“It was a lucky day” came the words of a champion.
A humble statement from someone who just overcame a field of 493 runners.
Tony Yat Wai Cheng started the final table as chip leader and was relentless as he navigated his way to victory in this APPT9 Macau Main Event.
The final table began with a bang. And then another two in quick succession.
It only took around an hour of play for three of the seven players to be dealt eliminations. The first was someone we would’ve never picked starting the day. Weiyi Zhang began play second in chips but found himself out the door first after a preflop war with big stack Yat Wei Cheng. Zhang wound up all in with A♦ K♦ and failed to improve against the K♥ K♣ of Cheng. He received HK$310,280 (US$40,019) for his seventh place finish.
And then it was Chun Liang Kuo’s turn to go. He failed to win a coinflip with 10♠ 10♥ against Cheng’s A♣ Q♠ when an ace appeared on the turn. The river couldn’t save him and he exited in fifth place for HK$490,000 (US$63,197).
With only three left in contention it was Filipino Florencio Campomanes who would be next to fall. Another flip would decide a player’s fate as Cheng continued the run good. It was all in preflop and Cheng held 3♣ 3♠ against the A♣ K♦ of Campomanes. The cards fell 4♣ 6♠ 2♠ 10♥ Q♣ with the pocket threes fading danger for Cheng to scoop the pot. Campomanes takes home HK$926,000 (US$119,423) for his third place finish.
After punishing the table for over four hours Cheng was almost ready to close things out. His opponent Weijie Ye wouldn’t give up easily but starting heads up play as more than a 2:1 underdog he found it hard to get anything going.
It wasn’t long until the final hand would see things decided on a flip.
Cheng raised to 160,000 before Ye commited his last 1,800,000 in chips. The eventual champion made the call and players revealed their hands.
Cheng: K♣ J♥
Ye: 5♠ 5♦
The rail erupted as the flop fell 9♦ K♦ 9♥ to see Cheng pair his king and shoot to the lead. Ye was desperate for a five to stay alive but the 2♠ turn and 6♥ river failed to save him. Ye scores HKD$1,526,000 (US$196,814).
He takes home HKD$2,525,000 (US$325,659) which includes an Asia Championship of Poker Main Event seat worth HK$100,000 and the prestigious APPT title.
APPT9 Macau Main Event – Final Table Results
Players: 493
Prize Pool: HK$10,998,830
1st: Yat Wai Cheng – $2,525,000 (Includes ACOP Main Event seat)
2nd: Weijie Ye – $1,526,000
3rd: Florencio Campomanes – $926,000
4th: Zhenru Xie – $698,000
5th: Chun Liang Kuo – $490,000
6th: Fan Zhao – $381,000
7th: Weiyi Zhang – $310,280
(all amounts in HK$)
Congratulations to Cheng and to all the other players who made the final table. It was a great week of poker and a hugely successful series that saw a new APPT Macau record for total players and prize pool awarded.
Our thanks must go out to Danny McDonagh, Fred Leung and all the team at PokerStars LIVE Macau for once again running a world-class tournament. We are looking forward to the next stop on the APPT as the tour heads to Manila in the Philippines from July 30 – August 9.
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