PokerStars.net APPT Season 8 Seoul

Main Event
Day: 1b
Event Info

PokerStars.net APPT Season 8 Seoul

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
aa
Prize
150,000,000 KRW
Event Info
Buy-in
2,760,000 KRW
Entries
256
Level Info
Level
27
Blinds
30,000 / 60,000
Ante
10,000

Raiden Kan Grabs The Day 1 Chip Lead

Level 8 : 500/1,000, 100 ante
Raiden Kan
Raiden Kan

The second and last starting day of the PokerStars.net Asia-Pacific Poker Tour Main Event in Seoul concluded with Raiden Kan as the chip leader, and he bagged up 156,400. A total of 138 players entered Day 1b, but just 50 managed to last throughout the eight levels that were played.

Many notables showed up for this event, but for most of them, including Team PokerStars Pro Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, things didn't go so well.

At the start of the day, we immediately spotted former Aussie Millions Main Event finalist, Sam Cohen who had quite a profitable day. Right off the bat, Cohen found aces to win her a big pot, and things never slowed down as she bagged up 104,000 in chips. Things didn't go so well for former ANZPT Sydney winner Michael Kanaan, who grinded the entire day only to get knocked out in the final level of play.

Online grinder Jae Kim, a U.S. native living in Seoul due to Black Friday, looked to make an impact in this live tournament. Kim held on for quite a long time, but eventually he hit the rail. Chip-stacking champ Ang Lin left the cash games today to try his best in the Main Event, but unfortunately the ever-smiling gentleman was soon sent back to play some more cash games. That's right where he went, too, and was seen creating more chip stack castles right away.

Another player that we will not see on Day 2 is ANZPT Melbourne winner Paul Hockin. The Kiwi, who's known as "KingPaulie" online, did not see his stack increase by much, and his bad day ultimately ended in a quiet exit. Jimmy Pan, a former APPT Macau runner-up, battled hard all day as well, but ultimately he fell to last year's runner-up Chane Kampanatsanyakorn's when he moved all in with a straight and flush draw against the Thai's flopped full house. In the end, Kampanatsanyakorn ended the day with 50,200, and he kept his hopes alive for back-to-back final tables.

Ryan "piggysnipz" Pignatelli showed up for Day 1b as well and the online grinder had quite a tough seat. Pignatelli was seated in between Juicy Li, who finished sixth in this event last year, and online star Dylan "WhiteRabbito" Honeyman. All three players made it through to Day 2 with Pignatelli bagging up 59,200, Honeyman 19,000 and Li 52,400. Andy Chan, runner-up in the first-ever ACOP Macau, had a great day and he finished the day with 95,300 after playing against Kanaan and Grospellier for most of the duration.

As mentioned, Grospellier was also among the players that did not make Day 2, as the Frenchman was short for most of the day before busting in a big pot against Toshiyuki Onda. Grospellier check-raised all in holding a flush draw, but that was not enough versus Onda's second pair. Team PokerStars Pro Raymond Wu was knocked out on Day 1b as well. He ran his top pair of aces into two pair after being in control for most of the day.

Tomorrow, on Day 2, the money will be reached when the field gets down to the final 28, and here's what the likes of Grospellier, Wu, Kanaan and Hockin will not be winning in Seoul this week.

PlacePayout (KRW)Payout (USD)
1₩185,000,000$175,565
2₩116,500,000$110,558
3₩65,110,000$61,789
4₩49,69,0000$47,155
5₩41,120,000$39,022
6₩32,550,000$30,889
7₩25,700,000$24,389
8₩20,560,000$19,511
9₩15,433,200$14,646
10-12₩10,280,000$9,755
13-16₩8,570,000$8,132
17-20₩6,860,000$6,510
21-24₩5,485,000$5,205
25-28₩4,800,000$4,555

Join us again tomorrow when overall chip leader Kan will face a field of 92 competitors that will try to prevent him from going wire-to-wire in this event. Play will resume at 12 noon local time, and another eight levels of 60 minutes will be played.

Tags: Andy ChanAng LinBertrand GrospellierChane KampanatsanyakornDylan HoneymanJay KimJimmy PanJuicy LiMichael KanaanRyan PignatelliSam CohenTimothy PlaceToshiyuki Onda

Onda Ends ElkY

Level 8 : 500/1,000, 100 ante
Bertrand 'ElkY' Grospellier
Bertrand 'ElkY' Grospellier

"Oh man, I should've played it differently," Chane Kampanatsanyakorn just sighed after he missed out on a massive pot in which Team PokerStars Pro Bertrand 'ElkY' Grospellier.

Kampanatsanyakorn was involved in the hand which he raised to 2,500 and Grospellier called from the small blind and Toshiyuki Onda called from the big blind.

The flop brought out {3-Spades}{Q-Diamonds}{6-Diamonds} and both Grospellier and Onda checked to Kampanatsanyakorn who put out a bet of 5,800. Grospellier gave it some thought before moving all in for 23,200 more and now Onda went deep into the tank. After a few minutes Onda made the call and Kampanatsanyakorn looked back at his cards before, with a pained look in his eyes, folded his cards.

Onda: {A-Spades}{6-Spades}
Grospellier: {J-Diamonds}{3-Diamonds}

The board ran out {Q-Hearts}, {10-Spades} and Onda's pair of sixes held up against Grospellier's flush draw. Kampanatsanyakorn confessed that he folded a queen and if he had pulled the trigger on this big pot he could've been the tournament chip leader.

Player Chips Progress
Toshiyuki Onda
Toshiyuki Onda
95,000
Chane Kampanatsanyakorn th
Chane Kampanatsanyakorn
30,000
-5,000
-5,000
Bertrand Grospellier fr
Bertrand Grospellier
Busted

Tags: Chane KampanatsanyakornBertrand GrospellierToshiyuki Onda

Wu Hits The Rail

Level 8 : 500/1,000, 100 ante
Raymond Wu
Raymond Wu

Team PokerStars Pro Raymond Wu has just been knocked out by the hands of the sole Romanian player in today's field, Claudiu Gurau.

Chane Kampanatsanyakorn was very helpful reconstructing the hand as we just caught the board and cards when Wu walked out of the room.

The action started with Wu who raised to 3,000 and a player in late position moved all in for just 4,500. Gurau called the 4,500 from the big blind and Wu tossed in the extra chips as well.

The flop brought out {A-Diamonds}{2-Clubs}{9-Spades} and Gurau check-called 4,000 after which the turn brought the {4-Hearts}. Gurau check-called another 7,000 and on the river the {K-Spades} popped up. Now Gurau moved all in and Wu called off his remaining 17,000 chips with {A-Spades}{Q-Hearts}. The third player involved mucked and Gurau showed his {K-Clubs}{9-Clubs} for a rivered two pair to take down the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Claudiu Gurau ro
Claudiu Gurau
85,000
85,000
85,000
Raymond Wu cn
Raymond Wu
Busted
PokerStars

Tags: Claudiu Gurau

Kampanatsanyakorn Ends Pan's Run

Level 7 : 400/800, 100 ante
Kampanatsanyakorn looks to make another run
Kampanatsanyakorn looks to make another run

Jimmy Pan, a former APPT Macau runner up, raised to 1,800 and he was called by last year's runner-up in this event, Chane Kampanatsanyakorn. Another player joined the action and the flop brought out {8-}{8-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds}.

Pan bet and Kampanatsanyakorn called, according to the Thai player, and on the turn, when a {10-} popped up, the remainder of the chips went into the pot.

Pan tabled {Q-Diamonds}{J-Diamonds} for a straight and flush draw, but he was already drawing dead against Kampanatsanyakorn's {4-}{4-}. Pan was knocked out and Kampanatsanyakorn sits on a good stack heading into the final stages of the day.

Player Chips Progress
Chane Kampanatsanyakorn th
Chane Kampanatsanyakorn
35,000
Jimmy Pan
Jimmy Pan
Busted

Tags: Jimmy PanChane Kampanatsanyakorn

Here Are The Payouts!

Level 5 : 200/400, 50 ante
Win all the chips and get all the money!
Win all the chips and get all the money!

The APPT Seoul Main Event attracted 256 players creating a prize pool of ₩685,363,200 ($650,409) and here's what the payouts look like.

PlacePayout in KRWPayout in USD
1₩185,000,000$175,565
2₩116,500,000$110,558
3₩65,110,000$61,789
4₩49,69,0000$47,155
5₩41,120,000$39,022
6₩32,550,000$30,889
7₩25,700,000$24,389
8₩20,560,000$19,511
9₩15,433,200$14,646
10-12₩10,280,000$9,755
13-16₩8,570,000$8,132
17-20₩6,860,000$6,510
21-24₩5,485,000$5,205
25-28₩4,800,000$4,555

Lucky Five Keeps ElkY Alive

Level 5 : 200/400, 50 ante
Bertrand 'Elky' Grospellier
Bertrand 'Elky' Grospellier

Team PokerStars Pro Bertrand 'ElkY' Grospellier just moved all in for 10,050 after someone had raised to 1,000. About 20 seconds went by before the call was made and the showdown went as following.

Grospellier: {5-Clubs}{5-Spades}
Opponent: {A-}{A-}

The board ran out {6-Clubs}{Q-Diamonds}{5-Hearts}{2-Spades}{3-Spades} and Grospellier doubled up to just over the starting stack. Grospellier has about 50 big blinds right now and he'll be a serious force again in this tournament.

Player Chips Progress
Bertrand Grospellier fr
Bertrand Grospellier
21,500
12,700
12,700

Tags: Bertrand Grospellier

Pignatelli, A Grinder Abroad

Level 4 : 150/300, 25 ante
Ryan Pignatelli
Ryan Pignatelli

Ryan Pignatelli, who's known as piggysnipz on both PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, has made a name for himself in the online poker world with close to a million dollars in cashes. Pignatelli, originally from Ontario, Canada currently resides in Australia where he enjoys the sun, beaches and ability to play online poker.

While Pignatelli could obviously still play from his home country the same cannot be said for his American friends Patrick 'PSCProdigy' Crivell and Jordan 'JWPRODIGY' Westmoreland who he shares a house with. It's safe to say that the amazing climate in Australia was a big factor for Pignatelli to move from the rigid Canadian climate, but it's not just online where Pignatelli tries his luck.

"I've been to Macau about five times to play and after this event I'm going to Manilla for an event before flying back to the Gold Coast to play the SCOOP on PokerStars," Pignatelli said.

"I always play some online satellites for big live events but unfortunately I didn't mange to win one of this event since we decided very last minute we were going to play."

Crivell, who did qualify for this event, was knocked out yesterday and it's now up to Pignatelli to make this trip a success for the online grinders. When we asked him if he's considering coming out to the World Series of Poker this summer his logical response was, "Well, all the top players will be in Las Vegas then so I'll stay in Australia to grind online."

Right now Pignatelli sits on around 15,000 chips and he seemed very confident when we asked if he liked his table. After cashing in this event last year Pignatelli could have an extra edge on the field, as many of the players from last year returned to Seoul for another shot at the title.

Player Chips Progress
Ryan Pignatelli us
Ryan Pignatelli
15,000
15,000
15,000

Tags: Ryan Pignatelli

ACOP Runner Up Andy Chan Sits Down

Level 3 : 150/300, 0 ante
Zhou and Chan during the blind all in for the title in the first ever ACOP Main Event
Zhou and Chan during the blind all in for the title in the first ever ACOP Main Event

Ying Kit 'Andy' Chan, runner up in the first ever Asian Championship of Poker Main Event in Macau, just sat down to join the fun here in Seoul.

Chan finished second for a grand total of $457,712, or 3.5 million Hong Kong dollars after an epic six-hour heads up battle with Xing Zhou. This heads-up, covered by yours truly, will forever be remembered due to its crazy finish. Both Chan and Zhou played small pots for over six hours before they ultimately decided to go all in blind on the final hand. The money was split evenly, despite Zhou having a big chip advantage, and he was fortunate enough to take home the title after that final all in.

We'll see if Chan is up to big things here today, but it will be a while before he can be in a similar position again like back during that glorious day in Macau. Interestingly enough Chan is seated to the immediate left of Michael Kanaan who finished third in that exact same event back in 2012.

Player Chips Progress
Andy Chan us
Andy Chan
20,000

Tags: Xing ZhouYing Kit Chan

Team PokerStars Pro Raymond Wu's Here Too

Level 3 : 150/300, 0 ante
Raymond Wu
Raymond Wu

Taiwanese Team PokerStars Pro Raymond Wu made his way to the APPT Seoul Main Event and we just spotted him relaxed and calm at one of the tables.

Wu burst onto the scene in Europe when he finished eighth in the European Poker Tour Main Event in London back in 2009 for £87,000 ($138,500). That event ultimately had a heads-up battle between Aaron Gustavson and Peter Eastgate, won by the former for $1.35 million.

Wu's been a star ever since in Taiwan, as alluded to in the PokerStarsBlog this year at the Aussie Millions.

Player Chips Progress
Raymond Wu cn
Raymond Wu
20,000
PokerStars

Tags: Aaron GustavsonRaymond Wu

Enter Elky

Level 1 : 50/100, 0 ante
Bertrand 'Elky' Grospellier
Bertrand 'Elky' Grospellier

One of the biggest stars in the game of poker, and formerly Starcraft, Bertrand 'Elky' Grospellier, has just entered the tournament. The Team PokerStars Pro, easily recognizable because of his pink colored spiky hair and blingy sunglasses, sat down at the table and he was immediately recognized.

The player in Seat 1 asked where the Frenchman currently lives, and he said, "London, but I spend most of my time on the road."

"So are you at my table or am I at yours?" the friendly gentleman joked.

Elky smiled and replied, "Well, you were here first so I guess I'm at your table."

Grospellier has a stunning $10.8 million in live tournament earnings including a PCA Main Event victory for $2,000,000 and a WPT Festa a Lago victory for $1.4 million. On top of that Elky also has a World Series of Poker bracelet win in the 2011 $10,000 Seven Card Stud event making him one of the select few with a Triple Crown under his belt.

The number 19 on the all-time money list is without a doubt the biggest star in today's field and everyone in the room is buzzing with excitement to follow the Frenchman on his way to perhaps another amazing run.

Player Chips Progress
Bertrand Grospellier fr
Bertrand Grospellier
20,000
20,000
20,000

Tags: Bertrand Grospellier