It's been a while since I last played a full APT Series. It is great to see many new faces at the event, including floor staff. There were also some new formats that I played in and found it quite fun, like 80% bounty winner takes all HR, PLO lazy river.
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| Always nice to be doing the chip races |
It was nice to see some old friends as well, especially the APT team some I've known for more than 10 years. My first ever career trophy was an APT event, so the series is extra special to me. It was also nice to start my series with back to back ITMs and an ITM in the main.
First event on the bubble I had AKo and opened UTG, big bully didn't see my open and thought he opened in MP and almost flipped over his hand when everyone else folded. Flop came KT5ssc. I cbet small and he reraised and I am left with shove or fold. Knowing his open range is super wide, but it was also bubble time, I wasn't planning to back off. I jammed he showed K5o, but thankfully the turn A secured my day 2 spot and ITM with a decent stack.
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| Night exploration of Danang city |
Day 2 I ran that stack up to a top 5 stack only to meet with this hand. UTG rips for 17bb and I am on the button looking down at AQo. If I win this hand I would definitely be overall chip leader, but if I lose I still have a playable above average stack so I went with it. He flipped over KQ but hit the K on the river. The immediate next hand I get TT vs KQ again and doubled up another guy. I soon went out shoving Q9 into KJ into the eventual winner.
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Immediately after busting I jumped into the Mystery bounty where I ran really well to end the day 2nd in chips. An Australian friend Craig was down to his last 500 in chips when he shoved his KK into my AA. I was rooting for him to win that hand and he spiked a King. Eventually he finished 5th in this event where I fizzled out on day 2 without even one bounty.
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| Banh Xeo by Grab |
I fired 3 bullets in the main event with my third try ended day 1C as chip leader. I made a sick bluff with Q9o on a KT8AA board and ran good to finish day 1 on a high. On day two I had a chance to get a monster stack when my QQ met with AK and AJ all in preflop. Unfortunately K hit and I had to grind the rest of the day out. Ended with a shallow ITM and a lot of could haves.
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| It's too hot to walk around during the day |
I bricked out the rest of the series, with my last hand of the series AA72 losing to KKT5 all in on a 733 flop. But I am glad I wasn't alone this series. It was always comforting to return to my hotel to my biggest fan and supporter. Food in Vietnam in general has always been good and we've had the chance to have some nice meals during this trip.
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| Drinking my sorrows away |
Overall not the result I was hoping for, but I liked how I played, without fear and being creative at times. However I must admit I was being a bit punty with the PLO events but I really needed to let off some steam. Interestingly, 4/6 of the events I played, I was knocked out by the eventual champion. GG, next stop Poker Dream Malaysia. Hope to see you there.
