APPT Main Event | 2023 APPT Cambodia

05-15-2023 19:30 UTC+8

Tsai Drops Below 20 Big Blinds

Christian Zetzsche

Level 30 : Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante

Eric Tsai lost a few chips without any major drama and then defended the big blind against a button min-raise by Chao-Ting Cheng. The two players from Taiwan headed to the A♠A♣J♦ flop on which Tsai instantly check-folded to a bet before the chips even hit the felt.

Player	Chips	Progress
Junnie Pamplona	8,650,000 650,000	650,000

Chao-Ting Cheng	3,300,000
Eric Tsai	2,350,000 -650,000	-650,000

Tags: Chao-Ting Cheng Eric Tsai

05-15-2023 19:25 UTC+8

Pamplona Increases the Aggression Further

Christian Zetzsche

Level 30 : Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante

Junnie Pamplona won a small showdown pot with K♠7♦ out of the big blind when the flopped the top pair on a paired board with a possible four-card straight against Eric Tsai.

Just before the blinds went up, Chao-Ting Cheng opened to 210,000 on the button and folded to Pamplona's three-bet for 625,000 out of the small blind. With three players left, the level duration has been cut into half and the blinds moved up already.

Player	Chips	Progress
Junnie Pamplona	8,000,000 800,000	800,000

Chao-Ting Cheng	3,300,000 -200,000	-200,000
Eric Tsai	3,000,000 -600,000	-600,000

Tags: Junnie Pamplona Eric Tsai Chao-Ting Cheng

Level: 30

Blinds: 60,000/120,000

Ante: 120,000

05-15-2023 19:20 UTC+8

Half the Chips in Play for Pamplona

Christian Zetzsche

Level 29 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Junnie Pamplona raised to 225,000 out of the small blind, which led to a three-bet worth 675,000 by Eric Tsai in the big blind. The initial raiser then four-bet to 1,600,000 and Tsai folded.

Pamplona opened to 230,000 on the button next, claiming the blinds and big blind ante to get back to half of the chips in play.

Player	Chips	Progress
Junnie Pamplona	7,200,000 700,000	700,000

Eric Tsai	3,600,000 -450,000	-450,000
Chao-Ting Cheng	3,500,000 -250,000	-250,000

Tags: Eric Tsai Junnie Pamplona

05-15-2023 19:16 UTC+8

Cheng Almost Closes the Gap to Tsai

Christian Zetzsche

Level 29 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Junnie Pamplona raised to 325,000 in the small blind and folded when Eric Tsai three-bet to 930,000 out of the big blind.

Tsai limped the next small blind and Chao-Ting Cheng checked his option to the K♣8♣4♥ flop. Tsai bet 100,000 and the call by Cheng followed. Both checked through the 8♦ turn and the 3♥ river completed the board.

Tsai bet 300,000 and Cheng instantly called, getting shown the 10♠2♠ for a bluff by Tsai. Cheng earned the pot with the K♠J♥ to come within three big blinds of his fellow countryman.

Player	Chips	Progress
Junnie Pamplona	6,500,000 -650,000	-650,000

Eric Tsai	4,050,000 -250,000	-250,000
Chao-Ting Cheng	3,750,000 900,000	900,000

Tags: Chao-Ting Cheng Eric Tsai Junnie Pamplona

05-15-2023 19:09 UTC+8

Cheng Doubles Through Pamplona

Christian Zetzsche

Level 29 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Several all-in moves brought no calls before Junnie Pamplona then raised the button to 210,000. Chao-Ting Cheng jammed out of the big blind for 1,350,000 and Pamplona asked for a count before making the call.

Chao-Ting Cheng: A♦8♥
Junnie Pamplona: A♠3♠

Pamplona asked for a trey or spades but the Q♣9♦8♦9♥7♥ board awarded the double to Cheng.

Player	Chips	Progress
Junnie Pamplona	7,150,000 -1,500,000	-1,500,000

Eric Tsai	4,300,000 -100,000	-100,000
Chao-Ting Cheng	2,850,000 1,600,000	1,600,000

Tags: Chao-Ting Cheng Junnie Pamplona

05-15-2023 19:02 UTC+8

Some Chips More for Pamplona

Christian Zetzsche

Level 29 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Eric Tsai raised to 210,000 on the button for Junnie Pamplona to call out of the big blind. On a flop of 7♠4♥2♣, Pamplona check-called for 190,000 and the J♠ turn was checked by both players. Pamplona bet the 3♣ river for 325,000 and Tsai sighed, motioned with his hands for a couple of seconds to then fold.

Player	Chips	Progress
Junnie Pamplona	8,650,000 650,000	650,000

Eric Tsai	4,400,000 -650,000	-650,000
Chao-Ting Cheng	1,250,000 -250,000	-250,000

Tags: Eric Tsai Junnie Pamplona

05-15-2023 18:58 UTC+8

Rinse and Repeat After the Break

Christian Zetzsche

Level 29 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Chao-Ting Cheng folded out of the small blind, then jammed the next button to steal urgently needed chips.

Eric Tsai limped the small blind and Cheng checked, then folded to a bet by Tsai on the A♠9♦9♣ flop. Cheng folded the small blind next, then jammed the button again. Tsai folded once more, exposing the 10♦3♠.

Player	Chips	Progress
Chao-Ting Cheng	1,500,000 250,000	250,000

Tags: Chao-Ting Cheng Eric Tsai

Level: 29

Blinds: 50,000/100,000

Ante: 100,000

05-15-2023 18:42 UTC+8

Break For the Final Three Players

Christian Zetzsche

Level 28 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Junnie Pamplona raised to 225,000 in the small blind for Eric Tsai to defend the big blind. The initial raiser checked the 9♦8♣5♥ flop and Tsai bet 250,000 to win the pot.

In the last hand of the level, Tsai limped and Chao-Ting Cheng checked to the K♠8♦2♦ flop. Tsai had barely moved forward his chips for a bet when Cheng already snap-folded to send the final three players into a scheduled 10-minute break.

Player	Chips	Progress
Junnie Pamplona	8,000,000 -5,000	-5,000

Eric Tsai	5,050,000 450,000	450,000
Chao-Ting Cheng	1,250,000 -315,000	-315,000

Tags: Chao-Ting Cheng Eric Tsai Junnie Pamplona