APPT Macau crowns its champion.

Alexandre Chieng cruised pasted a talented final table to take home the title from the latest stop on season seven of the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) to become Macau’s latest champion.

APPT Macau began with a deep field of 388 players all vying for a chance at taking home the impressive HKD$2,165,000 (USD$280,000) first place prize while being guaranteed a position in the APPT history books. Following two Day one flights and two more days of poker action the final table was set with the likes of Jay Tan, Alexandre Chieng, Dinesh Alt, Kenneth Leong and Hao Tian all in positions to contend.

Below is the final table line-up and chip counts.

  • Jay Tan 158,000
  • Ling Tong 889,000
  • Shuyang Yu 950,000
  • Hao Tian 286,000
  • Alexandre Chieng 1,137,000
  • Kenneth Leong 2,012,000
  • Nan Hong 824,000
  • Trung Tran 340,000
  • Dinesh Alt 1,560,000

As the final table players sat down at the PokerStars Live at the City of Dreams Hotel and Casino spectators and players alike could feel the contest was going to be fast, furious and aggressive. Just three hands in Australia’s Trung Tran was the first to depart after Nan Hong flopped a flush to send the proud Aussi packing. Jay Tan then was unable to defy her short stack being sent home in eight position by Ling Tong. Tong then quickly followed up her elimination of Tan to boot Tian Hao to the rail with some strong and aggressive play.

An hour had only past and the final table was already down to six but play continued its pacy fashion with Shuyang Yu eliminated by Dinesh Alt while Kenneth Leong sent Nan Hong and Alt home in fifth and fourth place respectively. Ling Tong finished up in third position ushering in a final heads-up play for the title between Alexandre Chieng and Kenneth Leong.

Leong had to marginal advantage going into the heads-up with just under 1,00,000 chips more than Chieng. The heads-up battle remained on pace with the final table as play quickly came to an end 20 minutes into the contest following strong play from both players.  Leong (AA) three-bet 340,000 which Chieng (76) called with both players checking on the flop. On the turn a 7 was dealt which saw Leong bet 285,000 which Chieng raised to 600,000 followed by an all-in call from Leong. After some deliberation time Chieng called with both players tabling their cards giving Chieng the better position but not home and clear yet. The flop dealt a 10 helping Chieng claim the APPT Macau and the HKD$2,165,000 (USD$280,000) first place prize while consigning Kenneth Leong to second position.

 Australia finally claims Gold at the WSOP 2013.

The 2013 WSOP has been a frustrating tournament thus far for Australia with Gary Benson finishing up sixth in the USD$2,500 Seven-Card stud which was followed by Michel Bouskila also finishing sixth in the Seniors event. The barren Golden run ended on June 20 as Jarred Graham emerged victorious in the USD$1,500 Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo Event to win USD$255,942 along with the Golden WSOP bracelet.

Graham held off stiff competition from Marco Johnson (who he finished off in the heads-up battle), Barry Greenstein, Noomis Jones, Gabriel Blumenthal, Loni Harood, Eric Rodawig, Joao Pires and Perry Green to claim the team from down under its first 2013 Gold bracelet. Many notable Australia poker pro’s were in attendance including 2005 world champion Joe Hachem to cheer the WSOP first timer.

For more World Series of Poker news visit WSOP or FTR.

 Asian Poker Tour announces three new events.

The Asian Poker Tour (APT) have recently announced the addition of three new stops in its 2013 schedule. Following successful events in Cebu, Jeju and Manila earlier this year the APT will travel to Macau, South Korea and Manila again to round off yet another successful year for the relatively new poker tour.

From its humble beginnings the Asian Poker Tour will travel to the rising star in world poker, Macau, and its StarWorld Hotel and Casino from July 24 – 31. In August the next stop is Jeju, South Korea at Club Phoenix with the tour finishing up in Manila in October to be once again held in the Philippines Resorts World.

For more information on the Asian Poker Tour visit APT or follow all the news on FTR.