Final 9 of APT Phu Quoc Main Event Set; David Erquiaga Leads The Way

The field has been whittled down 795 total entries to 50 contenders and now just the final nine as the battle for the  APT Phu Quoc Main Event title reaches its climax at the Corona Resort and Casino. Day 3 concluded in dramatic fashion, setting the stage for a thrilling final day with VND 4,710,000,000 (~US $185,430) and the prestigious Gold Lion APT Main Event trophy on the line.

The remaining players, each guaranteed a payout of VND 352,000,000 (~US$13,860), will resume hostilities on Day 4, vying for the title and the lion’s share of the prize pool. Let’s meet the Final 9 players.

APT Phu Quoc Main Event

David Erquiaga of the Philippines leads the Final Table as his elimination of Day 2 chip leader Thieu Nghiem Xuan of the host nation at 22^nd place sustained a balanced attack that culminated in the ousting of Korea’s Choi Dongyeol at 10^th place to complete the Day 4 cast.

Choi shoved his remaining chips in with A♣3♦ and got a call from the Filipino pro who had A♦J♥. The flop almost put matters to rest as it came J♦6♥8♥ but when the 3♣ arrived on the turn, the Korean regained a chance to double up. When the Q♥ showed on the river, celebrations erupted and Erquiaga, ranked sixth all-tine in the Philippine money list and the recent champion of (Event #22) the PLO Masters, bagged 5,470,000 to pace the field. Erquiaga is seeking his first Lion Trophy but did take down the 2022 APT Championship event in Manila after a grueling heads-up against William Teoh of Malaysia.

Currently second is Oh Junseok of Korea with 5,080,000 while China’s Hu Jinlong is once again holding the third spot in the standings with 4,740,000.

Day 3 concluded with blinds at Level 29 – 50,000/100,000 (100,000 BB Ante).

Side Event Results

Natalia Rozova hoists Zodiac Classic trophy

New Zealand resident and Russian native Natalia Rozova emerged victorious in the APT signature event the (#Event 51) Zodiac Classic after outplaying a field of 89 entries for her second APT title and her third largest career haul of VND 1,550,470,000 (~US $61,213). The heads up “battle” against Vietnam’s Nguyen Phuong Ngoc lasted only one hand.

Rozova carried an almost 4-1 chip lead into the final duel and called her opponent’s shove with 5♥4♥. Nguyen had Q♦3♥. The board ran 4♠K♣K♥5♦3♠ to give the Russian lady her second APT title after winning one of the Single Day High Roller events in the 2023 Hanoi Billions.

Nguyen pocketed VND 1.053,010,000 (~US $41,460) for his runner-up placing while third place went to Hayato Kitajima of Japan for VND 694,470,000 (~US $27,340).

Kunal Patni takes down Baby Superstar Challenge

While no baby in the poker scene after having amassed over a million USD in career earnings, India’s Kunal Patni won his second trophy in these proceedings by triumphing in (Event #57) the Baby Superstar Challenge by outlasting a field of 47 fellow high rollers enroute to the top prize of VND 1,436,070,000 (~US $56,550). Patni had previously claimed victory in (Event #37) the Tick Tock Boom.

Patni went up against Malaysian native and Australian resident Sean Ooi who had to settle for the VND 1,037,170,000 (~US $40,820) runner up prize. Pham Thanh Nghia of the host nation took third for VND 661,060,000 (~US $26,020).

Ivan Ermin wins second title in Phu Quoc, nabs PLO High – 4-card & 5-card

After falling short just the day prior in (Event #50) the Turbo Super Hold’Em, Ivan Ermin of Russia captured (Event #58) the PLO High – 4-card & 5-card championship and with it the top purse of VND 80,660,000 (~US $3,175). Ermin had taken down (Event #15) the NLH trophy but had two runner-up finishes that also included (Event #8) Double Chance 6-max. The win is actually his fifth cash here as he also took fourth in (Event #4) the PLO Turbo event.

Second place went to China’s Chen Zeyu for VND 53,780,000 (~US $2,115) while third was Tsz Fai Tong of Hong Kong for VND 34,570,000 (~US $1,360).

Francisco Sanchez Mir snatches NLH Heads Up

Making Asia his new battleground, Spain’s Francisco Sanchez Mir claims victory in (Event #59) the NLH Heads Up for his first APT title. Mir had recently cashed twice in Malaysia and already made an indent here by finishing 40^th in (#Event #1) the Vietnam National Cup. The win also came with the VND 83,810,000 (~US $3,300) top prize. His opponent in the finale was local bet Nguyen Hai Phong who got VND 47,140,000 (~US $1,850).

Francis Garson claims first Phu Quoc bink in NLH Freezeout

Long since shaking off the distinction of being the Main Event Bubble Boy in the 2022 APT Ho Chi Minh festival, France’s Francis Garson claims his first trophy here in (Event #60) the NLH Freezeout for VND 65,321,700 (~US $2,570). Garson won his second APT title six years after taking down the Deep Stack Hyper Turbo in APT Ho Chi Minh.

Rounding out the podium finishers were a pair of Thai players in Vorakrit Vorakulsathian, finishing second for VND 45,000,000 (~US $1,770) and Bhurniphat Wattanaapornchai in third for VND 29,530,000 (~US$1,160).

Hong Gang holds off Thai assault, wins Turbo

Claiming his first cash in Phu Quoc, China’s Hong Gang held off two Thai opponents to win (Event #61) the Turbo title, outpacing 85 entries for VND 59,174,500 (~US $2,330).

Hong overcame the bombardment of another pair of players from Thailand as Kundum Nuttakit came in second for VND 42,070,000 (~US $1,655) while Chaiwat Chamachote got third for VND 27,540,000 (~US $1,085).

Zhang Chi wins first APT trophy in Hyper Turbo

It was a battle of China in (Event #64) the Hyper Turbo as Zhang Chi came away with the victory for VND 98,586,000 (~US$3,880). It was Zhang’s second career title and adds to his total earnings of almost US $400,000.

Zhang Yankai was the runner-up for VND 71,310,000 (~US $2,810). Ben Gur of Israel was third for VND 46,010,000 (~US $1,810). The event had 55 entries and eight places got paid.

Newcomer Shukla Akhand gets career-high score in Super Hyper Turbo

India’s Shukla Akhand continues to make a memorable run in Phu Quoc by taking down his first career title in (Event #65) the Super Hyper Turbo, following his first career cash in (Event #46) of the same variant where he finished ninth. Needless to say, Akhand got his biggest ever haul of VND 48,205,200 (~US$1,898) to add to his first career cash of VND 6,380,000 (~US $252) just last November 13^th.

Garnering the runner-up position was Zhang Wangcheng of China for VND 33,320,000 (~US $1,312) while fellow Chinese player Yang Jiachuan finished in third place for VND 21,270,000 (~US $853).

Update: Kornkrit Chaveewanitkun tops Double Stack Leaderboard

The VND 2.5 Billion (~U S$97,500) GTD (Event #56) Double Stack finds Thailand’s Kornkrit Chaveewanitkun of Flight A obtaining the overall lead heading into the final day with a stack of 1,382,000.

Becoming among the most popular draws in the festival, the Double Stack drew 415 entries which eclipsed the original guarantee and now making the prize pool climb to VND 3,985,254,000 (~US $156,900) with the eventual champion becoming VND 773,125,000 (~US $30,440) richer. 59 advanced to the final day with Chaveewanitkun closely followed by Taiwan’s Fang Puyen with 1,359,000 (also from Flight A) and Flight B chip leader Mason Griffin of Canada with 1,073,000. Day 2 commences at 11:15 AM (UCT+7).