This is an archive of previous coverage.
APPT10 Macau: Day 3 archive
12:20pm: He eliminated; Final table set
The official final table of 7 is able to return tomorrow after Kan He was eliminated in eight place.
He moved his last 590,000 in preflop and after it folded to chip leader Alex Ward, he asked for a count and called to position He at risk.
He: A♣Q♥Ward: A♦K♥
There was a queen within the window but a king followed it at the 4♥K♠Q♠ flop. He needed another queen to bypass elimination nevertheless it would never come because the 8♠ turn and 3♣ river completed the board.
And with that, play concludes. We'll have a wrap of today's proceedings and a last table draw coming soon here at the PokerStars Blog. -- BK
12:05am: Li is Ward's latest casualty; all the way down to eightLevel 24 - Blinds: 15,000/30,000 (ante: 5,000)
Like such a lot of before him, Yuan Li have been knocked out by Alex Ward, taking us all the way down to our last eight and one from the tip of the night.
Ward opened to 65,000 from early position, the second one time in a row, but after meeting no resistance the primary time, he found Li requesting the all-in triangle at the second occasion.
Li only had 155,000 and when action came back to Ward, he made a compulsory call. He also happened to have the most productive hand: Ward's A♠6♣ was prior to Li's A♣3♦ and he then flopped a six.
The board of 6♠2♦5♦ left Li now in search of a four, however the 9♥ came at the turn and the 7♣ at the river. That's that for Li. He is taking HK$236,000 for ninth. -- HS
11:50pm: Unofficial final table drawLevel 25 - Blinds: 20,000/40,000 (ante: 5,000)
We're right down to nine players now. They've merged onto the unofficial final table and can play all the way down to seven before returning to crown a champion tomorrow.
Here's where they're seated and the way they stack up.
Seat 1) Jiayi Jin - 530,000Seat 2) Weijian Xie - 1,160,000Seat 3) Yuan Li - 185,000Seat 4) Kan He - 670,000Seat 5) Ying Fu - 1,850,000Seat 6) Zhiyi Feng - 680,000Seat 7) Jian Guo Sun - 1,050,000Seat 8) Alex Ward - 3,830,000Seat 9) Bernard Vu - 1,370,000
They're taking a brief break, to renew at 12:15am.
11:45pm: Li licked; last nine setLevel 24 - Blinds: 15,000/30,000 (ante: 5,000)
We are all the way down to our last table of nine players here in Macau after Xiang Li lost back-to-back pots against Weijian Xie and went out in tenth.
The first of these went down like this: Xie open-shoved from under the gun for 400,000 precisely and, when action got to Li within the small blind, he re-shoved, for 615,000. It was enough to get the large blind out the best way and so they went heads up.
Xie: 5♦5♠Li: A♠K♦
The small pair was ahead, and stayed there, because the full board ran Q♣3♥4♣T♥6♠. Xie punched the air in delight.
He was equally happy after the following hand played out. This time, Li open shoved his button for 165,000 and Xie snapped from the large blind. Xie had A♦Q♣ and Li was behind again with K♥9♠.
The flop hit Li. It came J♦9♦T♦. But it surely was not precisely the more or less "hit" he would have liked. Xie now had the entire outs on the earth -- he was a 60-40 favourite at this point -- and he ended up hitting the A♣ at the turn to seal it. That takes us right down to nine. -- HS
11:30pm: Lucky Li livesLevel 25 - Blinds: 20,000/40,000 (ante: 5,000)
Yuan Li is lucky to still be within the tournament after he found fortune following a preflop jam.
Li moved all in from the cutoff with K♣3♥ and was called by Bernard Vu holding K♦J♠ within the small blind.
Li was in trouble however the 9♠A♣2♦4♥5♥ board saw him make a runner-runner wheel to win the pot.
"YEAH!" he screamed because the river rolled off, jumping up from his seat and double fist pumping.
Vu is now on 1.3 million chips. -- BK
11:25pm: Ward returns to monster stackLevel 25 - Blinds: 20,000/40,000 (ante: 5,000)
The last ten at the moment are back from their break, all looking as much as Alex Ward. Here's how they stack up:
| Alex | Ward | UK | 3,700,000 |
| Bernard | Vu | France | 1,430,000 |
| Ying | Fu | China | 1,200,000 |
| Jian Guo | Sun | China | 823,000 |
| Kan | He | China | 781,000 |
| Zhiyi | Feng | China | 780,000 |
| Jiayi | Jin | China | 605,000 |
| Xiang | Li | China | 551,000 |
| Weijian | Xie | China | 450,000 |
| Yuan | Li | China | 215,000 |
Ward still leading
11:15pm: Break time
Our remaining 10 players have taken another break.
Play resumes in 10 minutes. -- BK
11:12pm: Juicy joins the railbirdsLevel 24 - Blinds: 15,000/30,000 (ante: 5,000)
Juicy Li were working with a brief stack for some time but now her tournament has finally come to an end. She moved all in from the cutoff for under 120,000 in chips and Xiang Li called off from the massive blind.
Juicy: A♥9♦Xiang: A♠J♣
Juicy was dominated and couldn't find enough help because the community cards landed 5♠J♥2♥T♦9♠.
She departs as Xiang Li stacks up 560,000. -- BK
11:10pm: One double for LiLevel 24 - Blinds: 15,000/30,000 (ante: 5,000)
Juicy Li had little choice but to get her last 65,000 within the middle, particularly after Alex Ward's opening raise. Ward called, of course, and gave the look of he might knock Li out. Ward had J♠T♦ to Li's K♥Q♠ and a jack came at the flop. But there has been a queen at the turn and Li survived. For now. -- HS
11:07pm: Xie hands the fast stack baton over to Juicy LiLevel 24 - Blinds: 15,000/30,000 (ante: 5,000)
Badly damaged from that run-in with Alex Ward, Weijan Xie was all in at the next hand, shipping for what turned out to be 258,000 from the small blind.
Only Juicy Li was left with a choice and, within the big blind, she found A♣7♣ and called. This was a race: Li had A♣7♣ and Xie had 5♠5♦.
After the board ran 6♠K♠T♣3♥3♦ Xie was back within the game and Li was barely alive. She has 65,000. -- HS
11:05pm: Unstoppable Alex WardLevel 24 - Blinds: 15,000/30,000 (ante: 5,000)
Alex Ward now has greater than 3.5 million chips, that is approximately 3 times as many as anybody else on this tournament. He just got another huge chunk in a pot against Weijian Xie that left the latter on fumes.
Ward opened to 60,000 and Xie called from the massive blind, taking them to a flop of 2♥8♥6♦. Xie checked, Ward bet 50,000 and it seemed as if Xie was happy to pay to look another. But actually, he tossed out 125,00 chips, a check-raise, so Ward needed to ponder his options. He called.
That took them to the turn of T♣, which Xie checked again. Ward barrelled once more, this time for 150,000, and Xie this time just called. That meant the A♣ came at the river and the pattern went through yet another iteration. Xie checked, Ward bet 375,000 and Xie called.
Ward tabled A♥T♥. He had a flush draw at the flop, top pair at the turn after which top two by the point the river was out. Xie mucked, left with about 250,000. -- HS
11:00pm: Feng finds a doubleLevel 24 - Blinds: 15,000/30,000 (ante: 5,000)
Zhiyi Feng remains to be in contention after winning an all in against Jian Guo Sun.
The two got the entire chips in preflop after Feng moved in from the small blind for 296,000 and was called off by Sun within the big blind.
Feng: A♦6♦Sun: Q♣6♣
Feng had the dominant hand and it remained that way throughout the J♦4♥4♠T♦7♥ runout.
He collected the pot as Sun was left with 630,000 to play with. -- BK
10:50pm: Han railedLevel 24 - Blinds: 15,000/30,000 (ante: 5,000)
We're right down to only 11 players now after Yu Han was sent packing by Ying Fu. Fu raised the button to 65,000 and Han moved in for his last 557,000 from the massive blind.
Yu Han
Fu gave it about 30 seconds consideration before announcing a call.
Han: K♣J♣Fu: 9♠9♦
Another fate was decided by a flip because the cards fell 6♥2♣2♥4♦8♠ with the nines holding to eliminate Han.
That hand brings Fu as much as 1.4 million in chips. -- BK
10:50pm: Li v LiLevel 24 - Blinds: 15,000/30,000 (ante: 5,000)
Xiang Li doubled up, open-jamming for 215,000 and finding Juicy Li willing to name behind him. Xiang Li had the dominant ace. His A♠T♣ was better than Juicy Li's A♣6♣ and the board bricked.
Juicy Li had won numerous pots with pre-flop aggression recently, but all that work is undone in a single fell swoop. -- HS
10:45pm: How do you favor to fold?Level 24 - Blinds: 15,000/30,000 (ante: 5,000)
Zhiyi Feng shoved on three consecutive hands, from UTG+2, UTG+1 and under the gun itself, getting quite a few folds all of the way around.
Yuan Li agonised for a very long time within the big blind, but then folded showing ten-three. Jiayi Jin folded in no time when it was him within the big blind. Then Bernard Vu gave Li the entire on stare down, commencing his shades and glaring for a few minutes before folding. A variety of how one can fold a cat. -- HS
10:40pm: Ward ramping up the pressureLevel 24 - Blinds: 15,000/30,000 (ante: 5,000)
Alex Ward is maintaining the chip lead and punishing his opponents because the final table nears.
He recently got the most productive of Ying Fu in a battle of the blinds.
With the board reading T♦3♠2♦3♦ Fu led for the minimum 30,000 and Ward bumped it as much as 125,000. Fu flicked in a decision and the river brought the K♣.
Again Fu made it 30,000 to head but Ward reached deep into his stack and dropped a corpulent 425,000 into the pot.
Fu considered it but couldn't commit the chips, instead surrendering his hand. -- BK
10:20pm: Kan He double? Yes He KanLevel 24 - Blinds: 15,000/30,000 (ante: 5,000)
Kan He just won a race, all-in pre-flop, to double to greater than 1.2 million. He took the chips from Zhiyi Feng, whose 9♥9♠ lost to He's A♦K♥ all in pre-flop. He's shove was for 618,000. -- HS
10:10pm: Juicy at the slideLevel 24 - Blinds: 15,000/30,000 (ante: 5,000)
They're into Level 24 now, and here's something we have not seen for a very long time: Juicy at the ropes. Ms Li is now the quick stack of the rest 12 players. They stack up like this:
| Alex | Ward | UK | 2,200,000 |
| Ying | Fu | China | 1,200,000 |
| Bernard | Vu | France | 1,000,000 |
| Jian Guo | Sun | China | 830,000 |
| Yu | Han | China | 800,000 |
| Weijian | Xie | China | 790,000 |
| Zhiyi | Feng | China | 770,000 |
| Kan | He | China | 705,000 |
| Jiayi | Jin | China | 600,000 |
| Xiang | Li | China | 460,000 |
| Yuan | Li | China | 455,000 |
| Juicy | Li | China | 350,000 |
| 24 | 15,000 | 30,000 | 5,000 |
9:40pm: Feng gets some, loses someLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (ante: 4,000)
Zhiyi Feng raised to 55,000 from under the gun and Kan He called within the cutoff. Jiayi Jin thought why not from the small blind and the 3 took a flop: K♥9♣4♥.
Jin checked, but Feng bet 100,000, which He called. Jin folded before the 8♥ came at the turn. This time Feng's bet of 160,000 got the job done.
Feng and Jin were essentially the most active players at that table, which might make sense given they'd essentially the most chips. That was until Feng gave a piece to Bernard Vu at the next hand.
I didn't catch most of the details before the turn, but with the T♠9♥A♠5♦ exposed, Vu bet 80,000 and Feng raised to 180,000. Vu called. Then they both checked the K♣ river and Feng frowned and nodded his head after being shown the A♣6♠ by Vu.
Feng mucked, leaving himself with about 800,000. -- HS
10:00pm: Zhu gotta goLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (ante: 4,000)
Players are still dropping rapidly as we approach the overall table, and Wei Zhu was the newest to feel the wrath of the poker gods.
Zhu open shoved for 300,000 with K♥Q♣ and was picked off by Weijian Xie holding A♣Q♥.
The board ran out 9♥8♣6♥A♥A♠ and despite Zhu picking up a flush draw at the turn he couldn't be able to clench a victory. -- BK
9:50pm: Nines no good for FengLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (ante: 4,000)
Jiayi Jin kicked things off with a button raise to 55,000 before Bernard Vu decided to transport all in for 463,000 from the small blind.
It was Zhiyi Feng, however, who would put Vu in danger after he called from the massive blind. Jin let it go and the 2 active players tabled their cards.
Vu: A♦9♥Feng: 9♠9♣
Feng was in a commanding position and held in the course of the 5♣2♥T♣ flop. It was the A♠ turn though that send him chasing a solo out and breathed new life Vu's tournament.
The 7♥ river bricked off and Vu locked up a double up. Feng meanwhile was knocked right down to 850,000 after that hit. -- BK
9:45pm: Small pot for LiLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (ante: 4,000)
After disappointment to not be keen on the last hand, Yuan Li did now play a pot, of sorts, against Jiayi Jin. Jin opened to 50,000 from under the gun and Li called for 1 / 4 of his stack from the massive blind.
After a flop of 6♠Q♣T♣, Li shoved and Jin folded. Li showed a queen and Jin tapped the table in acknowledgement. -- HS
9:40pm: Sun blinds YunLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (ante: 4,000)
Hyunshik Yun is gone in 14th, although you'd have thought it was Yuan Li being knocked out by the reaction. Li had actually folded pre-flop, but clearly would have hit something and tripled up had he put his stack of 196,000 within the middle. You reside and learn.
Anyhow, back to what did happen. Yun open shoved for the second one hand in a row. The primary time, when he was within the small blind, he got it in the course of the. second time, at the button, his shove was worth 340,000 and he got a decision from Jian Guo Sun to his left.
Yun had K♥5♠ and was in trouble against Sun's A♠7♠. The flop made it even harder for Yun. It came A♦8♣Q♥. By the point they saw the Q♠ at the turn, it was everywhere in the. 9♥ river was immaterial. Yun gets HK$135,600 for 14th. -- HS
9:35pm: Xie still kickingLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (ante: 4,000)
Our shortest stack getting back from the break, Weijan Xie, just doubled as much as keep his tournament dream alive against Yu Han.
Han opened to 50,000 before Xie made it 150,000 to move and left him himself only 6,000 behind. Han opted to play for all of it and Xie obliged as they got the chips in and the cards went on their backs.
Xie: 7♣4♣Han: A♥4♦
Xie was in rough shape until the A♠7♥7♠ meant he would spike trips and soar into the lead. Still needing to vanish an ace to hang out he did just that because the T♠ turn and K♣ river completed the board.
Han still sits with a healthy stack of 1,050,000. -- BK
9:25pm: Kan He call? No he can'tLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (ante: 4,000)
Hyunshik Yun open shoved for his last 253,000 and, after action folded to Kan He, He/he was faced with a choice. After numerous counting of stacks--his own, plus those of the 2 players within the blinds behind him--He/he opted to fold and preserve his stack of about 550,000. And for those who think that is an update principally to crowbar that headline in, you would be right. -- HS
9:15pm: Back to itLevel 23 - Blinds: 12,000/24,000 (ante: 4,000)
Off they go again. The speculation is to play to seven tonight, because of this eight more players might want to be eliminated before we call it an afternoon. -- HS
Latest counts:
Here are the most recent chip counts, updated on the dinner break:
| Alex | Ward | UK | 2,189,000 |
| Ying | Fu | China | 1,227,000 |
| Zhiyi | Feng | China | 1,108,000 |
| Jiayi | Jin | China | 1,031,000 |
| Yu | Han | China | 885,000 |
| Juicy | Li | China | 665,000 |
| Jian Guo | Sun | China | 591,000 |
| Kan | He | China | 531,000 |
| Kai Yat | Fam | Singapore | 489,000 |
| Bernard | Vu | France | 457,000 |
| Xiang | Li | China | 383,000 |
| Wei | Zhu | China | 305,000 |
| Yuan | Li | China | 302,000 |
| Fan | Wu | China | 275,000 |
| Hyunshik | Yun | USA | 201,000 |
| Weijian | Xie | China | 165,000 |
8:35pm: Dinner breakLevel 22 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (ante: 3,000)
| 23 | 12,000 | 24,000 | 4,000 |
That's the top of Level 22 and players at the moment are taking a 45-minute break. We'll have the entire chip-counts for the remainder 15 players momentarily. But I WILL inform you this already: Alex Ward is leading by an extended way.
Alex Ward: Leader
8:30pm: Ward crushes Wu; leads by milesLevel 22 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (ante: 3,000)
Scratch that about Alex Ward not being the chip leader. He's the chip leader, having just pop out at the best end of without equal hold'em set-up: aces against kings for heaps.
The man with kings was Fan Wu. Ward was the only with aces. And now Ward is sitting with the most productive a part of 2.5 million chips and is the massive chip leader. -- HS
8:25pm: Zheng finds the railLevel 22 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (ante: 3,000)
We just lost Ming Zheng after his T♥T♦ did not hold against the A♥Q♠ of Zhiyi Feng.
The hand began with Feng opening to 45,000 before Zheng pushed all in for 225,000. It folded back around to Feng and he called it off to position his tablemate at risk.
The flop was a sweaty K♠6♠9♠ with Feng adding a flush draw to his overcards. The T♠ saw Feng complete that flush but Zheng could still pair the board to stick alive.
The deck did not save him, however, because the 8♠ river completed the board.
That pot moves Feng as much as around 900,000 in chips.
8:15pm: Two tables, full countsLevel 22 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (ante: 3,000)
There are 17 players left here, and they are all the way down to only two tables. Listed here are the seats and counts:
Table 11: Yuan Li - 345,0002: Jiayi Jin - 953,0003: Bernard Vu - 500,0004: Zhiyi Feng - 560,0005: Hyunshik Yun - 265,0006: Ming Zheng - 240,0007: Kai Yat Fam - 430,0008: Jian Guo Sun - 530,0009: Kan He - 740,000
Table 2
1: Yu Han - 830,0002: Xiang Li - 400,0003: Wei Zhu - 350,0004: Weijian Xie - 230,0005: Fan Wu - 890,0006: Juicy Li - 710,0007: Ying Fu - 1,250,0008: Alex Ward - 1,100,000
Alex Ward is now sitting next to the chip leader, Ying Fu, but he would was the leader himself if he'd have managed to knock out Xiang Li on one of the crucial first hands after the tournament clock started again.
Ward called Li's shove with A♥3♥ and was up against A♠J♦. However the board ran 6♠J♥2♥4♣J♠ and Li doubled his 195,000 stack. -- HS
8:10pm: Li loses a flip to He; eliminatedLevel 22 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (ante: 3,000)
Xiao Ling Li just exited the tournament floor, she lost a race against Kan He for her tournament life.
The hand began with Jiayi Jin raising to 45,000 before Li moved in for her last 217,000 in chips. It folded to He within the big blind and he went into the tank. The verdict was for around half his stack but he did eventually call. Jin mucked his hand and the 2 remaining players revealed their hands.
Li: A♣J♦He: 2♣2♦
Li had to improve to stick alive but she couldn't do it because the cards fell 6♠5♦K♣K♥2♠.
She finishes just shy of our final two tables while He stacks up 740,000. -- BK
7:45pm: Fu flies into the leadLevel 22 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (ante: 3,000)
A huge, huge skirmish on Table 3 has sent the hitherto anonymous Ying Fu into the chip lead. He scored a whole double up through Jiping Li who, having lived by the sword for the past two days, has now all but died by it.
Fu, sitting quietly beneath a blue hoodie and with white earbuds in, opened to 45,000 from the button and Li three-bet to 116,000 from the massive blind. Fu called they usually both quickly checked the flop of K♠8♦7♥.
Ying Fu: The brand new emperor
The turn brought the 8♠ and, after Li checked again, Fu bet 150,000. This all happened pretty quickly, however the next bit was a blur. It seemed like Li now shoved and Fu instantly called and the cards were on their backs.
Fu had A♦K♦ to Li's A♥7♠. Both had a pair, along with the eights at the board, but Fu's was bigger and the Q♦ river decided the pot in his favour.
There was then a lovely long delay as dealers and floor staff attempted to verify they got the fitting amounts within the two players' very similar-sized stacks. It was soon ascertained that Fu had 610,000 going to the river and Li precisely 50,000 more.
Li is therefore left with that, that is about two big blinds. Fu, however, has greater than 1.5 million. -- HS
A great distance back now for Jiping Li
7:45pm: Ladies for LiLevel 22 - Blinds: 10,000/20,000 (ante: 3,000)
Yuan Li seemed a bit of disappointed he didn't get more action in a contemporary hand against Fan Wu.
Wu brought it in for a raise to 45,000 bfore Li moved all in for 422,000 in chips. Li took his time deliberating but ultimately gave it up, much to the disappointment of Li.
The latter let loose a sigh and flashed Q♣Q♦ before raking within the pot. -- BK
7:35pm: Yun hits runner-runner doubleLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (ante: 2,000)
Hyushik Yun was right down to his last 174,000 but now has double that, plus change, after an attractive fortunate run-out in a pot against Fan Wu. Yun had K♣5♣ and was against Wu's A♣6♠. However the board of T♥9♠A♠5♥K♥ gave Yun two pair, at the turn and river, to double him up. -- HS
7:30pm: Bye bye BenoitLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (ante: 2,000)
Benoit Albiges was the most recent to bust after a preflop clash with Fan Wu.
Albiges moved in for his last 92,000 from under the gun and was called by Wu within the cutoff seat. The remainder of the table folded and Albiges saw he was in trouble when the hands were turned face up.
Albiges: A♠5♦Wu: A♦K♥
The Q♦6♣Q♣ flop brought some chopportunities however the 2♥ turn and T♥ river couldn't save Albiges. He left the tournament area while Wu climbed to 960,000 in chips. -- BK
| 22 | 10,000 | 20,000 | 3,000 |
7:25pm: A VERY LONG TIME to seek out three foldsLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (ante: 2,000)
Here's a hand that did not even get to a flop but which lasted longer than many tournaments*. It played out on Table 3, where the big-stacked Juicy Li, Jiping Li and Yu Han all sit. But none of them were prepared to commit an excessive amount of to this one; the principal battle was between Bernard Vu, Xiang Li and the tank.
It began when Vu raised from the cutoff, making it 38,000 to play. Han called at the button, which persuaded Jiping Li to name from the small blind. But then Xiang Li made it 132,000 from the large blind and things got a little bit sluggish.
Actually, that is not fair on Vu. He didn't take long to transport all in for 343,000 total, but there have been now three players sitting behind him who all needed to ponder their options.
Han took a long, long time...but folded. Jiping Li took a long, long time...but came to the similar decision. After which Xiang Li took a long, long time, and found out that he would want 211,000 of his 275,000 stack to call, before also deciding to fold.
* An exaggeration. But not by much. -- HS
7:15pm: Relentless WardLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (ante: 2,000)
Alex Ward's relentless charge up the leader board continues apace and the British player now has about 950,000 after knocking out Guanfu Ye. I only caught the very tail end of this, but they got it in at the turn, with a king at the board.
Ward had K♣A♥ against Ye's K♠J♠. There have been also two spades at the board, so Ye had a flush draw going to the river. However the A♣ only improved Ward and sent Ye to the payouts table, out in 23rd. -- HS
7:10pm: Ye out the doorLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (ante: 2,000)
Weije Ye was the newest one to exit the tournament after finding himself at the wrong end of a flip versus Kai Yat Fam.
The two got all within the money in preflop with Ye holding A♥Q♦ and Fam with 4♠4♥.
The board came down 2♠6♠T♥5♦3♠ with Fam improving to a straight at the end to look Ye eliminated. Fam moves as much as 280,000 in chips. -- BK
7:10pm: Li finds a straightLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (ante: 2,000)
Yuan Li doubled up through Kan He after calling all in for his tournament life on a flop of Q♠J♠8♦.
He checked first to behave and after Li fired for 42,000, He moved all in excessive with enough to hide Li's 110,000 behind.
Li loaded up a decision and commenced to transport it forward before pulling it back and scaling down his stack. He looked across the room and thought for a couple of more moments before announcing call to look he was in front.
Li: A♠T♣He: 9♠7♠
Both players were on draws with Li's ace high within the lead when the money went in. Li completed his straight at the 9♦ turn and faded a spade at the 5♥ river.
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Li cheered because the last card rolled off and he locked up the pot.
He has now dipped all the way down to 420,000. -- BK
6:55pm: Ward flyingLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (ante: 2,000)
This is now becoming an effective day for Alex Ward, who just flopped the nut flush after which watched it improve to a straight flush by the river. He knocked out Leon Li-ta Hsu within the process.
Ward started it, raising to 35,000 from early position, and picking up two callers: Benoit Albiges after which Hsu within the big blind.
The three of them saw the next flop: 4♣5♣8♣ and Hsu in no time announced that he was all in for 170,000. Not long after, Ward, with a covering stack, moved all in behind him and that took the verdict to Albiges.
The Frenchman had only 141,000 behind, lower than both his opponents, but he decided to not call it off.
Hsu showed 4♦5♦ for the flopped two pair. Ward had A♣3♣ for the flopped flush. It wasn't done, however. Hsu had outs to an entire house. However the 8♦ was a brick after which the 3♣ at the river actually made Ward's hand even better. -- HS
6:35pm: Stack attackLevel 21 - Blinds: 8,000/16,000 (ante: 2,000)
They're right down to only three tables now. Take a look at the chip-count page for the newest approximate stacks. -- HS
| 21 | 8,000 | 16,000 | 2,000 |
6:20pm: Break time
That's the top of Level 20. We'll have a 10 minute break then head into Level 21.
6:10pm: Ward at the upLevel 20 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (ante: 1,000)
Alex Ward hadn't had all of it his own way for the hole couple of levels today, but he has just got his stack as much as about 530,000, that's a high point for the day, and sent Chen Yuan home in 28th. That takes us right down to the last three tables.
Alex Ward
Ward related the main points of the hand: he was within the small blind with T♦5♦ and opened to 35,000. Yuan defended they usually saw a flop of king-ten-four, with two clubs.
With his pair of tens, Ward check-called bets of 42,000 at the flop, then 63,000 at the king turn. Then the river brought another four and Ward checked again. Yuan jammed for roughly 59,000 and Ward called.
Yuan had missed a straight draw together with his off-suit jack-queen and was sent to the rail. Ward is now cooking again. -- HS
6:05pm: Big slick bounces Qian; Jin now leadingLevel 20 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (ante: 1,000)
We now have a brand new chip leader as Jiayi Jin finds a flush to knock out Zhiqiang Qian.
Qian raised at the button before Jin repopped it to 70,000 from the small blind. It was then that Qian moved all in for 470,000 in chips and put Jin to a call for many of his chips.
Jin called it off with A♦K♦ and had a slight edge over Qian's A♥K♣. That edge increased because the flop fell Q♥Q♦6♦ and Jin improved to a flush draw.
"Diamond! Come on!" cried Jin.
The 5♥ turn was a brick however the 3♦ river completed Jin's flush as he cheered and eclipsed a million in chips to grab the lead. -- BK
There's a brand new chip boss on the town - Jiayi Jin
5:55pm: Li shows an eightLevel 20 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (ante: 1,000)
Juicy Li is as much as her old tricks, pushing Wei Zhu off a pot after which showing him an eight. Of course, she might need had two of them--and eights are unbeatable, remember--but she only showed him one to maintain him on his toes.
The inscrutable Juicy Li
Li started the pot, opening to 26,000 from under the gun. Ying Fu called from one seat along and action folded to Zhu within the big blind. Zhu squeezed to 87,000.
Li was precise about determining the scale of Zhu's raise, then made it 177,000 to play. That put Fu within the tank, and he seemed interested. But "seem" wasn't enough. He folded.
Then, after much agonising, Zhu folded too. Li flipped over the 8♦ as her cards went back to the dealer. -- HS
5:45pm: Li continues his chargeLevel 20 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (ante: 1,000)
Jiping Li has extended his chip lead here, building his stack to greater than 900,000. By the point this reaches you, he could easily have a million, or half that he is. an action player.
On the topic of action players, this hand was started by Yu Han who opened to 25,000 from the hijack. Li called from the cutoff and Ling Tong was persuaded in from the massive blind too.
Those three saw these three cards: 2♥6♣K♠ but they all checked. That took them to the 4♣ at the turn and Tong led for 35,000. Han folded, but Li stuck around. He tends to do that.
The river was the K♦ and Tong continued to head for it. He bet 55,000. But in an instant, Li raised, making it 155,000 total.
Tong didn't like that one bit. He went deep into the tank, counting the 292,000 stack he still had behind the line, and finally folded.
"Show the bluff!" bellowed Bernard Vu, suddenly springing to life. Li shook his head, but then earlier than mucking his cards, was persuaded to just do what Vu asked. He flipped over A♥J♣ and chuckled gleefully to himself. -- HS
5:40pm: Chan chopped down by LiLevel 20 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (ante: 1,000)
Matthew Chan was the following to head as we enter Level 20. He moved all in preflop for 126,000 and action folded to Xiang Li within the big blind.
Li called to place Chan in danger and the 2 saw they were flipping when the hands were revealed.
Chan: A♣Q♦Li: 2♠2♣
Chan did not hit because the board came down 6♥9♠4♣T♦9♣ with Li's deuces holding to bring him as much as 430,000 and send Chan out the door. -- BK
4:35pm: Li licks LeeLevel 20 - Blinds: 6,000/12,000 (ante: 1,000)
We were stuck on 33 players for a short time here, but Hon Cheong Lee has just become the person to move home in that spot, with $64,850 for his troubles.
He open-shoved for approximately 65,000--a little greater than five big blinds--and action folded to Xiao Ling Li within the big blind, with not that many more chips than Lee. However, she had A♦K♣ and made a fast call. She was dominating Lee's A♠8♦ and a king at the flop effectively ended it.
Li has about 180,000 now. -- HS
| 20 | 6,000 | 12,000 | 1,000 |
5:10pm: Li rides the rollercoasterLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (ante: 1,000)
Yuan Li's stack is fluctuating heavily after back-to-back hands against tablemates Guan Ye and Fan Wu.
The first saw Ye move all in for 148,000 with A♠A♦ before Li called holding J♠J♣. The pocket aces held when the cards fell T♥6♦T♠3♥5♥ and Li was dusted right down to 95,000 in chips.
The following hand, however, saw Li with the most productive of it once you have K♥K♦ in against Wu's J♠J♦. Again the most productive hand-held and with a cheer and a fist pump Li regained momentum. - BK
5:10pm: Vu blasts Li; Li blasts backLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (ante: 1,000)
Beat Juicy Li in a pot and likewise to her chips, you'll also get a massage. She doesn't surrender anything lightly.
Bernard Vu just received the hairdryer treatment as he doubled up and, since he did so with 9♥3♦, there's a component of justification.
Action folded to Li's button and she or he opened to 22,000. Once the small blind was out of the way, Vu shoved for 161,000 from the massive blind and, after learning how relatively little Vu had, Li called. She had A♣7♦ and Vu was forced to turn that nine high.
But it was actually the 3 that played when the board ran 8♦3♥4♥4♦T♥. Hairdryer: ON. -- HS
4:45pm: Lou lands at the railLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (ante: 1,000)
Yijun Lou was our latest evictee today once you have all in on a flop of T♦2♦2♣ against Jiping Li.
The flop appeared an excellent one for Lou's A♥T♥ until he saw Li table A♠2♠ for a stranglehold at the hand.
Lou couldn't find another ten to stick alive because the 5♦ turn and J♦ river completed the board. He left the tournament area whil Li climbs to nearly 800,000 in chips. -- BK
4:45pm: "Drama!"Level 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (ante: 1,000)
Macau-based poker players, and the railbirds who flock to watch, are nothing if not enthusiastic. And whilst you give them some actual drama to observe, they'll duly respond as if watching New Year's Eve fireworks.
Leon Li-ta Hsu just knocked out Neo Li Han Chen in back-to-back hands which, while you learn he had about 60,000 fewer chips initially of the primary is not any mean feat. And, as reported below, he was a great short stack previous to that. But he's buzzing now. Here is what happened.
Alex Ward opened to 20,000 from UTG+1 and action folded to Chen within the small blind. Ward opened the former pot too, but folded when Chen shoved for 140,000 from his big blind. The pattern looked to be repeating when Chen again counted his chips, this time as much as 175,000, and again shoved.
However this time there has been Hsu waiting within the big blind, with 119,000 in his stack, and he called all in. Ward quickly folded.
So it was the 2 players from Chinese Taipei to do battle, ringed by a handful of fans who had poured into the tournament area to watch.
Hsu: J♣J♦Chen: A♠Q♦
This looked to be a regular race, nevertheless it changed into a ding-dong battle. The flop came 9♣J♠T♣ giving Hsu a collection of jacks, but in addition offering a gutshot draw to Chen.
Then, boom, to squeals of delight, the K♥ fell at the turn. But everyone was alert to the truth that there have been redraw out for Hsu and, aaaaaah, there came the 9♦ at the river to made Hsu a whole house.
"Drama!" Chen said.
That left Chen short, but at the next hand he found T♣T♦, which was plenty good with which to get his chips in. However, Hsu this time was waiting with A♣K♠ and picked him off again.
Chen was marginally ahead in the beginning of this race, however the 8♦9♣K♦ flop soon swung the momentum to Hsu. And this time there has been nothing miraculous in the course of the 4♥ turn and 2♦ river. That was the tip of that for Chen. -- HS
4:30pm: Breathing room for HsuLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (ante: 1,000)
Leon Hsu was left with an ideal short stack recently but he just found himself a much-needed double up through Bawoo Yun.
Hsu moved all in preflop for less than 55,000 and when it folded around to Yun he called from the massive blind.
Hsu: A♥3♣Yun: Q♦4♥
Hsu was in front and while the 3♦Q♥5♥ saw him lose the lead, he regained it after turning three of a type when the 3♥ appeared. The 6♣ river was a secure one and Hsu kept his tournament hopes alive. -- BK
4:20pm: Updated chip counts and payoutsLevel 19 - Blinds: 5,000/10,000 (ante: 1,000)
We've just finished an intensive chip update that you may find right here.
Also take a look at today's eliminations and payouts thus far at this link. - BK
| 19 | 5,000 | 10,000 | 1,000 |
4:05pm: First break
It's time for the primary break of the day.
Players can be back in ten minutes to commence Level 19. -- BK
4:04pm: Yet one more Wang outLevel 18 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (ante: 1,000)
Shun-ping Wang was eliminated ahead of the break, showing with Q♦8♥ but getting called by his neighbour Jiping Li. Li was behind along with his J♣7♥ however the board of T♦3♠7♣9♠2♥ gave it to the large stack.
Wang went home, but Li now has 540,000. -- HS
4:00pm: Double elimination on Table 5Level 18 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (ante: 1,000)
We arrived on the table to peer three hands face up and the board showing T♥K♦T♠2♥A♦.
Xinxin Feng has 7♠7♥ in front of her and Jiaxiu Liu held K♠J♠ but both were out in their seats because the A♠Q♥ Chen Yuan had them both beat.
We're now right down to only 38 players. -- BK
3:45pm: Zhou finds the railLevel 18 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (ante: 1,000)
Liming Zhou was eliminated after calling off for his tournament life against Geng Liu.
Liu moved all under the gun with K♠K♦ and Liu called for 73,000 to place himself in danger with A♣Q♠.
"Ace!" called Zhou because the dealer presented the community cards, however the deck didn't deliver because the 9♠T♣7♦5♠6♦ runout signalled the top of the road for Zhou. -- BK
3:40pm: Big stacksLevel 18 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (ante: 1,000)
The early levels has been superb to Yu Han, in particular, who has built his stack as much as around 800,000. He's now the clear leader.
The other big stacks are with the following:
Hanyang Peng 770,000Juicy Li 630,000Hyunshik Yun 590,000Ming Zheng 480,000
3:30pm: Liu doubles through HsuLevel 18 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (ante: 1,000)
Leon Hsu has dropped right down to around 12 big blinds after an all in confrontation with Geng Liu.
The pair got the chips in preflop and Liu had a dominant A♥J♠ against Hsu's A♣T♣.
Liu had the lead and improved to 2 pair because the cards fell 6♦3♣J♦A♠6♠. He collected the pot as Hsu was left hovering around 100,000. -- BK
3:15pm: Come again LeeLevel 18 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (ante: 1,000)
Hon Cheong Lee thought he was out. But he wasn't. His table-mates needed to inform him, just as he was preparing to go to the money table, that he had actually doubled up.
It was a sexy easy mistake to make. He got his stack of about 110,000 in pre-flop with A♦Q♣ and collected a decision from Qian Zhiqiang, who had 6♣6♠. Lee stared on the board because the dealer dealt it, clearly hoping to peer either an ace or a queen. But there has been neither because the 5♠J♠J♥T♥T♣ came down.
What Lee had missed was that the 2 pair now exposed had counterfeited Zhigiang's pair of sixes and his ace played. He allowed himself a smile that mixed bafflement, relief and happiness and plays on. -- HS
3:10pm: Paparestis busts in three-way potLevel 18 - Blinds: 4,000/8,000 (ante: 1,000)
Constantine Paparestis was one of the vital shorter stacks entering today and, although he had grown it to about 85,000, he still had a compulsory shove with 4♦4♠ when he found those cards under the gun.
The end of the street for Constantine Paparestis
Action folded to Guan Fu Ye within the hijack and he re-shoved--although he actually had fewer chips than Paparestis. He was in for 71,500.
With two all-in triangles already deployed, action got around to Yijun Lou within the big blind and he had a stack sufficiently big to knock them both out. He also had found Q♥Q♣ and made a very simple call.
Ye had A♥K♦, so he had over-cards to both the pocket pairs. And it was looking bleak for Paparestis together with his baby pair.
The flop came J♥7♥7♠, which changed nothing, however the 9♥ at the river now gave a flush draw to Ye's ace. He didn't need it. The K♣ appeared at the river, and that turned out to be the decisive card, earning him a triple up.
Lou took the small side pot, while Paparestis is free to go back to the money games, his usual habitat, should he desire. -- HS
| 18 | 4,000 | 8,000 | 1,000 |
3:05pm: Final Team Pro eliminatedLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (ante: 1,000)
Chen An Lin was our only Team PokerStars Pro to go back today, and he was just eliminated when a battle of the blinds went the best way of yesterday's chip leader Hanyang Peng.
It folded to Lin within the small blind and he moved all in for roughly 90,000 in chips before being called off by Peng within the big blind.
Lin: 2♣2♦Peng: A♦9♦
They were racing and Lin faded danger at the 3♥4♣7♣ flop. The turn, however, brought the 9♠ to look Peng take the lead and hold it throughout the 5♠ river. -- BK
Recently eliminated - Team PokerStars Pro Chen An Lin
3:00pm: Zhang sent homeLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (ante: 1,000)
Chengting Zhang just found the exit after an unlucky fall of the cards saw Bawoo Yun run him down.
Zhang was all in under the gun for 113,000 and it folded around to Yun within the big blind. Yun gave it considerable thought, rechecking his cards and counting his own stack. After all he did announce call and the cardboard went on their backs.
Zhang: A♦Q♣Yun: A♣T♣
Zhang couldn't keep the lead when Yun found a 10 at the 8♣3♦4♥T♠6♠ run out. He left the tournament area as Yun stacked up his newfound chips. -- BK
2:55pm: Nuts for ZhiqiangLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (ante: 1,000)
Qian Zhiqiang just backed right into a flush to win a tight pot, with Fam Kai Yat the player to pay him most.
It started when Xie Weijian opened to 13,000 from under the gun and 3 others called: Kai Yat within the cutoff, Zhigiang within the small blind and Lee Hon Cheong within the big.
So, four of them saw a flop of T♥3♣2♣ and, after three checks, Kai Yat bet 24,000. Only Zhigiang paid the calling price.
Both players checked the 5♥ turn, which took them to the Q♣ at the river. Zhigiang now sprang into action and put 34,000 around the line. Kai Yat called but was shown A♣8♣--the nuts--and mucked. -- HS
2:45pm: Lucky ninesLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (ante: 1,000)
Cao Juncong has barely put a foot wrong this week, but has also suffered greater than his justifiable share of out-draws. He's done exceptionally well to still have a stack of about 300,000.
His most up-to-date spot of ill fortune didn't cost him an excessive amount of. He called Li Yuan's shove of about 150,000 with A♦T♣ and was prior to Yuan's A♥9♥. However the flop was the gorgeous emphatic 9♦9♣2♣ and, after the 2♠ at the turn, Juncong was drawing dead. Yuan doubles. -- HS
2:40pm: Albiges still aliveLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (ante: 1,000)
Benoit Albiges is lucky to still be within the tournament after you have his short stack in and behind against Kun Tian.
Albiges pushed in preflop for 44,000 holding A♥4♦ and Tian jammed all in for slightly more from the button with 8♣8♦.
With the remainder of the table folding, the board ran out K♦6♦6♠A♠9♦ with Albiges spiking an ace at the turn to stick alive.
Tian is now in trouble with only 15,000 remaining. -- BK
Benoit Albiges
2:35pm: Yijun's aggression gets Ward outLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (ante: 1,000)
Alex Ward just got thinking about a pot against Lou Yijun by which his opponent tapped the table in appreciation of Ward's fold at the river--one of these wholly ambiguous gestures that just about polarises the aggressor's range much more. Was he relieved to peer the fold, or congratulating the shrewdness of it?
There was a minimum of 55,000 within the pot by the point the 2 of them were on the turn. The four exposed cards were 8♣3♥5♠3♠. Yijun, who would has been within the big blind pre-flop, checked and Ward bet 32,000.
Yijun then tried to click it back, but didn't quite put out enough chips for a min-raise. He was still allowed to present it another go, though, and added the shrapnel he was short. Ward called.
They saw the 7♠ at the river and there has been nothing so uncertain about Yijun's action this time. He thumped down of venture of 100,000.
Ward took some time to think about his options, but if he peeked at his cards, he was only doing so before throwing them into the muck and giving it up. Yijun then tapped the table in "applause" as Ward began re-counting his stack. He has about 150,000 left now.
Meanwhile Christophe Soyze, Thomas Shelley and Matthew Boucher, all of whom had short stacks at the beginning of the day, at the moment are at the rail. -- HS
Thomas Shelley: An early double, but now out
2:25pm: Lucky Lee finds a doubleLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (ante: 1,000)
Hong Cheong Lee was all in preflop and looked set to be certainly one of our early casualties against Wei Zhu.
Lee got his final 47,500 in with 3♠3♥ but found himself up against Zhu's K♠K♦. The 9♥2♦A♣ brought no help however the 3♣ turn gave Lee a collection and new life within the tournament.
He faded a king at the Q♠ river and doubled up as Zhu was knocked right down to around 340,000. -- BK
2:15pm: Yet one more Wang downLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (ante: 1,000)
As you could expect, players at the moment are getting their short stacks within the middle with a bit of more enthusiasm than they did last night. They're already guaranteed a pay-day, so it makes sense.
Action folded to Christopher Soyze at the button and he shoved for approximately 50,000. Some of the only stacks shorter than his within the room was in front of Yanfeng Wang within the big blind and Wang called it off--about 20,000.
Wang: 9♦2♦Soyze: A♠8♣
The A♣ was within the window, however the 9♠ was also at the flop, along side the 3♦, to offer Wang hope. However the 3♠ turn and J♦ river didn't help and Wang was out. -- HS
2:10pm: Wang walks away as Bubble BoyLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (ante: 1,000)
It took only one hand to burst the bubble here on Day 3.
Action was paused as players were all in on two separate tables, and after a crowd gathered around to observe Thomas Shelley double up, they quickly moved to Table 1 to sweat Hong Wang at risk.
It had folded around to Wang within the small blind and he moved all in for his last 38,000 in chips. Weijian Xie announced call from the massive blind and after they got the all clear from tournament officials the 2 tabled their hands.
Wang: J♠J♦Xie: K♠9♠
The 4♦A♣2♣ flop was safe for Wang however the K♥ spelled disaster. Needing one in every of just two remaining jacks he couldn't get there because the 7♠ completed the board.
"Sorry" Xie said to Wang while shaking his hand, the one consolation Wang will receive for arising one in need of a payday.
For the opposite 63 players, however, they've all guaranteed themselves no less than HK$47,150. -- BK
Bubble boy - Hong Wang
2:05pm: Bubble up for Thomas ShelleyLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (ante: 1,000)
Two players were all in at the first hand, and the tournament director announced them separately. The primary led to a "bubble up" for Thomas Shelley; the second one the elimination that burst the bubble.
Shelley first. He open-shoved for 28,000 from under the gun and Ying Fu called within the small blind. Shelley had A♠8♥ but was actually ahead against Fu's A♣6♦.
The flop put his further in front. It came 8♣K♣9♦. The J♣ at the turn brought some gasps as Fu could now hit a club to bust Shelley. However the A♦ river was safe and Shelley will continue to sport his flamboyant suits (it's blue today) some time longer.
As for the following all-in, that's coming here in a moment...-- HS
2pm: Away they goLevel 17 - Blinds: 3,000/6,000 (ante: 1,000)
Action is under way at APPT10 Macau. Remember, we're at the stone bubble, so it's hand-for-hand right away. That is going to be an extended day, so fill up on Red Bull, the official energy drink sponsor of PokerStars LIVE poker room, City of Dreams, Macau. -- HS
Day 3: Heading to the overall table
Good afternoon everybody and welcome back to PokerStars LIVE on the City of Dreams, Macau. Today goes to be huge. We first want to burst the bubble -- we'll resume with just one player of the 64 remaining unlikely to receives a commission -- after which we have to get to a last table. That is occurring until tomorrow.
The chip-count page shows the players most under threat (and people within the lead). The seat draw page shows you where they're all sitting. The payouts page tells you ways much they may be able to all win.
Remind yourself of yesterday's action.
PokerStars Blog reporting team in Macau: Brad Kain and Howard Swains. Photos by Kenneth Lim.
The APPT Macau festival at PokerStars LIVE on the City of Dreams runs until Sunday, May 29. Full details can be found at the official APPT website or via the PokerStars Macau page.
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