Rono Lo Finishes In 2nd Place For HK$932,000
Just as we write about Tollefsen's small ball game the Norwegian changes gears abruptly and moves all-in from the button to be had eleven of heads-up and is readily called by Lo. The cards go on their backs and it's Lo who's in front.
Rono Lo: K♦T♥Henrik Tollefsen: 9♦7♣
Every time Lo has got his chips in behind he has doubled so we're not sure what will happen when he gets it in ahead but he's the in peril player.
The flop of 5♥6♠Q♥ gives Tollefsen some gutshot outs to compliment his Nines and Sevens and he duly spikes the 9♠ turn to take the lead. Lo will need either a King or a 10 to stick alive.
The tension is palpable because the dealer burns and turns... the 2♣ river meaning we have now a winner. Rono Lo departs in 2nd place creating a cool HK$932,000 and we have now our High Roller champion within the type of Norway's Henrik Tollefsen.
Tollefsen Plays Small Ball
After Lo's two double-ups Tollefsen has changed gears and is now playing small ball. Thus far it sounds as if to be understanding for him and out of the five hands of heads-up play we've had since Lo has doubled Tollefsen has won four of them, all of which he has refrained from showdown and with no flop. Lo has now dropped backtrack to 1,100,000 and Tollefsen has climbed back as much as 4,800,000.
Double Double For Lo
Just two hands into heads-up and Rono Lo has managed to bag a double up after moving all-in pre-flop with A♦4♦. Tollefsen makes the decision with a dominated 9♦4♠ and the board runs out A♠6♠Q♦7♠. Despite picking up a backdoor spade draw the river bricks off and the 2♣ lands to double Lo as much as 1,200,000.
Tollefsen tries to complete Lo off a couple of hands later with the 2 getting the entire chips in again; the Norwegian's Ace Nine leading Lo's King Eight but Lo spikes a King to climb back as much as 2,300,000.
Daniel Xiong Finishes 3rd For HK$621,000
Things haven't been going Daneil Xiong's way and that trend continues as our two short stacks battle it out for second place. Lo moves all-in for just below 400,000 the very next hand with Q♠2♠and Xiong makes the decision for his tournament life with K♣9♥.
Despite Xiong having the most productive hand the flop of 2♣T♦Q♥ gives Lo the lead and while the T♥ turn gives the Malaysian a short lived glimpse of hope it's cruelly dashed when the 6♠ lands at the river.
We at the moment are heads-up, with Henrik Tollefsen holding a commanding chip lead with 5,400,000 in chips to Rono Lo's 600,000 and the top seems like it can be in sight.
Tollefsen Steamrolls Table, Lo Doubles
With the exception of 1 hand Henrik Tollefsen has effectively steamrolled the table and has won five out of the last six hands since play restarted. The sixth hand is an engaging one as both Rono Lo and Daniel Xiong are looking decidedly short.
Lo is all the way down to just 180,000 - lower than one big blind - and is all-in from the massive blind and Xiong - sitting at the button - isn't looking that much healthier with just over 550,000. Xiong looks right down to see A♠2♠ and moves all-in, Tollefsen folds and Lo turns over 9♥6♣.
The flop brings both players something coming down 9♠6♠Q♣. Xiong's rail is asking for a spade, Lo's rail is screaming for red cards and the 9♦ hits the turn to provide Lo the entire house. A dejected looking Xiong sits go into reverse in his chair and Lo rises to only under 400,000.
1:00am: Level 22 Begins, Blinds 100000/200000 (30000)
12:50am: 10 Minute Break
Double Up For Xiong
With Tollefsen playing both his button and small blind aggressively Daniel Xiong have been struggling to seek out a great spot and was blinded right down to 450,000. This all goes in when Lo folds the button and Xiong ships A♦2♣ from the small blind.
Tollefsen calls with 8♣5♦ and Xiong is on his feet calling for an Ace for the double up. The poker gods are listening and the board runs out T♦7♣7♥Q♣A♥ to peer him double up.
Tollefsen remains to be a great deal within the driving seat as our chip leader though with 4,000,000 for two-thirds of the chips in play. Lo and Xiong have 1,100,000 and 900,000 respectively.
Tollefsen Punishes But Lo Recovers Yet Again
While Daniel Xiong has managed to make a bit back and is sitting on a stack of 1,100,000 Rono Lo has not been as fortunate and is being roundly punished by Tollefsen who's now flexing his big stack muscles.
The Norwegian is getting aggressive from the small blind and raises to 320,000 and after a lengthy dwell Lo calls from the massive blind but can only muck when Tollefsen moves all-in at the J♣Q♠2♦ flop to drop right down to 465,000.
Tollefsen tries to manage the coup de grâce the very next hand and the 2 get it all-in pre-flop when the Norwegian moves all-in from the button holding J♣8♣ and Lo calls it off with a dominated J♦3♦.
However, just when it seems like it's Lo may well be at the way out the 2♥3♠T♥ flop throws him a lifeline and no eight at the T♦ turn and 6♥ river see the Macanese player climb back to only under 900,000.
12:10am: Level 21 Begins, Blinds 80000/16000 (20000)
Tollefsen Turns The Screws
On the last hand at this level it's Henrik Tollefsen who's turning the screws at this time. The thing of his torture an unfortunate Daniel Xiong who has not recovered from losing that earlier hand with pocket Fives against Lo's 7♦3♦.
Lo limps another button and when Xiong completes the small blind and Tollefsen checks his option we go three-way to a J♣9♣9♠ flop.
First to talk Xiong counts out two stacks of chips and adds some more for good measure for of venture of 250,000. Tollefsen eyes him coldly from across his mountainous stack before announcing an all-in bet. Lo folds and after a large sigh so does Xiong. That sees the young Malaysian player drop to 725,000 and Tollefsen climb to over 3.5 million.
Chip Stacks
Henrik Tollefsen - 3,200,000Rono Lo - 1,500,000Daniel Xiong - 1,300,000
Lo Stages Comeback
Both Tollefsen and Xiong are doing their best to complete off a wounded Rono Lo however the Macanese player is dodging, weaving and hitting at just the suitable time.
It seems like he's circling the drain when he gets it in pre-flop for his last 650,000 with 7♦3♦ within the small blind and runs into Xiong's 5♣5♠ however the Q♦K♦A♥ flop keeps Lo's hopes alive.
The Q♠ turn changes nothing and Xiong pleads "No diamond..." because the dealer peels off the river. Daniel gets his wish and the river is indeed not a diamond. It's however a 7♣ to grant Lo one more double as much as 1,300,000. So the poker gods do hear prayers, they only don't answer them within the way you are expecting.
Tollefsen Avoids Bad Beat, Lo Takes A Hit
We've just had the largest pot of the tournament to this point in what proved to be a suck re-suck gem of a hand. Sitting within the small blind Tollefsen opens for 300,000 and Lo calls from the massive blind after Xiong folds the button.
The flop is a decidedly wet 9♥Q♦J♥ and Tollefsen c-bets 355,000 into 630,000 only to look Lo move all-in. Tollefsen tanks but does make the call, rolling over K♦K♠.
However, he was outflopped by Lo, who's holding Q♠9♣. The Macanese player doesn't hold his lead for long though with the J♣ pairing the turn to provide Tollefsen a greater two pair. The 8♣ river earns the Norwegian the double up and he romps into the chip lead with a stack of 3,400,000 while Lo drops to 550,000.
This drops still further as Lo is systematically bullied by both his opponents until he snap calls a Tollefsen small blind shove - the Norwegian shows K♥T♦ and has Lo's K♦6♦ at the ropes, especially when the flop comes down Q♠J♥Q♦.
The 5♣ turn leaves Lo needing one of the most decks three remaining sixes and he binks one when the 6♥ hits the river to bring him back as much as just over 600,000. Lo survives but isn't out of the woods yet and remains to be our short stack.
11:30pm: Level 20 Begins, Blinds 60000/120000 (10000)
Xiong Takes Down Another As Blinds RiseFollowing up his earlier success Daniel Xiong is maintaining the aggression and is beginning to punish Lo's small blind limps from the massive blind. When Lo completes from the small blind Xiong makes it 290,000 to head and Lo calls pretty quickly.
Lo leads the 4♦7♦9♣ from for 300,000, that is a round a half pot bet, and Xiong smooth calls after thinking it over. It doesn't appear to be Lo likes this turn of events, or the turn for that matter and checks the 7♥.
Needing no further encouragement Xiong fires a corpulent 480,000 bet, leaving what looks to be 650,000 behind. That's enough to take it down and he climbs to 2,700,000 while Lo sinks to 1,800,000.
Mr. Feeling Wonderful Claws Some Back
Things were looking slightly dicey for Daniel Xiong earlier as he bled back some chips to the table but some acute gear changing and canny play has seen the young Malaysian claw some chips back from current nemesis Rono Lo.
Lo was confusing the table with some funky play and loves to limp strong and in addition with trash to maintain his opponents guessing. As is his wont after Tollefson folds the button Lo completes from the small blind.
Xiong seems like he's fascinated with raising but eventually elects to test and we see a flop of 5♥T♥7♣. Lo leads for 100,000 and Xiong take his customary 30 second tank before announcing a raise, making it 240,000 to head. That's enough to send Lo's cards into the muck and Xiong is back as much as 1,600,000.
Lo Leading Final Three
With all three stacks being pretty close play have been a bit cagey thus far since we have now returned from the break.
However, this appears to be suiting our chip leader Rono Lo who was capitalizing at the other two players reluctance to have interaction and he has scooped six out of the eight hands players without showdown to further increase his lead and is currently sitting on around 3,000,000.
Daniel Xiong is the table shortstack with about 1,100,000 and Henrik Tollefson has about 1,900,000.
10:50pm Level 19 Begins, Blinds 50000/100000 (10000)
Stacks And Facts
With Daniel Xiong folding within the face of a few Rono Lo aggression ahead of the break the stacks are:
Rono Lo: 2,185,000Henrik Tollefson: 2,095,000Daniel Xiong: 1,640,000
We have just discovered a fascinating if little known fact courtesy of Daniel Xiong's fellow countryman and fourth place finished Victor Chong, who assures us that Daniel's nickname is 'Mr. Feeling Wonderful'. Make of that what you're going to folks, but with a guaranteed HK$621,000 payday we're pretty sure that Daniel is feeling pretty good about himself right now.
10:40pm: 10 Minute Break
Double For Daniel
We were on the subject of to post some chip updates however the lie of the land is changing rapidly now we're three-handed. The highest three pay out spots have significant jumps with the winner walking away with HK$1,465,000.
Second place is worth over half one million less coming in at HK$932,000 with third place good for HK$621,000.
Daniel Xiong continues to be our shortest stack however the playing field is asking quite level at the moment because the Malaysian player has just managed to double up through former chip leader Rono Lo.
Lo, the tournament's sole remaining Macanese player opens for 300,000 from the button and Xiong moves all-in for what looks to be about 850,000 from the small blind. Henrik Tollefson folds the massive blind and Lo makes the call.
Daniel Xiong: 9♣9♠Rono Lo: K♠Q♦
Xiong is on his feet screaming for an extremely low flop but doesn't get one, though does keep his lead when the dealer spreads T♣A♠2♣.
"Give me a Deuce!" cries Xiong and it sort of feels the poker gods are listening because the 2♣ hits the turn.
Xiong's cries of 'Yes!' quickly turn to 'No!' at the K♣ river until he realizes that provides him a nine-high club flush and a double as much as 1.8 million. Lo drops to two million after the hand meaning that currently our chip leader is Henrik Tollefsen with a stack of 2.1 million.
Victor Chong Finishes In 4th Place For HK$488,000
Just because the blinds go up we lose another with Malaysia's Victor Chong becoming our latest casualty. Chong moves all-in from under-the-gun for 435,000 and action folds around to Henrik Tollefsen within the small blind who makes the call.Chong, holding Q♣T♦, finds himself racing for his tournament life against the 3♣3♥ of Tollefsen.
However, Tollefsen's Threes aptly remain within the lead when the board runs out 2♠K♣7♠8♦4♣ meaning we're now all the way down to our final three.
10:00pm Level 18 Begins, Blinds 40000/80000 (10000)
Rathi Finishes In 5th Place For HK$355,000
Players are actually dropping like flies and no sooner have we lost Zhou then Shashank Rathi joins him at the rail. Despite doubling up the hand after taking that massive hit against Tollefsen the Hong Kong based player remains to be dangerously short with a stack of just over 250,000.
Sitting within the small blind Rathi ships this into Tollefsen's big blind, the Norwegian makes the decision and the cards go on their backs.
Shashank Rathi: K♣6♥Henril Tollefsen: 5♠4♦
Rathi must hit and does do when the flop comes down 3♠K♥Q♦. It seems like Rathi is ready for one more double up however the poker gods produce other ideas and the 5♦ turn and 4♣ river give Tollefsen two pair to bring us right down to our final four.
Zhou Finishes In 6th Place For HK$311,000
Quan Zhou's final table run has come to a detailed with the Chinese player all-in for his last 200,000 or so holding 2♠2♣. Rono Lo looks him up with A♠7♠ and when the board runs out K♠7♣9♠8♠A♣ Lo's overkill with the nut flush and two pair means we're right down to five.
Zhou And Tollefsen Double
Our table shortstack is now Quan Zhou who has just 40,000 after creating a big fold against Rono Lo earlier. This all goes in shortly afterwards with both Tollefsen and Chong calling from the blinds.
Zhou fist pumps at the K♣9♦6♠ flop leading us to believe that he has a King and when Tollefsen and Chong check down the K♦ turn and the 8♠ river our Sherlock Holmes powers of deduction are proved correct. Zhou shows K♥5♠ for the triple-up to 200,000 and Tollefsen wins the side pot with Jack-high.
Tollefsen wins the following hand too for slightly more chips - squeezing for victory for the second one time in a large hand against Shashank Rathi. It started with a Rathi bring to a halt limp for 60,000 and Tollefsen squeezes the button for just over 600,000.
Rathi tanks but eventually makes the decision and these two players are very close in chips though Rathi has Tollefsen covered by 100,000.
Shashank Rathi: A♥J♦Henrik Tollefson: A♦T♦
Tollefsen is the in danger player so must hit to stick alive and does so when the flop falls T♥3♣5♦. The Q♥ turn gives Rathi some extra outs but none materialize at the river meaning Tollefsen takes down an enormous pot and is as much as 1.2 million while Rathi drops to 100,000.
The Seventh Samurai
With the elimination of Li-Ta Hsu earlier our new table short stack is Japan's Makoto Yoshimichi who's running on fumes with a stack of 125,000. Yoshimichi manages to get an under-the-gun shove through to climb as much as just over 200,000 but busts the very next hand in a blind on blind confrontation with Daniel Xiong.
Xiong puts Yoshimichi in from the small blind with A♦6♥ and the japanese player makes the decision for his tournament life with Q♦5♥. The board runs out 6♠K♠K♣J♥4♣ and we lose our first in-the-money finisher. Yoshimichi departs in seventh place with HK$267,160 for his two days of hard work.
Tollefsen Squeezes Back
Norway's Henrik Tollefsen has edged his long ago into contention in only two hands. The primary saw him double through Shashank Rathi to climb back as much as what looks to be 550,000.
The very next hand sees Malaysia's Daniel Xiong open under-the-gun open for 95,000. Rathi flats from the bring to a halt and action is on Tollefsen at the button. This looks as if a great place to squeeze and after mulling it over Tollefsen involves the similar conclusion and moves all-in.
Xiong grudgingly folds and after thinking it over for 30 seconds so does Rathi. Tollefsen obligingly shows both players the 6♦ before raking within the pot to climb as much as 850,000. Xiong has across the same and Rathi looks to have about 650,000.
9:20pm Level 17 Begins, Blinds 30000/60000 (5000)
Chong Ducks And Dives As Hsu Becomes Bubble Boy
For a minute there Victor Chong was teetering at the fringe of elimination. All the way down to his last 150,000 after losing a hand to Rono Lo the Malaysian player went into shove mode to bring his stack back as much as 225,000.
Chong shoves for the second one time in a row from the bring to a halt against Li-Ta Hsu, who has around 270,000. It is a tough spot for Hsu but he decides that A♣5♥ is prior to Chong's range here and makes the decision. Hsu's right and is leading Chong's Q♥J♣ until the flop comes down 2♦K♠J♦.
The 4♥ turn gives Hsu some additional gutshot outs but an unhelpful 2♣ river sees Chong double to 405,000 while Hsu is left with just 45,000 for his 5,000 ante and one big blind.
Unsurprisingly Hsu is all in from the small blind the very next hand with Rono Lo limping from late position and Makoto Yoshmichi checking his option within the big blind.
Both Yoshimichi and Lo check the J♣J♦7♠ flop and after the japanese player checks the Q♠ turn Lo leads for 90,000. That's enough to take the hand heads-up and the cards go at their backs.
Li-Ta Hsu: 9♦T♦Rono Lo: A♠2♠
Lo's Ace-high spade flush draw is leading as despite Hsu making his straight on the river it's unfortunately the K♠ to present Lo the nuts and burst our bubble. All 7 remaining players are actually guaranteed a HK$267,160 pay day.
Lo Cements Lead
The first hand back after the break is a doozy - players have just taken their seats and are straight back into the action with Quan Zhou and Rono Lo our two protagonists for a second time.
Zhou opens from middle position for a min-raise to 80,000 and Lo calls from the bring to a halt meaning we go heads-up to a flop of 8♣2♣3♠. First to behave Zhou c-bets for 100,000 and Lo makes the decision.
The turn brings the 4♠ and a 160,000 second barrel from Zhou, which Lo again elects to simply flat call. The J♠ river completes a back door spade flush and Zhou fires for a 3rd time, leading out for 300,000. That is developing right into a huge pot - should Lo make the decision there'll be over 1 million chips within the middle.
However, Lo chooses to not call, instead announcing 'raise' and counting out 600,000 in total. Zhou quickly calls but can only shake his head sadly, folding 4♥4♣ face up when Lo shows A♠6♠ for the rivered nut flush.
That puts Lo waaaaaay out in front with 2,350,000 in chips while Zhou is left short with just 305,000.
8:40pm Level 16 Begins, Blinds 20000/40000 (5000)
Chip Count
Seat 1: Quan Zhou - 1,267,000Seat 2: Shashank Rathi - 1,239,000Seat 3: Henrik Tollefsen - 273,000Seat 4: Victor Chong - 273,000Seat 5: Rono Lo - 1,317,000Seat 6: Daniel Xiong - 837,000Seat 7: Li-Ta Hsu - 330,000Seat 8: Makoto Yoshimichi - 369,000
8:30pm: 10-minute Break
Discretion Before Valor
A strange hand has just developed between our two big stacks Quan Zhou and Rono Lo. It's Zhou within the drivers seat this hand, opening from the lo-jack for 70,000 and Lo makes the decision within the small blind. Daniel Xiong mulls it over but folds the massive blinds and we go heads as much as a flop of J♣7♥2♦.
Both players check and spot the A♦ turn at no cost with Lo leading out for a tickly 55,000 into the 210,000 pot; Zhou calls and we're off to peer the river, that is the 4♥.
We're unsure whether Lo has a read on Zhou or simply decides that discretion is the simpler a part of valor because after counting out 200,000 in chips Lo open folds his cards, showing the table 9♣. Zhou wins the hand and the pot, kindly showing us A♣4♣ for a rivered two pair. That implies our top two stacks look pretty close with both sitting on around 1.3 million.
Chandra's Exit Brings Bubble
As the general table's shortest stack for some time now Kunaal Chandra was walking a superb line between victory or tournament death and has just found the latter.
Down to his last 135,000 Chandra moves all-in from under-the-gun and after inquiring for a count Rono Lo makes the decision from the bring to an end. The blinds get out of how and the cards go on their backs.
Kunaal Chandra: K♦3♦Rono Lo: A♥6♥
As the in danger player Chandra needs some help and the flop brings something for everyone, falling 3♣9♦6♦. The illusion of the A♣ turn leaves the Indian player needing a diamond and while the K♣ river gives him two pair it is not enough to overcome Lo's Aces-up and we've got our first casualty of the overall table. That puts Lo firmly within the drivers seat and he's now our new chip leader with a stack of 1,350,000. We're now at the bubble with the following elimination guaranteeing our remaining seven players a payout of HK$267,160.
Lo Limps For Victory
Introducing a captivating change of pace Rono Lo has opted to limp the last two hands. While he took down the primary uncontested the second one proved to be much more interesting.
Sitting in middle position Lo limps for a second time picking up callers within the type of Li-Ta Hsu at the button and both Kunaal Chandra and Quan Zhou within the blinds and we go four-way to a flop of A♥8♣Q♠.
It's all check so we get to look a turn, that is 4♥. Following checks from both Chandra and Zhou within the blinds Lo leads for 100,000 and is looked up at the button by Hsu while the opposite two bow out.
The river is 7♣ and Lo fires again, this time for 150,000. Hsu tanks but does make the call, only to pitch his cards into the muck when Lo shows A♠Q♦ for a flopped top two pair. That sneaky play brings Lo up over the 1 million mark while Hsu drops to around 450,000.
7:50pm: Level 15 Begins, Blinds 15000/30000 (5000)
Chip Counts
Our chip leader continues to be currently Quan Zhou who's sitting on what looks to be 1,250,000. Zhou is closely followed by Shashank Rathi who has 1050,000.The remainder of the sector stacks up as follows:
Daniel Xiong - 965,000 Rono Lo - 620,000Li-Ta Hsu - 600,000Victor Chong - 400,000Makoto Yoshimichi - 320,000Henrik Tollefsen - 300,000Kunaal Chandra - 220,000
Runner Runner Rathi
Sometimes poker is a cruel game and woman Luck is a capricious mistress, something Henrik Tollefsen has just discovered. In an echo of 1 of our first final table hands Tollefsen opens for just over a min-raise from under-the-gun and Shashank Rathi again chooses to defend his big blind.
The flop comes down a coordinated but rainbow 4♦5♣7♥ and after Rathi checks his option Tollefsen c-bets 56,000, which Rathi quickly calls.
The K♣ turn brings another check from Rathi and a rather bigger bet of 101,000 from Tollefsen. Rathi quickly slides out the decision and the dealer peels the J♦ river.
Now Rathi springs into action and he quickly leads out for just about an entire pot bet of 300,000. Tollefsen looks bemused but obviously has something decent as he does make the call, only to dejectedly flick his cards into the muck when Rathi rolls over K♠J♠ for runner, runner two pair. That brings Rathi back over the 1 million mark while Tollefsen drops to 250,000.
Chandra Take A Hit, Then Doubles
We missed the action while posting the last hand ahead of the blinds went up but India's Kunaal Chandra took a large hit towards the top of the last level and was left with just below 70,000.
Level 14 has just kicked in and Chandra opts to make his stand with A♠Q♥ moving all-in pre-flop for 68,000. Henrik Tollefsen makes the decision from the button holding K♠J♦, and with a stack of around 950,000 he has the chips to spare.
Chandra flops top two when the cards come down A♦Q♣9♥ though he is not out of the woods yet as a 10 would give Tollefsen Broadway. The A♣ turn however, secures Chandra the double up and he climbs to about 150,000.
7:10pm Level 14 Begins, Blinds 12000/24000 (4000)
Zhou Edges Into Lead
So far the chip lead has changed hands thrice on our final table. No sooner has Daniel Xiong taken the lead then he relinquishes it to Quan Zhou. Sitting in middle position Xiong opens for 43,000 and both Zhou and Shashank Rathi within the small and massive blind respectively make the decision and we go three-way to a flop of Q♥K♣7♦.
Both blinds check and Xiong c-bets 86,000. Zhou calls pretty quickly and after Rathi folds out we go heads-up to the Q♣ turn. Zhou checks and after thinking it over so does Xiong so we get to peer a river, which brings the 2♥.
We can't see this changing much though it does mean that every one the draws have missed. Zhou counts out some chips, then counts out some more chips, recounts his stack and now leads out for 204,000.
Xiong looks unhappy but obviously feels he's behind and finally finds the fold dropping all the way down to just over 1 million. Zhou is now our chip leader with around 1.2 million.
Rathi Slips Up With Big Slick
A massive pot has just developed between chip leader Shashank Rathi and Daniel Xiong meaning that no sooner has Rathi edged out in front then he's right backpedal within the pack scraping it out with the remainder of the medium stacks.
Rathi is the architect of his own downfall when he opens to 48,000 from middle position and action folds around to Xiong within the small blind. The Malaysian player loves to take his time over his decisions and this hand is not any exception and he thinks it over for an even minute or so before announcing 'raise' and making it 80,000 more to head for a raffle of 128,000 in total.
Rathi three-bets to 278,000 in total (150,000 more) and Xiong quickly calls. The flop comes a low but connected 8♣6♥7♠ and Xiong wastes no time in moving all-in for 301,000 in total.
Rathi seems stunned by this turn of events and hits the think tank for an excellent 6 minutes. With just over 990,000 behind this bet represents an even third of his stack. Eventually though he does call only to find some distressing news, his A♣K♥ is behind to Xiong's K♦K♣.
The turn and river run out 9♦ and 8♠ meaning Xiong doubles to take the chip lead with a stack of 1.2 million while Rathi drops right down to 692,000. Quan Zhou is in second place at this time with just over 1 million, closely followed by Henrik Tollefsen on 950,000.
Rathi Takes Lead
Shashank Rathi is wasting no time here and is powering into the chip lead taking down back-to-back hands to edge into pole position. India's Kunaal Chandra kick starts the action with a raise to 43,000 picking up two callers within the type of Rathi and Rono Lo within the hi-jack and large blind respectively.
Lo checks the 2♣6♣3♦ flop and Chandra c-bets 55,000. Rathi tanks for a minute before cutting out a big stack of yellow 5k chips for a re-raise to 155,000 in total; that is enough to get Lo to bow out quickly and after mulling it over Chandra also folds meaning Rathi rakes within the pot and climbs to simply over 1.2 million in chips.
6:30pm: Level 13 Begins, Blinds 10000/20000 (3000)
Rathi Takes Down First Final Table Pot
With 9 players remaining and only the highest 7 getting paid no less than two of our remaining final tablists can be leaving empty handed. Sitting under-the-gun Norway's Henrik Tollefsen gets the action underway with a raise to 38,000 and it folds around to Shashank Rathi within the big blind who choses to defend and we go heads as much as a 9♦J♠J♥ flop.
Rathi checks, Tollefsen continuation bets 36,000 and the dealer burns and turns 4♦. This brings checks from both players and the A♣ river brings not more action either meaning Rathi's 9♣7♠ is sufficient to take down the primary final table pot.
6:25pm: Final Table Begins, Blinds 8000/16000 (2000)
6:10pm: 10-minute Break
Final Table
We have our final table with the landscape looking like this:
Seat 1: Quan Zhou, China - 1,059,000Seat 2: Shashank Rathi, Hong Kong - 1,027,000Seat 3: Henrik Tollefsen, Norway - 961,000Seat 4: Victor Chong, Malaysia - 264,000Seat 5: Rono Lo, Macau - 225,000Seat 6: Daniel Xiong, Malaysia - 615,000Seat 7: Li-Ta Hsu, Chinese Taipei - 724,000Seat 8: Makoto Yoshimichi, Japan - 415,000Seat 9: Kunaal Chandra, India - 510,000
Hero To Zero
While Eddy Kim began the day as our chip leader tournament poker is usually a fickle mistress and the bottom can fall out from underneath your feet at any time. Unfortunately Kim has just discovered he was sitting on a sinkhole.
A spot of earlier misfortune has seen Kim drop from 600,000 to what looks to be just over 300,000 and when he decides to defend his big blind against a late position shove of 178,000 from Japan's Makoto Yoshimichi this falls still further.
While Yoshimichi is the in peril player his 7♣7♥ is in front of Kim's A♠2♠ and stays that way when the board runs out Ace-less and spade-less. Yoshimichi climbs to 325,000 and Kim is left with what looks to be around 125,000.
This finds it's way into the center a scant few hands later when Kim shoves from late position with J♠4♠ and Li-Ta Hsu wakes up with A♠T♦ within the big blind and decides it's ok to defend with. Kim misses the flop meaning Hsu's Ace high is sufficient to take down the pot and show Kim the door. That puts Hsu as much as 724,000 and means we have our nine-handed final table. We'll post the chip counts and remaining players shortly so watch this space.
Ho Bows Out To Tollefsen
Cheng Ho have been ducking and diving for some time now but has just run right into a body blow and been floored by Norway's Henrik Tollefsen. All the eliminations recently have seen all of the chips go in pre-flop and this hand is not any exception.
Getting dangerously short Ho moves all-in for his last 130,000 in chips holding Q♥T♦ and Tollefsen makes the decision with the dominating A♦Q♦. Tollefsen pairs his Queen at the Q♠6♥J♣ flop and the turn and river run out 9♦ and 5♣ respectively meaning we're all the way down to our final ten players. Yet another bust out and we've got our final table.
Chandra KO's Yang
We have just lost another player within the type of reigning APOY Jian Yang. At this stage within the tournament it's about avoiding the automobile crashes up to it's about running good. Unfortunately for Yang he has just run his A♠Q♣ into the A♣K♠ of Kunaal Chandra who has Yang well covered.
Both players miss the board meaning Chandra's King kicker is sufficient to send Yang to the rail in 11th place while Chandra climbs to what looks to be around 600,000 or so in chips.
Kim Starts Comeback At Teng's Expense
Eddy Kim has recovered from his earlier misstep against Quan Zhou, however it has come on the expense of Victor Teng. The 2 get the entire chips in pre-flop with Kim's T♠T♦ slightly sooner than Teng's A♠K♥.
Teng is the in peril player and finds no help when the board runs out 2♠2♥8♦8♥J♠ and we're right down to 14 players. Kim climbs back as much as 600,000 after the hand and he's now only a double up clear of the chip lead, that is still held by Zhou who's sitting pretty on 1.2 million.
Last Gasp For Laidlaw
There was a slew of action because the blinds continue their irrevocable rise. Australia's Daniel Laidlaw has become our latest casualty because the action heats up in a car crash hand against Henrik Tollefsen. The 2 players got the entire chips in pre-flop and it looks as if lets actually have a three-way all-in as big stack Shashank Rathi mulls it over for somewhat but eventually decides discretion is the simpler a part of valour and folds.
The cards go on their backs and it looks as if Laidlaw goes to want some help to stick alive.
Daniel Laidlaw: A♣T♦Henrik Tollefsen: T♥T♣
The flop brings something for everybody coming down A♠T♠J♣ and despite pairing his Ace within the window Laidlaw still trails to Tollefsen's set of Tens. The turn and river run out 7 and 5 respectively and we lose another. Tollefsen climbs to 600,000 after the hand.
5:20pm : Level 12 Begins, Blinds 8000/16000 (2000)
Hoang Busts
Vietnamese player John Huang has become our latest casualty to shrink our remaining field all the way down to 15 players. The entire chips found their way into the center of the table pre-flop in a blind on blind battle between Hoang and tablemate Victor Chong with Hoang moving in from the small blind for around 150,000 holding K♥8♦ and Chong making the decision with A♥4♣.
Chong pairs his Ace at the A♠Q♠2♠ flop leaving Hoang drawing pretty thin. There is not any miracle runner runner and Hoang is left on life support with just 10,000 in chips.
This all finds it's way into the center next hand following a Victor Teng open for 25,000 and a choice from Japan's Makoto Yoshimichi. Teng leads out for 22,000 at the 7♠T♥2♠ flop, Yoshimichi calls and we go three method to the Q♦ turn.
Teng shoves for 150,000, Yoshimichi bows out and Hoang finds out the bad news - his Q♠3♣ is behind to Teng's K♥K♦ and we're right down to 15.
Kim Missteps, Quan Takes Lead
All it takes in No Limit Texas Hold'em is one mistake and the tournament landscape can drastically change. That's just happened here on either one of our two remaining tables. The largest change in stack has just happened over on table one in a hand between Quan Zhou and Eddy Kim.
While we missed the pre-flop action we caught the remainder of the carnage because it unfolded. Quan seems like he was the pre-flop raiser but has checked his option on a flop of 3♦6♠6♥. This opens the door for Kim who leads out for what looks to be around 30,000 only to peer Quan check-raise to 75,000 in total.
Kim wastes no time making the decision and we go heads-up to the K♣ turn. Quan checks for a second time, Kim fires for 60,000 and Quan check raises a second time. This looks obscenely strong but does little to discourage Kim who mulls it over for a minute or so before calling...
The river is the 9♦ and Quan Hollywoods it up making as though to shove the river before checking. Kim thinks it over before opting to guide out for 140,000 leaving himself 370,000 behind. Quan has around 550,000 behind so it is a significant decision and he tanks for what seems like an eternity before being clocked by Kim.
That galvanises Quan into making the decision and Kim can only sigh as he rolls over A♦7♦, that is behind to Quan's T♥T♦. That misstep sees our chip lead change hands and Quan becomes the primary player to damage the only million chip mark - he has 1.1 million in chips while Kim drops to 370,000.
Shashank Rathi was no slouch over on table 2 though, taking a pot off Cheng Ho at the river to climb to 950,000 in chips.
4:40pm Level 11 Begins, Blinds 6000/12000 (1000)
Go Ho!
Chen Ho has just made his first step at the road to recovery once you have his Kings cracked earlier, though it was on the expense of Daniel Laidlaw. Ho moved all-in pre-flop for what looks to be about 130,000 or so with A♥7♣ and Laidlaw defends his blind with 8♣8♦.
The board runs out 7♣9♥K♣A♣2♠ and Ho is back in contention with a stack of around 270,00 while Laidlaw drops to simply under 100,000.
Big Chick Kills Last Woman Standing
The field's last remaining female player, PokerStars Pro Celina Lin has just departed, busted by the hands of neighbour Huidong Gu. The entire action happened pre-flop with Lin shipping for 95,000 from late position and Gu tank calling from the hi-jack.
Tollefsen and Laidlaw fold out of the blinds and the cards go on their backs, Lin's 6♥6♦ racing against Gu's A♦Q♦. The flop is an unforgiving A♥T♦J♥ and while Lin picks up backdoor flush outs and further chop outs when the Q♥ lands at the turn the 7♠ river sees our sole remaining PokerStars Pro head for the exit. Gu climbs to 380,000 after that timely catch.
Tollefesen Cracks Cowboys
Henrik Tollefsen has got his Day 2 off to a perfect start. The Norwegian was unlucky to get his pocket Kings cracked by Daniel Laidlaw's Ace Jack late yesterday however it seems the boot is at the other foot today.
Sitting in early position with 73,000 Tollefson open shoves with A♣9♣ and is snap called by satellite qualifier Cheng Ho who has woken up with pocket Kings.
Unfortunately for Ho the Norwegian pairs his Ace to climb to only over 150,000 in chips while Ho drops all the way down to around 140,000.
First Blood To Kim
Chip leader Eddy Kim has picked up right where he left off yesterday and has sent our first casualty to the rail. Cards are not any sooner within the air before Richard Hu disappears in a flurry of chips. Hu, one among our shorter stacks with just over 13 big blinds, moves all-in with King Seven offsuit and Kim tanks for a minute before making the decision with 5♣5♠.
Hu fails to pair his Seven or King and we've our first casualty of the day. That puts Kim on over 900,000 in chips - a minimum of 200,000 greater than next nearest rival Shashank Rathi. After all this being tournament poker anything can happen and there's still far to go.
Short stack Liang Yu who returned with just 31,000 (3 big blinds) followed Hu to the rail shortly afterwards so we're now right down to two tables.
4:00pm: Level 10 Begins, Blinds 5000/10000 (1000)
We Have Ignition
Cards are within the air for Day 2 of the High Rollers. Blinds are 5000/10000 with a 1000 running ante. Stay tuned as we bring you the entire action because the afternoon progresses and we crown our eventual champion.
High Rollers return for more!
Welcome back to PokerStars LIVE Macau for our continued coverage of the Macau Poker Cup High Roller Event. Yesterday we saw a field of 59 prove for the HK$80,000 buy-in event, and after the primary day of play, we've reduced that number to a fair 20. However only seven of them will reach the money, and just one will take home the HK$1,465,000 top prize as our champion.
The player with the most productive shot on the title is Hong Kong's Eddy Kim, but there is a host of talent still lurking on this field including 2014 APPT Seoul High Roller champion Quan Zhou, reigning Asia Player of the Year Jian Yang and Team PokerStars Pro Celina Lin.
TOP TEN CHIP COUNTS1. Edward Kim (Hong Kong) -- 755,0002. Rono Lo (Macau) -- 698,0003. Shashank Rathi (Hong Kong) -- 653,0004. Quan Zhou (China) -- 518,5005. Daniel Xiong (Malaysia) -- 450,5006. Kunal Chandra (India) -- 314,5007. Victor Teng (Australia) -- 299,0008. Li-ta Hsu (Chinese Taipei) -- 297,5009. Huidong Gu (Macau) -- 279,00010. Makoto Yoshimichi (Japan) -- 229,000
Day 2 will recommence at 4:00pm local time where can we continue until a champion is crowned. Stay tuned to the PokerStars Blog for the entire live action because it happens!
Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: Asia Pacific Poker Tour]
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