Jian Yang Wins 2013 PokerStars.net APPT Macau ACOP Warm-Up for HK$1,700,000
The PokerStars.net Asia-Pacific Poker Tour is well off and running in Macau with the Asia Championship of Poker (ACOP). On Sunday, the HK$25,000 Warm-Up Event concluded, awarding a big and bad HK$1,700,000 first-place prize to China's Jian Yang. Yang defeated a field of 338 entries and Wei Hsiang Yeu in heads-up play to win the title.
2013 APPT Macau ACOP Warm-Up Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (HK$) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jian Yang | China | $1,700,000 |
| 2 | Wei Hsiang Yeu | Malaysia | $1,170,000 |
| 3 | David Foran | Ireland | $695,000 |
| 4 | Billy "The Croc" Argyros | Australia | $547,000 |
| 5 | Roger Spets | Sweden | $434,000 |
| 6 | Steven Zhou | China | $358,000 |
| 7 | Tom Alner | UK | $283,000 |
| 8 | Saehoon Lee | Korea | $208,000 |
| 9 | Paul Cheng | Hong Kong | $170,000 |
Heading into the final table, Yang held an immense chip lead. He had 2,614,000 in chips, with Yeu as the only other player above one million. The gap between Yang and Yeu was extremely large, though, as Yeu had 1,257,000.
Hong Kong's Paul Cheng was the first player eliminated, falling at the hands at Yeu. It was then Korea's Saehoon Lee who fell in eighth place, hitting the rail thanks to recent Macau Poker Cup Red Dragon winner Tom Alner. Although Alner added Lee's chips to his stack, he would fall next in seventh place.
Alner was all in and at risk with the K♠2♠ against the 8♠7♠ for Yeu. A 9♥5♠3♠ flop gave both players a flush draw, but kept Alner in front. Yeu did pick up a gutshot straight draw, which was then delivered when the 6♣ hit the turn. The river blanked, and Alner was off to the payout desk.
Steven Zhou was eliminated in sixth place before Roger Spets from Sweden was bounced in fifth place. Then, 2013 APPT Melbourne Main Event champion Billy "The Croc" Argyros headed out the door in fourth place.
David Foran from Ireland was eliminated in third place after getting his money in on the Q♠J♦9♣ flop with the Q♥9♦. His opponent, chip leader Yang, flopped a straight with the K♦10♦ and was able to hold.
Yang and Yeu didn't waste any time setting off the fireworks, as on the first hand of heads-up play, things exploded. Yang raised the button to 150,000 before Yeu three-bet to 350,000 from the big blind. Yang responded with a four-bet to 1,150,000, and Yeu announced that he was all in. Yang called with the A♣4♣. Yeu had the K♥8♥ and was the player at risk. The flop came down K♠Q♠3♠ to give Yeu the lead. The 7♦ kept Yeu in front, but it was the A♥ on the river that swung things back in favor of Yang to award him the winner.
Having Yeu covered, Yang emerged victorious as he was swarmed by his fans for a congratulatory hug. Yeu earned HK$1,170,000 (US$151,000) for his runner-up finish, while Yang walked away with the title and HK$1,700,000 (US$219,000).
The 2013 APPT Macau ACOP is far from over, though. Starting Monday, the HK$100,000 Main Event with a big HK20,000,000 guarantee will kick off. PokerNews will be on hand for live reporting, so be sure to stay tuned right here to these pages for all the upcoming action.
*Photos and data courtesy of PokerStarsBlog.com.
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