Wayne Yap wins! (HK$2,292,720)

Wayne Yap has done it!

A stacked field of 114 entries took part on this MPC24 Red Dragon and after two days of play Yap has emerged victorious. He earns himself HK$2,292,720 for his impressive performance here.

We'll have a whole recap of the overall table up soon!

3:00am: Xixiang Luo eliminated in 2nd place (HK$1,528,000)

Heads up play would only last 10 minutes after a cooler after which a foul beat in back to back hands meant it was in every single place for Xixiang Luo.

Luo had Q♣2♣ and Wayne Yap had 5♥5♣ so when then flop landed Q♠5♠2♦ it was almost inevitable that each one the money would get in. That's exactly what happened and Luo couldn't catch a queen at the 3♥ turn or 8♣ river to depart his stack decimated.

The very next hand players were all in again but it surely was preflop this time. Luo had the most efficient of it with 7♠7♣ against Yap's K♣7♥ however the board ran out 9♦9♣9♥T♣K♥ to peer Yap spike a king at the river and shut out the tournament.

2:50am: Quan Zhou eliminated in 3rd place (HK$934,000)

Four-handed play can have lasted hours but almost once fourth place was awarded, Quan Zhou hit the rail in third spot.

It was Zhou's A♠K♣ versus Wayne Yap's J♠4♣ all in preflop.

The 3♠5♦7♠ flop saw Yap pick up gut shot outs but he missed at the 9♣ turn. The J♣ river, however, paired Yap to indicate the top of Zhou's tournament run.

2:45am: Jack Salter eliminated in 4th place (HK$722,000)

It appeared like Jack Salter was never going to be eliminated but his luck finally ran out within the hand just gone.

Salter got it in preflop with K♣T♣ and needed some help against Xixiang Luo's J♠J♦.

By the turn Salter had picked up a flush draw however the river bricked off at the 2♣6♥5♥9♣2♠ run out. Salter leaves us in 4th place and collects HK$722,000 for his efforts.

2:35am: Salter's run good continues

Regardless of ways bad Jack Salter's cards are it kind of feels he's unbreakable here in this final table.

Salter moved all in preflop with 9♥5♥ for his last 1.2 million and when Xixiang Luo awoke with A♣A♦ and called it seemed like Salter's luck was finally up.

A nine within the window at the 3♠2♥9♣ gave him just a little hope.

"Four of hearts please" Salter requested however the J♠ rolled off instead.

The river, however, came the 9♦ and the railbirds let loose a mix of gasps and laughs as Salter hit trips to outlive again.

2:25am: Salter finds a miracle chop

There's no wrong way to mention; Jack Salter is running good.

Xixiang Luo limped from the small blind before Salter moved all in with A♥8♣. Luo snapped with K♥K♦ and was more healthy to take us to three-handed play.

The K♠6♠9♠ gave Luo top set and a stranglehold at the hand.

"Spades!" Salter called for, and again he wish was granted with the A♠ turn and J♠ river putting a flush at the board and chopping the pot.

"I can't die!" Salter reminded the table because the dealer split the chips up.

2:15am: Chip count update

Xixiang Luo - 3,950,000Wayne Yap - 3,410,000Quan Zhou - 2,32,000Jack Salter - 1,720,000

2:05am: Level 25 begins, blinds are 100,000/200,000 with a 30,000 ante

1:55am: Break time

Players are actually on a scheduled 10-minute break.

1:50am: Salter swinging

Well almost once Jack Salter won a large pot from Quan Zhou he lost it straight back.

Players were all in before the community cards. Salter was dominated holding A♠8♦ while Zhou had A♥T♣. The board came 2♦6♠5♥J♥3♥ and Salter dropped right down to 1. 8 million.

Zhou now has 1.8 million to play with.

1:45am: Salter survives again

Jack Salter has come from behind again after being all in and in danger. This time it was to the detriment of Quan Zhou.

The two were all in preflop with Salter holding J♣9♦ and needing to enhance against Zhou's A♠T♠.

Salter found it with a jack within the window at the T♣3♦J♦ flop. He faded the Q♦ turn and 5♥ river to double as much as 2.8 million.

1:30am: Luo doubles through Zhou

Wayne Yap opened the betting for 320,000 and Quan Zhou made the decision from the button. Next to behave Xixiang Luo pushed all in for 1.7 million and after Yap folded, Zhou asked for a count.

After a couple of moments Zhou called to peer his A♣T♥ was dominated by Luo's A♠K♣. The 5♠7♠7♥ brought some outs to cut but Luo would improve to the nut flush by the river because the board ran out Q♠ and 2♠.

That hand knocked Zhou all the way down to 2.4 million.

1:15am: Level 24 begins, blinds are 80,000/160,000 with a 20,000 ante

12:45am: Louis Salter eliminated in 5th place (HK$552,000)

It was a battle of the brothers that resulted in the tip of Louis Salter's run here tonight.

After his brother Jack moved all in for 1,390,000 in chips, Louis moved all in excessive for less than two big blinds more. With the remainder of the table folding the 2 all in players tabled their cards.

Jack: Q♥T♠Louis: A♦Q♠

Louis had the dominant hand but shook his head because the dealer spread the T♥J♣2♣ flop. He had outs to Broadway or an ace to make a better pair but he found none of them because the 8♠ turn and 2♥ river saw his stack obliterated.

Only a couple of hands later Louis was forced all in for his last 75,000 within the big blind. Quan Zhou limped within the cutoff and Jack called from the small blind because the three of them went to a flop of 8♦K♦Q♣.

Jack led out for 120,000 and Zhou called to peer the 3♠ turn. Jack barrelled for 265,000 this time and was again met with a decision. The Q♥ river arrived and Jack checked over to Zhou who slid out an enormous bet before Jack threw his hand away.

All the while Louis were standing up looking resigned to his fate and he saw his T♥7♦ was crushed by Zhou's K♠Q♠ full house.

Louis leaves us in 5th place and collects HK$552,000 for his impressive run here this week.

12:30am: Jack Salter survives

Jack Salter was recently susceptible to finishing in 5th place after an all in confrontation with Quan Zhou.

Salter held K♠J♦ and was behind Zhou's A♣4♣ as they saw the flop land 7♣9♥7♦.

"Can now we have a ten please?" Salter asked with the hope of improving to a double gut shot straight draw however the Q♠ arrived at the turn. Instead Salter had picked up a single gut shot straight draw and would win if he could discover a king, jack or ten.

Salter's request for a 10 was answered because the T♠ rolled off to finish the board and provides Salter a straight.

"It's hard to kill me, I DO NOT die" Salter said as he raked the 1,600,000 chip pot.

12:15am: Luo doubles through Yap

Xixiang Luo was all the way down to around 10 big blinds but he found a double up through Wayne Yap.

Luo was all in preflop with A♣T♠ against Yap's 4♥4♦ and he managed to spike a 10 to take the lead at the T♥6♣9♥ flop. No four would seem at the K♠ turn or J♣ river and Luo moved as much as 1,400,000 in chips.

11:55pm: Play resumes

Our final five players have returned to the action.

Here's their current chip stacks;

Wayne Yap - 3,835,000Quan Zhou - 3,540,000Louis Salter - 1,705,000Jack Salter - 1,270,000Xixiang Luo - 1,050,000

11:45pm: Time for a break

Players have stepped clear of the table for a scheduled break.

11:40pm: Wei Zhang eliminated in 6th place (HK$467,000)

Players are flying out the door now. We've already lost four here in this final table with Wei Zhang the newest casualty.

As have been the rage recently the money was all in preflop and again the 2 players were flipping.

Quan Zhou: T♠T♣Zhang: A♠K♦

The T♥J♠3♣ saw Zhou improve to a collection but Zhang still had live outs to Broadway. That was until the J♦ paired the board to indicate that Zhang was drawing dead.

Zhang was out of his seat and shaking the hands of his tablemates by the point the 4♠ river arrived.

11:30pm: Ya Hui Xu eliminated in 7th place (HK$382,000)

And then there have been six.

Ya Hui Xu was ejected in 7th place after his pocket ace did not hold.

All in preflop with A♥A♦ Xu were called by Quan Zhou with Q♠Q♣ and Xu looked good for a double up. He faded danger throughout the J♣8♣7♠ flop however the Q♦ left him dead to 2 outs and prompted an enormous outburst from Zhou.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Zhou screamed while fist pumping furiously.

The 8♥ appeared at the river with the set of queens holding to look Xu eliminated.

11:20pm: Zhou doubles through Jack Salter

Jack Salter just took a large hit to his stack when Quan Zhou doubled through him.

The pair got the entire money in preflop and saw they were flipping for a 2 million chip pot.

Salter: 8♣8♥Zhou: A♥Q♣

"I'll take a chop. Put all diamonds in the market" said Salter.

The Q♦3♦2♥ flop left Salter chasing an eight to scoop the pot before the J♦ arrived at the turn.

"Let it snow!" Salter began singing however the Q♥ completed the board and the pot was shipped to Zhou.

11:05pm: Level 21 begins, blinds are 40,000/80,000 with a 10,000 ante

10:45pm: Vikram Nanda eliminated in 8th place (HK$340,000)

It wasn't long until we lost our second player with Vikram Nanda exiting in 8th place.

Nanda found himself all in preflop and behind against Louis Salter.

Nanda: J♣T♦Salter: A♣K♣

There was no help for Nanda at the 6♠4♦5♦Q♥Q♠ runout and he headed or the payout desk to gather HK$340,000.

10:30pm: Wei Zhao eliminated in 9th place (HK$297,000)

It took lower than an orbit for us to lose our first player from the general table.

Wei Zhao started with a really perfect short stack and he couldn't run it up after Quan Zhou sent him packing.

Zhao moved all in for under four big blinds when it folded to him within the cutoff and Zhou called to position him in danger. The gang laughed because the cards were tabled with Zhao holding 9♦4♦ to Zhou's 7♥2♠.

The laughs grew louder because the flop landed 2♥T♦7♣ to make two pair for Zhou. The A♥ turn meant Zhao was drawing dead before the J♥ completed the board.

Zhao leaves us in 9th spot for HK$297,000.

10:20pm: Final table begins!

It's time for the High Roller final table!

Wayne Yap is leading the way in which into our final nine.

Here's where the players are sitting and what kind of they're stacking.

Seat 1: Louis Salter - 2,140,000Seat 2: Wayne Yap - 2,195,000Seat 3: Vikram Nanda - 695,000Seat 4: Wei Zhao - 260,000Seat 5: Quan Zhou - 2,165,000Seat 6: Xixiang Luo - 1,635,000Seat 7: Jack Salter - 1,155,000Seat 8: Ya Hui Xu - 645,000Seat 9: Wei Zhang - 510,000

9:25pm: Yum exits; Final table set!

The final table has now been decided here with the elimination of Ryan Yum.

Yum got his stack in preflop with 8-9 but was dominated by Louis Salter's Q-9.

Despite improving to a couple of nines at the river, Yum's kicker was no good and he hit the rail in 10th place for HK$255,000.

The final nine players have now commenced a 45-minute dinner break before returning to minimize to a champion.

9:15pm: Aaron Lim eliminated

Aaron Lim were left with a brief stack after doubling up Jack Salter and he moved his chips all in from under the gun with K♣T♦.

It folded around to Jack Salter within the big blind and he snapped it off with the dominating A♦K♦.

The board ran out 5♥6♠J♥A♥8♠ and Salter held to send Lim packing.

9:00pm: Jack Salter doubles through Aaron Lim

Jack Salter have been nursing a brief stack for some time and moved his last 295,000 all in from under the gun. Aaron Lim was next to behave and he decided to transport all in excessive for 665,000.

The remainder of the table folded and the 2 active players tabled their hands.

Salter: A♦9♠Lim: K♠J♣

Salter was in front and stayed that way because the cards came A♥T♥4♠2♥4♦.

"You're lucky" Xixiang Lu said to Salter after the hand, "I folded ace-queen."

8:45pm: Level 18 begins, blinds are 20,000/40,000 with a 5,000 ante

8:30pm: 10-minute break

Our final 13 have left the action momentarily for a scheduled break.

8:25pm: Robert Yao bubbles, 13 remain

Players at the moment are within the money here after a cooler sent Robert Yao home at the direct money bubble.

Yao raised from under the gun to 60,000 and Xixiang Luo called to peer a flop of K♣7♣2♠. After a check from Yao, Luo had a stab at it for 70,000 and was met with a decision. The J♥ turn went check-check and when the river brought the 8♥ Yao moved all in.

Luo quickly called with 8♣8♦ for a rivered set and Yao tabled 2♥2♣ to turn he'd been two-outered at the river.

Yao leaves us in 14th place as our final 13 guarantee themselves no less than HK $233,000.

Bubble boy - Robert Yao

8:15pm: Jack Salter wakes up with nines

The action folded around to Quan Zhou within the small blind and he moved all in covering shortstack Jack Salter's 135,000. Salter called to position himself in danger and showed 9♠9♣. As play was hand for hand he was told to flip his hand back over but not before Zhou flashed him the 3♥.

"I'm pretty lucky to search out this spot" Salter said to tablemate Aaron Lim while he waited for the all clear to table his hand.

Finally Zhou showed 3♥2♠ and would wish numerous help to send Salter home and burst the cash bubble. The 9♥K♠7♣, however, meant Zhou was already drawing dead to Salter's set of nines. Salter improved to quads at the 9♦ turn before the T♥ river rolled off and he stayed alive and earned some much needed chips.

7:50pm: Level 17 begins, blinds are 15,000/30,000 with a 5,000 ante

7:40pm: Louis Salter still climbing

Louis Salter has had a fair level. After eliminating Nan Tu not way back he was at it again just now, this time sending Henrik Tollefsen home.

After a raise to 50,000, Tollefsen opted to push his last 540,000 into the center. Salter asked for a count before making the call, and with the initial raiser out of how the cards went at their backs.

Tollefsen: A♦K♥Salter: J♠J♦

It was a coinflip but Salter's jacks would hold at the 5♥5♠8♥7♣3♦ runout to eliminate Tollefsen. Salter now has 1.8 million in chips.

7:25pm: Tu dominated and out the door

It folded around to Nan Tu on the button and he raised to 50,000 in chips. When it got to Louis Salter within the big blind, he moved all in with enough to hide Tu's remaining 400,000.

Tu thought for a moment but called off with A♣J♣ to look Salter had him in bad shape with A♠Q♣. The 6♠5♣Q♥ improved Salter to top pair and all but ended it there. Tu needed running cards to stick alive but they would not come at the 6♥ turn and 5♠ river.

Tu leaves us as Salter climbs to 1,200,000.

7:10pm: Level 17 begins, blinds are 15,000/30,000 with a 5,000 ante

7:00pm: Espina eliminated

Sergio Espina was just sent to the exit five places from a payday after running into Vikram Nanda's pocket kings.

The hand began with Nanda opening to 45,000 under the gun before Espina moved all in. Nanda snapped it off and players tabled their cards.

Espina: A♦Q♣Nanda: K♥K♣

Espina needed help to stick alive however the 9♠Q♥9♦8♣8♦ runout wasn't enough.

Espina was eliminated while Nanda moved as much as 820,000 in chips.

6:45pm: Nan Tu doubles through Jack Salter

"I'm all in" announced Jack Salter after the action folded around to him within the small blind.

Salter had enough to hide Nan Tu's 170,000 within the big blind but Tu aroused from sleep with pocket aces and called it off immediately.

Salter: J♥8♠Tu: A♠A♦

The K♣9♦6♣4♥6♠ brought no help for Salter and Tu double up.

"Nice hand" Salter said with a grin after the pot have been raked clear of him.

That hit knocks Salter right down to 265,000 in chips.

Jack Salter

6:30pm: Play resumes with 18 left

We're right down to two tables now. Here's where our final 18 are sitting and the way they stack up.

Table 18Seat 1: Ryan Yum - 730,000Seat 2: Elliot Smith - 835,000Seat 3: Yuguang Li - 310,000Seat 4: Robert Yao - 290,000Seat 5: Xixiang Luo - 740,000Seat 6: Quan Zhou - 1,200,000Seat 7: Ya Hui Xu - 680,000Seat 8: Aaron Lim - 440,000Seat 9: Wei Zhang - 420,000

Table 19Seat 1: Nan Tu - 140,000Seat 2: Henrik Tollefsen - 340,000Seat 3: Vikram Nanda - 650,000Seat 4: Louis Salter - 810,000Seat 5: Wei Zhao - 180,000Seat 6: Sergio Espina - 240,000Seat 7: Wayne Yap - 2,200,000Seat 8: Dong Zhao - 620,000Seat 9: Jack Salter - 340,000

6:20pm: 10-minute break

Players have stepped away for an additional 10-minute break.

6:05pm: Zhou gets there

Quan Zhou just gained a large boost to his stack after winning a coinflip to eliminate an opponent.

The two got the money all in preflop and Zhou had A♥Q♦ against T♥T♦.

Zhou bricked the J♦2♦5♣ flop however the 6♦ turn and 4♦ river brought him a runner-runner flush.

"Yes!" Zhou cried with an accompanying celebratory fist pump as he locked up the pot and eclipses the 1 million in chips mark.

5:50pm: Davies done for

US pro Scott Davies' High Roller is over after a coarse beat sent him hurtling out of the tournament area. He got the entire money in preflop holding the most efficient hand in poker but unfortunately couldn't hold.

Davies: A♥A♦Opponent: Q♥Q♦

The T♣T♠Q♠ flop dealt a large blow to Davies' chances and while the T♥ turn gave him one extra out to quads with an ace kicker, the 3♥ river bricked off to peer him eliminated.

5:35pm: Level 15 begins, blinds are 8,000/16,000 with a 2,000 ante

5:25pm: Zhang hits the rail

Wayne Zhang jumped straight into this High Roller after finishing runner-up within the Red Dragon last night but he has fallen by the wayside after a three-way all in.

Zhang moved the last of his chips in from under the gun with K♦J♥ and was called in two spots by players holding A♦A♥ and 8♠8♣. Zhang couldn't take the a the board came A♠9♣4♣T♣3♦ and he headed for the exit.

5:10pm: We lose one to Lim

First-ever two-time APPT Champion Aaron Lim has eliminated Tony Cheng after a preflop confrontation.

Cheng made a button jam for 173,000 before Lim moved all in excessive. The large blind folded and the 2 players flipped up their hands.

Lim: K♣Q♦Cheng: A♦2♠

Cheng looked good to double up at the A♠K♥3♠ flop and while the 4♦ turn changed nothing, the Q♠ arrived at the river to enhance Lim to 2 pair and make sure Cheng's exit from the tournament.

Lim now sits with 536,000 in chips.

4:55pm: Level 14 begins, blinds are 6,000/12,000 with a 1,000 ante

4:45pm: Zhang eliminated

Yang Zhang finished 7th place within the Red Dragon last night, but he won't be repeating another deep run here tonight after being eliminated by former High Roller champion Yuguang Li.

Li made a preflop raise to 20,000 before Zhang moved all in for his last 128,000. Li made the decision and the cards went on their backs.

Zhang: A♠J♠Li: K♠Q♠

Zhang was in front until the J♥2♠K♦9♣4♥ saw Li spike a couple of kings to send Zhang packing. Li moves as much as 430,000 in chips.

4:30pm: Tu bombs it

Nan Tu just took a pot from Xixiang Luo with a sizeable river bet.

The preflop action saw Tu raise to 22,000 from the cutoff before Luo opted to defend his big blind. The flop landed K♦7♣J♠ and both players checked to the 8♥ turn.

Luo then took the betting lead, making it 32,000 to head. Tu made the decision and the dealer revealed the 8♥ river card. A check from Luo warranted Tu to slip forward 103,000 in chips.

Luo loaded up a decision and gave the impression of he was about to decide to it but in spite of everything he threw his hand within the muck. Tu adds that pot to his 360,000 behind.

Nan Tu

4:15pm: Play resumes; payout information

Players are back of their sets and cards are within the air after the primary 10-minute break.

Now that the tournament is locked out the numbers has been finalized. We have now a complete of 114 entrants - crushing the former tournament record of 75.

That implies that 13 players will see a return on their investment. Here's how those payouts look;

1st - HK$2,292,7202nd - HK $1,528,0003rd - HK $934,0004th - HK $722,0005th - HK $552,0006th - HK $467,0007th - HK $382,0008th - HK $340,0009th - HK $297,00010th - HK $255,00011th - HK $255,00012th - HK $233,00013th - HK $233,000

4:05pm: First break

Players have commenced their first break of the day. Play resumes in 10 minutes.

3:55pm: Yap finds a straight

Wayne Yap just came from behind to crack an opponent's pocket aces in a contemporary hand. Yap was all in preflop with T♠T♣ and had the player holding A♥A♣ covered.

The cards fell 3♥9♥Q♣K♦J♥ and Yap found himself a runner-runner straight to eliminate his opponent.

That lucky runout for Yap brings his stack as much as 640,000.

3:35pm: Kobylynski caught out

Xixiang Luo brought it in for a raise to 17,000 at the button and Artem Kobylynski defended his big blind. The flop came down 7♣K♣6♥ and Kobylynski check-called a big gamble of 22,000.

Both players checked at the J♠ turn before the T♣ river rolled off.

Kobylynski took his time studying the pot before leading out for 38,000. Luo asked to look Kobylynski's stack and when he saw 58,000 he went into the tank.

After a couple of moments of deliberation Luo tossed in a decision and Kobylynski winced before sheepishly flipping up 8♦6♠ for bottom pair. Luo tabled T♦5♦ for slightly better and raked within the pot.

3:20pm: Level 12 begins, blinds are 4,000/8,000 with a 1,000 ante

3:15pm: Zhou springs the trap

Steven Zhou just took down a pot against Scott Davies with a well-timed check raise.

On a flop of J♠8♦6♦ Zhou checked his way to see Davies bet 25,000. It was then that Zhou came back excessive for greater than half his stack with a reraise to 77,000.

"How much do you will have"? Davies asked.

Zhou moved his hand to expose the 50,000 behind and Davies went into the tank.

Davies contemplated for roughly two minutes before ultimately throwing his hand away.

3:00pm: Zhao runs into aces

Dong Zhao might be thankful that his opponent was short stacked after he lost a couple of chips against pocket aces.

The flop fell 6♥Q♦8♣ and Zhao led out for 15,000. He was played back at with an all-move for 40,000 and Zhao called it off with a gut shot straight draw.

Zhao: J♠T♠Opponent: A♠A♦

Zhao needed a nine or running cards to scoop the pot but he couldn't get there because the 7♥[ turn and T♥ river completed the board.

2:45pm: Level 11 begins, blinds are 3,000/6,000 with a 500 ante

2:40pm: Bad river sends Celina Lin packing

Team PokerStars Pro Celina Lin was super short-stacked and moved in for her last 19,000 with ace-jack. Wing Cheong Chong made the decision with a suited 4-5 to place the Team Pro at risk.

Lin would avoid any danger until the river spelled disaster at the Q-2-2-8-4 run out. Chong paired his four and Lin was eliminated from the tournament.

2:35pm: Ramakrishnan scores a double

Rajkumar Ramakrishnan recently earned a double up after finding himself all in preflop against Zhen Wang. Ramakrishnan had the most efficient of it with pocket kings and was trying to fade an ace and keep his tournament alive.

Ramakrishnan: K♥K♦Wang: A♥J♦

The community cards fell 4♦9♣5♣3♠9♥ and Ramakrishnan survived, knocking Wang right down to 57,000 in chips.

2:15pm: Stacked field

As to be expected for our Red Dragon High Roller a stellar field has filled the room here at PokerStars LIVE Macau.

Among the action are the reigning High Roller champion James Chen, ACOP Main Event runner-up Thomas Ward, in addition to Team PokerStars Pros Yaxi Zhu and Celina Lin.

Also in attendance are Michael Egan, Jack Salter, Louis Salter, Aaron Lim, Henrik Tollefsen, Geoff Mooney, Raiden Kan, Scott Davies, Yuguang Li and Alex Ward.

2:00pm: Level 10 begins, 2,000/4,000 with a 500 ante

MPC24 HK$80,000 High Roller final day kicks off soon

The Red Dragon Main Event could have concluded last night but now it is time for the HK$80,000 High Roller! We had 103 entries yesterday and with late registration still open for the primary 40 minutes today that number could climb even higher.

Of those 103 there are 62 absolute to return today. They'll play it out today until a champion emerges. As late registration isn't locked out yet we do not have a primary place prize set however the prize pool currently stands at HK$7,969,360.

Last night's Red Dragon runner up Wayne Zhang jumped straight within the High Roller field after his 2nd place finish. He'll be back-to-back deep runs in Macau. We'll highlight other notable names some of the field once play is underway.

The action kicks off at 2pm so stay tuned!

Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: Asia Pacific Poker Tour]