The Final Nine

Another thrilling day played out at the record-breaking APT Zodiac Classic sponsored by Natural8. The event drew 426 entries (300 unique), generating a massive KRW 1,310,630,400 (~USD 910,160) prize pool, more than double the guarantee and the richest Zodiac Classic ever held in Korea.

A total of 63 players reached the money, each earning at least KRW 5,640,000 (~USD 3,915). Awaiting the eventual champion is KRW 252,980,400 (~USD 175,680), the largest first-place prize this event has awarded in the country, along with an APTC Main Event seat.

When play resumed today, 131 players returned to the felt with hopes of a deep run. By the end of the night, that number had been whittled down to just two - Siyu Ji and Yi Feng Zhang, both from China.

Chip Counts Entering the Final 9

The money bubble burst when Ka Fai Wong became the last player to leave empty-handed. Wong had earlier been crippled in a brutal cooler when his full house ran into quads. Left short, he made his final stand with ace-four offsuit against Jose Colada’s jack-ten offsuit, but Colada completed a straight on the river to send Wong out just shy of a payout.

Once in the money, several notable names secured cashes, including APT Incheon Super High Roller champion Michael Foo, Russia’s Maxim Sorokin, Australia’s Dylan Foster, and Natural8 Ambassador Eric “Six Poker” Tsai. Falling short of the money were James Mendoza and two-time champion Joseph Cheong.

Play stretched close to 14 hours, with the final table forming around the 12-hour mark. Artem Vezhenkov’s rollercoaster run ended as the final table bubble. Holding pocket nines against Akshay Nasa’s king-eight offsuit, Vezhenkov looked poised to advance, until Nasa spiked trips on the river to deny him a seat among the final nine.

Artem Vezhenkov

With a record prize pool on the line, the intensity only grew at the final table. At 12:30 a.m., the remaining eight players were informed of a hard stop at 3:00 a.m., in accordance with APT policy.

Before play was halted, Ji delivered a commanding performance, bulldozing through the final table and eliminating opponents one after another until only Zhang remained. The two will return at 3:00 p.m. (KST) on February 7, to resume their heads-up duel and determine the next APT Champion.

A full recap of the final table will follow once a champion is crowned.

To view the full list of of Payouts, CLICK HERE

Players have bagged their chips and a recap of the day will soon follow.

After some exchange in chips, on the button Yifeng Zhang limped and Siyu Ji checked taking both players to the flop.

They knuckled the 9 7 8 flop leading them to the turn, which dropped 4 . Ji fired 300,000 and Zhang called.

On the river T , Ji checked and after a time bank, Zhang bet 1,100,000 which Ji called.

Ji showed J 6 for a straight but Zhang tabled Q J for the higher straight.

Yifeng Zhang was all in for his last 2,370,000 and had his tournament life at risk. Siyu Ji called to go for the championship.

Yifeng Zhang: A 4

Siyu Ji: K 5

The flop came 2 5 4 giving Ji the lead with a pair of fives against the pair of fours of Zhang.

However, the poker gods threw an A on the turn to give Zhang two pair.

The river 6 secured the win for Zhang, giving him a double up and some breathing space.

Siyu Ji and Yifeng Zhang are now into heads-up play following the elimination of Jing Feng Zhu. Ji has a monster advantage in chips.

Jing Feng Zhu

Jing Feng Zhu pushed his 425,000 in from the small blind and was matched by Yifeng Zhang on the big blind.

Jing Feng Zhu: 9 5

Yifeng Zhang: Q 5

Board ran: 3 A 8 T 4

Zhu couldn't find any improvements and Zhang's queen high was enough to scoop the pot and send Zhu to the rail.

Yuhan Liu

Siyu Ji opened for 320,000 and Yuhan Liu shoved all in for 2,700,000 with Ji snap calling.

Yuhan Liu: T T

Siyu Ji: K K

The flop arrived J 9 T giving Liu a set to overtake the kings of Ji.

The 7 turn maintained the lead for Liu.

Then at the river, the poker gods threw in a Q , giving Ji a straight, much to the shock of Liu.

Nicholas Wang

Siyu Ji in the small blind announced all-in with her massive stack and big blind Nicholas Wang, who had 2,600,000 behind, made the call, putting himself at risk.

Nicholas Wang: A 8

Siyu Ji: A J

Once again, Ji started cheering upon seeing that she was ahead.

The flop came Q 3 5 and the cheering continued. On the 9 turn, Wang got to his feet and started picking up his things. On the river 4 , Ji was jumping for joy and hugging her rail as Wang quietly left the table.

Akshay Nasa

On the button, Akshay Nasa bet 450,000 leaving behind 50,000 worth of chips. Even before the dealer could finish counting the bet, Siyu Ji shouted, "All-in!" prompting Nasa to put in his remaining chips and made the dealer abandon the count to do the flop.

Akshay Nasa: K 8

Siyu Ji: A J

The moment the hands were tabled, Ji started shouting in her native language as if calling out the cards.

The flop came 2 6 9 maintaining Ji's lead. The runout of 5 4 didn't help Nasa at all, evoking a loud cheer from Ji.

Nasa left the table as Ji started chatting with her rail in their native language.

Yifeng Zhang

Under the gun Yifeng Zhang open-shoved for 1,200,000 and Akshay Nasa in the big blind made the call putting Zhang's tournament life at risk.

Yifeng Zhang: A K

Akshay Nasa: T T

Nasa had a short-lived lead when the flop came 8 A 6 .

Zhang was pushed further ahead with a two-pair when the K fell on the turn.

The river 2 didn't help Nasa and gave Zhang a new breath of life to his stack.