WPT Prime Cambodia: late game surge by Younghoon Joo and JK Sorn earn victories; Player of the Festival update

Day 3 of World Poker Tour Prime Cambodia saw lots of fist pumps as two players celebrated their first ever WPT victories. At the 8-Max NL Hold’em Single Day, JK Sorn‘s late game surge landed him the win, and at the Deepstack NLH Freezeout, Younghoon Joo crushed it at the final four. The top nine players of these events earned points towards the WPT Player of the Festival. We’ve got those recaps for you.

More trophies to capture with 20 remaining events left to play out at NagaWorld Phnom Penh. For pics, please head to the Somuchpoker FB page.

WPT Prime Cambodia schedule
WPT Prime Cambodia structures
A Quick Guide to WPT Prime Cambodia

JK Sorn’s late surge wins the 8-Max NLH Single Day

JK Sorn was all smiles after lifting his first ever WPT title and trophy. He was one of the 74 runners of the 8-Max NLH Single Day event, and after 7.5 hours of play, Sorn conquered it for a pocketful US$ 6,591 payday.

Picking up the action at bubble time. Sorn was already one of the biggest stacks when he delivered the bubble with holding up against . At the final table, Sorn laid low while Japan’s Takuya Mitsui went on a knockout spree. Mitsui booted all the Thai players in succession, Prommin Talordpong (9th) with pocket Aces over Ace-King, Panitan Poopadsri (8th) with Ace-King dominating Ace-Jack, and Kankij Panekwong with pocket Fours standing firm against overcards. After Vietnam‘s Pham Bao (6th) fell to Sorn, Japan‘s Chihiro Takamu survived five double ups which included a very lucky flush against Max Menzel. Menzel had , Takamu with , four hearts dropped on the board.

Takamu‘s rush earned him the chip lead, though very brief, as he was put to a hard halt by Sorn. On a flop , Sorn jammed with , Takamu called with top pair, the turn Sorn spiked the lucky four-outer for a winning straight. Back on top with a massive stack, Sorn went on to win it, defeating Takamu (3rd) then Menzel at heads up with dominating .

Buy in: US$ 300

Entries: 74

Prize pool: US$ 19,381

ITM: 10 places

Payouts

Younghoon Joo crushes the final four to win the Deepstack NLH Freezeout

The Deepstack NLH Freezeout drew 98 entrants at US$ 300 a piece for a prize pool of US$ 25,666. The title came down among three Koreans with Younghoon Joo backed by a commanding stack. Joo went on to claim it along with a payout deal of US$ 5,392.

The two day event saw Day 1 close with the final 13 players all in the money. Returning on the following day, it was action from the get-go with newsworthy moments all the way to the finish. It kicked off with short stacked Kai Yang Gu shoving his 2K stack, which was equivalent to just 1/5 of a BB. Gu landed two quick double ups and eventually made it to the final table.

On the opposite end of the pole, India‘s Kunal Patni didn’t have much to worry about as he entered the day with the second largest stack then proceeded to clean out five players. Among Patni’s knockouts wasJapan‘s Tatsuhiko Teraiin 10th place and a double bust to Wanki Baik (7th) and Shardul Parthasarathi (8th). On the next three-way, Patni‘s were cracked by Joo‘s on board . The shoves were at the flop with Gu falling in 5th place holding .

With Joo now the new chip leader, he finished off Patni to amass a monstrous stack. After a three-way deal with remaining fellow Koreans Jony Hyun Baeg and Bae Kyung Suk, he grinded them down to claim the title and the coveted WPT trophy.

Buy in: US$ 300

Entries: 98

Prize pool: US$ 25,666

ITM: 13 places

Payouts

*Three-way deal

WPT Player of the Festival update

Another 18 players have joined the WPT Player of the Festival race. At the end of the festival, the player with the most points accrued will win aWPT Passport worth US$ 5,000to any Main Tour of choice this year.

Current leaderboard

Stay tuned to Somuchpoker for updates on the ongoing WPT Prime Cambodia.

WPT Prime Cambodia schedule
WPT Prime Cambodia structures
A Quick Guide to WPT Prime Cambodia
Road to WPT Prime Cambodia
Experience WPT Prime Cambodia
WPT Prime Cambodia – Shuffle up and Deal
WPT Prime Cambodia – Day 1 recap
WPT Prime Cambodia – Ashish Munot wins the SuperStack