Vietnam's Thanh Ha Duong took down the PokerStars.net APPT Season 8 Manila title at the Metro Card Club Monday in dramatic fashion overcoming a huge deficit heads-up to capture the crown.
The event's final day started with 11 players and Aussie Michael Guzzardi holding a massive chip lead over the rest of the field.
As the shorter stacks busted and the final table was set, Guzzardi did nothing to indicate he would do anything but win, increasing that lead as player after player hit the rail.
In fact, by the time he and Duong reached heads-up, Guzzardi had 4.5 million in chips to Duong's 700,000 and it all seemed a foregone conclusion.
It wasn't long before Guzzardi got it all in preflop with versus Duong's and after a safe flop his coronation was almost complete. However, the turn changed all plans and Duong doubled.
After trading jabs for a while, Duong rivered a wheel and got paid off with a huge raise on the end to get close to even before the biggest hand of the tournament played out.
On a flop Duong check-raised and Guzzardi pushed all in. Duong made the call for his tournament life with two pair and Guzzardi was on a flush draw. The draw never materialized and suddenly Duong held the chip lead, knocking Guzzardi off the top for the first time since midway through Day 2.
Doung put his foot on the gas after that, and despite the fact Guzzardi doubled once, he soon shoved with top pair and a gutshot on the turn into another two pair held by Duong.
When the river bricked, the title, PHP 3,472,000, including a seat in the Asia Championship of Poker and Filipino poker glory belonged to Duong.
Thanh Ha Duong limped the button and Michael Guzzardichecked his option. The flop came and after a Guzzardi check Duong bet 75,000. Guzzardi called and the turn was the . Guzzardi checked again and Duong bet out 135,000.
Guzzardi check-raised all in and Duong made the quick call with . His two pair was up against Guzzardi's top pair and a gutshot. The river was no help to Guzzardi and he was eliminated in second giving Duong the title.
Michael Guzzardi made it 100,000 and Thanh Ha Duong made the call. The flop came and Duong checked. Guzzardi led out for 100,000, Duong raised to 245,000, Guzzardi pushed all in and Duong made the call for his tournament life with .
Duong's two pair was up against Guzzardi's flush draw and Guzzardi needed a diamond to win the tournament.
None came on the turn or river and just like that, wire-to-wire Day 3 chip leader Guzzardi was suddenly behind.
Michael Guzzardi limped the small blind and Bernardo Angeles checked his option. Guzzardi then led out at the flop and Angeles pushed all in.
Guzzardi made the call with and Angeles was behind holding . The turn and river sent Angeles out third and they are now heads up for the APPT 8 Manila title.
Heads up on an flop, Mike Takayama got it all in against Thanh Ha Duong.
Duong held and Takayama needed a spade or an ace to survive with . Unfortunately for him, none came on the turn or river and APPT Manila is down to five players.
![[user127999]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
and after a safe flop his coronation was almost complete. However, the 
turn changed all plans and Duong doubled.
flop Duong check-raised and Guzzardi pushed all in. Duong made the call for his tournament life with two pair and Guzzardi was on a flush draw. The draw never materialized and suddenly Duong held the chip lead, knocking Guzzardi off the top for the first time since midway through Day 2.
and after a Guzzardi check Duong bet 75,000. Guzzardi called and the turn was the 
. His two pair was up against Guzzardi's 
top pair and a gutshot. The 
river was no help to Guzzardi and he was eliminated in second giving Duong the title.
.
flush draw and Guzzardi needed a diamond to win the tournament.
turn or 
river and just like that, wire-to-wire Day 3 chip leader Guzzardi was suddenly behind.
flop and Angeles pushed all in.
and Angeles was behind holding 
turn and river sent Angeles out third and they are now heads up for the APPT 8 Manila title.
.
this time, made the call and held on a 
run out to send Giang out fourth.
flop gave Duong a set.
turn and 
river did nothing for him.
flop, Mike Takayama got it all in against Thanh Ha Duong.
board that ended all hope.
