For the fourth time this year, Filipino pro Lester Edoc stood on the Main Event winner’s stage after seizing yet another title in his home country. His latest victory was at the APT Philippines Championships series ongoing at Resorts World Manila, an event he championed back in March. For this incredible feat, Edoc set a new tour record as the only player to have won back-to-back APT Main Event titles under the same series.
The Main Event set off with players seemingly unfazed by the brewing typhoon outside. At the end of registration, 306 ponied up the PHP 55,000 (US$1,020) buy-in for a PHP 14,841,000 prize pool that more than crushed the advertised 8M guarantee.
At each stage of the race, Edoc positioned himself among the leaders finishing second at Day 1A, second at the end of Day 2, and top rank at the end of Day 3 to lead in the Final 8 players. As the most accomplished live tournament player among them, Edoc was clearly the one to beat. While everyone gunned for a first-ever career Main Event title, Edoc was not only seeking his fifth but was also the defending champion.
In front of a crowded rail cheering his every move, Edoc dusted three players to enter the heads up round heavily packed against China’s Jiajun Wang. Though Wang was a newcomer to the APT, Edoc’s road to victory was still no smooth ride. Wang was just as determined to seize the title, coming from behind to usurp the lead. After Edoc charged back to take regain the edge, one lucky hand shut the door on Wang with Edoc’s A-5 spiking a five on the turn to defeat A-J. Edoc earned his second-ever APT championship title and shipped in PHP 2,849,600 (~US$52,700).
Prior to this win, Edoc won the the CoinPoker Super High Rollers event. He defeated APPT Manila National champion Marc Rivera at heads up and collected PHP 2,745,700 (~US$50,800). These combined winnings brings Edoc up to $5,595,300 (~US$103,500) at the series.
Among the notable players that cashed at the series were WPT multi winner Marvin Rettenmaier (20th), ex-gamer Lim Yo Hwan (21st), Metro Team Pro Marc Rivera (23rd), and APT Main Event champions Alexis Lim (26th), and Jeon Seung Soo (45th).
Final 8 payouts
Prizepool: PHP 14,841,000 – Buyin: PHP 55,000 – ITM: 51 places
1st Lester Edoc – Philippines – PHP 2,849,600
2nd Jiajun Wang – China – PHP 1,899,900
3rd William Ysmael – Philippines – PHP 1,326,000
4th Jessie Leonarez – Philippines – PHP 965,500
5th David Chargualaf Sr. – Guam – PHP 729,700
6th Trygve Leite – Norway – PHP 570,300
7th Richard Marquez – Philippines – PHP 459,900
8th Czar Ian Marcos – Philippines – PHP 380,000
Lim Yo Hwan wins the first-ever APT Shot Clock event
The APT introduced a new element to one of their events adding in a Shot Clock to the CoinPoker High Rollers Single Day. The Shot Clock has been growing in use all over the poker world with organizers adapting it for a variety of their games. 24 heavy hitters forked out the PHP 107,500 buyin. Korean ex-gamer turned poker pro Lim Yohwan won the event and earned his first-ever high rollers title.
Payouts
Prizepool: PHP 2,328,000
1st Lim Yohwan – Korea – PHP 1,127,200 (~US$20,800)
2nd Ceesvin Abraham – Singapore – PHP 608,700
3rd Gavin Flynn – UK – PHP 359,700
4th Marc Rivera – Philippines – PHP 232,400
Michael Kim Falcon wins the Coin Poker High Rollers
A bigger field was seen at the earlier CoinPoker High Rollers event with 36 players in action. Denmark’s Michael Kim Falcon defeated a field packed with notable pros to win his third APT high roller title. 2018 APPT Manila Main Event champion, Wilson Lim, finished in 5th place.
Payouts
1st Michael Kim Falcon – Denmark – PHP 1,314,400 (~US$24,343)
2nd Gabriel Carter – UK – PHP 808,900
3rd Yusuke Okada – Japan – PHP 529,400
4th John Tech – Philippines – PHP 366,800
5th Wilson Lim – Singapore – PHP 267,700
6th Takeshi Kishi – Japan – PHP 204,400
The ongoing series has entered its first day of the Championships Event. We will have those results for you when it concludes so check back with us here at Somuchpoker.com.
Article by Tricia David
Louis Hartwell
Graduated in Media Communication at the University of Lausanne, Louis Hartman is a co-founder of somuchpoker.com. He began his career in Cambodia as freelance journalist. In same time he was making his living by playing poker every night at that time. Intense learner, he read dozens of poker strategy books to improve his skills during many years. With a strong interest about poker "behind the scene" in Asia and his communication skills, Louis launched Somuchpoker in 2014.
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