Main Event Clears VND 25BN (~USD $1M) Guarantee on Opening Day 1 Flight

APT HANOI BILLIONS SCHEDULE | OFFICIAL RESULTS | IMAGES | WINNERS | PLAYER LISTS

HANOI, VIETNAM 2023, December 4, 2023 – The APT Hanoi Billions 2023 Main Event has surpassed its VND 25BN (~USD $1M) guarantee after the first of four Day 1 flights!

Flight A of the festival's flagship event, playing December 4-9 at the iconic Hanoi National Convention Center (NCC) in partnership with Vietnam Series of Poker (VSOP), drew 670 entries (521 unique) making it the largest ever APT Main Event flight in terms of both entries and unique players.

Combined with the 213 Natural8 OnLive players, the Main Event currently stands at 883 entries with a prize pool of VND 27.6BN (~USD $1.1M).

It was Vietnam's Do Quang Thang who topped the chip counts of the first live flight, powering his way into an early lead with a level 1 double elimination and maintaining the momentum to conclude play with a stack of 397,800.

China's Zhiyuan Xu also enjoyed a great day at the felt, finishing just shy of Thang with a stack of 381,600.

Russia's Bednarskyi Maksym (368,900) rounded out the top three, with the top ten Flight A stacks as follows:

MAIN EVENT FLIGHT A TOP TEN STACKS

By the time the tournament clock ticked into the red, just 246 players were left in the running.

Several former Main Event champions were in the mix, with Natural8 Ambassador Punnat Punsri, the UK's Jacque Ramsden, Hong Kong's Dicky Tsang, Singapore's Shixiang Khoo, Japan's Shoichiro Tamaki, and the Philippines' John Tech all looking to repeat chance.

Of these, only Punsri (219,000), Tech (173,900), and Ramsden (45,100) were successful in their quest to make Day 2.

Other notables to make it through included Event #18: Single Day High Roller runner-up Vishal Ojha (322,400), India's Deepak Bothra (247,300), Singapore's Max Menzel (147,600), Vietnam National Cup runner-up Elliot Damashek (101,100), Australia's Alan Pham (101,000), APT Summer Series Hanoi Super High Roller champion Shung Er Sua (82,900), Hong Kong's Sparrow Cheung (82,100), the Philippines Marc Rivera (75,000), APT Summer Series Da Nang Super High Roller champion Julian Warhurst (73,100), and plenty more besides.

With three more starting flights left to play out, there are still opportunities for those unsuccessful in their endeavors to win their way through.

Flight B gets underway at 11am on Tuesday, December 5, with players competing over ten 45-minute levels.

The final two starting Flights C & D – boasting 40 and 30-minute levels respectively – get underway on Wednesday, December 6 at 11am and 5pm local time.

You can follow all the APT Main Event Flight A action as it played out via the APT Blog

For APT Main Event Flight A Player List please CLICK HERE

For APT Main Event Flight A Survivors please CLICK HERE

All tournament information can be found on the APT Main Event - Flight A tournament page

Japan's Nozomu Shimizu Wins Back-to-Back Record-Breaking High Rollers With Superstar Challenge Victory

Japan's Nozumo Shimizu claimed his second APT title in as many days in the record-breaking Superstar Challenge

The turnouts for the high roller events so far in this series have been fantastic, and the VND 250M Event #29: Superstar Challenge - 8 Max - VND 4,000,000,000 GTD was no exception, drawing its largest and richest-ever field.

The event boasts the biggest buy-in on the schedule, but that was no deterrent to the 89 entries (72 unique), with the VND 20,719,200,000 (~$853,615) prize pool generated leaving the VND 4-billion guarantee in the dust.

Once more it was Japan's Nozomu Shimizu putting on a dominating display of power poker to claim the VND 5,438,810,000 (~$223,930) top prize and his second high roller victory in as many days.

While Shimizu made it look easy, the field was not a soft one, with Natural8 Ambassadors Phachara Wongwichit, Punnat Punsri, and Kannapong "Tent" Thanarattrakul all in the running.

In addition, all four recent Superstar Challenge champions were in attendance, with the Philippines' John Tech, Singpore's Jun Hao Wu, and Australia's Joshua McCully, and Alan Pham all hunting a second Superstar Challenge title.

Of the aforementioned, only Wongwichit and Thanarattrakul were successful in their quest to make the money, cashing in 13th and 4th place respectively.

However, no one could match Shimizu, who was running so hot he could have spontaneously combusted, with the Japanese player powering into an early lead.

Shimizu dominated a great deal of the action to hoover up over a third of the total chips in play, bringing a sizable chip lead into the final table, eventually finding himself with a 7-to-4 heads-up advantage against opponent Ragnar Toompere.

While the Estonian made a valiant effort, he could not derail the Shimizu Express, with the final hand summing up the tournament in a nutshell.

Toompere made the call for his tournament life with a suited ace-king, finding himself in great shape against Shimizu's suited ace-jack.

Both players flopped back door flush draws, but it was Shimizu's runner-runner draw that hit to grant the Japanese player the third largest cash of his poker career.

Toompere was forced to settle for silver and the VND 3,812,330,000 (/~$156,960) second-place prize – the largest of his poker career.

SUPERSTAR CHALLENGE RESULTS

You can read about all the Superstar Challenge action via the APT Blog.

For Superstar Challenge Results please CLICK HERE

For Superstar Challenge Player List please CLICK HERE

All tournament information can be found on the Event #29: Superstar Challenge - 8 Max - VND 4,000,000,000 GTD tournament page.

China's Yuzhu Wang Triumphs in APT's Largest-Ever Single Day High Roller

China's Yuzhu Wang won the tour's largest-ever Single Day High Roller to claim his maiden APT title

The largest-ever Single Day High Roller in APT history – the VND 50M Event #18: Single Day High Roller - 8 Max – has crowned a champion, with China's Yuzhu Wang triumphing over a record 271 entry (210 unique) field.

Just five players returned to action for an additional day's play to close out the tournament, all looking to earn their share of the VND 11,829,150,000 (~$486,995) prize pool.

It took close to four 25-minute levels to find a winner, with overnight chip leader Vishal Ojha clashing with Wang heads up. While the Indian player put up a good fight, it was Wang who claimed the accolades.

In the final hand, Ojha moved all in on an ace-high double club flop with bottom pair and a flush draw, with Wang looking him up with second pair.

Despite Ojha picking up some additional gutshot outs on the turn, the river bricked out to grant Wang the win, the VND 2,371,730,000 (~$97,729) top prize, and his first recorded live tournament score.

Ojha collected VND 1,576,830,000 (~$64,950) for his runner-up finish – the second-largest score of his poker career.

A total of 39 players made the money, with the final table paying out as follows:

SINGLE DAY HIGH ROLLER FINAL TABLE RESULTS

Notables to cash but come up short of the final table included Singapore's Jun Hao Wu (11th for VND 207,010,000), former Main Event champion Dicky Tsang (15th for 163,240,000), Spain's Raul Gallego (18th for VND 127,750,000), Hong Kong's Vincent Li (24th for VND 104,100,000), and the USA's Robert Kiss, and Peter Kiem (28th & 31st for VND 92,270,000 each).

For Event #18: Single Day High Roller - 8 Max Player List please CLICK HERE

For Event #18: Single Day High Roller - 8 Max Results please CLICK HERE

All tournament information can be found on the Event #18: Single Day High Roller - 8 Max tournament page.

South Korea's Junghyun Lee Wins Record-Breaking Sunday Super Stack

South Korea's Junghyun Lee etched his name in the APT record books winning the largest single-day event in APT history

South Korea's Junghyun Lee has etched his place in the APT record books, taking down the largest single-day event the APT has ever run.

Just five players returned out of a record field of 555 in the VND 7.5M Event #16: Sunday Super Stack - VND 2,000,000,000 GTD, all gunning for the lion's share of the VND 3,640,410,000 (~$149,870) prize pool.

Lee returned with a chip lead he would not relinquish, defeating India's Aman Parakh heads-up to claim the VND 697,192,500 (~$28,723) winner's purse – the largest Sunday Super Stack first place prize ever awarded.

This result is Lee's third-ever cash and marks a career high, eclipsing his previous best score by over a 3,000 percent margin and earning the South Korean his first live tournament title.

While Parakh came close to earning his maiden APT title, the Indian player had to settle for the VND 437,520,000 (~$17,990) on offer for second place.

Cambodia's Cheng Zhang rounded out the winner's podium, collecting VND 313,240,000 (~$12,880) for third, with the final table paying out as follows:

SUNDAY SUPER STACK FINAL TABLE RESULTS

Notables to make the money but come up short of a spot on the final table include Vietnamese APT regular Dinh Van Tien (33rd for VND 17,080,000), the UK's John Bonadies (39th for VND 17,080,000), India's Dhaval Mudgal (63rd for VND 13,450,000), and Norway's Kjell Ove Dyb (73rd for VND 12,360,000).

For Sunday Super Stack Player List please CLICK HERE

For Sunday Super Stack Results please CLICK HERE

All tournament information can be found on the Event #16: Sunday Super Stack tournament page

SIDE EVENT ACTION

Former Main Event Champion Hernan Villa Wins Event #28: NL Hold'em - Freezeout

Hernan Villa

Outside of the Main Event, the VND 10M Event #28: NL Hold'em - Freezeout was one of the more popular draws of the day, attracting 239 entries and generating a VND 2,086,470,000 (~$85,960) prize pool

The action played out over twenty-eight 25-minute levels, with APT Philippines 2022 Main Event champion Hernan Villa claiming the title and VND 441,290,000 (~$18,150) top prize.

Villa defeated Apiwat Yommana heads up to bag his third career APT title, with his Thai opponent receiving VND 297,110,000 (~$12,220) for second place.

Singpaore's Jin Xiong Lee took bronze and a payout of VND 209,480,000 (~$8,620) for third. A total of 31 players made the money, with the final table paying out as follows:

NL HOLD'EM FREEZEOUT FINAL TABLE RESULTS

For Event #28: NL Hold'em - Freezeout Player List please CLICK HERE

For Event #28: NL Hold'em - Freezeout Results please CLICK HERE

All tournament information can be found on the Event #28: NL Hold'em - Freezeout tournament page

Event #33: Turbo - Deuces Wild Sets New Record; Vietnam's Bach Quang Truong Wins

Vietnam's Bach Quang Truong won his maiden tournament title in Event #33 Turbo Deuces Wild The Deuces Wild tournament was first introduced at the APT Summer Series Da Nang back in July, and has been growing in popularity.

With records falling in almost every other event, VND 6M Event #33: Turbo - Deuces Wild was no exception, drawing its largest-ever field of 67 entries (57 unique).

This generated a VND 350,946,000 (~$14,440) prize pool, with the action playing out over nineteen fast-paced 15-minute levels.

It was Vietnam's Bach Quang Truong the man to take it down, besting China's Zhilian Dong heads-up to claim a VND 102,286,000 (~$4,210) top prize and his maiden live tournament title.

Dong collected VND 73,700,000 (~$3,035) for second, with Taiwan's Chi Jen Chen completing the winner's triumvirate and taking VND 47,900,000 (~$1,970) for third place.

A total of nine players made the money, with the tournament paying out as follows:

TURBO DEUCES WILD RESULTS

For Event #33: Turbo - Deuces Wild Player List please CLICK HERE

For Event #33: Turbo - Deuces Wild Player List Results please CLICK HERE

All tournament information can be found on the Event #33: Turbo - Deuces Wild tournament page

Vietnam's Nguyen Van Khoa Makes Maiden Title Win Memorable With Record Event #35: Hyper Turbo Victory

Vietnam's Nguyen Van Khoa claimed his maiden tournament title in the largest-ever hyper turbo

Outside of the Main Event, it was the VND 2M Event #35: Hyper Turbo that proved the most popular event of the day.

The tournament drew 273 entries (231 unique), setting a new APT Hyper Turbo field size record.

Players duked it out over twenty-five turbo-charged 10-minute levels to claim a share of the VND 476,657,999 (~$19,620) prize pool.

It was Vietnam's Nguyen Van Khoa who will be entering the APT record books, cutting a deal with heads-up opponent Huy Thanh Phan that saw both players earn VND 79,554,220 (~$3,275) pay day, with Khoa taking the trophy and title.

Vietnam dominated the top three spots, with Manh Tuan Dao taking VND 46,474,155 (~$1,910) for third.

A total of 39 players made the money, with the final table paying out as follows:

HYPER TURBO FINAL TABLE RESULTS

Other notables to cash included the UK's Craig Cooper (17th for VND 5,862,890), and Hong Kong's Sparrow Cheung (22nd for VND 4,671,250).

For Event #35: Hyper Turbo Player List please CLICK HERE

For Event #35: Hyper Turbo Results please CLICK HERE

All tournament information can be found on the Event #35: Hyper Turbo tournament page.

MIXED GAME ACTION

USA's Hal Rotholz Wins Second APT Title in Event #27: Limit Triple Draw Mix

The USA's Hal Rotholz claimed his second APT title in Event #27 Limit Triple Draw

First making its debut at the APT Incheon 2023, the Limit Triple Draw Mix saw the addition of Badacey, Badeucey, and 5 Card Draw to bring the total number of poker variants up to six.

This new and improved version saw a 9 percent increase in field size, with the VND 5M Event #27: Limit Triple Draw Mix (Badugi, A-5, Badacey, 2-7, Badeucey, 5 Card Draw) drawing 34 entries (33 unique).

These draw poker aficionados battled it out over twenty-five 20-minute levels to earn a slice of the VND 148,410,000 (~$6,115) prize pool.

It was the USA's Hal Rotholz showcasing his cowboy poker skills, padding out his over $1.4 million in live tournament winnings with the VND 54,910,000 (~$2,260) top prize after besting the UK's Pui Cheung Ng heads-up to claim his second career APT title.

Ng received VND 37,840,000 (~$1,560) for his runner-up finish, with Japan's Sachiko Uchihara rounding out the podium and collecting VND 24,120,000 (~$990) for third.

A total of five players made the money, with the tournament paying out as follows:

LIMIT TRIPLE DRAW MIX RESULTS

For Event #27: Limit Triple Draw Mix Player List please CLICK HERE

For Event #27: Limit Triple Draw Mix Results please CLICK HERE

All tournament information can be found on the Event #27: Limit Triple Draw Mix tournament page

OMAHA ACTION

China's Yucheng Xiao Cuts Deal to Claim Second APT Title in Event #30: PL Omaha High - Lazy Rivers

China's Yucheng Xiao bagged his second APT title in Event #30: PL Omaha High Lazy Rivers The first of the scheduled Omaha tournaments of the day was of the high variety, with each player making it to the last street in a hand receiving their own river card, dealt face up.

The VND 4M Event #30: PL Omaha High - Lazy Rivers (Individual River Card Face Up) proved to be the most popular PLO event of the series so far, drawing a 77-strong field (56 unqiue) and generating a VND 268,884,000 (~$11,060) prize pool.

The action played out over twenty-four 25-minute levels, with China's Yucheng Xiao lazily swimming his way to a second career APT title.

Xiao cut an ICM deal with his final two opponents, compatriot Zejun Liu, and the USA's Thomas Teresi that saw him take the trophy and a VND 46,000,000 (~$1,890) top prize.

Liu took the largest payout of VND 67,134,000 (~$2,760), while Teresi collected VND 47,800,000 (~$1,970) for third.

The Netherland's Martijn Gerrits also made a final table appearance, finishing in seventh place for a VND 12,910,000 (~$530) payday.

A total of 12 places made the money with the tournament paying out as follows:

PLO LAZY RIVERS RESULTS

For Event #30: PL Omaha High - Lazy Rivers Player List please CLICK HERE

For Event #30: PL Omaha High - Lazy Rivers Results please CLICK HERE

All tournament information can be found on the Event #30: PL Omaha High - Lazy Rivers tournament page

Australia's Dale Townsend on a High With Maiden APT Title Win in Event #34: Turbo - NL Omaha Hi-Lo - 5 Card

Australia's Dale Townsend claimed his maiden APT title in Event #34: Turbo NL Omaha Hi-Lo 5 Card

The second of the days scheduled Omaha events, the VND 3M Event #34: Turbo - NL Omaha Hi-Lo - 5 Card, saw a field of 56 entries (42 unique) compete for a VND 146,664,000 (~$6,040) prize pool.

Action played out over twenty fast-paced 15-minute levels, with Austalia's Dale Townsend claiming the VND 43,984,000 (~$1,810) top prize.

The Aussie defeated Aleksei Morozob heads-up to snag his maiden APT title, with the Russian player receiving a VND 31,830,000 (~$1,310) payday for his runner-up finish.

It was another Australian rounding out the winner's podium, with Phoebe Yan taking third and a payout of VND 20,530,000 (~$845).

A total of eight players made the money, with the tournament paying out as follows:

NL OMAHA HI-LO 5 CARD FINAL TABLE RESULTS

For Event #34: Turbo - NL Omaha Hi-Lo - 5 Card Player List please CLICK HERE

For Event #34: Turbo - NL Omaha Hi-Lo - 5 Card Results please CLICK HERE

All tournament information can be found on the Event #34: Turbo - NL Omaha Hi-Lo - 5 Card tournament page