Krisada Pinthakasetrin

Krisada Pinthakasetrin, from Thailand, has emerged victorious in the VND 9,000,000 APT Phu Quoc National Cup, besting a field of 579 entries (276 unique players) to claim the iconic lion silhouette trophy and a top prize of VND 996,430,000 (~$38,050).

In second place came Japan's Shohei Osugi, who took home VND 601,590,000 (~$23,685).

Vietnam's own Tuan Tai Nguyen completed the podium, winning VND 430,500,000 (~$16,590).

FINAL TABLE RESULTS

A total of 84 players made it into the money and came back for the final day. Coming into day 2, Kunal Patni held the chip lead and it carried him all the way to the final table. However, the Indian player could progress no further than 9th place after running his pocket sixes into Osugi's pocket nines.

The action was fast paced with 30-minute levels, and it took around 8 hours to reach the final table. Stacks were shallow at this stage of the tournament, with average stacks only being around 15 big-blinds. This, in combination with the big pay jumps meant there was not too much post-flop play at the final table.

Ronald Haverkamp

After Patni busted, the next player to hit the rail was Ronald Haverkamp. After losing a flip with king-ten offsuit against Tuan Ngyuen's pocket sevens the Dutchman's stack was crippled and shortly afterwards Haverkamp had to pack his bag, taking home VND 104,470,000.

Vietnam's Le Tung finished in 7th place for VND 151,910,000 after his pocket jacks could not hold against Osugi's ace-ten.

Nhuong Nguyen

Next in line to collect his 6th place VND 205,410,000 payout was another Vietnamese, Nhuong Nguyen, whose ace-king was out-flopped by compatriot Nguyen Huy's queen-seven after the latter chose to defend his big blind.

The next few knockouts happened blow on blow. First, Ronald Zapantis finished his run in 5th place, winning his biggest score in 15 years (VND 262,440,000), then Khanh Huy Nguyen went home in 4th for VND 333,100,000, and Tuan Tai Nguyen in 3rd place. VND 430,500,000 meant the third best score in Tuan Tai Nguyen's career.

Shohei Osugi

And just like that, only two players were remaining. An exciting heads-up match could have been expected as both players went into the battle for the title with similar stacks.

Krisada Pinthakasetrin quickly took over and the Thai national looked like the sure winner after spiking top pair on a king-high flop in an all-in preflop situation against Osugi's pocket fives. Unfortunately for Pinthakasetrin, the Japanese player hit a runner-runner flush and took the chip lead.

The Thai player then wrestled the lead back after his pocket nines overcame Osugi's six-five suited before the duo clashed once again. This time however, there was to be no comeback for Osugi.

Pinthakasetrin moved all-in pre-flop with ace-jack and found himself racing for the title against the Japanese player's pocket eights. Despite Osugi hitting a set on the flop, running cards gave Pinthakasetrin a jack-high straight to award the Thai player his maiden tournament title and the VND 966,530,000 top prize – by far his best career score. He certainly will remember this moment for the rest of his poker career.

Krisada Pinthakasetrin

Krisada Pinthakasetrin has won the APT National Cup for VND 966,530,000 (~$38,050).

A full recap of the day's action will follow shortly.

Shohei Osugi

Krisada Pinthakasetrin shoved all in and Shohei Osugi announced, “I call.” after checking his cards.

Krisada Pinthakasetrin: A J

Shohei Osugi: 8 8

Osugi held the lead with his snowmen, which improved to a set on the flop of 4 8 9 . Just when Pinthakasetrin was feeling hopeless, the turn brought the 7 , giving him a glimmer of hope with a straight draw. Shouting with his friend, he called for, “Ten, ten, ten!” before the next card came.

Ask and it’s given - the dealer revealed the T on the river, sealing Osugi’s runner-up finish with a payday of VND 601,590,000 (~$23,685).

Krisada Pinthakasetrin

Shohei Osugi open jammed from the button and Krisada Pinthakasetrin called.

Krisada Pinthakasetrin: 9 9

Shohei Osugi: 6 5

The board ran out A K 8 K A and players are about even in chips again.

Shohei Osugi

Krisada Pinthakasetrin started the heads-up strong and took the lead quickly. However, things just changed in Shohei Osugi's favor. The Thai national opened the button to 2,200,000 and and Osugi moved all-in for 6,300,000. Pinthakasetrin called and they were off to the races.

Shohei Osugi: 5 5

Krisada Pinthakasetrin: K Q

The board ran out thrillingly. Pinthakasetrin took the lead on K J 7 , but the 6 turn and 8 river gave Osugi a flush.

Here is the heads-up chip count of Japan’s Shohei Osugi versus Thailand’s Krisada Pinthakasetrin. Stay tuned to see who will be crowned champion of the Vietnam National Cup!

Tuan Nguyen

Shohei Osugi raised to 1,000,000, and Tuan Nguyen shoved all in, which Osugi snap-called to put Nguyen at risk.

Tuan Nguyen: A 6

Shohei Osugi: A A

Osugi took the lead with pocket aces and held it through a flop of 3 Q 5 , which also gave Nguyen a flush draw. However, the board decided the third-place finisher as the runout came T 3 , eliminating Nguyen for his efforts with a payout of VND 430,500,000 (~$16,950).

Khanh Huy Nguyen

Four-handed it folded around to Krisada Pinthakasetrin in the small-blind who put Khanh Huy Nguyen in the big-blind all-in. The Vietnamese player had around 1,500,000 chips and decided to put his tournament life at risk and call.

Khanh Huy Nguyen: K 2

Krisada Pinthakasetrin: K 6

The flop came out great for the Pinthakasetrin as it showed J 6 5 . The 9 on the turn left Huy Ngyuen drawing dead. He finished in a respectable fourth position, taking home VND 333,100,000.

Ronald Zapantis

Ronald Zapantis shoved all in for 975,000 from the cutoff and Shohei Osugi dropped in a call on the button.

Ronald Zapantis: Q 6

Shohei Osugi: A 5

Shohei picked up the lead with an ace and improved to a pair of aces after the T A 3 flop. The turn came an A , which made Shohei’s one pair bloom into trips, leaving Zapantis no chance to win. The 4 fell on the river, merely completing the board and confirming Zapantis’s elimination in fifth place for his efforts, earning him VND 262,440,000 (~$10,330).

Shohei Osugi

In a blind versus blind situation Ronald Zapantis opened the action to 625,000. Shohei Osugi defended his big-blind and the flop came down T 9 6 . The monotone board led both players to elect to check.

The turn brought another ten, the T . Zapantis put out a delayed continuation bet, equaling 500,000. The Japanese player called and on the river appeared the 2 . Zapantis bet once more, this time for 1,000,000. Osugi wasted no time and quickly called.

Ronald Zapantis: Q 6

Shohei Osugi: K 9

Osugi wins a rare post-flop pot at the final table. After this hand, he is in commanding chip lead, while Zapantis needs to double-up soon.