,000 into the middle. Costiniano re-checked his hole cards and used up a time bank before shoving his entire 2,800,000

Chuang went deep into the tank, clearly distraught over his decision as he shuffled his chips. Chuang shook his head and grimaced a few times before eventually deciding to let his hand go.

Costiniano slammed his hole cards face up and Chuang shot up from his seat upon seeing his was bluffed in the sickest hand of the final table so far.

Hand #62: Neng Zhao raised T♠ T♦ from under the gun to 200,000 and Hao Chuang called on the button holding 7♥ 7♣.

The flop of J♣ A♠ 9♣ hit the table and Zhao bet 175,000, which got the job done as Chuang folded.

Hand #63: Dominik Nitsche opened K♥ 8♥ on the button and Hao Shan Huang three-bet A♣ 5♣ in the small blind to 605,000. Nitsche called.

On the J♥ 6♦ 2♠ flop, Huang fired a continuation-bet of 380,000, which got a quick fold out of Nitsche.

Hand #64: Nishant Sharma raised to 200,000 under the gun with J♥ 9♣ and Zhao three-bet to 500,000 from the small blind holding A♠ 3♣. Sharma let it go.

Hand #65: Zhao opened the button with Q♣ T♥ to 200,000 and Sharma defended 7♥ 5♣.

On the A♦ 8♦ 3♥ flop, Sharma check-folded to Zhao's 130,000-chip bet.

Hand #66: John Costiniano raised the button to 200,000 with A♦ 7♦ and Matas Cimbolas defended K♦ 9♠.

Costinano made two pair on the 7♠ Q♠ A♣ flop and took it down after he bet 125,000 once checked to him.

Hand #56: Dominik Nitsche raised to 200,000 from the cutoff wiht A♠ 4♥ and took down the blinds.

Hand #57: Hao Chuang opened to 200,000 from middle position with Q♠ T♠ and called a three-bet of 700,000 from Nishant Sharma, who held A♥ A♣ in the big blind.

Sharma continued for 400,000 on the T♦ 2♥ 6♦ flop and Huang called.

The dealer brought the K♦ on the turn and Chaung laid his hand down after Sharma barreled for 700,000.

Hand #58: Chuang raised to 220,000 from early position and everyone folded.

Hand #59: Matas Cimbolas shoved for his last 900,000 from the small blind and Alexandru Papazian let his 6♣ 3♣ go in the big blind.

Hand #60: Cimbolas shoved for 1.1 million on the button with 3♠ 3♣ and he took down the blinds.

Hand #61: Cimbolas raised to 200,000 from the cutoff holding K♥ J♦ and folded after Chuang three-bet to 600,000 from the small blind.

Players at the final table have been sent on another 15-minute break.

Nishant Sharma has maintained his lead while Cimbolas remains the short stack.

Hand #48: Hao Chuang min-raised J♣ 9♣ in the hijack to 160,000 and John Costiniano defended 4♣ 3♣ in the big blind.

Costiniano flopped a pair and gutshot on the 2♠ A♥ 3♥ flop and checked it over. Chuang bet 80,000, Costiniano made it 280,000, and Chuang quickly folded.

Hand #49: Dominik Nitsche raised A♦ 6♦ from the hijack to 160,000 and Nishant Sharma called in the big blind with A♣ 6♠.

A flop of Q♠ K♦ 9♥ hit the table, and Sharma check-folded to a bet of 100,000 from Nitsche.

Hand #50: Sharma looked down at 8♥ 8♣ in the small blind and raised to 250,000, which earned him the pot.

Hand #51: Sharma raised A♣ 3♣ on the button to 160,000 and Matas Cimbolas three-bet to 750,000 from the small blind with T♦ 9♦. Sharma let it go.

Hand #52: Sharma picked up 8♠ 8♦ in the cutoff and made it 160,000 to go. Cimbolas three-bet to 400,000 from the button (cards didn't register), then Sharma four-bet shoved. Cimbolas let it go.

Hand #43: Neng Zhao opened to 160,000 from the hijack and took down the blinds.

Hand #44: Hao Chuang got a walk.

Hand #45: John Costiniano raised to 160,000 from middle position and everyone folded.

Hand #46: Nishant Sharma opened to 160,000 from middle position with K♦ 8♠ and was called by Chaung on the button with A♥ J♦.

Both players checked on the 9♦ 8♣ J♠ flop and 3♣ turn, but Sharma bet 200,000 after the J♥ filled the river.

Chuang raised to 720,000 with his trip jacks and Sharma looked him up, sending a nice pot over to Chuang.

Hand #47: Hao Shan Huang raised to 260,000 from the small blind with 7♦ 5♠ and was called by Neng Zhao, who held A♦ 9♦ in the big blind.

Huang continued for 310,000 on the 6♣ T♥ J♦ flop and Zhao called with his backdoor draws.

The Q♥ came on the turn and Huang barreled 725,000 into the middle with his rags and Zhao laid down the best hand.

Hand #38: Matas Cimbolas opened K♠ J♣ from the hijack to 160,000 and took it down.

Hand #39: John Costiniano raised A♦ 8♦ from under the gun to 160,000 and Hao Shan Huang shoved 2,100,00 with A♣ Q♣ from the small blind. Costiniano folded.

Hand #40: Cimbolas raised K♣ T♣ from early position to 160,000 and Alexandru Papazian three-bet to 400,000 holding A♦ K♥ from the next seat. When it got back to Cimbolas, he folded.

Hand #41: Papazian picked up 8♠ 8♣ from early position and raised to 180,000. Neng Zhao three-bet A♣ 4♣ to 500,000 on the button and Costiniano four-bet shoved K♥ K♣ in the small blind for 3,100,000. Papazian and Zhao folded.

Hand #42: Papazian raised A♠ 3♠ from under the gun to 180,000 and Hao Chuang called with 6♠ 6♥ from the next seat.