Dinh Duc Linh

The APT Summer Series Hanoi Main Event has been won by Vietnam's Dinh Duc Linh after he was the last man standing from a field of 581 and takes home VND 3,401,355,000 (~$145,500) for his first-place finish. Linh defeated former Main Event winner Akshay Nasa in a heads-up duel that lasted sixty-one hands which saw the Indian player take home VND 2,116,100,000 (~$90,510) for his runner-up finish.

This was Linh's second APT title after he took down a Mystery Bounty Hunter event in Hanoi earlier this year for VND 473,750,000. The Vietnamese player now has the most sought-after APT title in his collection after winning the golden lion Main Event trophy and taking home the lion's share of the VND 17,752,455,000 (~$759,340) prize pool.

The day started out with nine hopefuls all with one thing on their mind - becoming the next APT Main Event champion. It was Nasa who took the chip lead into the final table and he would make an aggressive start after winning multiple small pots to extend his chip lead over the rest of the pack.

Jeongho Hwang held the shortest stack coming into the fourth and final day of play and it would be the South Korean who fell first after getting his ace-queen in against Chun Chieh Liu's ace-king. Liu's Big Slick would hold on which sent Hwang out in ninth for a career-best score of VND 289,400,000 (~$12,385) and added a second APT final table to his resume.

Players were on a short break after the elimination of Hwang to adjust some of the settings on the stream table but it took just one hand after their return for another player to depart. Short-stacked Emmanuel Derecho shoved all in with king-jack and was put at risk by none other than Nguyen Van Sang who was holding ace-queen. Sang would end the hand with a full house which was more than enough to send Derecho home in eighth for VND 367,500,000 (~$15,730).

Emmanuel Derecho

From then on Sang came alive and started to ramp up the aggression to even bring himself into the chip lead momentarily as Takumasa Uemura also started to move up the leaderboard.

It would take forty-one hands from the last elimination until we saw another, and when we did it was Taiwan's Liu who would be packing up his things. Liu had become severely-short stacked after some passive play and a lot of pre-flop limping that resulted in him shoving six big blinds with ace-deuce and being called by the eight-five of Linh. Linh would pair his eight which was enough to win the pot and eliminate Liu in seventh for a payday of VND 534,300,000 (~$22,870).

Linh would soon find himself all in and at risk when Sang three-bet shoved for twenty big blinds effective holding king-six with the eventual champion finding the call with ace-queen. Linh would end the hand with trips that secured him the double up and put a huge dent in his countrymate's stack while doing so.

Sang's aggression would ultimately be his downfall as a second twenty-big-blind shove would be his last after he ripped all in from the button holding queen-ten and ran straight into the ace-king of Nasa. Despite Sang flopping an open-ended straight draw, he would not be able to connect with any of his outs and the player who had been a chip leader on every day he had played the Main Event was out in sixth for VND 722,500,000 (~$30,930).

Nguyen Van Sang

Jongwook Kim, who entered the final table second in chips, had been quiet throughout the opening levels and slowly started to bleed chips before he three-bet shoved holding ace-ten but ran into Linh's ace-queen. The dealer wouldn't come to the aid of the South Korean and he was out in fifth for VND 923,100,000 (~$39,515).

After eliminating Kim, Linh held around half of all the remaining chips in play and would further add to that after he sent Nguyen Duc Cuong packing just four hands later. Cuong open-shoved for thirteen big blinds holding queen-nine but Linh woke up with pocket kings to send Cuong to the rail in fourth for VND 1,171,700,000 (~$50,160). Cuong had already seen success at this series after also finishing fourth in the APT Kickoff and despite not breaking into the podium places on two different occasions, can surely be confident in his game and the deep runs he is making.

When play was three-handed a pivotal hand played out between Nasa and Linh which turned the tournament on its head. In a three-bet pot, the two would get all in on a flop with Linh looking to hold with pocket kings against the flush draw of Nasa, who held ace-nine. The turn would bring in the flush for Nasa which propelled him back into the chip lead but should Linh's kings have held, he would have brought a twenty-to-one chip advantage into heads-up play.

Takumasa Uemura

Uemura would have been rooting for Linh to win that hand so that he could make the next pay jump, but that turned flush of Nasa would cost him dearly as the Japanese player would fall next. Uemura shoved seven big blinds holding queen-nine and Linh made the call holding king-five. A king-high flop would seal the deal which meant Uemura finished third for VND 1,514,300,000 (~$64,820) for what his friends say is his first-ever live cash as he normally plays online.

When heads-up play began it was Nasa who held a slight chip lead and he would extend that after just a few hands to hold fourteen million chips to Linh's nine million. Just eleven hands later Linh had turned it around after he won some crucial hands which included a correct queen-high call to hold an almost three-to-one chip advantage.

The two traded pots back-and-forth but it seemed to be Linh who was having more success and he had a chance at winning the title after getting all in holding ace-three against the ace-five of Nasa. That pot ended in a chop but just nine hands later it was all over.

Akshay Nasa

Nasa would shove for twenty big blinds holding eight-five suited and Linh would make the call with king-jack. The board ran out clean for Linh after he faded the outs of Nasa to become the APT Summer Series Hanoi Main Event champion.

The two shared a handshake when all was said and done and Linh celebrated his win with his friends.

Nasa put up a good fight during heads-up play but will have to settle for second and the VND 2,116,100,000 (~$90,510) that comes with it.

Dinh Duc Linh celebrates winning the APT Main Event

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Our next event will be the APT Summer Series Da Nang that will run between July 21 - July 30 and take place at the Furama Resort in Da Nang. More information can be found HERE

Akshay Nasa

Akshay Nasa has been eliminated in 2nd place for VND 2,116,100,000 (~$90,510).

Hand 194 Akshay Nasa shoved all in for 5,100,000 which send Dinh Duc Linh into the tank. After throwing in his time-extension chips, Linh did eventually make the call to put Nasa at risk and give himself a chance of winning the APT Main Event.

Nasa 8 5 Linh K J

Nasa's 20-big-blind shove might be a little on the loose side but Linh won't care - he is now five cards away from becoming an APT Main Event champion!

It was time to see a flop.

3 Q T

Linh stood motionless as he glared at the board to see his hand was still good. Nasa did still have live cards but the Indian's chances of taking home a second Main Event title were slipping away from his grasp.

The turn card.

6 .

Linh brings has hand up to his mouth as he knows he is just one card away from getting the job done. That club on the turn gave him a flush draw which reduced the number of outs for Nasa. Could this be it?

The only noise to be heard was from Linh's entourage with all eyes in the room transfixed on the empty space where the river would soon find itself.

4 !

Linh has done it.

He throws his hand up in the air to celebrate as his king high takes the pot and earns him the status of Main Event champion. His friends rush in to embrace the local player after he shakes hands with India's Nasa.

What an amazing heads-up battle. Nasa put up a good fight but has to settle for second and the VND 2,116,100,000 (~$90,510) that comes with it.

Dinh Duc Linh is the APT Main Event champion.

A full tournament write-up will follow shortly.

Hand 188 Akshay Nasa limped in from the small blind and Dinh Duc Linh checked. Both players checked the 9 A Q flop. Linh fired 350,000 on the 8 turn and Nasa called. When the river brought an A Linh checked-called a bet of 500,000 from Nasa and won the pot with 8 5 with Nasa showing 7 6 for seven high.

Hand 189 Dinh Duc Linh limped in pre-flop and Akshay Nasa checked. They both checked the J 8 6 flop. Nasa check-folded to a 350,000 bet from Linh on the turn.

Hand 190 Akshay Nasa limped in and Dinh Duc Linh checked. On the 8 :9d; A flop both players checked. Linh fired a bet of 300,000 on the turn and took down the pot.

Hand 191 Dinh Duc Linh limped in and Akshay Nasa shoved all in. Linh quickly folded.

Hand 192 Akshay Nasa shoved all in and Dinh Duc Linh folded.

Hand 193 Dinh Linh Duc opened and won the blinds.

Hand 186 Akshay Nasa limped in and Dinh Duc Linh checked his big blind. Linhfolded to a bet from Nasa.

Hand 187 Nasa Akshay got a walk

Here are the latest counts.

Akshay Nasa

Hand 185 Dinh Duc Linh shoved all in pre-flop from the button and Akshay Nasa flicked in a call.

Linh A 3 Nasa A 5

Linh has a chance to win the APT Main Event!

But, the most likely result of this hand was a chop and that's exactly what happened as the board ran out 4 T Q K 7 .

Nasa survives.

Hand 179 Dinh Duc Linh made it 500,000 and Akshay Nasa made the call. Nasa check-called a bet of 350,000 on the 6 6 2 flop. The turn brought the A and Linh fired again for 650,000, and Nasa made the call. On the 3 river it went check-check and Nasa took it down with pocket kings.

Hand 180 Akshay Nasa limped in and Dinh Duc Linh checked. Linh check-folded to a bet on the K 4 J flop.

Hand 181 Dinh Duc Linh won the pot with a pre-flop raise.

Hand 182 Akshay Nasa limped in and Dinh Duc Linh checked. On a flop of 5 7 T Linh check-called a 250,000 chip bet from Nasa. The turn brought a K and both players checked. Linh fired 1,000,000 on the T river and took down the pot as Nasa folded.

Hand 183 Dinh Duc Linh shoved all in pre-flop and took down the pot.

Hand 184 Dinh Duc Linh got a walk.

Hand 175 Dinh Duc Linh limped in and Akshay Nasa checked. On the T 8 8 flop Linh fired a bet and Nasa folded.

Hand 176 Akshay Nasa limped in and Dinh Duc Linh checked. Linh checked and Nasa put out a bet of 250,000. Linh raises to 750,000 and Nasa quickly folded.

Hand 177 Dinh Duc Linh limped in and Akshay Nasa shoved for 4,600,000. After some deliberation, Linh made the fold.

Hand 178 Akshay Nasa limped in and Dinh Duc Linh shoved all in. Nasa folded.

Akshay Nasa

Hand 172 Akshay Nasa limped in and Dinh Duc Linh checked. Both checked the 7 7 5 flop and Linh won the pot by firing a bet on the 6 turn.

Hand 173 Dinh Duc Linh limped in and Akshay Nasa checked. Nasa check-called a 300,000 bet on the 6 5 2 flop. Both checked the 4 turn. Nasa bet 500,000 on the K river and Linh called. Nasa tabled 8 6 to win the pot.

Hand 174 Akshay Nasa limped in and Dinh Duc Linh made it 700,000. Nasa made the call and the two saw a flop of K 6 8 . Both players checked and saw a K on the turn, with Linh betting 1,000,000. Nasa made the call and the two saw the T fall on the river. Linh fired another bet of 1,000,000 and Nasa called. Linh tables K 7 and beats the A A of Nasa

Hand 168 Akshay Nasa limps in and folds to a raise of Dinh Duc Linh.

Hand 169 Dinh Duc Linh opened and won the blinds.

Hand 170 Akshay Nasa limped in and Dinh Duc Linh shoved all in. Nasa quickly folded.

Hand 171 Dinh Duc Linh limped in and Akshay Nasa checked. Nasa check-folded to a 300,000 chip bet from Linh.

Hand 164 Akshay Nasa limped in and Dinh Duc Linh checked. Linh check-called a 200,000 chip bet on the 4 Q Ks: flop. It checked through on the 8 turn. Linh fired 350,000 on the K river and Nasa folded.

Hand 165 Akshay Nasa opened to 800,000 after Dinh Duc Linh limped, and Linh made the call. Nasa continued for 500,000 on the T 4 8 flop and Linh made the call. The turn brought a K and Nasa fired another bullet of 1,300,000 to which Linh folded.

Hand 166 Akshay Nasa limped in and Dinh Duc Linh made it 800,000. Nasa made the call and the two saw a flop of 2 5 9 . Both players checked to see a 4 come on the turn. Linh put out a bet of 1,500,000 and Nasa folded.

Hand 167 Dinh Linh Duc limped in and Akshay Nasa made it 800,000. Linh then made it 3,000,000 and Nasa folded.

Latest chip counts