Nov 21, 2019
Only 17 players out of 54 entries returned to their seats in the Ballroom of the NagaWorld Integrated Resort to battle for their share of the $261,900 prize pool. Only the top seven spots were paid and Victor Chong was sent to the rail in the opening minutes. Other notables such as Season 18 WPT Vietnam champion Hamish Crawshaw, Wei Hsiang Yeu, and Ming Juen Teoh all bowedout before the final table.
Natalie Teh was the first to fall after they combine to one table and fellow Malaysian Kok Wai Sim lost a flip with ace-ten against the pocket eights of Ping Liu to let the bubble burst. Liu wouldend up in 5th place when he was part of a double elimination and long-time chip leader Michael Egan had to settle for third place after a crucial showdown with jacks versus tens.
Piet Pape and Gabriel Carter played heads-up for some time and eventually agreed to a deal in which Pape emerged victorious.
Final Result $5,000 Super High Roller
1st place: Piet Pape (Denmark) $83,006*
2nd place: Gabriel Carter (United Kingdom) $71,513*
3rd place: Michael Egan (Australia) $35,357
4th place: Jun Wah Yap (Malaysia) $24,881
5th place: Ping Liu (United States) $19,643
6th place: Ying Lin Chua (Malaysia) $15,714
7th place: Yunsheng Sun (China) $11,786
Last but not least, the most expensive tournament of the festival also kicked off in the late afternoon and the $10,000 High Stakes Challenge saw a field of 15 entries emerge including four re-entries. Only the top two spots were paid and it was Phachara Wongwichit that ended up as the bubble boy to ensure a Malaysian victory.
Victor Chong, well-known to be in every winner picture in the Asia-Pacific Region, had to settle for the runner-up spot as fellow countryman Choon Tong Siow claimed the trophy. In the final hand, Chong got it in with on a flop and Siow looked him up with for the inferior pair and flush draw. The on turn and river gave Siow a flush and he took home the lion’s share of the $141,862 prize pool on his second bullet.
Final Result $10,000 High Stakes Challenge
1st place: Choon Tong Siow (Malaysia) – $92,210
2nd place: Victor Chong (Malaysia) – $49,682