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PokerStars APPT Macau Main Event Final Table Concludes

September 6, 2008

American Eddie Sabat Wins 2008 APPT Macau!
Heading into the final table of the Asia Pacific Poker Tour in Macau - aka the APPT - there was only one thing on the mind of a lot of the fans and railbirds following the Main Event final table:

Which unknown would win it all?

The remaining 9 players were all relative unknowns heading into final table action.  While the spotlights were indeed shining brightly on all of them, it was still anyone’s tournament to win given that no particular player had an advantage in regards to experience and skill level.  Hometown hero and Macau citizen Kuok Cheong was hoping to be one of those very unknowns that would make his leap into the mainstream with a big win today.

Before play began, the talk of the table involved Singapore’s Bryan Huang and American Eddie Sabat, who were both holding onto dominating chip sizes over their remaining opponents.  Hometown heroKuok Cheong was hoping to be a surprise darkhorse winner, but his $334k short stack would put him at a big disadvantage considering the blind levels at the start of the finale.

As play proceeded, it would be relatively short period of time before the final table had its first couple of bustouts.  The aforementioned Macau representative, Kuok Cheong, would unfortunately have his poker dreams dashed in 6th place, along with a few other colorful personalities taking their spot on the rail soon thereafter.  A big series of all-ins and some crazy showdowns in between all that would quickly wittle the field to just 3 players.

It would be Charles Chua and the chip leaders at the beginning of the final table, Eddie Sabat and Bryan Huang, all vying for the first place title and the $450k+ payday that came with it.  Huang was thought to have it in the bag as held 60% of the chips heading into 3-handed play.  That lead would quickly vanish over a fast and furious set of hands, resulting in a final meltdown that saw him push all-in preflop with A4 versus Eddie Sabat’s AK offsuit.  The board bricked out and Sabat’s kicker would send Huang packing in 3rd place.

The unlikely Chua would battle it out heads-up versus California native Eddie Sabat.  He would need a lot of help, as he ended getting down nearly 4 to 1 at one point during this time.  Unfortunately for Chua, help never came - even when he was ahead on the pivotal last hand that saw him hit top pair (Qs 3c) on a Qd 6d 6c flop versus the flush draw (K J diamonds) of Sabat.

The black Ace on the turn may not have improved Sabat’s situation at the time….BUT, the 2 of diamonds on the river sure did!  Sabat had made his King-high flush and felted the unlucky Chua for the APPT Macau championship!

Eddie Sabat took home the $453k 1st place prize, while Charles Chua of Malaysia took home a little over $291k for his 2nd place effort.

Written by SoCalPokerChick · Filed Under Live Poker News 

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