WPT Prime Taiwan: Victor Chong clinches the Bounty Event; Pi Ying Hsu, Takao Shimizu, Chung Liang Kuo win trophies; SHR Day 1 update

Wall to wall poker at WPT Prime Taiwan with another batch of games drawing players to host venue Chinese Texas Hold’em Poker Association (CTP Club Taipei). In the aftermath, anothr four trophies were awarded. We’ve got those results below including an update on the ongoing Super High Roller and the Player of the Festival standings.

WPT Prime Taiwan – Full results

VICTOR CHONG clinches the Bounty Event

Overnight chip leader Malaysia’s Victor Chong carried the torch all the way to the finish to clinch the Bounty Event and a payout of NT$ 401,700 (~$13,000). In addition, Chong collected NT$ 70,000 (~$2,263) in bounties and lifted a career second WPT Prime trophy having won his first at the Cambodia festival last August.

In Day 2, Chong maintained his lead and entered the final table as top dog. He ballooned further after eliminating Hong Kong’s Cliff Chow (9th) with pocket Twos turned Quads and later cleaned out Yu Chung Chang (6th) with over .

To nail it shut, Chong cracked Cheng Chao Ting‘s pocket Kings with Ace-Queen both pairing up. The win was his fourth for the year, marking it as his best year yet on the live tournament felt. For runner up Cheng it was an equally good performance. He knocked out just as many players as Chong.

Buy in: $22,000 (~$710)
Entries: 108
Prize pool: NT$ 2,095,200 (includes bounties)
ITM: 14 places

Final table payouts

PI YING HSU outlasts at Short Deck

Roars were heard throughout the day with the Short Deck event providing plenty of excitement. At the close of registration, it drew a healthy 83 entries for a prize pool of NT$ 479,000 (~$15,487). Taking it down was CTP regular Pi Ying Hsu who was also the bringer of good news by delivering the bubble. Hsu earned a cool NT$ 155,400 (~$5,020) and his first WPT trophy.

Buy in: NT$ 7,000 (~$226)
Entries: 83
Prize pool: NT$ 479,000 (~$15,487)
ITM: 11 places

Payouts

CHUNG LIANG KUO top the Freezeout

The Freezeout event pulled in 96 players to fill up nearly half the club. It took seven and a half hours to find its champion. After the elimination of Chanhee Yea, it was an all Taiwanese three-handed race to the title. Ching Wei Chen was first to miss the glory, falling to Chung Liang Kuo’s pocket Eights. Heads up ran a quick ten minutes. Kuo’s held against Chieh Shan Yang‘s overcards.

Buy in: NT$ 6,000 (~$195)
Entries: 96
Prize pool: NT$ 931,200 (~$30,108)
ITM: 11 places

Payouts

TAKAO SHIMIZU wins the Seniors NLH

The first ever Seniors NLH in Asia was tabled at the festival and this was largely due to a poker enthusiast named Buddy. An avid player, Buddy shared,

“I messaged WPT’s Danny McDonagh about the possibility of adding a Seniors Event, and he said yes for WPT Prime Taiwan. Despite all the news about China and North Korea, three of us were still able to go this year. My Global Poker Community Facebook group has over 6,000 and I believe there will be a bunch more members going next year.”

It may have been a light 19 player turnout for its debut appearance but it certainly was a good start. Third placer Anthony Hope was thrilled to have this event on the list. He also enjoyed the structure. In the end, the win was awarded to a well known Japanese pro / 2018 WPTDS Vietnam Main Event runner up Takao Shimizu,who struck a deal with Chung Chun Wen at heads up. With more chips, Shimizu was awarded a slightly higher payout and the trophy.

Buy in: NT$ 6,000
Entries: 19
Prize pool: NT$ 93,900 (~$3,035)
ITM: 3 places

Payouts

*Heads up deal

Day 1 results: Super High Roller

The Super High Roller saw 33 players toss in the NT$ 200,000 (~$ 6,467) buy in into the kitty which was padded up another 14 re-entries for a closing pot of NT$ 8,662,100 (~$280,065). Among the international contingent were Korea’s Yohwan Lim famously known as BoxeR, WSOP bracelet winners Sung Joo Hyun, Motoyoshi Okamura, Australia’s Joseph Sandaev, and Hong Kong’s Sparrow Cheung.However, all failed to make it through the day.

Returning to Day 2 are the final 13 players led by New Zealand’s Hamish Crawshaw. He is trailed closely by one of the hottest running Asian pros today, Punnat Punsri, and Korea’s Seung Hun Ko.Five players will be representing home turf with Chia Yun Wu ahead of that pack. One of the hands that helped build his stack was his elimination of Thailand pro Phachara Wongwichit.

Buy in: NT$ 200,000 (~$6,467)
Entries: 47 (33 unique, 14 re-entry)
Prize pool: NT$ 8,662,100 (~$280,065)

Day 1 chip counts

Player of the Festival – update (9 events)

Stick with us at Somuchpoker as we bring you updates of the ongoing series.

Links:

WPT Prime Taiwan – Event Payouts

WPT Prime Taiwan underway – first five events
WPT Prime Taiwan – Event 6 – 9