Singapore calling

On the face of it, the $5,000 buy-in Texas Hold’em tournament on the fourth floor of the Mandarin hotel in Singapore doesn’t look that unusual.

A few big-name players are milling about chatting. A few extra-keen qualifiers are already sat at tables and hundreds of others are wandering from table to table peering in turn at the number on their ticket and at the numbers on the tables, trying desperately to match the two.

But this is a major landmark. It’s the first poker event of any magnitude to take place in Asia and it marks the first leg of a new raft of tournaments that aim to open one of the largest and traditionally most rabid gambling markets in the world to the delights of Texas Hold’em.

In the run-up to the Main Event, Betfair has run a number of super satellites and MTTs and the Singaporean authorities are not only keeping a beady eye on proceedings, but have already curtailed the side action to sit-and-gos, with an extra stipulation made after day one that they can’t be run as single-table tournaments. Instead action kicks off with 12 people on two tables of six that play down to the final table as soon as two players go out. Apparently it’s because they want to distance themselves and the poker action as far from gambling as possible. And in their minds, cash games and single-table tournaments are too risqué. But no one really cares, especially not the locals who’ve managed to register themselves in time, and have been throwing chips around like the tables are going to disappear before the next hand’s dealt.

Wednesday

At 1.00pm, 313 players including eleven Singaporeans and well known pros like Gus Hansen, Liz Lieu, Tony G and Willie Tann are all gearing up to play themselves into the history books. Also in the mix are PokerPlayer readers ColU_FC and Colch Kev, who are, unbelievably, both Colchester United fans, leaving the terraces at Layer Road completely empty for the weekend.

By the end of the first day there are only 56 players left in from the starting field of 313. Both of our readers are out (see diaries) but not down.

Thursday

The aim today is to play down to the final table of 10 players with tournament money going to 36 places and a top prize of $451,700 (US).

16.35
And we’re approaching the bubble when UK player Graeme ‘Grazza’ Newman faces an all-in bet in front of him. He ponders for a few minutes, calls, and his opponent flips 5-5 to his 10-10. The flop’s harmless but a Five comes on the turn and Newman stands, and slams the table. He’s still in the tournament, albeit severely depleted, but worse is to come. Five minutes later the Fives strike again as another set dumps him out of the tournament on the bubble.

20.51
Irishman Brendan Walls flops a set of Nines, when Singaporean day trader Joshua Ang flops Tens. Brendan Walls is still in but critical. New Zealander Lee Nelson leans back in his seat with a wry smile on his face and remarks, ‘That was a cooler hand.’

21.50
Tony G knocks out former world champion Mansour Matloubi with K-J against Matloubi’s 9-2 on an A-4-A-10-A board. Matloubi was extremely shortstacked and forced into going all-in.

22.33
And predictably it’s Tony G who takes the last person out before the final table. Calling a raise pre-flop, Tony G moves all-in on a board of 10-7-2. Carl Linderson calls and flips Q-Q against Tony G’s A-10, only to see an Ace arrive on the turn. Uncharacteristically, Tony G starts talking: ‘That’s the 21st victim today and he’s the only one who got unlucky.’

Friday

16.00
It’s a final table that does Singapore proud, with two of their own playing against two big-name pros (Lee Nelson and Tony G), and the UK and Ireland are well represented with Jeff Kimber, Mark Whent and Brendan Walls.

Final table:
Starting chips
Samuel Lehtonen (SWE) 897,500
Tony G (AUS) 717,500
Joshua Ang (SING) 309,000
Lee Nelson (NZ) 257,000
Hans Vogl (GER) 250,500
Jeff Kimber (UK) 240,000
Brendan Walls (IRE) 183,500
Mark Whent (UK) 101,000
Neil Hsin Si Young (SING) 98,500
Henrik Dahlgaard (DEN) 74,000
Blinds: 6000/12,000; 2000 ante

16.05
The two Singaporean players instantly go to war. Neil Hsin Yi Young is extremely short-stacked and makes a move at the wrong time. Ang begins his assault on the final table by picking up his chips and Young goes to the rail with $17,500 and a generous ovation from the audience.

16.10
It could be the shortest final table in history as Brendan Walls goes out after making a move with K♣-9♣. Lehtonen picks up Aces on the button and, although Walls has a glimmer of hope with a straight draw on the turn, a Deuce on the river sends him packing.

16.18
The spectacular start continues with a huge hand. With A-10, Tony G calls a raise from Ang. Josh has 9-9 and looks in massive trouble when two Aces drop on the flop. Both players check and another Nine comes on the Turn giving Ang a full house. Tony G is down from a commanding stack of over 700,000 to a little over 300,000.

16.30
Tony G wins his first hand at the final table when he gets a walk with 6-6 in the big blind. He gets a small round of applause, which he milks furiously.

16.38
Lee Nelson calls an all-in with A-8 and loves the fact he’s up against Henrik Dahlgaard’s J♦-8♦. The board comes Q-4-3-9-A board, to knock Dahlgaard out in seventh place.

17.05
Tony G raises to 40,000 on the button. Everyone passes and he flips A-K saying, ‘I’ve got a big hand. In fact you can’t get any bigger than this.’ Lee Nelson tells him that it’s called Anna Kournikova because ‘it looks good but needs to improve to win’. Ah, the old ones are always the best.

17.34
Hans Vogl moves all-in with A♣-6♦ and Lee Nelson, who has him covered, calls showing A-Q. Nelson calls for the Q♥, which arrives on the flop, along with two clubs. With the 6♣ on the turn, Vogl has outs but the river card – Q♦ – wins the pot for Nelson and sends Vogl home in sixth place.

18.11
Another player drops, this time Mark Whent, who pushes with K-2 on the small blind. Lee Nelson calls with Q-10 and grimaces when a Two hits the flop. But the Queen on the turn brings the smile back to his face and means Whent goes out in fifth.

19.05
Samuel Lehtonen, the dominant chip leader, has been playing good, solid poker for the past couple of days but after calling a big bet on the flop with King-high, he calls another huge bet on the river without his hand improving. Ang thinks his 4-4 is beat and can’t believe it when Lehtonen shows his hand. The pot’s worth around 700,000 and Ang moves into the chip lead.

19.20
Chip count: Samuel Lehtonen 850,000; Joshua Ang 1,000,000; Tony G 570,000; Jeff Kimber 270,000; Lee Nelson 400,000 Blinds are 10,000/20,000 with a 3000 ante
Tony G raises pre-flop with 2-3, which Ang flat-calls with A-J. On the K-8-J flop Tony G bets out 80,000 and Ang calls. A Ten comes on the turn and both men check. When a Nine drops on the river Tony G is convinced he can take the pot off Ang and bets 80,000, saying, ‘Go on, be a star.’ Ang thinks for a minute and then makes a bet forcing Tony G to lay the hand down.

19.42
Jeff Kimber raises to 65,000 with 5-5 and Ang comes over the top, re-raising to 130,000. Kimber moves all-in and Ang calls showing 8♥-9♥. The flop of 10-6-4 is harmless, an Ace drops on the turn, but the river’s a Nine putting the last UK player out in fifth.

19.51
After hitting two-pair on the flop of J-4-Q, Tony G moves all-in after a bet of 65,000 from Lehtonen. The Swede passes and Tony G pounces on the weakness. ‘That’s it. I warned you I was going to get nasty from now on. I’ve got the gun out. No more checking the flop from me. I’ve been doing that all day and I’ve had enough. You need to hit a flop from now on if you’re going to play.’ It’s an ominous sign.

21.02
Lehtonen moves all-in once too often and his A-7 and is called by Ang with A-10. Neither hand improves and the Swede goes out in fourth.

21.10
Chip count: Joshua Ang 1,800,000, Tony G 740,000, Lee Nelson 550,000 Blinds: 12,000/24,000 with a 4000 ante
Ang raises to 85,000 with 6-6 and Tony G moves all-in with 10-10. Ang calls and neither hand improves. Tony G doubles up and is now chip leader with 1,500,000 chips.

21.31
Ang picks up A-K and Lee Nelson has Jacks. Ang raises to 250,000, Lee Nelson moves all-in and Ang calls. It’s a classic coin-flip and Nelson’s looking good on a 10-5-5 flop but two Kings drop on the turn and river putting him out in third place. The audience explodes as Ang takes a big chip lead into the heads-up battle with Tony G.

21.40
Chip count: Joshua Ang 1,800,000, Tony G 1,300,000 Blinds: 15,000/30,000 with a 5000 ante
Tony G might have the experience but Ang is here to play and isn’t afraid to make a move. He raises pre-flop with A-6 and Tony G calls him with A-5. It’s a danger hand for both players but the flop’s a harmless Q-3-4. Both players check, but when a Nine drops on the turn Tony G bets out. Ang raises to 400,000 and Tony G folds.

21.50
Ang raises to 150,000 with A-Q and Tony G calls with 5♠-3♠. He’s calling with pretty much anything and obviously wants to play post-flop poker. The flop is J♠-6♠-Q♠ giving Tony G the flush and Ang top pair. He can’t get away from it and all the chips go in doubling up Tony G, who’s now chip leader with around 2,200,000.

21.58
Ang raises to 120,000 with 7♣-8♣ and Tony G carries on flat-calling with any two cards. This time he’s got a monster 7-4 off-suit. The flop of K-9-7 brings them both bottom pair. Both players check and the case Seven drops on the turn. Inevitably all the money goes in the middle but unbelievably Ang hits the Eight on the river for a full house. Tony G groans and has to start all over again.

22.18
Tony G flat-calls again with 8-2 and both players check the flop of 10-10-3. The turn brings an Ace, which gives Ang top pair, but again both players check. On the river Tony G bets out 500,000 on a stone-cold bluff and the two players eyeball each other for a few minutes. Tony G tells Ang that he just needs to make the call to win the pot. Eventually Ang lays down the best hand and Tony G flips the bluff.

22.30
Ang raises pre-flop with A-J and again Tony G calls with 10-6. He hits a Ten on the flop and announces all-in. Joshua looks at the 10-8-K, weighs up his options and decides to call. He looks resigned but he’s got two overcards and a gutshot straight draw to hit. Basically any paint will win him the pot, but a Three on the turn and a Four on the river seal the deal for Tony G who jumps to his feet a deserved winner.

Results:
1. Tony Guoga $451,700
2. Joshua Ang $233,200
3. Lee Nelson $116,600
4. Samuel Lehtonen $102,000
5. Jeff Kimber $87,400
6. Mark Whent $72,900
7. Hans Vogl $58,300
8. Henrik Dahlgaard $43,700
9. Brendan Walls $29,200
10. Neil Hsin Si Young $17,500