2015 ACOP final table: Tu gone, two to go

It took some time this afternoon for the first three final table eliminations but almost as soon as Connor Drinan was sent to the exit in fifth place, Hsien Yuan Yang followed suit.

Yang opened the action to 125,000 from the button and Thomas Ward had a look from the big blind. The flop landed K♠7♣6♥ and Yang continued for another 125,000 after Ward’s check. The latter put the pressure on, moving all in with enough to cover Yang who snapped it off with the current nuts.

Yang: K♣K♥
Ward: 5♣4♥

Yang was happy to get the money in but Ward had a good chance to eliminate him with the open-ended straight draw. And that’s exactly what he did as he competed the straight on the 8♣ turn and faded a board pair with the A♠ river. Ward extended his chip lead as Yang found the exit in fourth place.

4th place – Hsien Yuan YangThird place went to Nan Tu after he also fell at the hands of Ward. It was an uncannily similar hand, with Tu holding top two pair instead of top set, and Ward again with the open-ended straight draw. Tu held A♦7♦ on a A♥7♣6♠ flop when all the money went in. The board, however, ran out poorly for Tu with the 9♠ and 8♠ river completing Ward’s straight.

And with that, heads up play is set! Here’s how the players stack up.

ACOP Main Event Heads Up Chip Counts
Thomas Ward – 3,775,000
Zhou Zhou – 4,025,000

The final two – Zhou Zhou (left) and Thomas Ward (right)It’s neck and neck now as the action gets back underway. Both players have locked up HK$3,736,000 (~$482,000) and will be hoping to go one better and secure HK$5,885,000 (~$759,000) and the illustrious Main Event trophy.

Let’s see who closes it out!