Friday, 29th March 2024 11:18
Home / Uncategorized / APPT10 Seoul: Final table coverage archive

* The main event is over
* Albert Paik is the winner for ₩119,097,600

6:20pm: It’s over! Albert Paik wins APPT10 Seoul for ₩119,097,600
Level 24 – Blinds 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)

albert_paik_apptseoulwinsjpg.jpg

Meet your winner – Albert Paik

My colleague Brad Kain predicted that this heads-up battle would end at 7pm, but it’s actually over earlier than that as Albert Paik has just taken all of the chips.

Paik opened to 60,000 and Shenghua Qian made it 130,000 to – a standard procedure that seemed to be happening every hand. However, now Paik moved all-in and Qian made the call.

Paik: 88
Qian: AQ

The chip stacks were virtually even (Qian had 1.571 million) but Paik just had him covered. The flop came 756 giving Paik an up-and-down straight draw to go with his pair. Qian needed to hit something, but the 7 and 6 that completed the board were no help.

For his runner-up finish, Shenghua Qian takes home ₩69,346,000. But congratulations to Albert Paik! Winner of APPT10 Seoul for ₩119,097,600.

We’ll be back with a full recap of the final table shortly. Don’t go anywhere. –JS

6pm: Paik takes over the chip lead
Level 24 – Blinds 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)

Albert Paik has etched his way back into the chip lead after taking down a nice pot. However, the stacks are still very close right now.

Shenghua Qian made it 60,000 to play but Paik bumped it up to 130,000. That bet would be called so we went to the a flop and it came 3Q7. Paik counted out a c-bet of 110,000 and pushed it into the middle, only for Qian to match it.

The dealer burned and turned the J and now the bet from Paik was 150,000. Qian called again before the 2 completed the board. Both players decided to check it and the cards were on their backs. Qian showed the K3 for a pair of threes, but Paik had the 88 and scooped the pot.

Paik now has 1.7 million to Qian’s 1.4 million. –JS

5:45pm: Heads-up chip counts
Level 23 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)

Albert Paik – 985,000
Shenghua Qian – 2,136,000

APPTSeoul2016 heads up.jpg

Heads up is set: Albert Paik and Shenghua Qian

5:35pm: Tetsuro Tomita is gone in 3rd (₩44,871,000)
Level 23 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)

And then there were two! We’ve reached heads-up play as Tetsuro Tomita has been knocked out by Albert Paik in third place for ₩44,871,000.

He jammed the small blind for 233,000 with the Q8 and Paik made the call with his A5. The board ran out 45103J and that was all she wrote for the player from Japan. –JS

tetsuro_tomita_apptseoulfinal.jpg

Tomita (sat down) shakes hands with Albert Paik


Ready to sign up for PokerStars? Click here to get an account.


5:30pm: Paik’s frustrated as he gives it up
Level 23 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)

Albert Paik opened from the small blind to the standard 60,000 and Shenghua Qian defended his big blind. The flop came 1079 and the USA player continued for 70,000, which Qian called. The 5 hit the turn and Paik didn’t slow down, this time putting out a bet of 110,000. Qian matched it once again and the board was completed by the 2. Paik slid out two stacks worth 200,000 but Qian announced he was all-in.

Paik’s cool and calm exterior was temporarily broken as he slammed the table in frustration. He contemplated his decision facing away from the table, before turning back around and putting his face in his palm. After a couple of minutes he sighed and made what was clearly a tough fold.

Paik now has 500,000, while Qian has 2.2 million. –JS

albert_paik_apptseoulday4.jpg

Albert Paik

5:20pm: Paik catches another lucky break
Level 23 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)

Albert Paik got lucky before to stay alive in the tournament and he’s just done it again after getting all in preflop against Tetsuro Tomita.

Tomita raised the button to 57,000 before Paik jammed for around 800,000 from the small blind. It got back to Tomita and he called it off to potentially bring the tournament to heads up play.

“You call? What? Why?” Paik joked, seemingly sensing he was behind before the cards were flipped up.

It turned out he was dominated with A6 against Tomita’s AJ and it looked like his tournament run was about to end. The 734 meant he could catch an additional five to make a straight, and the 4 turn brought some chopportunities.

The 3 river did ultimately bring a chop with Paik and Tomita both playing the two pair of threes and fours with their ace kickers.

The bets were returned and Paik was likely counting his blessings after some more good fortune. — BK

5:05pm: Paik catches a lucky break
Level 23 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)

Start-of-day chip leader Albert Paik has had a rough last level here, but his luck seems to be turning around after getting caught out but coming from behind to find a double up.

Paik moved all in from the small blind for 382,000 and Shenghua Qian called from the big blind to put him at risk. Paik stuck his tongue out and sheepishly revealed 86, alive but behind Qian’s AQ.

The 5107 flop brought Paik some hope with an open-ended straight draw, and the Q turn added a flush draw to his outs. The 9 river made Paik the straight and he survived to play another hand.

After that hit Qian is still the dominant chip leader with 1.8 million. — BK

APPTSeoul2016 albert paik tongue out.jpg

Albert Paik

4:55pm: Biggest pot of the tournament goes Qian’s way
Level 23 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)

We now well and truly have a dominant chip leader and his name is Shenghua Qian. He opened to 53,000 on the button and Albert Paik bumped it up to 153,000. Qian called, and that meant we saw a flop. It came the 979. Paik continued for 130,000 but Qian didn’t budge.

The 6 turn hit the felt and Paik, who was sat cross-legged on his chair, took his time but eventually checked. Qian made a bet of 185,000 and Paik came along to see the river card.

It was the 3 and Paik decided to jam, putting Qian all-in. The player from China snap-called and Paik tried to muck his hand but was forced to show the AQ. Meanwhile Qian had the 33 and had hit a full house at the end, despite being ahead the whole way. He shoots up to 2.4 million, while Paik – who has dominated the final table chiplead all day – is now down to 400,000. –JS

4:40pm: Where’s Qian?
Level 23 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)

While Albert Paik and Tetsuro Tomita are back in their seats and play has restarted, Shenghua Qian is currently nowhere to be seen. At least it’s his button and not his big blind! –JS

Level Small blind Big blind Ante
23 12,000 24,000 4,000

4:25pm: Scheduled break

Our final three players have just commenced a 15-minute break. Here’s how they stack up.

Albert Paik – 1,240,000
Shenghua Qian – 1,118,000
Tetsuro Tomita: – 763,000

4:20pm: Qian flushes it
Level 22 – Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Tetsuro Tomita opened the action with a button raise to 45,000 and both Albert Paik and Shenghua Qian called to see a flop of J47.

The action was checked around and the dealer turned the 3. Paik decided to lead at the pot with a wager of 65,000, which was met by a call from Qian and a fold from Tomita.

The A came on the end and Paik fired once more for 110,000. Qian clicked it back to 220,000 and Paik made a quick call to see he was beat. Qian held the Q2 for a rivered flush and Paik slammed his cards into the muck in frustration.

“Flush?” Qian asked Paik as they got up from the table for break.

“No, I had a straight” came the reply.

Qian is now close to taking the chip lead with 1,118,000 to Paik’s 1,240,000. — BK

4:15pm: Full house on board but Paik gets it through
Level 22 – Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Tetsurop Tomita opened to 45,000 from the small blind and Albert Paik defended his big blind, taking us to the flop. It came QJJ and Tomita didn’t c-bet, instead checking and calling Paik’s 50,000 bet. The Q hit the turn, putting two pair on board, and Tomita checked again. Now Paik bet 70,000 and Tomita came along once more.

Finally the J completed the board and put a full house of Jacks full of Queens on the board. Tomita now chose to lead out for 100,000, but Paik wasn’t done. He slowly but surely raised it to 370,000, and that aggression was enough to get Tomita to fold. –JS

3:55pm: Tomita turning up the heat
Level 22 – Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Tetsura Tomita is accumulating chips nicely after playing back at the current chip leader Albert Paik.

It was a battle of the blinds with Tomita raising to 45,000 from the small and Paik defending from the big. The flop fell 2QA and Tomita continued the aggression with a bet of 50,000. Paik called and they went to the 3 turn.

Tomita checked his option and Paik then took the betting lead with a stab for 70,000. Tomita had laid the trap though, coming back over the top for 200,000. Paik couldn’t continue and he relinquished his hand, dropping to 1.3 million in chips. Meanwhile Tomita boosts his stack to right around the 1 million mark — BK

3:35pm: Things slowing down
Level 22 – Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

We’ve reached three-handed play quite quickly here and subsequently the stacks have become deep. The average is currently over 52 big blinds and play has slowed dramatically.

Albert Paik still leads the way, he has a mountain of chips totaling 1.4 million in front of him — BK

Level Small blind Big blind Ante
22 10,000 20,000 3,000

3:25pm: Hirosawa eliminated in 4th for ₩34,673,000
Level 21 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

We’re down to three as Ken Hirosawa has just been busted. He moved all-in from the small blind with the Q8 for 211,000 and got a quick call from Shenghua Qian in the big with the KQ. The board ran out 7210AK giving Qian the nuts on the turn. Good game Ken! –JS

APPTSeoul2016 Ken hirosawa.jpg

Hirosawa says sayonara

3:15pm: Another lucky double for Tomita!
Level 21 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

Tetsuro Tomita must be feeling invincible right now. He’s just doubled again after his pocket tens sucked out on Shenghua Qian’s pocket Kings by hitting a ten on the flop. The money went all-in pre-flop, and now Tomita sits with 930,000. Qian is down to 520,000.

Spare a thought for Ken Hirosawa; he’s only got 220,000 and keeps seeing Tomita all-in and surviving! –JS

3:05pm: Tomita hits miracle river to double
Level 21 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

At the beginning of this hand we had two short stacks at the table. Now there’s just one as Tetsuro Tomita has doubled at the expense of Albert Paik.

It folded to Tomita in the small blind and he jammed for 211,000 with the A9, only for Paik to wake up with the 77 in the big blind. He made the call and by the turn of the J837 board Paik had improved to a set while Tomita picked up a flush draw and gutshot.

Everyone was looking at the suit of the 10 river instead of noticing that it actually gave Tomita a straight. The player from Japan doubled up to 422,000 and is right back in this. That leaves Ken Hirosawa as our remaining short stack. –JS

APPTSeoul2016 tetsuro tomita fist pump.jpg

Tetsuro Tomita has reason to celebrate

2:50pm: Egan out in 5th place (₩28,554,000)
Level 21 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

Australia’s Michael Egan was eliminated in 5th place. He had been nursing a short stack and when he looked down at 1010 Egan moved all in from the hijack seat for 165,000. Unfortunately for him Shenghua Qian woke up with KK and called to put Egan at risk.

The 76Q left him chasing a ten or running hearts to survive but he couldn’t do it on the A turn or 9 river. Egan leaves us in fifth place and collects ₩28,554,000 for his efforts. — BK

APPTSeoul2016 Michael Egan elimination.jpg

Michael Egan shakes the hand of his assassin

2:45pm: Two big stacks square off
Level 21 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

Shenghua Qian opened to 37,000, which Albert Paik called on the button and Michael Egan matched from the big blind. The three saw the 2Q9 flop which Qian continued on when it checked to him. He made it 37,000 again, and only Paik called.

The turn was the Q and Qian led again for 61,000, but Paik decided to click it back with a min-raise to 130,000. That was too much for Qian who mucked his hand. –JS

Level Small blind Big blind Ante
21 8,000 16,000 2,000
Seat Last Name First Name Country PokerStars Status Chip Count
7 Paik Albert USA   1,231,000
3 Qian Shenghua China   1,006,000
4 Tomita Tetsuro Japan   298,000
1 Hirosawa Ken Japan   363,000
2 Egan Michael Australia PokerStars Player 233,000

2:10pm: Break time

Players have gone on a ten-minute break. We’ll be back shortly. –JS

2pm: Qian takes one from Hirosawa
Level 20 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (1,000 ante)

Ken Hirosawa has had something of a dream start to today’s final table, doubling up twice whilst also seeing two players get eliminated, boosting his prize. However, he just hit his first bump in the road.

Shenghua Qian opened to 26,000 under the gun and it folded to Hirosawa in the small blind. He made it 66,000 to play, and only Qian came along.

9105 came the board, and both decided to check. That resulted in a 7 turn, which Hirosawa checked but Qian stabbed at with a 65,000 bet. That was called, and finally the 4 river card fell. Hirosawa checked again, and Qian took his time before betting an even 100,000.

Hirosawa had to think for a long time but did eventually call, only to muck when Qian showed his Q10 for top pair. Hirosawa has dropped to 416,000 now. –JS

1:45pm: Hirosawa building
Level 20 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (1,000 ante)

Tetsuro Tomita kicked things off with a raise to 26,000 on the button and after Albert called from the small blind, and Ken Hirosawa called from the big blind, the three of them went to a flop of J610.

The action was checked around to the 7 turn and Paik checked to Hirosawa who fired for 59,000. Tomita folded but Paik reached deep into his stack and pushed 160,000 into the middle. The reraise was met by an all-in from Hirosawa for around 420,000 in chips.

“Have you got eight-nine?” Paik asked as he let the hand go.

Paik still leads but falls to 860,000 while Hirosawa now has 660,000 to play with. — BK

1:30pm: Chip counts
Level 20 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (1,000 ante)

Here’s a look at how the players currently stack up. –JS

Seat Last Name First Name Country PokerStars Status Chip Count
7 Paik Albert USA   952,000
3 Qian Shenghua China   880,000
4 Tomita Tetsuro Japan   480,000
1 Hirosawa Ken Japan   460,000
2 Egan Michael Australia PokerStars Player 300,000
Level Small blind Big blind Ante
20 6,000 12,000 1,000

1:15pm: Hirosawa doubles again – this time through Paik
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Shenghua Qian opened to 23,000 on the button only for chip boss Albert Paik to raise to 65,000 out of the small blind. The action was on Ken Hirosawa and having just doubled up he decided to try again, moving all-in for 226,000. Qian folded but Paik made the call.

Paik: AJ
Hirosawa: AK

Hirosawa was at risk but had by far the best of it. It’s never easy though, and by the turn of the A32Q board Paik had picked up a flush draw. The river came the 2 though, and that secured Hirosawa yet another double up. He’s playing 460,000 now. –JS

1:00pm: Hirosawa doubles through Egan
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

The action folded around to Ken Hirosawa on the button and he moved all in for his last 117,000 in chips. Michael Egan was in the small blind and asked for a count before contemplating the decision.

Egan called to put Hirosawa at risk and when Shenghua Qian folded the big blind the cards went on their backs.

Hirosawa: KK
Egan: A8

“Flush” Egan joked, pointing to his cards.

The deck didn’t oblige, however, as the board ran out 62QJK. Hirosawa didn’t need it but he improved to a set on the river and doubled up. Egan meanwhile was knocked down to 425,000. — BK

12:55pm: Jamming with Hirosawa
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Short stack Ken Hirosawa has just moved all-in three hands in a row. It’s only a matter of time until someone picks up something they can call with. –JS

12:50pm: Ochiai outta here in 6th (₩23,455,000)
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

We’ve already lost two players and we’re only 30 minutes in!

After Australia’s Michael Egan opened to 22,000, it folded to Japan’s Satsuki Ochiai and he three-bet to 54,000. When the action was back on Egan he announced he was all-in and after a minute or two of thinking Ochiai made the call to put his tournament life at risk.

Ochiai: AK
Egan: 1010

We were off to the races and Egan’s pocket tens held up on the 292 flop. Egan improved to a boat on the 2 turn, and there would be no Ace or King on the 7 river to

APPTSeoul2016 Satsuki Ochiai.jpg

Satsuki Ochiai felted in 6th

12:40pm: Misclick works out for Paik
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

It folded to chip leader Albert Paik on the button and he seemingly attempted to raise to 20,000, but accidentally put 12,000 into the middle. The action was considered a limp and with Ken Hirosawa folding the small blind, Michael Egan checked the big blind to a flop of 9KK.

It was checked to Paik who bet 12,000 and after a call from the Egan the dealer turned the 2. That card prompted checks from both players and the 6 arrived on the end.

Egan had a stab at it with a lead for 27,000 but he wouldn’t get it through as Paik picked it off with 55. Egan showed J10 for jack high and the pot was pushed Paik’s way. — BK

12:30pm: Windsor Nguyen out in 7th (₩19,376,000)
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Well, he came in as our short stack with just ten big blinds, and it didn’t take long for Canada’s Windsor Nguyen to get busy. He moved all-in under the gun and it folded to chip leader Albert Paik. He tossed in a single chip to make the call, and then the action folded to small blind Shenghua Qian. He looked interested and thought for several minutes before putting in a 170,000 isolation raise. It worked; Paik folded and the cards were flipped:

Nguyen: 33
Qian: QQ

Nguyen was dominated and would need to hit but couldn’t find any help on the 54KK7 board. As Nguyen was making his exit, Paik revealed that he folded pocket Jacks.

Qian now has 860,000. –JS

windsor_nguyen_apptseoulfinal.jpg

Windsor Nguyen

12:20pm: Let’s go!
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

After waiting for Windsor Nguyen – our short stack – to arrive, play has now officially kicked off. –JS

apptseoulfinal7.jpg

11:45pm: It’s final table time!

The final table is set to start.

Seven players return at 12pm today to see who will lift the APPT Seoul trophy and collect ₩119,097,600.

Albert Paik currently leads the way with 952,000, ahead of Shenghua Qian on 771,000. Blinds recommence on Level 19 at 5,000/10,000 with a 1,000 ante.

Play begins shortly so don’t go anywhere. In the meantime you can find the final table draw below. — BK

Seat Last Name First Name Country PokerStars Status Chip Count
1 Hirosawa Ken Japan            185,000 
2 Egan Michael Australia PokerStars Player          354,000 
3 Qian Shenghua China            771,000 
4 Tomita Tetsuro Japan            542,000 
5 Nguyen Windsor Canada              82,000 
6 Ochiai Satsuki Japan            234,000 
7 Paik Albert USA            952,000 

APPTSeoul2016 final 7.jpg

PokerStars Blog reporting team in Seoul: Brad Kain and Jack Stanton. Photos by Kenneth Lim Photography.

The APPT Seoul festival at Paradise Walkerhill Casino runs until Monday, June 27th. Full details are available on the official APPT website page.

Study Poker with Pokerstars Learn, practice with the PokerStars app