$5,000 No-Limit Hold'em
Day 1 Completed
$5,000 No-Limit Hold'em
Day 1 Completed
The inaugural 2024 Jin Bei Cup at the is off to a great start on the first of three days thanks to 77 entries in the opening $5,000 NLH Event. This created a prize pool of $385,000 at the five-star Jin Bei Palace Hotel, which was split among the top ten finishers.
In the first international poker tournament in the southwest of Sihanoukville since 2016, the field consisted of many local business owners and high-stakes cash game players alongside some well-known Asian poker pros. However, the biggest name in the mix was certainly Tom "durrrr" Dwan, who reached the final table only to see his pocket aces cracked in a three-way all-in.
While Dwan departed in eighth place, the winner of the hand Yao Xiao never surrendered the top spot anymore and took down the event in dominating fashion. For his efforts, he collected a top prize of $131,000 and was overjoyed by the victory. He is widely known as "xiaoyao", which means "happy" in Chinese and Xiao was certainly all smiles after the final hand.
Jin Bei Cup $5,000 NLH Results
Rank | Player | Country | Prize (USD) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Yao Xiao | China | $131,000 |
2 | Mic | China | $78,000 |
3 | Xia Feng | China | $48,000 |
4 | Jhon Tanaka | Indonesia | $34,000 |
5 | Ken Lin | China | $26,000 |
6 | Travis | China | $21,000 |
7 | Jiang Liu | China | $16,000 |
8 | Tom Dwan | United States | $12,000 |
9 | Ge Zhong | China | $12,000 |
10 | A Zheng | China | $7,000 |
Xiao was responsible for several eliminations prior to the money bubble and sent "Wei" to the rail as last player without any cash prize to show for, when ace-jack made broadway versus ace-nine. Xiao was the chip leader on the final table followed by Ken Lin, but the latter soon lost several pots to drop into the middle of the pack.
Instead, Xiao turned up the heat even more and scored a double knockout to cement his lead. Dwan and Ge Zhong were his victims when Xiao flopped bottom two pair with four-trey suited, prevailing against Zhong's king-queen suited for top pair and Dwan's pocket aces for the overpair.
The next three casualties in a row all sent their chips over to the now runaway chip leader as Jiang Liu, Travis and Lin all succumbed to their short stacks in quick succession. Jhon Tanaka limp-called all-in with ace-ten and was ahead against Xia Feng, who held ace-deuce. However, a deuce on the flop sent the player from Indonesia out in fourth place.
Feng was still the shortest stack in three-handed play and doubled twice through Xiao. A potential third double-up ended in a bad beat when his ace-six suited came up short against the ace-trey suited of Xiao. Heads-up play thereafter was a brief affair when Mic three-bet jammed pocket nines and was pipped by Xiao's tens. Another ten on the flop sealed the victory and Xiao ended the tournament with a literal mic drop.
With the traditional No-Limit Hold'em Side Event now completed, all eyes are set on the marquee tournament of the series. The $50,000 Jin Bei Cup Short Deck Main Event with a staggering $5,000,000 guarantee will be played across the following two days and the PokerNews live reporting team will be back on the floor in Sihanoukville to follow the action.
Mic raised it up from the button to 550,000 and Yao Xiao then pushed all-in from the big blind with the covering stack. There was no snap-call but Mic eventually pushed his chips over the line and then immediately sighed when the cards were exposed.
Mic: 9♠9♥
Yao Xiao: 10♠10♦
There was a collective uproar from the rail when Wang's lead grew further on the Q♠10♣3♦ flop. It was all over on the 4♥ turn to make the 7♣ river a formality, sending Mic to the rail in second place for $78,000.
Xiao was the chip leader for a long time and ended up as the winner for $131,000. A recap of today's action is to follow.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Yao Xiao |
15,400,000
6,100,000
|
6,100,000 |
Mic | Busted |
Yao Xiao check-called the J♣8♠5♦K♥ turn for 350,000 and then checked the Q♠ on the river, Mic checked back. Wang showed 8x7x for a pair of eights but Mic had the best of it with J♠10♦.
One hand later, Xiao raised the button to 500,000 and Mic called. They checked to the 8♠7♣4♦10♦5♦ river on which Mic checked the third street in a row. Xiao bet 600,000 and won the pot uncontested.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Yao Xiao |
9,300,000
-850,000
|
-850,000 |
Mic |
6,100,000
850,000
|
850,000 |
Mic limped the button and Yao Xiao checked his option amid some confusion, which led to the 10♥6♣4♦ flop. Both players checked to the 2♣ turn on which Wang bet 250,000 and Mic called.
Xiao bet another 700,000 on the K♥ river and Mic folded.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Yao Xiao |
10,150,000
525,000
|
525,000 |
Mic |
5,250,000
-525,000
|
-525,000 |
Level: 23
Blinds: 120,000/240,000
Ante: 240,000
Mic chipped up with a straight before Yao Xiao earned some chips back with a flop bet. Xiao then raised the button to 400,000 and Xia Feng used one time bank extension in the small blind. before pushin all-in, which Xiao called.
Xia Feng: A♠6♠
Yao Xiao: A♣3♣
Both players had suited aces but the inferior kicker was crucial eventually. Xiao improved on the 9♠3♦2♦ flop, then held on the 8♥ turn and K♣ river. Feng's run ends in third place for $48,000.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Yao Xiao |
9,625,000
2,075,000
|
2,075,000 |
Mic |
5,775,000
445,000
|
445,000 |
Xia Feng | Busted |
Yao Xiao called the shove by Xia Feng and was ahead out of the big blind.
Xia Feng: K♣4♥
Yao Xiao: A♠7♦
The two live cards needed help and got there on the 8♠6♥3♦2♦5♠ board thanks to the eventual straight.
Xiao then jammed out of the small blind and Feng called all-in for 1,190,000.
Xia Feng: A♥8♦
Yao Xiao: K♥10♦
On a board of J♥8♠7♣2♦6♣, Feng prevailed once more and took another chunk out of Xiao's stack.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Yao Xiao |
7,550,000
-1,350,000
|
-1,350,000 |
Xia Feng |
2,680,000
1,955,000
|
1,955,000 |
"Mic" shipped it in for 2,515,000 on the button and Xia Feng instantly called out of the big blind.
"Mic": Q♥10♦
Xia Feng: A♠K♣
The two live cards got there on the 8♦3♥3♠8♥10♠ runout as "Mic" jumped out of his chair in celebration, leaving Feng on fewer than four big blinds.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Mic |
5,330,000
2,780,000
|
2,780,000 |
Xia Feng |
725,000
-2,635,000
|
-2,635,000 |
Yao Xiao applied pressure with his large chip lead and pushed all-in once more. This time, the shove came from the button and Xia Feng called all-in for 1,480,000 in the small blind as shortest stack.
Xia Feng: K♦8♠
Yao Xiao: Q♣4♦
The board ran out J♠9♥2♦2♥8♥ and Feng doubled with eights and deuces.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Yao Xiao |
8,900,000
-200,000
|
-200,000 |
Xia Feng |
3,360,000
700,000
|
700,000 |
Mic |
2,550,000
-550,000
|
-550,000 |