Yat Wai Cheng Wins 2015 PokerStars.net APPT Season 9 Macau Main Event for HK$2,525,000
The 2015 PokerStars.net Asia-Pacific Poker Tour Macau Main Event completed on Sunday after five days of action. Seven players returned for the final table with Yat Wai Cheng in the top spot. He held the chip lead for the entirety of the final table, and was the one that walked away with the title. He topped Weijie Ye in a quick heads-up match to claim victory and earn himself HKD$2,525,000 (approx. $325,000).
Final Table Results
| Place | Name | Country | Prize (HKD) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yat Wai Cheng | Hong Kong | $2,525,000 | 325,000 |
| 2 | Weijie Ye | China | $1,526,000 | $197,000 |
| 3 | Florencio Campomanes | Philippines | $926,000 | $119,000 |
| 4 | Zhenru Xie | China | $698,000 | $90,000 |
| 5 | Chun Liang Kuo | China | $490,000 | $63,000 |
| 6 | Fan Zhao | China | $381,000 | $49,000 |
| 7 | Weiyi Zhang | China | $310,280 | $40,000 |
The action started early on the final day with the two big stacks clashing in the opening level, and this would be the pot that would set up Cheng for his eventual victory in the tournament. In a hand against fellow big stack Weiyi Zhang, Cheng watched as his opponent raised from the button. Cheng then bumped it up from one of the blinds before Zhang came back over the top with a four-bet. Cheng’s next five-bet would not be the end of the hand as Zhang opted to move all in for just over 2.5 million in chips. Cheng had more chips and obliged with a call before the cards were shown. Zhang tabled the A♦K♦ but was in trouble against Cheng's K♥K♣. A nine-high board came and Zhang was sent to the rail. With that, Cheng stormed to 5.6 million in chips, an amount he would only drop below one more time at the final table.
Nearing the end of the same level, Fan Zhao busted Zhenru Xie in sixth place, and then 20 minutes later Chun Liang Kuo was eliminated by Cheng in fifth place.
Four-handed play would last over an hour before the next player was eliminated. Zhenru Xie was all in with the A♦Q♦ against Cheng;s 6♥4♦. Unfortunately for Xie, a six dropped on the flop to see him fall behind. That was followed by another six and then a four to give Cheng a full house and Xie was out in fourth.
Florencio Campomanes' run to the final table was an impressive one. He started the day as the shortest stack, but maneuvered his way around several flips before finally succumbing to a third-place finish. His last hand would see him get it in with the A♣K♦ against Cheng's pocket threes. No help would come as the board ran out queen-high, and Campomanes' dream was done.
Coming into heads-up play, Cheng held a 2-1 chip lead over Ye. Play lasted half an hour before Ye moved all in with pocket fives against Cheng's K♣J♥. Cheng would get lucky and flop a king to see him take down the title.
A great effort for the local player, Cheng's efforts saw him take out five of the six players at the final table to walk away with a magnificent trophy and the first-place prize of HKD2,525,000. After the win, PokerNews' Frank Op de Word chatted with him:
That's it for the PokerNews team from the City of Dreams Macau. Make sure to stay tuned to PokerNews as we bring you all the live coverage from the next stop on the APPT, taking place in Manilla in late July.
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