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READ A FULL REPORT OF LIN WU’S DRAMATIC APPT MACAU VICTORY FOR HK$3,095,000
• Team PokerStars Pro Aditya Agarwal finishes second for HK$1,900,000
Full payouts list


9pm: We have a champion! Lin Wu wins APPT Macau and HK$3.095 million
Team Pro’s Aditya Agarwal second for $1.9 million

Level 31 – Blinds 80,000/160,000 (ante 20,000)

It is all over here in Macau as Lin Wu finishes the job on Aditya Agarwal, winning the most dramatic back-from-the-death triumph. The final hand came about when Agarwal completed from the small blind and Wu jammed for the covering stack.

Agarwal, with about 2.5 million, instantly called and turned over 88. He was up against Wu’s A4.

Agarwal had the lucky eights, but the ace proved to be even luckier. The A was in the window, and the rest of the board ran dry.

That gives the title and the $3.095 million first prize to Wu, who will also be going to the Bahamas to play the PokerStars Players Championship with his Platinum Pass.

Arise Lin Wu, champion

Hard luck on Agarwal, who came within one card of triumph here, but will now have to lick his wounds.

A full recap on a dramatic day is incoming. — HS

8:55pm: Widening the gap
Level 31 – Blinds 80,000/160,000 (ante 20,000)

Through no major pots to tell you about in detail, Lin Wu has managed to extend his chip lead and grind Aditya Agarwal down to just under 3 million. Is another comeback on the cards? –JS

8:45pm: Agarwal shoves, Wu lets it go
Level 31 – Blinds 80,000/120,000 (ante 20,000)

Aditya Agarwal and Lin Wu began the new level exchanging one small pot each, then a hand arose in which Agarwal limped in from the button, and Wu raised to 435,000.

Agarwal instantly announced he was all in, and a count showed his shove was for 3.805 total. Wu studied for about 15 seconds, then let Agarwal have it.

Wu – 6.43 million
Agarwal – 4.25 million

–MH


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8:25pm: Another one goes Wu’s way; time for a break

In one of the last hands before the break, Lin Wu limped the button and Aditya Agarwal checked to bring the KA5 flop. Wu led for 125,000, only for the Team Pro to then raise it to 350,000.

Not a problem for Wu. He four-bet it up to 1.1 million and got a quick fold.

They’re on a 15-minute break now. When they return, Agarwal will have 3.665 million; Wu has 7.015 million. –JS

8:15pm: Wu widens lead once more
Level 30 – Blinds 60,000/120,000 (ante 20,000)

Aditya Agarwal had chipped back to within a little under 1 million of Lin Wu before the following hand took place, one that saw Wu regain about a 2-to-1 chip advantage.

After Agarwal limped from the button, Wu raised to what looked like 310,000 and Agarwal called. The flop came 1022, Wu bet 300,000 and Agarwal called again. The 4 turn card elicited a bet of 650,000 from Wu, and once again Agarwal made the call.

The 3 river completed the board, and this time Wu paused a few beats before announcing he was all in. Agarwal took more than a minute to decide whether or not to call and risk his stack.

What to do, what to do, what to do…

Ultimately Agarwal tossed his cards away to concede the pot.

Put Wu back up to 7.1 million now, and Agarwal back down to 3.55 million. –MH

8:05pm: Wu’s got it
Level 30 – Blinds 60,000/120,000 (ante 20,000)

Aditya Agarwal limped the button and Lin Wu checked the big blind. The flop came K99 and both checked, bringing the K on the turn. Again, it went check check.

The J completed things, and now Wu decided to bet. He led for 250,000 which Agarwal called quickly, only to muck when Wu showed the K6 for a full house.

Agarwal has 4.3 million to Wu’s 6.38 million now. –JS

8pm: More chipping up for Adi
Level 30 – Blinds 60,000/120,000 (ante 20,000)

Aditya Agarwal limped in from the button and Lin Wu responded by raising to 300,000. Agarwal called.

The flop came 107Q, and Wu led for 260,000. Agarwal sat back in his chair in his usual pose for several seconds, then leaned forward and cut out a raise to 700,000.

Wu sat with his fist on cheek, much as he often does, and thought about it for a half-minute before releasing his hand.

Agarwal continues his upward climb, and is now up to 4.2 million, having closed the gap with Wu who has 6.45 million. –MH

7:50pm: The comeback continues?
Level 30 – Blinds 60,000/120,000 (ante 20,000)

Aditya Agarwal has managed to increase his stack up to 3.78 million after, courtesy of this last pot.

It started off quiet, with a limo from Agarwal on the button and a check from Lin Wu, after which the dealer spread an A69 flop. Wu checked, and then called when Agarwal led for 125,000.

The 2 arrived on the turn, and you wouldn’t imagine that changed much. It did bring another bet from Agarwal though after Wu checked, this time for 350,000. Call.

It all came down to this river card, and it was an interesting one: the A. With two aces now out there, Wu checked and Agarwal announced “1.4 million”. Wu hated this news, and looked back at his hand a couple of times. There was certainly some interest, but he’d end up folding after a minute, dropping his stack to 6.9 million. –JS

7:45pm: Slightly bigger one for Agarwal
Level 30 – Blinds 60,000/120,000 (ante 20,000)

Aditya Agarwal is chipping back a bit now and just moved his stack back close to the 3 million mark.

This latest hand began with a raise to 250,000 from Lin Wu and a call from Agarwal pre-flop. They both checked the Q9J flop, bringing the 4 on the turn.

Agarwal bet 175,000 and Wu called.

The J fell on the river and Agarwal announced a bet of 700,000. As he was still fumbling to put that many chips over the line, Wu put a small pile forward to indicate a call.

Agarwal showed J3 and Wu mucked upon seeing the trips. Agarwal now has 2.95 million to Wu’s 7.750 million. — HS

7:35pm: Small one for Agarwal
Level 30 – Blinds 60,000/120,000 (ante 20,000)

Lin Wu raised the button to 250,000 and Aditya Agarwal called. The flop came K8J, Agarwal checked, and Wu continued for 210,000 more. Agarwal called again. The pair then checked down the 3 turn and Q river.

“Eight,” said Agarwal, tabling 86, and Wu nodded that it was good as he mucked.

Wu is still way in front with 8.1 million versus Agarwal’s 2.55 million. –MH

7:30pm: Agarwal below 15 bigs
Level 30 – Blinds 60,000/120,000 (ante 20,000)

Lin Wu has taken a huge heads-up lead now courtesy of this pot.

He made it 250,000 on the button which Aditya Agarwal called, bringing a 10Q3 flop. The Team Pro checked it, then called Wu’s 210,000 c-bet. The turn was the A, and there was a sense this pot was about to get bigger. Agarwal checked again, and Wu fired for 550,000. Call.

The 6 completed the board, as well as any flush draws. When Agarwal checked a final time it felt like we might see a shove from Wu. But after giving it some thought, he eventually pushed out 1 million, which gave Agarwal a tough decision.

He would ultimately make the call though, and Lin confidently turned over the QQ for a flopped set, and that was good when Agarwal mucked.

He’s down to just 1.73 million now, which gives Wu 8.95 million. –JS

7:20pm: Wu doubles through Agarwal, takes lead heads-up
Level 30 – Blinds 60,000/120,000 (ante 20,000)

Aditya Agarwal opened for the minimum from the button — 240,000 — and after a brief pause Lin Wu three-bet to 620,000. Agarwal looked to see how much Wu had behind, then announced he was reraising all in, and Wu called without hesitation.

Agarwal: 66
Wu: AQ

It was a race, but Wu raced way ahead when the flop came 39K to give him a flush. The 3 came on the turn to provide Agarwal a few outs to a full house, but the 5 bricked on the river and Wu scored the big double-up to take the lead.

Wu’s up to about 7.35 million after that one.

Argawal loses the lead

Meanwhile Agarwal is at 3.3 million. –MH

Whew, says Wu, now in front

7:10pm: It’s all over! Oh…no it isn’t
Level 30 – Blinds 60,000/120,000 (ante 20,000)

Aditya Agarwal had this one in the bag.

He’d three-bet Lin Wu’s 250,000 button open to 800,000, and Wu then thought for about a minute before announcing all-in.

“All-in?” asked Adarwal, as Wu announced it in Chinese. The dealer confirmed it, and Agarwal quickly called. He showed the AK which was dominating Wu’s A9, and as a huge crowd gathered the dealer dealt the JQ4 flop. So far so good for the Team Pro.

Then the 10 turn hit. Agarwal had made a straight. And he was prematurely being announced as the winner, but Agarwal was the one to notice it wasn’t quite over yet.

“Hold on one sec… it’s not over,” gestures Argawal.

The only problem was that the river was the K. That gave both players Broadway, and this one was a chop. Wu survived by the skin of his teeth, but he got all of his 3.2 million chips back, while Agarwal still has double that with 7.46 million. –JS

7pm: Button raises and aces on the board
Level 30 – Blinds 60,000/120,000 (ante 20,000)

They’ve played four hands so far this level. The first saw Lin Wu raise the button, Aditya Agarwal call, and the flop come 810A. Agarwal checked, Wu bet 200,000, and Agarwal called. The turn was the A. Agarwal checked again, but folded after a bet of 530,000 from Wu.

Agarwal won the next hand with a button raise, then Wu did the same. Then Agarwal raised the button again, Wu called, and the flop came AAA (no shinola). A flop bet from Agarwal won that one. –MH

6:55pm: Heads-up resumes
Level 30 – Blinds 60,000/120,000 (ante 20,000)

You read the headline. The counts are below. –MH

Name County Chip Count BBs
Aditya Agarwal India 6,670,000 56
Lin Wu China 4,010,000 33

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6:35pm: Wu wins one before break time

Lin Wu limped the button and Aditya Agarwal checked his option. Both would check the Q86 flop to see the 5 turn, on which Agarwal led for 150,000. Call.

The 10 completed the board and Agarwal slowed down. Wu then took the betting lead for 325,000, and Agarwal instantly pulled out a stack of calling chips. He paused a moment before making the call, and mucked (like he was just behind) when he saw Wu’s J8 for a pair of eights.

A win for Lin

The two are now on a 20-minute break. –JS

6:30pm: One each
Level 29 – Blinds 50,000/100,000 (ante 10,000)

Two pots of note to report from this heads-up passage of play.

The first went to Aditya Agarwal, when he four-bet shoved over Lin Wu’s three-bet. It went 200,000 from Agarwal, 500,000 from Wu and then a jam, covering the 2.2 million Wu had in his stack at that stage. Wu folded.

He got it back a little later in a pot that played to the river. Agarwal limped from the small blind and Wu checked his option. They then saw the KK8 flop and Agarwal checked.

Wu bet 100,000 and Agarwal called, then the dealer put the 6 on the turn. Agarwal check-called 250,000 this time.

The 7 completed and Agarwal checked once more. Wu bet 500,000 and now Agarwal gave it up. — HS

6:25pm: One good pot for both
Level 29 – Blinds 50,000/100,000 (ante 10,000)

Lin Wu took down a decent pot just now. After Aditya Agarwal opened the button to 200,000 and Wu called, the flop fell J43 and Wu checked. Agarlwal continued for 100,000, but Wu decided to raise it up, making it 300,000 to go. Call.

The turn was the 9 and Wu didn’t slow down. He fired out 575,000, and Agarwal gave it up.

He’d get some chips bacvk in the next one though. This time Wu min-opened the button and after Agarwal called the flop came 68J. Both checked it, just as they would the A turn, but the 7 river saw some betting. Wu checked and Agarwal chose fifth street to lead for 200,000. Wu thought for a minute or so and made the call, but mucked when Agarwal showed the A8 for two pair.

Agarwal has 7.68 million to Wu’s 3 million now. –JS

6:15pm: Two pair over two pair
Level 29 – Blinds 50,000/100,000 (ante 10,000)

Aditya Agarwal raised from the button, Lin Wu called, then Wu check-called Agarwal’s c-bet of 125,000 after the flop came 410J. Both checked the 5 turn, then Wu led for 430,000 on the A river and Agarwal called without two much hesitation.

Both players had made two-pair hands. Wu showed J10, but Agarwal had that beat with A4 and he took the pot.

Agarwal has 7.45 million, Wu 3.15 million. –MH

Heads-up continues

6:10pm: A river all-in from Wu
Level 29 – Blinds 50,000/100,000 (ante 10,000)

Lin Wu limped from the button, Aditya Agarwal checked, and the flop came QKA. Agarwal checked, Wu bet 125,000, and Agarwal called.

The Team PokerStars Pro grabbed the initiative after the Q turn fell, leading for 300,000. Wu thought about it and called, then the pair watched the 9 complete the board.

Agarwal led out again, this time for 800,000. Wu sat for about a half-minute, then announced he was raising all in. Agarwal sat with a wry not-quite-smile on his face as he took in the situation, then folded his hand.

Agarwal still leads with 6.8 million to Wu’s 3.8 million. –MH

6:05pm: First two go to Adi
Level 29 – Blinds 50,000/100,000 (ante 10,000)

Lin Wu opened his button to 200,000 which Aditya Agarwal defended against, bringing the A85 flop. The Team Pro checked it to the raiser, and Wu continued for 165,000. Call.

Both players would check the A turn, which paired the board, resulting in a river card: 5. Agarwal now led for 700,000, and got a quick fold.

Agarwal took the next one too, opening his button to 200,000 and the c-betting for 125,000 on a Q9K flop. Wu let it go. –JS

Agarwal – 7.9 million
Wu – 2.74 million

6pm: Heads up begins
Level 29 – Blinds 50,000/100,000 (ante 10,000)

They’re now sitting at either end of the long table. Two players, one title–plus Platinum Pass–up for grabs.

Aditya Agarwal: 7.475 million
Lin Wu: 3.205 million

Aditya Agarwal

Lin Wu

Let’s play!– HS

5:55pm: Chiu busts in third, for HK$1.192 million. Heads up
Level 29 – Blinds 50,000/100,000 (ante 10,000)

Jen Chun Chiu’s remarkable tournament is now over. Having doubled up at least seven or eight times over the past couple of days, Chiu finally couldn’t beat Aditya Agarwal. We’re heads up, with the Team PokerStars Pro sitting with a decent chip lead.

Agarwal was opening every pot three-handed, and he made it 200,000 from the button on what would prove to be Chiu’s last hand.

Jen Chen Chiu: Gets them in again

Chiu pretty much instantly pushed for 870,000 and after Lin Wu got out the way, Agarwal thought a short moment before calling.

Agarwal: K7
Chiu: Q10

The flop hit Agarwal, but had opportunities too for Chiu. It came K10J. The 5 turn gave the all-in player even more outs, but the 3 river missed him, and that was finally the end of it.

No coming back this time for Chiu

Agarwal now has 7.475 million chips, while Chiu earns HK$1.192 million for his third place. — HS

5:45pm: An orbit of hands for Adi
Level 29 – Blinds 50,000/100,000 (ante 10,000)

Chip leader Aditya Agarwal just won three straight hands to add further to his stack.

The first was a small one, with Agarwal min-raising the small blind and Jen Chun Chiu getting out of the way from the big.

On the next one Agarwal min-raised the button, Lin Wu called from the big blind, then Wu check-called Agarwal’s c-bet of 105,000 after the 82K flop. Wu check-folded, though, after the turn brought the 6 and another bet of 350,000 from Agarwal.

Then it was Wu raising to 250,000 from the small blind, but Agarwal three-bet to 700,000 and Wu folded.

Agarwal is at 6.7 million, Wu 2.95 million, and Chiu around 1 million. –MH

Agarwal, the accumulator

5:42pm: Agarwal crushing, Chui chipping down
Level 29 – Blinds 50,000/100,000 (ante 10,000)

It’s been all Aditya Agarwal in this stretch of three-handed play. First, after Lin Wu limped the small blind, Agarwal raised the big blind to 325,000 and Wu called, taking them to the J39 flop. Agarwal continued for 200,000 when checked to, and took it down.

He then opened the button to 200,000 and got no action, so moving on, he opened his small blind to 225,000 in the next hand. Jen Chun Chiu defended from the big blind, and the flop fell 8J6. Agarwal led right out for 250,000, and got Chiu to give it up.

Chiu lost a couple more in the next hand when he limped the small blind and Wu shoved on him. He’d fold to live and fight another hand with his 1.42 million, which pales in comparison to Wu’s 4.2 million and Agarwal’s 5.06 million. –JS

5:35pm: Agarwal: the 5 million man
Level 29 – Blinds 50,000/100,000 (ante 10,000)

Aditya Agarwal is through the 5 million chip mark after a three-bet pre-flop pot that Lin Wu couldn’t match. Wu raised his button to 200,000 and Agarwal raised to 700,000 from the small blind.

Jen Chun Chiu looked agonised as he pondered what to do, and got a free bit of information as Wu folded out of turn, having not noticed that Chiu still had cards.

He actually didn’t have the cards for much longer. He tossed them away, allowing Agarwal to add some more chips. He has 5.1 million now. — HS

5:30pm: Chiu shoves, Wu concedes
Level 29 – Blinds 50,000/100,000 (ante 10,000)

Jen Chun Chiu limped in for 100,000 from the button, then when Lin Wu made it 200,000 to go from the big blind Chiu pushed all in for 1.76 million and Wu let it go.

Chiu has 2.06 million now, Wu just under 4.2 million. –MH

5:25pm: Wu and Agarwal neck-and-neck
Level 29 – Blinds 50,000/100,000 (ante 10,000)

Lin Wu raised to 200,000 from the button and Aditya Agarwal called from the small blind. The flop came 1047, and Agarwal check-called Wu’s continuation bet of 160,000. Both checked the 3 turn, then when Agarwal led for 300,000 after the 5 river, Wu folded.

Wu and Agarwal are nearly even now, with Wu on 4.4 million and Agarwal with 4.35 million. –MH

5:15pm: Phanlert Sukonthachartnant becomes fourth-place finisher ($933,000)
Level 29 – Blinds 50,000/100,000 (ante 10,000)

He came into the day as the chip leader, but things didn’t quote go to plan for Phanlert Sukonthachartnant here today.

Having been left with just five big blinds after losing a flip to double up Jen Chun Chiu, Sukonthachartnant found a shoving spot when it folded to him in the small blind. He put his last 490,000 over the line, and when Lin Wu got a quick count he made the call.

Sukonthachartnant at risk

Sukonthachartnant had 65 and was up against Wu’s K4, and the 6K8 flop paired both, with Wu’s top pair best. It was all over on the K turn, and Sukonthachartnant said his goodbyes.

He’ll collect $933,000 to extend his lead as Thailand’s winningest live tournament player of all time, while Wu extends his chip lead to 4.58 million. –JS

Sukonthachartnant – Thailand’s best

5:10pm: Chiu doubles through Sukonthachartnant
Level 29 – Blinds 50,000/100,000 (ante 10,000)

At the end of an orbit in which Lin Wu, then Aditya Agarwal, then Phanlert Sukonthachartnant each won a pot, Jen Chun Chiu open-raised all in for 725,000 from the button and got a customer in Sukonthachartnant who called from the small blind.

Chiu opened AK and Sukonthachartnant 99, then the 5AQ flop promptly swung the advantage Chiu’s way. The turn was the 6 and river the 7, and Chiu is up close to 1.6 million now while Sukonthachartnant is the new short stack with 550,000. –MH

Jen Chun Chiu orders another double

5pm: Sukonthachartnant stuck more
Level 29 – Blinds 50,000/100,000 (ante 10,000)

Aditya Agarwal has retaken the lead, but without taking chips for Lin Wu. That means those two have established a big gap between themselves and the other two players.

Phanlert Sukonthachartnant was the player losing chips in this hand. Agarwal had opened to 200,000 from the cutoff and Sukonthachartnant called from the small blind. They went to a 1066 flop, which Sukonthachartnant checked. Agarwal continued for 125,000, and the man from Thailand called.

The turn was the J and it checked to the Team Pro again. He continued with a larger sizing for 425,000, but Sukonthachartnant did’t look like he wanted to fold. The only problem was that when he counted out his stack (1.3 million) he realised he would be comitting a third of chips.

In the end he let it go with a table tap, taking Agarwal’s stack up to 4.2 million. –JS

4:50pm: Play resumes; four remain (updated counts)
Level 29 – Blinds 50,000/100,000 (ante 10,000)

They’re back in their seats, with Lin Wu back in front. –MH

Name Country Chip Count BBs
Lin Wu China 4,090,000 41
Aditya Agarwal India 3,640,000 36
Phanlert Sukonthachartnant Thailand 1,835,000 18
Jen Chun Chiu Taiwan 1,115,000 11

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4:40pm: Break time

The final four are off on another 15-minute break. Just before the level ended, Celina Lin and Maria Konnikova stopped by the final table to wish Aditya Agarwal good luck while on a break from their side event.

Maria Konnikova and Celina Lin with a “Good luck, Adi!”

Back in just a few with updated chip counts when the action here resumes. –MH

4:35pm: A new leader
Level 28 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (ante 10,000)

The two bigger stacks just clashed in a pot that makes Lin Wu the new chip leader going into Level 29.

Wu made it 160,000 on the button and Aditya Agarwal called from the small blind. Heads up to a K7J flop, Agarwal check-called a 150,000 c-bet, and then did the same on the 3 turn for a much bigger sizing of 370,000.

The pot was pretty big by the river, so it wasn’t too surprising to see both players check it down. Agarwal flashed his QJ for a pair of jacks, but Wu had the AA for the goods.

Wu now sits with 4 million, while Agarwal dips to 3.48 million. –JS

4:30pm: Wu flops two pair, gets paid
Level 28 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (ante 10,000)

Phanlert Sukonthachartnant limped from the small blind and Lin Wu checked from the big. An inauspicuous start, as they say.

The flop came 537, and Sukonthachartnant check-called a bet of 85,000 from Wu. The Q turn saw Sukonthachartnant check again, and this time Wu bet 220,000. Sukonthachartnant took some time gathering chips and check-raised to 460,000, and after eyeing the situation carefully for a while Wu called.

The river brought the J and another bet of 280,000 from Sukonthachartnant, and this time Wu called right away. Sukonthachartnant turned over Q4 for a pair of queens, but Wu had 73 for two pair and he won the pot.

Wu is edging up toward leader Aditya Agarwal, having chipped to 3.375 million while Sukonthachartnant slips to 2 million. –MH

Wu can do

4:25pm: Sukonthachartnant halts the steamroller
Level 28 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (ante 10,000)

There’s the slight feeling in the room now that Aditya Agarwal could steamroller towards the title. He seems to have the bit between his teeth.

That said, he did just lose a pot to Phanlert Sukonthachartnant, with the latter hitting the river to halt the Agarwal momentum.

Sukonthachartnant opened at the start of this pot, making it 165,000 to play. Agarwal called in the small blind and they both checked the 2910 flop. Agarwal bet 200,000 after the 4 turn, which Sukonthachartnant called, and then the dealer put the Q on the river.

It went check, check now and Agarwal opened his K10. Sukonthachartnant’s KQ was ahead pre-flop, behind after flop and turn, but ahead again at the most crucial moment.

Sukonthachartnant builds back to 2.6 million. Agarwal has 3.8 million. — HS

4:20pm: Alexandre Chieng busts in fifth ($675,500)
Level 28 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (ante 10,000)

They’re down to four, with all of Alexandre Chieng’s chips now sitting in front of Aditya Agarwal.

Chieng open-shoved for 900,000 on the button with the A9, and when it folded to the Team Pro in the big blind he snap-called with the [AD][TH]. Chieng needed one of those nines that saved Agarwal just moments ago, but couldn’t find one on the 56JAK runout.

Chieng made his exit, as Agarwal extends his chip lead to a 4.4 million stack. –JS

Chieng and Agarwal say goodbye

4:15pm: Sukonthachartnant over Wu
Level 28 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (ante 10,000)

Lin Wu raised the minimum to 160,000 from the button and Phanlert Sukonthachartnant called from the big blind. Sukonthachartnant then led for 85,000 at the 467 flop and Wu called. Both checked the 3 turn, then Sukonthachartnant again bet 160,000 after the Q completed the board.

Wu thought about a minute before calling the river bet, and when Sukonthachartnant tabled KQ for a rivered pair of queens, Wu mucked his hand.

Sukonthachartnant is back to about 2.1 million, and Wu has 2.35 million. –MH

4:05pm: Wu rebuilding
Level 28 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (ante 10,000)

It’s Lin Wu’s turn to start rebuilding his stack after that collision with Aditya Agarwal. He just took a few chips from Alexandre Chieng, who limped in from the small blind and watched Wu check his option.

The dealer gave them the 74K flop and they both checked.

The Q turn brought a check (Chieng) and a bet of 100,000 from Wu, leading to the 6 river. Chieng checked again and Wu bet 180,000.

Chieng tank-called, and wished he hadn’t. Wu tabled his 57 and it was good.

Chieng slips to 1.18 million, while We has 2.2 million. — HS

4pm: Miracle river delivers huge double up for Agarwal
Level 28 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (ante 10,000)

From the shortest stack to the chip leader in the blink of an eye, Team Pro Aditya Agarwal has just got very fortunate to double up through Lin Wu.

The hand prior to the double up saw Lin Wu make a small three-bet to 280,000 from the small blind over Alexandre Chieng’s button open to 160,000. Chieng folded, but it’s relevant as you’ll soon see.

Onto the next one, Phanlert Sukonthachartnant made a 165,000 open under the gun, and Wu came in for a raise once again on the button. He three-bet this time to 330,000. Was he at it?

Aditya Agarwal was then in the small blind, and after a moment announced he was all in for 1,425,000. Sukonthachartnant folded quickly, and Wu showed he wasn’t messing around by snap-calling.

Agarwal – 99
Wu – JJ

Agarwal sees the bad news

The dealer then spread a 1086 flop, giving Agarwal a gutshot. He’d need a nine or seven on the turn or river, so the 8 that then arrived was no help. He had one more shot.

The river: 9.

Agarwal had made a full house on fifth street to not only survive but take the lead for the first time since back on Day 4. Agarwal now sits with 3.2 million, while Wu’s stack takes a big hit down to 2.3 million. –JS

Sit yourself back down, Adi

3:50pm: Chieng of pace
Level 28 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (ante 10,000)

A bit of a slow stretch of late. 2013 APPT Macau Main Event winner Alexandre Chieng was just involved in three straight hands, winning two pots and losing the third.

In the first Chieng raised preflop and was called by Jen Chun Chiu, then Chieng took the pot with a delayed continuation bet on the turn.

The second was a limped pot between Phanlert Sukonthachartnant (SB) and Chieng (BB). Both checked the 10J2 flop, Sukonthachartnant took a stab with a bet of 100,000 after the 9 turn and Chieng called, then they checked down the 2 river. Sukonthachartnant had 43 and Chieng 107, and Chieng’s tends won him the pot. Sukonthachartnant is at 1.85 million now.

Chieng lost the third hand, having min-raised from the small blind and gotten called by Lin Wu in the BB, then check-folding to a bet on a jack-high board. Chieng has 1.835 million now. –MH

Alexandre Chieng staying involved

3:45pm: Sukonthachartnant rebuilding
Level 28 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (ante 10,000)

Phanlert Sukonthachartnant has rediscovered his mojo and is now the player through whom most of the action is passing. He has responded to losing his chip lead very well.

In a recent hand he opened the cutoff to 160,000 and then watched as Lin Wu three–bet the small blind, making it 380,000. Sukonthachartnant responded with a four-bet push for 1.585 million and that was too much for Wu, who let his hand go.

Sukonthachartnant has now rebuilt to about 2.2 million. It’s still a way behind Wu’s 3.3 million, but one big pot to anybody at this stage can change the chip lead. — HS

3:30pm: Split it up
Level 28 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (ante 10,000)

Just the one flop to report from the past few orbits. Other than that it’s been a lot of raising and taking.

In the hand in question, Phanlert Sukonthachartnant limped the small blind and Alexandre Chieng checked the big to bring a 1039 flop. It went check check to the J turn, and now Sukonthachartnant led for 110,000. Chieng made the call, and the dealer laid the A on the river. Check check again.

Sukonthachartnant confidently showed his J8 for a pair of jacks (having flopped an up-and-down straight draw), but that was only good for half the pot as Chieng turned over the J6 for a pair of jacks of his own. Their kickers didn’t play, so this one was split. –JS

3:20pm: Agarwal takes a bite
Level 28 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (ante 10,000)

It’s not been going so well for Phanlert Sukonthachartnant recently, and he is now sitting with a sub-20 big blind stack. The latest small nibble came from Aditya Agarwal, who managed to leapfrog his Thai opponent in the counts.

Sukonthachartnant opened to 160,000 from early position and Agarwal called n the big blind. No further chips went in until after the dealer had delivered the 657J4 board in full.

At that point, Agarwal bet 250,000 and Sukonthachartnant folded.

Sukonthachartnant now has around 1.4 million, while Agarwal is back to 1.625 million. It’s not much more, but nobody is really comfortable anymore. — HS

3:15pm: Agarwal survives called all-in versus Wu
Level 28 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (ante 10,000)

After chip leader Lin Wu won a couple of small hands to start the new level, he had the button when he min-raised to 160,000. It folded to Aditya Agarwal in the big blind who pushed all in for 1.485 million total, and after getting a count Wu called the push.

Agarwal: A2
Wu: AQ

Agarwal would need some help to survive the all-in, and the 475 provided none although did add for him a gutshot draw to a wheel. The 7 turn card then introduced some chop outs for Agarwal, and the 5 river was one of them, making both players two pair with an ace-kicker.

After the chopped pot Agarwal stays in with about 1.6 million, while Wu has about 4.4 million now. –MH


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2:55pm: Wu pulling clear
Level 27 – Blinds 40,000/80,000 (ante 10,000)

When they return to play Level 27, here’s how they’ll stack up:

Name County Chip Count BBs
Lin Wu China 4,230,000 53
Jen Chun Chiu Taiwan 1,870,000 23
Phanlert Sukonthachartnant Thailand 1,780,000 22
Aditya Agarwal India 1,520,000 19
Alexandre Chieng France 1,280,000 16

Lin Wu: Leading the pack

2:52pm: Wu pushing past 4 million
Level 27 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (ante 5,000)

Lin Wu is turning up the heat now, and building his stack beyond 4 million in the process. The latest victim was Alexandre Chieng, who now has only about 1.2 million.

The latest pot began with an open to 130,000 from Chieng under the gun and a call from Wu to his left. Phanlert Sukonthachartnant also called in the big blind, and they were three-way to the 453 flop.

Sukonthachartnant checked it, but Chieng bet 250,000. Wu then bumped it up to 585,000.

Sukonthachartnant folded quickly, but Chieng went deep into the tank. He thought and thought and thought (this has been a very quick-action table, so this was legit) but then he let it go.

Alexandre Chieng: A spell in the tank

That was the last significant hand before the tournament break. The remaining five players are taking 15 minutes, and we’ll get their chip counts presently. — HS

2:50pm: Pot to Adi Aggro-wal
Level 27 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (ante 10,000)

Alexandre Chieng opened for 130,000 from the button and it folded to Aditya Agarwal in the big blind. “Adi” sat for just a moment, then announced he was all in.

The bet represented the majority of Chieng’s stack, and he gave about a half-minute thought to the situation before folding his hand.

Chieng has 1.555 million still, while Agarwal nudges just ahead of him with that pot to 1.6 million. –MH

2:40pm: Sukonthachartnant and Wu improve
Level 27 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (ante 10,000)

Phanlert Sukonthachartnant continues to apply the pressure, even without the chip lead giving him a comfortable buffer. Aditya Agarwal just opened his button to 125,000, and Sukonthachartnant counted his entire stack before raising the big blind to 400,000. The Team Pro quickly folded.

Lin Wu just took down a pot from Alexandre Chieng too. The latter had made it 120,000 from the small blind (he wanted to make it more but a string bet prevented that) and Wu called from the big blind. The 59A flop checked through, and the turn was the 5, pairing the board. Check check.

Chieng then checked the 8 river, and Wu took a stab for 175,000. That was enough to secure a fold and the pot, bringing Wu up to 3.45 million and Chieng down to 1.72 million. –JS

2:30pm: All-in Agarwal
Level 27 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (ante 5,000)

The red triangle came out at the request of Aditya Agarwal. The Team Pro pushed all-in from the small blind, following an open to 125,000 from Phanlert Sukonthachartnant under the gun and then a call on the button from Lin Wu.

Aditya Agarwal: All-in

Sukonthachartnant needed a count. Agarwal’s jam was for 1.255 million and Sukonthachartnant was clearly tempted. He has been a fast mover throughout this entire tournament, so his contemplation here was clearly genuine.

But after a lot of thought and counting of his chips, he opted to fold. Wu snap-folded behind, giving Agarwal a 250,000-chip boost without the need to see a flop.

Agarwal has about 1.6 million now, while Sukonthachartnant has about 1.850 million. — HS

2:28pm: Sukonthachartnant doing whatever it takes
Level 27 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (ante 10,000)

Either Phanlert Sukonthachartnant literally can’t stand the fact that his former chips now reside in front of Jen Chun Chiu and he’s willing to bluff shove, or he just picked up a very good hand.

Chiu opened his button too 130,000, and Sukonthachartnant began counting out a big bet from the small blind. He then changed his mind, and decided to simplify things by moving all in. Chiu made a quick fold though.

Sukonthachartnant increases slightly 2 million, while Chiu has 2.125 million. –JS

2:25pm: Chiu doubles through Sukonthachartnant in KK vs. QQ clash
Level 27 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (ante 10,000)

Jen Chun Chiu raised to 150,000 from under the gun, then Phanlert Sukonthachartnant made it 350,000 to go from the cutoff seat.

It folded back to Chiu who sat quietly for about 30 seconds, then he announced he was reraising all in and Sukonthachartnant called in a flash. When the pair tabled their cards, the reason for the fuss was immediately understandable.

Chiu: KK
Sukonthachartnant: QQ

It was a great spot for Chiu, and after the board ran out A82K6 he had the hand locked up by the turn.

A big fistful of chips for Jen Chun Chiu

Chiu bumps up to 2.275 million, while Sukonthachartnant slips to about 1.8 million. –MH

2:15pm: Three in a row for Agarwal…
Level 27 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (ante 5,000)

…three pots played, that is. He didn’t win them all.

Aditya Agarwal remains the player driving the action here at the APPT Macau final table, even though his stack is the one that has fluctuated the most wildly. Here’s a three-hand sampler of his play.

On the first, action folded to him in the small blind and he just called. Jen Chun Chiu checked his option and the dealer gave them the 2KQ to ponder. Agarwal led 60,000 and Chiu folded quickly.

On the next hand, Agarwal opened his button to 125,000 and Phanlert Sukonthachartnant called in the big blind. Sukonthachartnant checked the 726 flop, prompting a bet of 75,000 from Agarwal. Call. The 3 turn brought another check from Sukonthachartnant and another bet, this time worth 225,000, from Agarwal. Fold.

Aditya Agarwal: Driving the action

On the third of these three hands, Agarwal opened the cutoff, making it 125,000 again. Action folded to Alexandre Chieng in the big blind, who announced that he was all-in. The prospect of a 1.5 million shove was too much for Agarwal, who let this one go. — HS

2:10pm: Chieng gets tricky
Level 27 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (ante 10,000)

Alexandre Chieng has recovered from that previous loss by raising someone off a pot himself.

He’d opened the button to 130,000 and the hand looked promising when both Lin Wu and Aditya Agarwal called from the small and big blinds. Those two would then check the 538 flop to the raiser, but Chieng opted not to c-bet.

The turn came the 9 and now Wu decided to lead out for 150,000. That got Agarwal out of the way, but Chieng didn’t look like he was folding. With a stack of 1.05 million, he chopped out 350,000 and slid it in, making it 200,000 for Wu to call.

He’d give it some thought but ultimately laid it down, bringing his stack to 3.15 million and chipping Chieng up to 1.54 million. –JS

2:05pm: Sukonthachartnant check-raises river, collects
Level 27 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (ante 10,000)

The last orbit started with Alexandre Chieng winning a small pot and showing his cards, then ended with Chieng again showing one card and losing a bigger one.

In the initial hand, Chieng min-raised from the small blind and Lin Wu (whose instincts and timing seem on point of late) folding from the big. Chieng smiled and showed his pocket kings before collecting the pot.

Three small hands followed, won by Aditya Agarwal, Wu, and Phanlert Sukonthachartnant, respectively. Then came a limped pot with Sukonthachartnant calling from the SB and Chieng checking the BB.

Both checked the 87A flop, then Sukonthachartnant led for 85,000 on the Q turn and Chieng called. The river was the K, and after Sukonthachartnant checked, Chieng fired 125,000.

Sukonthachartnant rechecked his cards and began riffling his chips, taking a full minute to act (unusual for the typically fast-moving Sukonthachartnant). Then he check-raised to 750,000, a move that sent Chieng deep into the tank for nearly two minutes before he folding, showing only the A as he did.

Pressure from Sukonthachartnant

Sukonthachartnant nudges back into the chip lead ahead of Wu with that one. He has 3.325 million now, while Chieng has 1.245 million. –MH

1:50pm: Wu snares Agarwal at the second attempt
Level 27 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (ante 5,000)

A little earlier, Lin Wu and Aditya Agarwal played a pot in which Agarwal was able to wriggle out of Wu’s trap. But Wu has just had another crack at taking heaps of Agarwal’s chips, and this time was a measure more successful.

It started with Wu raising to 125,000 from under the gun and Agarwal, one seat along, proving to be the only caller. Wu bet 150,000 on the QJ8 flop and Agarwal called, taking them to the 9 turn. They both checked.

The 4 river seemed inconsequential, but Wu rediscovered the inclination to bet. He put 260,000 out there. Agarwal didn’t seem to like it very much, but he tossed out the calling chips, nodding resignedly when Wu showed the K10.

That turned straight was worth a hefty pot to Wu, whose stack of about 3.3 million is now all but equal to Phanlert Sukonthachartnant’s at the top of the counts.

Agarwal is now the short stack with about 1.15 million. — HS

1:45pm: Maxi Lehmanski out in sixth ($546,532)
Level 27 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (ante 10,000)

We’ve lost our first player from this final table: Germany’s Maxi Lehmanski.

He returned from the break as the short stack and wasn’t afraid to make moves, shoving all in for a little over 400,000 from the hijack with the A9. Unfortunately for him, Lin Wu woke up in the small blind with the AK and made a quick call.

Hoping for a nine

The 3510 flop put Lehmanski in worse shape, losing him one of his three outs. The Q turn then sealed his fate, giving Wu not only a flush but a royal flush draw. The 9 didn’t complete that hand, but it didn’t matter anyway at this point.

Lehmanski shook everyone’s hand and headed to the cage, while Wu now stacks up 2.8 million. –JS

Lehmanski departs

1:40pm: Chiu adds chips
Level 27 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (ante 10,000)

When Jen Chun Chiu decides he wants to raise all in, he looks up at the dealer and speaks his intention, holding up his right hand and rubbing his thumb and forefinger together as he does in a gesture that says “Give me the all-in triangle.”

Chiu just made that gesture two times in successive hands, the first time from the big blind following a Phanlert Sukonthachartnant open to 125,000 from middle position. The chip leader thought about it but folded after Chiu’s shove, then Chiu won the next hand with an open-raise all in from the small blind.

Chiu has about 1.1 million now. –MH

1:38pm: Wu lays trap, Agarwal wriggles out
Level 27 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (ante 5,000)

Lin Wu just got a little trappy in a hand against Aditya Agarwal, but the Team PokerStars Pro was able to wriggle out with the minimum of damage.

It was a limped pot pre-flop, Wu into Agarwal’s big blind. The two of them saw the 34A flop and Wu bet 60,000. Agarwal called.

The pattern reversed on the 7 turn with Wu now checking, Agarwal betting 125,000 and Wu calling.

That then led to the 4 turn and Wu tapped the table again. Agarwal thought for a couple of seconds, but then checked it right back. Wu turned over his 64 for rivered trips.

It earned Wu the pot, but Agarwal will know that might have been worse for him.

Agarwal has 1.85 million. Wu has 2.45 million. — HS

1:35pm: One flop
Level 27 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (ante 10,000)

Aditya Agarwal remains the most active player, having raised-and-taken-it a few time since the players returned.

We have had only one flop though. Phanlert Sukonthachartnant made it 130,000 on the button and Lin Wu defended his big blind to see the K87 flop. He’d check-fold to a 160,000 c-bet.

Here’s hoping for more flops in the near future. –JS

1:30pm: No flops
Level 27 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (ante 10,000)

Play has slowed down here in Level 27, with the six players almost getting through an entire orbit here at the start without reaching any flops.

There are plenty of flops over in the cash games nearby, but we trust you aren’t interested in those. –MH

1:20pm: Back to business
Level 27 – Blinds 30,000/60,000 (ante 10,000)

The price of poker just went up. That’s just a saying, actually. It’s the blinds and antes that have increased. But you knew that.

Level 27 is underway. Fresh counts below. –MH

Name County Chip Count
Phanlert Sukonthachartnant Thailand 3,130,000
Lin Wu China 2,265,000
Aditya Agarwal India 1,875,000
Alexandre Chieng France 1,690,000
Jen Chun Chiu Taiwan 980,000
Maxi Lehmanski Germany 540,000

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1:05pm: Two small ones between Sukonthachartnant and Wu
Level 26 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)

The last two hands of the level pitted the player with the longest name at the final table versus the one with the shortest one — the two big stacks, Phanlert Sukonthachartnant and Lin Wu.

In the first Sukonthachartnant raised from the button, Wu called from the big blind, and the pair checked through to the river where a Sukonthachartnant bet won it. Then in the second Sukonthachartnant raised again, this time from the cutoff, and when Wu three-bet from the small blind Sukonthachartnant stepped aside.

They are off now on a 15-minute break. –MH

1pm: Ace highs all round
Level 26 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)

No doubt that the most active player at the final table at the moment is Aditya Agarwal. He’s not winning everything, but he’s continuing to show his skills.

One pot in particular was intriguing: Agarwal opened to 100,000 from UTG+1 and his only caller was Phanlert Sukonthachartnant in the small blind. They both checked the 452 flop, and then Sukonthachartnant started to take an aggressive line.

He bet 75,000 at the 8 turn, which Agarwal called. And then he bet 175,000 after the 7 river. Agarwal called again, and Sukonthachartnant turned over his AQ.

The deceptively bluffy Phanlert Sukonthachartnant

Agarwal tabled his AQ too. A nice stab there with ace high from Sukonthachartnant, and a nice call for a chop with the same hand. — HS

2:55pm: Woop for Wu
Level 26 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)

Lin Wu has just taken a few chips from the chip leader, Phanlert Sukonthachartnant. He’d opened the button to 105,000, and both Wu (bb) and Alexandre Chieng (sb) called to take them to the 664 flop. The blinds tapped the table, and Sukonthachartnant continued for 120,000. Chieng let it go, but Wu called prompting the dealer to burn and turn the J. This time it checked through.

The 7 river landed and Wu quickly checked once more. Turns out he wanted Sukonthachartnant to bet as he was holding the 65 for flopped trips. Sukonthachartnant just checked though and mucked when he saw Wu’s hand, meaning he’s now on 3.12 million and Wu is up to 2.2 million. –JS

12:45pm: Chiu-sing his spots
Level 26 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)

Two straight hands involving Jen Chun Chiu to share with you.

Sporting as usual a white Tiger Woods baseball cap and red Adidas hoodie draped over his shoulders, Chiu open-raised more than 8x to 415,000 (about 40 percent of his stack) from under the gun in the first hand, and everyone else stepped aside.

On the next hand it was Alexandre Chieng raising to 110,000 from the cutoff, with both Lin Wu (button) and Chiu (big blind) calling. Chiu checked after the 76J flop fell, and Chieng continued for 460,000. Wu folded quickly, but Chiu thought about it before folding his hand face up — 86. –MH

12:40pm: Agarwal over Chieng
Level 26 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)

They’re playing some pots out there, even if they’re not yet finding cause to get them all-in. Aditya Agarwal just won a chunk of chips back from Alexandre Chieng in another slow-burner.

Agarwal opened to 100,000 from under the gun and Chieng called in the small blind. Lin Wu gave up his big blind leaving the two players to see a KK5 flop. They both checked.

The 4 turn was greeted by a check from Chieng, then a bet to 75,000 from Agarwal. Chieng called. Then the 4 completed the board.

Chieng checked again and Agarwal upped it. He put 250,000 over the line.

Aditya Agarwal: Building back

Chieng folded, leaving himself with 1.6 million. Agarwal nosed back ahead of him with 1.8 million. — HS

12:35pm: You lucky devils
Level 26 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)

Don’t tell us we don’t treat you well here at PokerStars Blog. What have we got for you now? Only a multi-way pot that got to a river, that’s what.

Lin Wu kicked it off with a 105,000 under-the-gun open which Phanlert Sukonthachartnant then called from the small blind, enticing Alexandre Chieng in too. The flop came Q108, and all three checked it.

Unfortunately the 7 turn didn’t get the action going either, but by the time the 10 had completed the board Sukonthachartnant felt like betting. He led for 70,000, Chieng called and Wu mucked.

Sukonthachartnant showed the 55 for an underpair to the board but a pair nonetheless, but that was beat by Chieng’s 68 for a pair of eights. Chieng is now up to 1.8 million, while Sukonthachartnant has 3.2 million. –JS

12:30pm: Clan avoids Wu tangle
Level 26 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)

Jen Chun Chiu opened for 110,000 from middle position and got a caller from Maxi Lehmanski sitting on his left in the cutoff. It then folded around to Lin Wu in the big blind who only took a few seconds before pushing his big stack all in, and the others both folded their hands very quickly.

Lin Wu: Shoving

Wu is up to 2.05 million now, Chiu down to 1.075 million, and Lehmanski at 975,000. –MH

12:25pm: Chiu takes a nibble from Agarwal
Level 26 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)

Every chip is precious in what is quite a shallow final table, and so Jen Chun Chiu will be delighted to take a decent early pot from Aditya Agarwal.

It started with a raise to 100,000 from Agarwal in the cutoff and a three-bet from Chiu to 250,000 one seat along. When action folded back to Agarwal, he opted to call.

The flop likely hit at least one of them. It came 7AA, but both players checked. The 5 turn brought another check from Agarwal, but Chiu now had a stab.

Jen Chun Chiu: Early boost

He put 110,000 forward and, after a little while to think about it, Agarwal flicked his cards away. That’s a quarter-million boost for Chiu who moves up to 1.2 million. Agarwal dips to 1.7 million. — HS

12:20pm: Starting off slowly
Level 26 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)

Not much action to report from this past orbit, but despite that, Phanlert Sukonthachartnant has managed to increase his stack by a couple of hundred thousand.

First he opened to 105,000 from the cutoff and Aditya Agarwal defended the big blind, only to check-fold to a 150,000 c-bet on the 6J8 flop. Sukonthachartnant opened the next hand to, and got all folds.

Maxi Lehmanski then got a walk in his big blind, then onto the next hand it folded to Lehmanski in the small and he completed. They wouldn’t see a flop though as Sukonthachartnant bumped it up to 150,000 and got a fold. –JS

Final table underway

12:12pm: A showdown without a showdown
Level 26 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)

And they’re off! The first hand of today’s last day of play saw Maxi Lehmanski raise to 100,000 from the button and Alexandre Chieng defend his big blind with a call. Those two have a little history, including Chieng pulling off a bold river-shove to win a pot off of Lehmanski yesterday and then showing he’d bluffed with an unimproved seven-deuce.

This hand was less exciting, with the players checking through the Q2K flop and K turn, then Chieng betting 100,000 after the 4 river and Lehmanski calling.

At the call Chieng swiftly mucked his hand without showing, which meant Lehmanski won the pot without having to show himself. –MH

12:10pm: Let’s find a champion
Level 26 – Blinds 25,000/50,000 (ante 5,000)

Off they go! There’s 55 minutes left in Level 26, so they’ll resume play in the 25,000/50,000 level. Here are the players:

Final table players APPT Macau (clockwise from top left): Phanlert Sukonthachartnant, Alexandre Chieng, Lin Wu, Aditya Agarwal, Jen Chun Chiu, Maxi Lehmanski

— HS

11:30pm: Six players, one trophy — the APPT Macau Main Event finale awaits

A week of exciting tournament poker in the PokerStars LIVE card-room at the City of Dreams reaches an exciting conclusion today as six players return to battle it out for the APPT Macau Main Event title.

The APPT Macau Main Event trophy

All that’s left from the 356 who began the event, the six remaining players hail from six different countries, bringing with them a variety of backgrounds and experience — read about each in our final table player profiles.

Leading the way is Phanlert Sukonthachartnant, Thailand’s all-time leading tournament earner, who has maintained a big stack and the advantage throughout the last two days as Davidi Kitai, John Juanda, and other tough challengers have fallen out.

Sukonthachartnant has created some distance between himself and Team PokerStars Pro Aditya Agarwal of India, although anyone left still has a shot to reach the winner’s circle. Here’s how the stacks will look as play begins today partway through the 25,000/50,000/5,000 level:

Name County Chip Count
Phanlert Sukonthachartnant Thailand 2,965,000
Aditya Agarwal India 2,035,000
Lin Wu China 1,940,000
Alexandre Chieng France 1,730,000
Maxi Lehmanski Germany 1,040,000
Jen Chun Chiu Taiwan 907,000

And here’s a reminder of the prizes awaiting everyone:

Place Prize (HKD)
1 $3,095,000
2 $1,900,000
3 $1,192,000
4 $933,000
5 $675,500
6 $546,532

Worth noting as well, the winner additionally receives a PokerStars Players No-Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC) Platinum Pass worth $30,000 USD, about which everyone is more than a little excited:

The first hand will come at 12 noon local time. Stick with us from that point forward for start-to-finish coverage of the Main Event’s final day, and also remember the APPT Macau High Roller will be determining a winner as well. –MH


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PokerStars Blog reporting team on the $40,000 Main Event: Martin Harris, Jack Stanton, and Howard Swains. Photography by Joe Giron/PokerPhotoArchive and Kenneth Lim of Kenneth Lim Photography.

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