APT Phu Quoc High Roller Champ Jason Lau

Jason Lau finally got his moment in the spotlight, claiming his first APT High Roller title after years of grinding the circuit. The Malaysian pro outlasted a tough 139-entry field to take home a career-best VND 2,329,880,000 (~$91,730) and the prestigious APT High Roller Bronze Lion trophy.

Lau had fallen short in five previous APT High Roller final tables, but this time, he sealed the deal with a dominant performance at Corona Resort & Casino. His path to victory wasn’t easy, battling through a stacked field before overcoming Nevan Chang in a hard-fought heads-up duel.

APT High Roller Final Table Results

Final Day's Action

The final table was formed three levels after kickoff as Vietnam's own Toan Chan Truong busted out in tenth place when he ran into the set of Lau.

Australian Yita Choong became the first of two Aussies at the final table to fall when he was outdrawn on the flop despite having the better pre-flop hand. His deep run added VND 300,940,000 (~$11,850) to his growing resume.

Jennifer Cassell

The next Australian to make an exit was Jennifer Cassell, who was hoping to earn another title after taking down the APT Phu Quoc Women's Event, but had to settle for seventh and a payout of VND 406,760,000 (USD 16,015) to push her career live earnings to nearly USD 370,000. Cassell's run ended when her pocket sevens ran into the pocket jacks of Chang.

Japan's Hayato Kitajima had his luck run out at sixth when his dominating hand of ace-queen lost to the queen-jack of Chang after the latter caught a jack on the flop to win it. Kitajima took home a paycheck of** VND 542,660,000 (USD 21,365)** for his efforts to inch closer to the $700,000 milestone in his total live earnings.

China's Guo Biao made his biggest career cash in fifth for VND 692,160,000 (USD 27,250) after his pocket sixes were outdrawn by Lau's straight.

Sean Ooi had a fun and deep run, but his "all-in" shades couldn't help him when Lau's dominated hand paired on the river.. Ooi took home VND 862,050,000 (USD 33,940) to add to his $1,200,000 in total live earnings.

India's Amit Kaushik also ran into some misfortune when his pocket eights were cracked by Lau's pocket sevens. Kaushik was ahead until Lau turned a set, sending Kaushik to the payout cage to collect VND 1,043,580,000 (USD 41,085) and pushing his total career winnings to nearly $600,000.

Jason Lau and Nevan Chang

Malaysia's Lau had a four-to-one chip advantage against Taiwan's Chang to start the heads-up battle, but Chang slowly crawled his way back to almost make things even. Eventually, after around half an hour of play, both players got the chips in preflop, but it was the dominating hand of Lau that held up. Chang earned a runner-up prize of VND 1,582,360,000 (USD 62,300) to boost his total winnings to over $2,200,000.

That meant Lau was then finally crowned as the APT Phu Quoc High Roller champion after five final table attempts in this event. Lau took home the bronze lion APT High Roller trophy and the lion's share of VND 2,329,880,000 (USD 91,730) prize pool, marking the biggest cash of his career and improving his total live earnings to nearly $350,000.

Lau confessed that he had to miss the flight with his wife to play on the final table. However, he did promise to make it up to her with her birthday just passing yesterday. Certainly, there will be a lot more to celebrate than just the birthday!

APT High Roller Champion Jason Lau

After 5 final table appearances at APT High Roller events, Jason Lau has finally made it as the last one standing to win the title, a gorgeous bronze APT Mega Lion Trophy and the champion's prize of VND 2,329,880,000 (USD 91,730).

Jason Lau outlasted a total of 139 entries, defeating Nevan Chang as his last hurdle to take down the title.

“I mean, this event has been very special for me, this is my fifth final table for this event, and obviously the third one back-to-back from Taipei, Manila, and now Vietnam, which is my home, so it’s a much more special meaning for me to win it here,” an elated Lau stated in his post-match interview with APT host Greg Liow.

“It was actually my wife’s birthday yesterday so I definitely need to make up for it,” Lau confided with a chuckle.

“She’s already back in Saigon, but I will go back tomorrow and definitely celebrate very well. I really thank her for supporting me all this while,” Lau concluded before posing for his well-deserved winner’s photo.

Full recap of The APT High Roller final day soon to follow.

Hand 115 Jason Lau raised to 500,000 on the button and Nevan Chang shoved all in for 3,800,000 from the big blind. Lau dropped in a call.

Nevan Chang: Q J

Jason Lau: A Q

Lau was ahead of Chang with an ace in hand.

The board came 9 7 5 2 A , improving Lau to top pair and eliminating Chang in second position, earning a healthy VND 1,582,360,000 (USD 62,300) for his efforts.

Nevan Chang

Hand 110: Nevan Chang shoved all-in with Ace-Three off and picked up the blinds.

Hand 111: Jason Lau called from the small blind with J 6 and Chang protected the big blind with an all-in shove holding A 7 . Lau folded.

Hand 112: Chang min-raised 500,000 with A K and Lau called with Q 7

Both checked the flop of 5 2 T . They both then checked the 8 turn to see a T river. Lau checked and mucked when Chang reached for chips.

Hand 113: Lau raised to 500,000 with A 8 and won the pot.

Hand 114 Lau completed the blinds with Q 8 and Chang checked his Q 3 to see a flop of 6 4 J .

Lau check-called Chang's 500,000 bet to see a 5 turn. Both checked to see an A on the river.

Lau checked and Chang put out 600,000, which Lau didn't match.

Hand 104 Nevan Chang raised to 400,000 and won the pot.

Hand 105 Jason Lau raised to 400,000 and Chang called. A flop came 2 Q K , and Chang checked to Lau who bet 400,000. Chang folded.

Hand 106 Chang shoved all in for 3,700,000 and won the pot.

Hand 107 Lau limped in from the button and Chang checked from the big blind.

A flop ran out 5 J 3 , and Lau bet 300,000 to make Chang fold.

Hand 108 Chang limped in with K 4 and Lau checked over with 9 6 .

The flop showed 9 4 3 , Lau check-called after Chang bet 200,000.

The turn brought a 2 , and both players checked.

The river brought a 4 , and Lau bet 500,000, Chang shoved all in over the top for 3,300,000. Lau folded.

Hand 109 Lau raised to 500,000 and Chang called.

On the flop of 5 3 A , Chang check-called Lau's 500,000 bet.

The 9 came on the turn and both players checked.

The 4 hit on the river, and Chang checked over again. Lau the fired out 1,000,000. Chang folded.

Hand 101 Jason Lau raised to 600,000 on the button and Nevan Chang called from the big blind. On the flop of 5 2 7 , Chang checked it to Lau, who bet 500,000. Chang folded.

Hand 102 Chang folded and Lau collected the pot.

Hand 103 Lau shove:d all in for 11,000,000 and Chang called off his 2,200,000.

Jason Lau: Q 9

Nevan Chang: A J

Chang had the lead with an ace in hand and the dry board came 5 5 T 6 2 , bringing no help to Lau. Chang managed a double-up.

Jason Lau vs Nevan Chang

Jason Lau of Malaysia will be going up against Nevan Chang of Taiwan in the final heads-up battle for the APT High Roller title, a rose gold APT Lion Trophy and the top prize of VND 2,329,880,000 (USD 91,730).

NO DEALS ARE ALLOWED, so the two will be fighting it out with the official payouts in mind.

The runner-up will earn VND 1,582,360,000 (USD 62,300).

Lau has been in five APT High Roller final tables, three back-to-back, and has vowed to finally win this one. Whatever happens, Lau's total live earnings will jump to over USD 300,000.

Chang was the chip leader for most of the final three tables and had to surrender his chips to Lau. Chang will need to win them all back despite the 4:1 disadvantage.

Chang made a third place finish in Event 5: NLH Hyper Turbo High Roller earlier in this series, and while he already made an improvement in this final heads-up, winning an APT High Roller title will certainly be a better ending.

Short break to get things ready for the final heads-up action between Jason Lau vs. Nevan Chang.

Amit Kaushik

Hand 100 Kaushik raised all in for 1,100,000 on the button and Chang called from the small blind.

Nevan Chang: 7 7

Amit Kaushik: 8 8

Kaushik held a strong lead on the flop of Q T 6 . However, it was short-lived as the turn brought a 7 , improving Chang's pocket sevens to a set.

The 6 fell on the river, upgrading Chang's set to a full house and sent Kaushik to the cash desk for a payday of VND 1,043,580,000 (USD 41,085).

Nevan Chang

Hand 93: Jason Lau pushed his big stack all-in and won the blinds.

Hand 94: Nevan Chang shoved all-in from the small blind and takes Lau's big blind.

Hand 95: Lau shoved all-in to win Amit Kaushik's big blind.

Hand 96: Lau raised to 500,000 from the button with J 4 and won more blinds.

Hand 97: Chang shoved all in for 910,000 with K 3 and Lau called with A K

Lau dominated and Chang looked disappointed, but the flop came 2 3 6 to give Chang a pair. The turn 2 kept him ahead and the 4 river booked the win for Chang and a much-needed double-up.

Hand 98 Jason Lau shoved all in from the small blind and won the pot.

Hand 99 Amit Kaushik shoved all in for 905,000 from the small blind and won the pot.