8:30pm: Mathew Ryan eliminated in 2nd place (HK$1,100,000), Zhenru Xie wins!
It’s all over! Mathew Ryan has been eliminated in 2nd place and Zhenru Xie has been crowned the champion of the MPC21 Red Dragon Main Event.
The final hand of the tournament saw Ryan shove the button for around 750,000 and Xie hesitated before making the call.
Ryan was at risk holding J♦ 4â™ and was coming up against Xie’s 7â™ 2â™ .
When the dealer turned over a 9♣ 8♥ 7♥ flop, Xie’s rail went wild.
The turn was a A♥ and the river was a 5♣ to seal the deal for Xie.
For finishing as the runner-up, Ryan takes home HK$1,100,000.
Our new champion, Zhenru Xie, pockets HK$1,667,000, along with a Slyde ‘Titanium’ design watch worth CNY 52,800 (approximately USD $8,480) and of course, the beautiful Red Dragon trophy!
1st Zhenru Xie (China) – HK$1,667,000
2nd Mathew Ryan (Australia) – HK$1,100,000
3rd Takuya Yamashita (Japan) – HK$658,000
4th Pete Yen Han Chen (Chinese Taipei) – HK$491,000
5th Hu Liu (China) – HK$350,000
6th Chen Wang (China) – HK$290,000
7th John Quoc Tuan Hoang (Vietnam) – HK$232,000
8th Enming Zhang (China) – HK$175,000
9th Wai Leong Chan (Malaysia) – HK$135,600
Thanks for tuning into our live coverage of the MPC21 Red Dragon! There will be a full recap of Xie’s victory on the PokerStarsBlog as soon as possible. Congratulations, once again to Xhenru Xie!
8:25pm: Xie wins huge pot, takes massive lead
After starting heads-up so strong, Mathew Ryan’s tournament is on life support.
Zhenru Xie had the button and raised it up to 250,000. Ryan three-bet to 500,000 and Xie called.
The 8♠3♠3♥ flop would see Ryan lead for 600,000 and Xie call.
The turn was an A♣ and Ryan shoved his big stack all in. Xie had 4,425,000 behind and instantly called, tabling A♦ 3♣ for a full house. Ryan quietly turned over K♦ 8♥ .
The river was a K♥ and Xie’s rail roared in excitement.
Xie is now up to just over 11 million in chips, while Ryan is left with 900,000.
8:15pm: Ryan on a heater
Zhenru Xie was on the button when he raised it up to 250,000. Mathew Ryan called from the big blind and the dealer flipped over a 5♦ 8♠10♦ flop. Ryan led for 275,000 and Xie called. Both players checked the 4♥ turn. On the 7♥ river, Ryan led for 350,000 and Xie called.
At showdown, Ryan tabled 9â™ 6â™ for a rivered straight. Xie’s cards went into the muck.
Xie is now down well under 5 million, while Ryan is storming away.
8:05pm: Ryan wins even more
Mathew Ryan has just taken down another pot, this time going to showdown with Zhenru Xie on a 3♣ Q♦ J♦ 6♠J♠board. Ryan got three full streets of value, leading for 200,000 on the flop, 350,000 on the turn and 500,000 on the river. Xie flat-called everr bet and mucked when Ryan showed A♦ 6♣ .
Ryan is up to 7 million. Xie is down to 5 million.
8:00pm: Ryan takes the chip lead
Mathew Ryan has just moved into the chip lead!
He won back-to-back hands to do so.
The largest of those hands started with Ryan limping the button. Zhenru Xie checked and the dealer flipped over a 5♥ 3♦ A♠flop. Xie led for 100,000 here and Ryan called. Both players checked the K♣ turn and a 3♣ completed the board on the river. This time Xie led for 350,000 and Ryan raised it up to 1.05 million. Xie decided to fold and more chips went to Ryan.
Xie is now down under 6 million. Ryan has just over 6 million.
7:50pm: Mathew Ryan gets some back
Mathew Ryan had the button and opted to limp. Zhenru Xie checked his big blind and the dealer flipped over a J♥ 10♥ 9♦ flop. Xie check-called a bet of 200,000 here and then check-called a bet of 300,000 on the 10♣ turn. The river was a 6♥ and this time Xie led for 350,000. Ryan made it 1.2 million to go after some though, Xie folded and sent the pot to Ryan.
Xie is back to 6.7 million. Ryan is up to a little over 5 million.
7:40pm: First one goes to Zhenru
Zhenru Xie has won the first significant hand of heads-up.
It started with Xie opening the button to 200,000. Mathew Ryan called and the dealer spread out a 4♣ 6♥ Q♣ flop. Ryan led for 300,000 here and Xie promptly raised it up to 800,000. Ryan opted to fold and the pot went to Xie.
Ryan is down to 4 million, while Xie is up to 8 million.
7:30pm: Heads-up begins
The cards are in the air!
There is just around one hour remaining in the current level.
7:20pm: Heads-up counts
It’s China’s Zhenru Xie and Australia’s Mathew Ryan heads-up for the title!
Here is how they stack up.
Zhenru Xie – 6,995,000
Mathew Ryan – 4,980,000
Both players are guaranteed HK$1,100,000. The top prize is HK$$1,667,000 (~US$215,000), a Slyde ‘Titanium’ design watch worth CNY 52,800 (approximately USD $8,480) and of course, the prestigious Red Dragon trophy.
Play will be underway in around five minutes.
7:15pm: Takuya Yamashita eliminated in 3rd place (HK$658,000)
Just like that we have reached heads-up!
It was a brutal day at the felt for Takuya Yamashita and it stayed that way until the bitter end.
His final hand began when Zhenru Xie opened it up with a raise on the button. Yamashita moved all in for 1.3 million from the big blind and Xie called.
Yamashita tabled A♣ 8♣ , Xie tabled J♥ 9♦ and once again Yamashita was in good shape in an all-in situation.
Then the dealer spread out a J♠J♣ 6♦ flop and all Xie could do was turn away in disgust. The Q♥ turn and the 7♥ river brought Xie no help and so it was all over in 3rd place.
Yamashita takes home HK$658,000.
The two remaining players are heading on a break as the table is prepared for heads-up action.
7:05pm: Pete Chen eliminated in 4th place (HK$491,000)
Pete Chen has been eliminated!
Chen shoved all in for 1 million in chips from the cutoff. Mathew Ryan called from the button and the blinds got out of the way.
Ryan tabled his 9♦ 9♥ and Chen sort of shrugged as he showed 3♠3♦ .
The board ran out 5♥ Q♥ 8♦ 5♠10♠and Chen was sent home in 4th place for a HK$491,000 score. This result also means Chen will take a solid lead in the Asia Player of the Year.
Just a few hands ago Ryan was the short stack of the final five and now with 5.5 million is the overwhelming chip leader with three players remaining.
The three players are now guaranteed HK$658,000.
7:00pm: Level 28 begins, Blinds 50,000/100,000 (10,000)
6:50pm: Luck is on Mat’s side
Mathew Ryan has just got extremely lucky to double up and now sit with the chip lead.
It started Ryan opening it up to 300,000 from the button. Yamashita then three-bet to 900,000 from the small blind. Back on Ryan and he moved all in for 2,150,000.
Yamashita instantly called and tabled A♠A♦ . Ryan was at risk with A♣ J♣ .
The 7♣ K♥ Q♣ flop would see the railbirds gasp as it gave Ryan outs to the straight and the flush.
Then a 5♣ hit the turn and the crowd went wild. The river was a meaningless 7♦ and just like that Yamashita was down to 1.3 million, while Ryan is up to 4.5 million.
6:35pm: Four-handed count update
Here is how the four players currently stack up.
Takuya Yamashita – 3,000,000
Zhenru Xie – 5,200,000
Pete Chen – 1,750,000
Mathew Ryan – 1,900,000
6:30pm: Back for more
The four players are back from their break.
There are still 30 minutes remaining in the current level (blinds 40,000/80,000) with a 10,000 ante.
6:20pm: Break for four
The four remaining players have been sent on a 10-minute break!
6:10pm: Hu Liu eliminated in 5th place (HK$350,000)
Hu Liu’s roller coaster final table has drawn to a complete stop.
Liu’s final hand began when he opened it up to 140,000 from the cutoff. Zhenru Xie moved his big stack all in from the big blind and Liu called off his stack of 1.4 million.
Liu: A♦ 8â™
Xie: A♥ Kâ™
Liu wasn’t in good shape and the news didn’t get any better as the dealer spread out a 5♥ 2♥ 3♣ 7♥ 10♦ board.
For his 5th place effort Liu picks up HK$350,000.
Down to four. Next one out receives HK$491,000.
6:00pm: Xie wins more off Mat
Zhenru Xie recently lost some chips, but has gained them back in a recent hand against Mathew Ryan.
It started with Xie opening it up to 200,000 from under the gun. Ryan was the lone caller from the small blind.
The 9♥ 5♣ K♣ flop would see both players check. On the 8♥ turn, Ryan led for 300,000 and Xie called. The river was a 3♦ and Ryan led for 350,000. Xie tank-called and Ryan showed 7♦ 7♥ .
Xie then tabled his A♥ K♥ and scooped the pot.
Xie is on a little over 3 million. Ryan is down to 2 million.
5:45pm: Xie moving up
Zhenru Xie has moved into the chip lead!
The most recent pot to go his way began with Takuya Yamashita opening with a raise from the cut off. Xie three-bet to 250,000 from the button and Yamashita called. Both players checked the 3♦ K♥ K♣ flop and a 5♠hit the turn. This time when Yamashita checked, Xie bet 300,000 and Yamashita folded.
Xie is up to 3,300,000, while Yamshita is one around 2,350,000.
5:35pm: Level 26 begins, Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000)
5:25pm: Liu staying active
Hu Liu has continued to stay very active during five-handed play.
The most recent hand he partook in started with Zhenru Xie raising from under the gun. Hu called from the button and the rest of the table was out of the way.
On the 7♥ 6♣ J♥ flop, Xie led for 170,000 and Hu called. The 5♥ turn would see Xie lead for 220,000 and Hu once again call. When the board completed with a 4♥ , Xie led for 300,000 and Hu opted to fold.
Hu is back down to 1,350,000.
5:10pm: Takuya and Mat rumble
Mathew Ryan and Takuya Yamashita have just battle it out in a hand that went to the river of a Q♣ 5♣ A♣ 4♦ J♠board.
Preflop saw Ryan limp the button and Yamashita three-bet to 145,000 from the small blind. Ryan called. On the flop both players checked.
On the turn, Yamashita led for 230,000 and Ryan called.
The river would see Yamashita lead for 275,000 and Ryan raise to 550,000. Yamashita tank-called and mucked when Ryan showed J♣ 8♣ for a flopped flush.
Ryan is up to 2.4 million, while Yamashita slips to 2.6 million.
5:00pm: Hu Liu will not let up
Hu Liu continues to splash his chips around. It’s seemingly hard for his opponents to put him on a hand considering he has been so aggressive with his preflop shoves. Mathew Ryan likely didn’t put him on a monster when Liu recently shoved for 825,000 from the button. Ryan was in the small blind and called with Aâ™ 9♦ . Liu had K♥ K♣ .
The board ran out 2♣ Q♣ J♠J♥ 4♠and Liu was back up to 1.7 million. Ryan is now the short stack with 1.4 million.
4:45pm: Hu Liu sends a double to Xie
Takuya Yamashita kicked off the hand by raising to 130,000 from under the gun. Zhenru Xie, from his direct left, three-bet to 385,000. Play folded around to Hu Liu in the small blind and he moved all in for a little under 2 million. Yamashita quickly folded, while Xie quickly called off around 700,000 behind
Xie was happy to table his A♥ A♣ , while Liu had a strong (compared to his recent shoves) A♦ K♥ .
The board ran out 6♦ 2♠9♠8♦ 4♦ and Xie picked up the double!
4:40pm: Five-handed count update
Here is how the five players are currently looking.
Takuya Yamashita – 2,600,000
Pete Chen – 2,900,000
Hu Liu – 2,250000
Mathew Ryan – 2,100,000
Zhenru Xie – 1,700,000
4:35pm: Takuya doubles another one up
Takuya Yamashita has just doubled another player up!
This time it was Zhenru Xie.
Yamashita opened with a raise from the cutoff, Xie moved all in for 700,000 from the button and Yamashita called.
Xie was in good shape with A♥ Q♣ against Yamashita’s A♦ 5♦ .
The board ran out 2♠9♠K♥ 10♦ J♥ and with that, Yamashita lost some more chips.
4:30pm: Hu Liu continues aggression, this time he gets there
Just a few minutes after returning from the break and Hu Liu shoved all in preflop for 1.3 million. Chip leader Takuya Yamashita called from the button and the rest of the table was out of the way.
Liu had J♦ 7♦ and he was looking like he would be going home against Yamashita’s Q♣ Q♥ .
The 10♥ K♣ 9♥ flop gave Liu a double gut-shot straight draw. The 6♠turn changed nothing. The Q♠river, however, gave Liu the straight and he doubled to 2.7 million.
Takuya is still the chip leader.
4:25pm: Break over, Level 25 begins
The players are back from their break and the cards are back in the air!
Blinds are now 30,000/60,000 with a 5,000 ante. Don’t forget, levels now last 75 minutes as opposed to 60 minutes like on Day 2.
4:15pm: Five on first break
Nine players became five in the first two hours of play. Now those five have been sent on their first 10-minute break of the day. Let’s see if this pace continues when the players return. Stay tuned!
4:10pm: Hu flashes a big hand
Hu Liu won’t stop the aggression even though it cost him the chip lead.
Takuya Yamashita opened it up to 90,000 from the cutoff and Liu three-bet jammed for 990,000 from the big blind. Yamashita folded and Hu showed J♣ 8♦ .
4:00pm: Five-handed counts
Here are the approximate stacks of the five remaining players.
Takuya Yamashita – 5,200,000
Pete Chen – 3,100,000
Mathew Ryan – 1,900,000
Hu Liu – 1,00,000
Zhenru Xie – 800,000
3:50pm: First one we have seen with Mat
The action has been fast and fierce during the early stages of the final table. Australia’s Mathew Ryan has pretty much stayed away from the craziness, but we did recently see him play a hand against Hu Liu.
Liu was in the cut off and raised it up to 100,000. Ryan called from the button and the blinds got out of the way. On the 4♦ 7♦ 10♦ flop, Liu led for 150,000 and Ryan called. The 2♦ turn saw Liu check and Ryan bet 300,000. Liu folded and the pot went to Ryan!
3:40pm: Takuya moves into massive lead
We have a new chip leader!
Hu Liu was on the button when he opened it up with a raise. Yamashita Takuya called from the bug blind and the dealer flipped over a 4♥ 10♦ 2♦ flop. Takuya checked here and Liu bet 160,000. Takuya check-raised to 350,000 and Liu moved all in for well over 3 million. Takuya instantly called off his stack of 2.37 million.
Takuya: 4♣ 4â™
Liu: A♠Q♥
Liu had perhaps miss-stepped with just ace-high and backdoor outs, while Takuya had a set of fours.
The turn was a 5♥ and the river a 6♠and with that Liu was down to 1.1 million, while Takuya is the new leader with right around 5 million.
3:25pm: Pete Chen shoves a big river
Pete Chen has just showed some major aggression in a hand against Zhenru Xie.
We picked up the action on a 7♠9♦ Q♥ flop. Chen had put a bet out and Xie had raised it up an extra 300,000. Xie had 900,000 behind and after plenty of thought, Chen made the call.
The 4â™ turn would see Chen take his time before checking. Xie also took quite a while before looking down at his cards and also checking.
The river was a 8♣ and Chen quickly moved all in, having a stack more than double that of Xie. Eventually Xie folded, at which point Chen showed 7♦ 3♦ .
Chen is now moving up towards the chip lead.
3:10pm: Level 24 begins, Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000)
3:05pm: Chen Wang eliminated in 6th place (HK$290,000)
Chen Wang just knocked his chips over in disgust as he was eliminated in 6th place. That act was a little in contradiction to the plush cap of the character Sully from Pixar’s Monster Inc that he was wearing.
The action folded to Wang in the small blind holding A♣ 10♦ and he raised it up. Pet Chen moved his big stack all in from the big blind holding A♥ 2♦ and Wang called.
The dealer spread out a 3♠2♣ 6♣ 5♣ 6♦ board, with Chen hitting a pair and enough to knock Wang to the rail with a HK$290,000 score.
Chen is now up to 2.5 million in chips.
2:55pm: John Hoang eliminated in 7th place (KH$232,000)
Just half an hour into the final table and we have lost our third player.
We picked up the action with John Hoang five-betting to 400,000 from the small blind. Takuya Yamashita was his opponent from middle position and he shoved all in, having Hoang covered. Hoang had just under 1 million behind and made the call.
Hoang tabled his Q♦ Q♠and was disappointed to see Yamashita held K♦ K♠.
Even worse for Hoang, his cards were the same suit so he didn’t have the chance of making a flush to win the hand.
The board ran out 7♣ 3♥ A♠7♠9♦ and it was all over for Hoang in 7th place for a HK$232,000 score.
Yamashita is up to 2,550,000 in chips.
The six remaining players have locked up HK$290,000.
2:50pm: Seven-handed count update
Here are the approximate stacks of the seven players.
Liu Hu – 3,600,000
Pete Chen – 1,700,000
Mathew Ryan – 1,655,000
Zhenru Xie – 1,500,000
Takuya Yamashita – 1,350,000
Chan Wang – 1,200,000
John Hoang – 900,000
2:45pm: Enming Zhang eliminated in 8th place (HK$175,000)
Another player has fallen!
It was a 2♥ 6♣ 5♦ flop that would see the demise of Enming Zhang.
Takuya Yamashita was involved in the hand and he would check the flop from the big blind. Zhang then moved all in for 590,000 from his direct left in the under-the-gun position. Chip leader Hu Liu was on the button and made the call to put Zhang at risk. Yamashita folded.
Liu tabled his 5♣ 5♠for a set of fives, while Zhang had 3♥ 2♦ for a pair of twos and a straight draw.
The turn was a K♠, the river was a 6♥ and just like that, Zhang was eliminated in 8th place for a HK$175,000 score.
Then there were seven.
2:40pm: Takuya moves all in
Takuya Yamashita was under the gun plus one when he opened it up with a min raise. The action folded around to big-stack Hu Liu in the small blind and he three-bet to 215,000. Back on Yamashita and he would move all in for a little over a million. Liu thought for a long time, eventually deciding to let it go.
2:30pm: Wai Leong Chan eliminated in 9th place (HK$135,600)
We have our lost our first player!
Wai Leong Chan, the start-of-day short stack, moved all in preflop holding King-Queen and had to come up against Pete Chen’s A♥ K♣ . The board ran out 5â™ 6♥ J♦ 9♦ A♦ and with that, Chan was sent home in 9th place, collecting HK$135,600.
Down to eight. Next player out pockets HK$175,000.
2:25pm: First hands dealt
The first hands have been dealt! And not much happened. The actual first hand of the final table went to John Hoang. He opened it up to 70,000 from middle position and received no action! The other hand saw Zhenru Xie pick up some blinds.
2:20pm: Final table has begun!
The cards are in the air!
Due to the guaranteed 40 big blind average, the clock has been wound back to halfway through Level 23. There are 30 minutes remaining with blinds at 15,000/30,000 and a 5,000 ante.
2:15pm: Bags ripped open, final table will begin soon
The final table has been built, the chip bags had been ripped open and the nine players are now getting their official final nine photo taken.
Play will be under way very soon!
2:00pm: Late start
A makeshift feature final table is being built for the occasion. Unfortunately it’s taking a little longer than expected so we will be starting late today.
It’s almost finished, so shouldn’t be too long. We will keep you posted.
Who will win the MPC21 Red Dragon?
Today is the day. Nine will become one and that “one” will be immortalised as a Red Dragon champion. They will also win a massive HK$$1,667,000 (~US$215,000), a Slyde ‘Titanium’ design watch worth CNY 52,800 (approximately USD $8,480) and the best god damn looking trophy in the poker world.
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.
There are also experienced players at the final table including Pete Chen and John Q Hoang. Chen, from Taiwan, is one of the new young guns of Macau poker. He’s made five final tables at PokerStars LIVE Macau in 2014 alone, including finishing 5th in the most recent APPT Macau. Hoang, on the other hand, has US$2.2 million in tournament results including multiple WSOP final tables.
You can find the final table lineup below, along with full profiles of the nine remaining players at the PokerStarsBlog.
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 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 final table is set to kick off at 2:00pm local time and you will be able to find live updates of the action right here at the PokerStarsBlog. Stay tuned to find out who becomes the next Red Dragon champion!
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