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MPC21 Red Dragon final table set

Then there were nine! What started as 808 players is now down to nine as we have reached the final table of the MPC21 Red Dragon Main Event.

Leading the way with 3,155,000 in chips is China’s Hu Liu. That stack is more than double that of his nearest competitor in Australia’s Mathew Ryan with 1,765,000 in chips.

Check out the final table lineup below and stay tuned to the PokerStarsBlog for a full wrap-up of today’s action, along with profiles of the nine remaining players.

Seat 1: Takuya Yamashita (Japan) – 1,220,000
Seat 2: Wai Leong Chan (Malaysia) – 445,000
Seat 3: Enming Zhang (China) – 735,000
Seat 4: Zhenru Xie (China) – 1,275,000
Seat 5: Chen Wang (China) – 1,140,000
Seat 6: Pete Yen Han Chen (Chinese Taipei) – 1,250,000
Seat 7: John Q Hoang (Vietnam) – 980,000
Seat 8: Hu Liu (China) – 3,155,000
Seat 9: Mathew Ryan (Australia) – 1,765,000

The nine players will return from 2:00pm local time tomorrow and fight it out for the Red Dragon title, the HK$1,667,000 top prize and a Slyde ‘Titanium’ design watch that has a retail value of CNY 52,800 (approximately USD $8,480). Join us then for comprehensive live updates of the final table!

11:10pm: Kunaal Chandra eliminated in 10th place

Our final table is set!

It took two back-to-back hands to see Kunaal Chandra sent to the rail.

The first one started with action folding to Chandra in the small blind. He shoved all in for 700,000. Takuya Yamashita was in the big blind and went deep into the tank. He had 640,000 behind, so this decision was for his tournament life. Eventually he made the call, tabling K♥ Q♠ . Chandra reluctantly showed his 7♦ 5♦ . The board ran out A♣ 6♥ J♥ 3♣ 10♠ and Yamashita had doubled, while Chandra was down to just 60,000.

The very next hand, Chandra moved all in from the button. Yamashita called from the small blind, along with Hu Liu in the big blind. Chandra watched on as Yamashita and Liu checked down a 6♣ J♥ 10♣ 7♥ 7♦ board.

At showdown, Chandra would have likely thought his J♦ 10♠ was good enough for a triple up. However, Liu tabled his 7♣ 4♥ , scooping up the pot and sending Chandra home in 10th place.

With that, Day 3 is over as we are down to nine!

Stay tuned for the final table draw!

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Kunaal Chandra – 10th place

10:55pm: Chan faltering, Liu flying

Since making quad jacks a short time ago to stay alive in the tournament, Hu Liu has been on an absolute tear. He’s clearly the most aggressive player left in the tournament, which might provide some background for the following hand.

From the button, Liu raised to 100,000 and picked up a call from Wai Leong Chan in the small blind.

The flop landed 7♦ A♥ 9♦ and Chan check-called for 200,000 to see the 7♣ hit the turn. Chan checked and Liu fired again, this time for 275,000. Chan deliberated before making the call as the 9♣ double-paired the board on the river. Chan checked for a third time and Liu instantly slid 600,000 into the middle. Almost as quickly, Chan announced a call.

Liu cringed as it was clear he thought he was beat. He flipped over the 8♣ and followed that with the A♠ . Chan then showed A♦ 4♦ but there was no split pot on this board as the eight-kicker played for a rather remarkable three barrels of value.

Chan is now on the short stack with just 375,000 chips, while Liu is easily our chip leader with a mountain of chips in front of him.

10:45pm: Zhou’s elimination brings us to ten

Quan Zhou has been eliminated in 11th place and so we are now on the final table bubble.

Zhou’s final hand saw him shove the button holding J♣ 8♣ . Unfortunately for him, Wai Leong Chan looked down at A♥ K♣ and made the call from the blinds.

The board ran out 5♦ K♦ 2♣ K♠ J♥ and Zhou was sent home with HK$81,000.

Next player out takes home HK$100,000. They will also miss making the final table.

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Quan Zhou – 11th place

10:30pm: Back to bust two more

The break is over and the 12 players are back at the tables.

Two more eliminations and we will be at the final table and done for the night.

Blinds are now 20,000/40,000 with a 5,000 ante.


10:20pm: Break for 12

There was a bit of a lull in play recently. Maybe that will change when the 12 players return from their 10-minute break.

Check back here soon!

10:00pm: Quads will do for Liu

India’s Kunaal Chandra was in the cut off when he opened it up to 60,000. Hu Liu three-bet to 185,000 from the small blind and the action was back on Chandra. After a few moments, Chandra made it an extra 220,000 to and Liu quickly moved all in for 720,000. Chandra called and Liu was at risk.

Liu tabled his J♦ Jâ™  which was not looking good against Chandra’s Q♦ Qâ™  .

The 4♦ Kâ™  J♥ flop gave Liu the set of jacks he needed, but it wasn’t until the J♣ turn that Liu let himself celebrate. Quads will do that. The river bricked off and all of a sudden Liu was one of the chip leaders. Chandra, meanwhile, is still healthy with over 1 million in chips.

9:45pm: Winfred Yu sent home in 12th place

High roller specialist Winfred Yu has been sent home in 12th place.

It was Australia’s Mathew Ryan who dealt the blow to Yu.

There was a dead small blind following Marin Yum’s elimination and Ryan shoved all in from the button, with Yu being in the big blind. Yu called off his short stack and tumbled over 8♥ 7♦ , which he was surprised to see was racing against Ryan’s 6♦ 6♣ .

The board ran out A♠ 4♥ 10♥ J♣ 10♦ and Yu was on the rail.

Ryan is looking like the chip leader as 11 remain.

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Winfred Yu – 12th place

9:40pm: River sends Marin home in 13th

Marin Yum got her last chips in the middle holding A♦ 10♥ on a K♦ A♥ 7♥ flop. Her opponent, John Q Hoang, had A♣ 8♥ for a lower kicker. The 5♥ turn was safe for Yum, but the 8♠ river would see Hoang give a fist pump and scoop the pot.

For her 13th place finish, Yum picked up HK$66,000.

Next player out pockets HK$81,000.

9:30pm: Juicy unlucky in 14th

Mathew Ryan opened with an early position raise to 90,000 and action folded around to Juicy Li in the big blind. She looked at her cards and announced herself all in for another 280,000 on top. Ryan, now with plenty of chips to spare, made the call with Aâ™  J♥ but would need help against Li’s K♣ K♥ .

The flop was a safe 6♦ 4♠ 5♥ , but the A♥ turn fell from the sky like a dagger through the heart of Li. The river was the Q♥ to see Li unluckily eliminated in 14th place.

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Juicy Li – 14th place

9:20pm: Level 23 begins, Blinds 15,000/30,000 (5,000)

9:10pm: Sweden down in 15th

Sweden won’t have a representative on the MPC Red Dragon after the recent elimination of Raymi Sanchez Thorn.

Sanchez Thorn was first crippled in a hand against Zhenru Xie. It was an open by Sanchez Thorn to 50,000 before Xie moved all in. Sanchez Thorn called with A♥ Q♠ but Xie had Q♥ Q♣ and the ladies held for a big double up.

Sanchez Thorn was left with just 68,000 in chips and they were all in next hand with both blinds making the call.

The flop of 7♦ A♠ 2♦ and the blinds checked before John Hoang bet out 25,000 on the repeat A♥ turn. Juicy Li folded and the cards were on their backs.

“Flush draw,” said Sanchez Thorn as he opened 8♦ 6♦ but he could add pair outs as well up against Hoang’s ambitious 10♥ 2♥ for a pair of deuces. The river bricked the 3â™  to see Sanchez Thorn miss his draw to be eliminated in 15th place for HK$66,000 in prize money.

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Sanchez Thorn – 15th place

8:55pm: Clubbed to death

Japan’s Yuichiro Sodeyama was all in preflop holding pocket aces and was up against Kunaal Chandra with A♣ J♣ . Sodeyama looked fairly comfortable, well, that was the case before the dealer spread out a J♥ 6♣ 4♣ K♣ Q♦ board to give Chandra a flush.

Sodeyama out in 16th, while Chandra is cruising with a monster 1.6 million in chips.

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Kunaal Chandra is the new chip leader

8:45pm: Down to 16

Two players have just been eliminated. First it was Shen Xiongsong in 18th place and then it was Katsuya Muranaka in 17th.

Muranaka’s tournament came to an end when he rumbled with Mathew Ryan. It started with Ryan opening to 72,000. Muranaka then three-bet all in on his direct left for around 170,000 more. Ryan made the call and tabled Q♦ Q♥ , which was in pretty good shape against Ryan’s A♥ J♥ . Then the dealer spread out a 7♣ 2♣ A♦ 10â™  A♣ board and it was all for Muranaka.

Both Xiongsong and Muranaka took home HK$54,500.

8:35pm: Overnight leader starting to fall

Chen Wang moved all in from late position for a total of 312,000 and action folded around to Wai Leong Chan in the small blind who made the call with 5♦ 5♣ . Wang showed K♠ Q♦ and the race was on.

Neither player paired but the board of A♦ 2â™  8♦ 6♦ J♦ brought four diamonds to give Wang the bigger flush for the double up. He’s back in business with 640,000 chips while overnight chip leader Chan is now under pressure with just 320,000.

8:25pm: Back for more

The 18 players are back from their break and the cards are back in the air.

Blinds are now 12,000/24,000 with a 4,000 ante.

We will play until a final table of nine is reached.


8:15pm: Break time for 18

The final two tables have been sent on a ten-minute break!
When they return they will keep playing towards the final table.

8:05pm: Liu moves into chip lead

Hu Liu and Chen Wang haven’t wasted any time in getting acquainted on their new table with a couple of massive clashes. Liu got the first one without showdown with a river bet on a 7♦ Kâ™  8♥ A♣ 3♣ board and moments later he was in the thick of the action again with a raise to 60,000 from middle position. Weng made the call and the flop landed 10♦ 9â™  10â™  .

Liu led out for 100,000 and Wang called in position as the 2♥ hit the turn. Liu slowed and checked and Wang bet 125,000. Liu took his time before making the call as the 7♥ river completed the board.

Liu checked and Wang bet 150,000. This time Liu instantly called with 7â™  5â™  for a busted flush draw that rivered a pair and that was enough to beat Wang’s A♣ J♦ for just ace-high.

Liu is now up to 1.5 million with Wang slipping down to just 280,000.

7:55pm: Final two tables

Table One

Seat 1: Zhenru Xie – 260,000
Seat 2: Shen Xiongsong – 230,000
Seat 3: John Q Hoang – 500,000
Seat 4: Juicy Li – 310,000
Seat 5: Pete Chen – 1,150,000
Seat 6: Raymi Sanchez Thorn – 700,000
Seat 7: Mathew Ryan – 720,000
Seat 8: Katsuya Muranaka – 300,000
Seat 9: Winfred Yu – 410,000

Table Two

Seat 1: Wai Leong Chan – 500,000
Seat 2: Emning Zhang – 1,000,000
Seat 3: Kunaal Chandra – 1,300,000
Seat 4: Marin Yum – 325,000
Seat 5: Takuya Yamashita – 750,000
Seat 6: Hu Liu – 850,000
Seat 7: Chen Wang – 960,000
Seat 8: Yuichiro Sodeyama – 490,000
Seat 9: Quan Zhou – 550,000

7:35pm: Four quick outs and down to final two tables

We are down to the final two tables!

Chulwoo Park (22nd), Jixue Yin (21st), Alvan Zheng (21st) and Renjun Yang (19th) were the last four players eliminated and now the players are on a quick break while the final two tables are readied. We will post the final two table draw as soon as possible.

7:25pm: Winfred sends Wu home

Winfred Yu has just sent Ping Wu home in 23rd place.

Wu was all in preflop for just a small amount less than Yu, but with K♥ K♦ against Yu’s A♦ 5♦ , he was looking like doubling up, while Yu would be left crippled.

However, the 10♣ 7♥ A♠ 4♦ A♥ board gave Yu the better hand so Wu was on the rail.

Yu is now much healthier as he moves back up towards the average stack.

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Winfred Yu is still kicking and looking for the Red Dragon title

7:15pm: Level 20 begins, Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000)

7:10pm Three more and down to 24

We are now down to 24 players! Alvin Cheam (26th), Vincent Li (25th) and Shu Xu (24th) were the three most recent eliminations.

7:00pm: Showing the worse hand

Australian Mathew Ryan just took down a very handy pot. Ryan didn’t have the best hand but he had the biggest heart.

Ryan called a raise to 34,000 by Quan Zhou and the two took a flop of A♦ 8♠ 5♦ . Zhou led out with a continuation bet of 40,000 but Ryan responded by announcing himself all in. The total was about 330,000 more, and Zhou had over 800,000 in his stack, but after a few minutes of thought, Zhou flashed the A♠ and folded.

Ryan returned the favour by flashing the A♣ . But who had the bigger kicker?

“Do you wanna show the other one?” posed Ryan, and Zhou obliged with the K♣ . However Ryan revealed the 10♥ to the roars of the table. That’s one way to solve kicker problems as Ryan avoids disaster to move up to over 500,000 as Zhou is left to ponder what could’ve been.

6:50pm: New Red Dragon champion to be crowned as Leong gone

The Red Dragon will have a new champion as the last remaining former winner in the field, Kenny Leong, has just been eliminated from the tournament.

Leong had been battling with a short stack for most of the day, and with his last 104,000 chips he moved all in with 9♠ 9♣ . Zhenru Xie gave the decision some thought before taking it on with J♠ Q♣ .

The flop landed J♦ J♥ 7♦ to the sighs of Leong’s rail as Xie flopped trips for a commanding lead in the hand. The turn was the 10â™  and Leong picked up some hope with a straight draw, but the river was the 4♦ to leave Leong to depart the tournament floor.

At the very same time, China’s Zheng Mao Lin was eliminated from another table, so both Lin and Leong will split 27th place and receive HK$34,750 each.

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Kenny Leong has been eliminated from Day 3 of the MPC21 Red Dragon

6:40pm: Another double elimination and two extras gone

Four players have just been sent home in quick succession.

Firstly we had Wai Wong (32nd) and Wei Yang (31st) hit the rail. Then, Peter Chen dealt a double elimination to Koichi Nozaki (30th) and Wai Tung Lo (29th). Chen had a big stack and woke up with pocket aces, while the two all-in players had Ace-Jack and pocket kings respecitively. The board ran out jack-high and Chen sent the two players to the rail!

6:35pm: Aussie snags a double

Australia’s Mathew Ryan was in the cutoff when he opened it with a raise to 32,000. Zhenru Xie shoved his big stack in from the blinds and Ryan gave a bit of a shrug as he made the call.

Ryan had 232,000 behind and was looking good to double with his Aâ™  Kâ™  against Xie’s A♥ Q♣ . The board ran out a safe 4♣ A♣ J♥ 10â™  4♦ .

6:30pm: Kunaal Chandra gifted a big double

Kunaal Chandra was in the cut off when he opened it up to 34,000. Action folded to Takuya Yamashita in the small blind and he three-bet to 84,000. Back on Chandra and he would move all in for an extra 312,000. It was a huge decision on Yamashita and it would take him a long time before calling. When he did call, Chandra confidently turned over K♣ K♦ . Yamashita, on the other hand, didn’t look so confident as he tabled his Kâ™  Q♦ .

The board ran out 2♣ 6♠ 3♦ 7♣ 4♦ to see Chandra, from India, double to around 700,000.

6:25pm: Lone South African gone in 33rd

South Africa’s last hope Robert Schwartz has been bundled out of the Red Dragon. Schwartz was down to his last 46,000 in chips which he committed preflop with Kâ™  2♣ . Ping Jie Wu took it on with Aâ™  4♦ .

The flop landed 2♠ 3♦ 6♠ and Schwartz spiked a pair to take over the lead. The deuces were still in front with the 6♣ turn but the river 4♠ would give Wu a winning pair of fours to send Schwartz to the cashier.

6:15pm: Back for Level 20

The 33 players are back from their break and the cards are back in the air.

We are now beginning Level 20, with blinds at 8,000/16,000 and a 2,000 ante.


6:05pm: First break of Day 3

Exactly 33 players have been sent on their first break of the day.

The most recent player to be eliminated was Bin Hu, in 34th place.

Play will kick back off in 10 minutes!

5:55pm: Leong’s quest continues

Inaugural Red Dragon champion Kenny Leong’s quest for a second title wasn’t looking too good earlier as he was down to just 31,000 in chips. Luckily for Leong, he was able to double up.

Leong was under the gun when he moved all in holding A♥ 2♣ . Robert Schwartz was the lone caller with K♠ 9♠ . The board ran out 10♣ 2♦ J♠ 5♣ 5♦ and Leong scooped the double to survive.

5:40pm: Xiongsong’s full house double

Ping Jie Wu opened with a cutoff raise to 30,000 before Shen Xiongsong three-bet to a total of 75,000 in the small blind. Wu thought briefly before giving the triangle sign to the dealer to declare himself all in. Xiongsong thought for a few moments before announcing call.

Xiongsong showed 9♥ 9♣ and the race was on against Wu’s A♥ Q♣ . The board of 2♣ 5♦ 2â™  Jâ™  9â™  was an emphatic win for Xiongsong with a full house to double through to 470,000, leaving Wu on 175,000.

5:30pm: Four more down as Pete Chen flies into lead

Four more players have hit the rail in rapid-fire succession.

Nang Quang Nguyen (38th) and Yuki Ko (37th) were the first two to go, then Jean Pierre Didier (36th) and Edward Kim (35th) were eliminated in a double knock out. You might recognise Kim as the player who started the day with the second largest stack. His chips, along with Didier’s, went to Pete Chen, who is our new chip leader with 1.2 million in chips.

Interestingly, Chen is currently 5th on the Asia Player of the Year leader board. Any big result here will likely put him into the lead.

5:20pm: Couple of Doubles

The double ups continue to come early on Day 3 of the MPC Red Dragon. Alvin Cheam and Bin Hu reunited their rivalry with Cheam extracting some revenge for the earlier blow.

Cheam shoved the button with the old 9â™  2♦ and Hu called in the big blind with K♥ J♦ but the board of 9♥ 2♥ 3♣ 5♣ Kâ™  delivered Cheam two pair on the flop for the double up. He’s back to 220,000 and has a little breathing room.

Another to double was Zhenru Xie. He moved all in from the button with 4♦ 4♠ and was called in the small blind by Wei Yang who held A♥ Q♥ . The board was spread 9♣ 9♦ 2♠ 10♦ 5♠ to see the pair survive and Xie double to 330,000 as Yang fell to 270,000.

5:10pm: Yin tops Yang

Yang Wang is the latest casualty from the MPC Red Dragon. Wang’s last chips were all in preflop with A♦ 7♣ against Jixue Yin’s 8♦ 8â™  .

The flop landed 9♠ 8♥ 6♠ to see Yin spike a set as Wang stood to his feet in despair. However on closer inspection he realised that he picked up a straight draw and still had some hope to stay alive. The turn was the Q♥ and river the 3♦ to miss Wang and send him to the cashier in 40th place.

Yin is up to 430,000.

5:00pm: Level 19 begins, Blinds 6,000/12,000 (2,000)

4:55pm: Two more down

Lainyu Cheng (42nd) and Ke Jing Li (41st) have both recently made their way out of the tournament and with that, the MPC21 Red Dragon Main Event is down to 40 players!

4:50pm: Not En Zhang’s day

It’s just not En Zhang’s day.

His unfortunate circumstances began with a 8♠ A♥ 10♦ flop. Shen Xiongsong had just 36,000 in chips and went all in holding A♠ J♣ . Zhang called with his 10♣ 8♣ for two pair and it was looking like he would send Xiaongsong home. The 5♦ turn was safe, but a J♠ river gave Xiongsong a double up and left Zhang with just 50,000 in chips.

A few hands later Zhang went all in with A♦ 8♦ preflop and received a call from Ping Jie Wu, who held A♣ 6♦ . Zhang was in front and the news got better with a 3♦ 4♣ Q♦ flop as it gave him a flush draw. Then the 5♣ turn and the 2♥ river meant Wu had made a runner-runner straight and just like that Zhang was eliminated in 43rd place.

4:40pm: Two more down

Two more players have been eliminated from the MPC21 Red Dragon.

Chin Te Chiu finished in 45th, while Martin Gait claimed 44th.

4:30pm: Cheam slips as Hu doubles

Alvin Cheam has just taken a hit to his stack with a double up going the way of Bin Hu. Cheam opened with a raise holding Aâ™  Q♣ and then called the shove from Hu who tabled 6♣ 6â™  . The board ran out J♦ 5♦ 10♥ 6♦ 7♥ to see Hu spike a set for the double. He’s up to 250,000 with Cheam slipping to 160,000.

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Alvin Cheam still has enough chips to not be in complete danger

4:20pm: First elimination of the day

We have just lost our first player of the day.

In quite an unlucky scenario as well.

Alan Lau had under 100,000 when he looked down at A♥ A♠ .

A good time to pick up aces.

Lau got all his chips in preflop and received a called from Wei Yang on his direct left, who held Q♥ 9♥ .

Lau was in great shape to double up, but the J♥ 4♦ 9♣ 5♦ Q♣ board meant that Yang had made two pair to send Lau home in 46th place.

4:10pm: Two double ups to start the day

The first ten minutes of play have seen two players double up.

First it was Pete Chen who scooped an all in. Chen was all in preflop holding Kâ™  8♣ against Koichi Nozaki’s A♦ J♦ . The board ran out 5♦ Qâ™  5â™  K♣ 3â™  and Chen had turned his start of day stack of 83,000 into well over 150,000.

Next to double was the familiar face of Winfred Yu. He got all his chips in preflop holding 8♣ 8♥ and went up against Zheng Mao Lin’s A♥ Q♥ . The board ran out 10♣ 7♣ 10♦ 9â™  3â™  and Yu picked up the double.

4:00pm: Cards in the air on Day 3

The 46 returning players have taken their seats, ripped their bags open and the first hands of the day are now being dealt!

We will be playing until we reach the final table.

Blinds kick off at 5,000/10,000 with a 1,000 ante.

The MPC21 Red Dragon will reach a final table today

No matter how you look at it or which calculator you use 46 does not go into nine. Unfortunately 37 players will learn that the hard way as we begin the penultimate day of the MPC21 Red Dragon Main Event.

Leading the way at this point, with 766,000 in chips, is Wai Leong Chan. He’s followed by Edward Kim with 559,000 in chips. Tung Lo (370,000), Yifan Zheng (344,000), Koichi Nozaki (319,000), Martin Gait (231,000) and Alvin Cheam (176,000) are also still alive.

One player who will have plenty of attention on him today is Kenny Leong. He won the very first Red Dragon Main Event six years ago. If he can win this tournament he will be just the second player to win two Red Dragon title. He has one of the shorter stacks with 144,000.

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Kenny Leong could create Red Dragon history

The cards will be in the air from 4:00pm local time and there will be live updates until we reach a final table here at the PokerStarsBlog. You find the MPC21 Red Dragon day 3 seating draw here and in the meantime, stay tuned!

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