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Daniel Negreanu Wins the WSOP APAC Main Event ($1,038,825)

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Five days ago 405 players took to the felt of the Crown Poker Room in Melbourne, Australia for the inaugural WSOP APAC Main Event. Each and every one of those players all hoped to become the first-ever champion, but only one could go down in the history books this evening, and tonight that is none other than poker super star Daniel Negreanu.

Beginning just over twelve hours ago, the WSOP APAC Main Event final table kicked off with eight starry-eyed players at the table. From the very first hand and through the first few levels it was clear we were in for a long day of tough poker. It took almost three hours before the first elimination, with last year’s ‘Octo-Niner’ Russell Thomas finding the rail in 8th place. From there, the action marched on as local player Mikel Habb (7th), start-of-the-day chip leader Benny Spindler (6th) and Kahle Burns (5th) all found the rail a few places shy of glory.

During the night and especially during four-handed play, one of the talking points was Winfred Yu’s ability to stay alive as he had been all in a total of seven times without finding the rail. Yu continued to hang onto life as George Tsatsis hit the rail in 4th place when a miracle river gave Negreanu the goods and enough to take a massive chip lead into three-handed action.

Having survived an eighth all in, it was the ninth time unlucky for Yu as he would be eliminated in a very gallant 3rd place. Being that Negreanu dealt the fatal blow to Yu, he would take a 10-1 chip lead into the heads-up battle against Aussie Daniel Marton.

The champagne was on ice, a ridiculous sum of cash was on the table and the bracelet was Negreanu’s for the taking. However, it wouldn’t be that easy as Marton scored some lucky cards to double up and become a threat. Negreanu was visibly frustrated, but destiny would be on his side as the final hand would fall his way and he would be crowned the champion.

WSOP APAC Main Event – Final Table Results1st: Daniel Negreanu - $1,038,8252nd: Daniel Marton - $637,9113rd: Winfred Yu - $423,2254th: George Tsatsis - $284,7155th: Kahle Burns - $201,9946th: Benny Spindler - $146,2057th: Mikel Habb - $107,7308th: Russell Thomas - $82,721

Not only does Daniel Negreanu go home with a cool seven-figure score for his victory, the WSOP APAC Main Event marks his fifth gold bracelet. It’s also a bit of retribution for his runner-up finish back in the WSOP Europe Main Event in 2009. A big congratulations to Daniel Negreanu as he continues to solidify his place in the history books as one of poker’s all-time greats.

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Daniel Negreanu Wins the WSOP APAC Main Event ($1,038,825)

Daniel Marton eliminated in 2nd place ($637,911); Daniel Negreanu Wins!

A couple of small ones

One Flop in these Five

Another chop!

Marton Has Alligator Blood

Marton taking it up to Kid Poker

Nice One for Negreanu

Marton survives!

First Heads-Up Hands

Heads-up chip counts

Winfred Yu eliminated in 3rd place ($423,225)

Mind games

Yu and his Eight Lives

Can Negreanu be stopped?

Not Too Much Action

Two Nothings and a Break

Fast and furious

George Tsatsis Eliminated in 4th Place ($284,715)

Relentless George

Let's Play Some More Poker

Not Much and then a Break

Big slick sweat

Daniel Negreanu Going for Fifth WSOP Gold Bracelet (Video)

Double, Double Ups

George full of aggression

One Flop in Five

Yu won't die

Not Much of Anything

Tsatsis surging

Kahle Burns Eliminated in 5th Place ($201,994)

Flush for Tsatsis

Daniel Marton: From Pub Poker to the Big Leagues (Video)

Tsatsis bets busy

Play resumes

One before the break

Massive Tank for Burns

Burns splashing around

Sick Bluff From Marton

Wu sticks it in

Marton Moving on Up

More for Negreanu

First Five-Handed Hands

Benny Spindler eliminated in 6th place ($146,205)

Mikel Habb Eliminated in 7th Place ($107,730)

First Hand of New Level

Tsatsis slides

Aussie Businessman Mikel Habb Hunting $1m (Video)

Dinner Over, Play Resumes

Counts at Dinner

Kahle Shows Bluff Before Dinner

Action slows

Spindler Getting Short

Another double up for Yu

Double For Habb

Remarkable double for Winfred

Russell Thomas Eliminated in 8th Place ($82,721)

More for Negreanu

Negreanu clips Burns

Eight Are Back Again

More for Burns

Nice One for Burns

All in and chop

Yu Plays it Strange

Negreanu and Spindler tangle

Habb Finally Gets Involved

Another big one for Negreanu

Back with Counts

Another monster pot for Negreanu before break

Double Up for Yu

Negreanu applies the heat to Tsatsis

Few Small Pot, Yu Shoving

Spindler still active

One for Kahle, One for Negreanu

Spindler flexes his muscle early

Let's Go!

Time to Crown the First-Ever WSOP APAC Main Event Champion

Philipp Gruissem Crowned High Rollers Champion

Cheong Out