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Brian Tougias takes down WPT Cambodia Main Event

The biggest-ever live poker tournament in Cambodia crowned the winner from the USA, Brian Tougias crushing the tournament to become the first WPT Cambodia Main Event champion. The tournament ran from 21-25 November observing leading poker players from beyond the Asia-Pacific region at NagaWorld in Phnom Penh.

A record-breaking 750 entries with each one paying a buy-in of INR $1,100. The prize pool shot up to become $727,500, tripling the guarantee amount, a share of which taken away by the top 94 finishers on Day 2. Tougias also earned 1500 points for WPT Asia Pacific Player of the Year leader board.

The 29-year old who comes from Boston captured his career biggest live cash win only after entering Asia for the first time. The online crusher, Tougias grabbed his second live cash in his entire poker career. The titleholder stated, “I feel great. Four months ago, I was teaching PE and swimming lessons on Koh Samui had a couple of big scores online and stopped teaching. I have only been playing professionally now for four months and semi-pro for five years, but it is pretty surreal. My birthday was yesterday, and I couldn’t ask for a better birthday gift.”

The final 9 took to their seats yesterday to battle it out.  The competition saw its first casualty, Jiyoung Kim heading out in 9^th position facing Tougias’ Kd Kh over her As Qh. Next in action, Kai Fu Wong lost hope after Wong’s 10d 10h dominated his pair of Sevens, eventually falling in 8^th place.

Pacing through this turbulent ride, heads-up got underway with Wong ahead 2:1 chip lead carrying a stack of 15.7 million against Tougias’ 6.8 million. The latter earned a big pot of 4.4 million with his trip Sixes. Now on top, Tougias continued to maintain his dominance. The tournament reached the final hand, Tougias raise to 400k and got a call from Wong holding 10c 9d. On flop 8s 5d 7d, the former check-bet 300k and the latter raised to 2.1 million, Tougias shoved holding Kd Kh. Nothing changed for Wong who had a gutshot draw. Turn and river 4h 4c ended the tournament right there eliminating Wong in the runner-up position and the crystal trophy belonged to Tougias along with a whopping $131,430 cash prize.

Final table payouts:

1. Brian Tougias – $131,430
2. Kai Fu Wong – $92,152
3. Jae Kyung Sim – $59,400
4. Aladin Reskallah – $43,941
5. Si Yang Phua – $33,574
6. Kue Seong Tchong – $26,583
7. Alex Lee – $22,007
8. Yong Cheong Foo – $17,504
9. Jiyoung Kim – $13,146

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Image Courtesy: SoMuchPoker

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