APT Phu Quoc Main Event draws 795 entries, Vietnam’s Nghiem Xuan Thieu atop Day 2 leaderboard

yesterday at 11:24 AM

The return of the Asian Poker Tour (APT) to Vietnam has been met with incredible support from the players as 795 (Event #20) APT Phu Quoc Main Event entries were logged, eclipsing its 2023 mark of 507 and setting a new tour stop record.

APT Phu Quoc Main Event

Being held at the Corona Resort and Casino, the VND 25 Billion (~US$ 1 Million) Main Event has a VND 4,710,000,000 (~US$185,430) top prize on top of the coveted 24K Gold Lion APT Phu Quoc Main Event trophy and is down to 50 players heading into Day 3 of the competition—all now guaranteed VND87,500,000 (~US$3,445).

Follow the action via the SMP Live Updates.

Nghiem Xuan Thieu becomes Chip Leader

Veritable newcomer Thieu Nghiem Xuan of the host nation was fortunate enough to surge ahead in one of the final hands of the day as his A♥A♦ crippled fellow Vietnamese player Nguyen Nang Quang in a pot worth over one million to give him the overall chip lead. Thieu, who had previously taken down the Sunday Superstack event for his first-ever recorded live cash, carries a stack of 1,703,000 into Day 3, closely followed by countryman Do Tien Vu with 1,547,000 while China’s Hu Jinlong is currently in third with 1,523,000.

Bubble Bursts At APT Phu Quoc Main Event

There was high drama as the Money Bubble loomed and as fate would have it, Taiwanese veteran Nevan Chang and Cao Tran Ngoc of the host nation got axed at the same time.

Chang got three callers and his Big Slick hit nothing, allowing one of his opponents, who had Pocket 9s, to issue his walking papers. But simultaneously, Cao’s shove with Q♥9♥ lost to the A♦9♦ of India’s Deepankur Gupta and the remaining 118 players celebrated being ITM.

If it was any consolation to Chang and Cao, they chopped the VND56,250,000 (~US$2,215) that was to go to 119th place to get VND28,125,000 (~US$1,108) each.

Top 10 In Chips

Rank	Name	Flag	Stack
1	Thieu Nghiem Xuan	VIE	1,703,000
2	Do Tien Vu	VIE	1,547,000
3	Hu Jinlong	CHN	1,523,000
4	Truong Thang Minh	AUS	1,294,000
5	Kyosuke Nagami	JPN	1,261,000
6	Le Koangho	KOR	1.252.000
7	David Erquiaga	PHI	1,154,000
8	Quang Trung Dinh	VIE	1,053,000
9	Witsarut Ketnarin	THA	1,012,000
10	Huang Kaihua	CHN	903,000

APT Phu Quoc Side Event Roundup

Julian Warhurst takes down Event #49: Single Day High Roller

Julian Warhurst takes down APT Single Day High Roller — Julian Warhurst, Photo Credit – Asian Poker Tour

Pocket Aces once again made an appearance but this time it was instrumental in sealing the win for Julian Warhurst of Australia, upending Thailand’s Chumpon Naisanthat in the Single Day High Roller. Warhurst also pocketed the VND1,053,000,000 (~US$41,472) top prize while Naisanthat had to settle for the VND758,990,000 (~US$29,870) second prize purse. Martin Godsk Stausholm of Denmark finished in third for VND493,430,000 (~US$19,240).

Ryo Kotake wins first APT title in Event #47: NLH

International campaigner Ryo Kotake of Japan topped 147 entries to finally snare a trophy at APT Phu Quoc. Amassing over US$200,000 in live career tournament earnings, Kotake adds to his mantlepiece his first ever APT crown and takes home the VND369,572,000 (~US$14,550) top prize. Vietnam’s Thao Dang Hong gets second place for VND251,020,00 (~US$9,880) while Suksombat Ponlawat of Thailand garnered third for VND165,550,000 (~US$6,515).

Hatayo Kitajima rules Event #48: PLO Hi-Lo – 4 Card & 5 Card

Japan’s Hatayo Kitajima adds to his already impressive career haul of over US$600,000 by securing the victory in this event along with the top prize of VND53,042,000 (~US$2,087). It was his fifth career APT win. Finishing in second was Craig Anthony Cooper of Great Britain for VND 35,360,000 (~US$1,392) while local bet Nguyen Manh Hao got third for 22,100,000 (~US$870).

Thai amateur Wongkrajang Chainarong wins Event #50: Turbo – Super Hold’Em

Thai amateur Wongkrajang Chainarong wins APT Turbo – Super Hold’Em — Wongkrajang Chainarong, Photo Credit – Asian Poker Tour

This is the first ever live trophy for the budding player from Thailand, Wongkrajang Chainarong and with it came the top prize of VND32,998,500 (~US$1,299). Ivan Ermin of Russia came in second for VND22,810,000 (~US$897) as Korea’s Park Youngsoo rounded out the podium finishers for VND14,560,000 (~US$573).

UK’s Daniel Stancer triumphs in Event #52: Turbo for first APT title

Having already accumulated over US$300,000 in international career winnings, the Hull, England native outlasted China’s Zhang Yankai for his first APT bink and the top prize of VNS142,944,400 (~US$5,626). Zhang settled for the runner-up prize of VND102,970,000 (US$4,055). Another Chinese player in Zhu Binglin captured third place for VND66,930,000 (~US$2,635).

Update: Australia’s John Perry paces field in APT Phu Quoc Zodiac Classic Day 1

Australia’s John Perry paces field in APT Zodiac Classic Day 1 — John ‘Bert’ Perry, Photo Credit – Asian Poker Tour

The much-anticipated APT Phu Quoc VND 2.5 Billion (~US$100,000) GTD Zodiac Classic (Event #51) sees John Perry of Australia leading at the end of Day 1. 89 entries graced this signature event with the prize pool now ballooning to VND3,884,850,000 (~US$152,945).

Only 13 places will be paid and the remaining 48 players duke it out in Day 2 later on. The victor will go on to win VND1,019,780,000 (~US$40,150) and Perry puts himself in pole position for that feat with 260,300 in chips. He is closely followed by Vietnam’s Le Thong Su with 202,100 while Lyu Junqiang of China is presently at third with 197,800.