Russia’s Semen Kapitonov wins WPT Prime Cambodia Opener for US$ 35,000

After four days of competition, with a final day that ran over twelve grueling hours, Russia’s Semen Kapitonov clinched the WPT Prime Cambodia Opener for his first ever live tournament title. Kapitonov earned the higher cut of the three way deal, pocketing US$ 35,000, and the cool WPT side event trophy.

“This is probably only my 10th tournament in life, I’m a cash game player. So this was my first final table and first win. I cant believe it. I will definitely play more tournaments but I think I used up all my luck.”

When asked about his overall tournament experience at the Opener, Kapitonov shared,

“My background is I used to play high stakes cash games in Macau before it closed because of Covid. In cash, it’s easy. When you lose, you can just buy in again but playing here just a $500 tournament, it was much more stressful because when you risk, sometimes it is for your tournament life. Winning US$ 35,000 is okay but winning the tournament is more special.”

Event recap

The much awaited WPT Prime Cambodia kicked off with a four-day Opener that saw its guarantee smashed with 442 entries across four starters. With every heat bagging up at ITM, 56 players advance to the final day, each one already earning a minimum of US$ 900 from the US$ 214,370 prize pool.

When the field was cut to half, Day 1A chip leader Wanki Baik had already departed in 30th place while Singapore’s You Zhuang Chua cracked a player’s pocket Aces to jump way out front. Down to two tables, pressure was high to reach the final table. Day 1D chip leader Michael Kim Falcon bumped heads with Vietnamese high roller Hieu Ngo twice, first doubling up with a flush on the river then busting 14th on a three way. This sent Ngo soaring to second in chips. Chua eliminated Sweden’s Jonas Magdalinski (10th) to maintain his lead entering the final table.

The final table ran just under five hours. One hour in, Kapitonov doubled up through the leader Chua with dominating . At eight-handed, a mad three-way came down resulting inKyle Bao Diep tripling up and Jiazhi Zhong getting the boot. At the all in preflop, Diep had , Zhong, and Ngo with . The board spread .

Following the loss, Ngo soon joined the rail in 7th place. China’sJi Jun Xu who entered the final day with a commanding stack, couldn’t really get much going and finished in 6th place. Out next was Chua, losing his chips in two bad beat hands. The first one saw his cracked by Tomas Dedinas‘ on a board that ran then on his second all in it was a crushing defeat. Chua had , Minseong Cho had , a two-outer Nine found the river.

At three-handed, the players reached a deal awarding 2nd and 3rd the same prize money and 1st the largest plus the trophy. Kapitonov went on to eliminate Diep with a lucky flush on the river, then in a handful of hands, he drained out Cho with two pair over that bricked.

Buy in: US$ 550

Guarantee: US$ 150,000

Entries: 442

Prize pool: US$ 214,370

ITM: 56 players

Payouts

*Three way deal

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