Natural8 Open High Roller

Photo: Weeraphat Manasakool (L) Chung Tang Lin (R)

Chung Tang Lin limps in then calls Weeraphat Manasakool’s 200,000 raise. Manasakool continues for 200,000 at the flop 8♦ 2♣ 10♠ and Lin tank-calls after one time extension.

Heavy decision for Lin on the turnJ♦ with Manasakool announcing all in. Lin doesn’t take too long to decide and calls.

Weeraphat Manasakool: 10♦ 9♥

Chung Tang Lin: J♥ 7♦

Lin is ahead with top pair. A dramatic9♦ comes on the river to give Manasakool two pair and upon review, it’s a straight for Lin who can’t believe his eyes.

Another all in showdown with Weeraphat Manasakool open-jamming A♣ 3♠ and Chung Tang Lin calls for his tournament life with 8♠ 8♣.

Lin calls out “no ace, no ace” and no ace comes as the board completes Q♦ 5♠ 2♠ 6♣ 9♠ for a double up.

Chung Tang Lin opens shoves and Weeraphat Manasakool calls for his tournament life.

Lin is ahead with A♠ 7♦ and Manaskool has hope with K♣ J♠ live cards. The flop brings Manasakool one of his outs,Q♣ 6♦ K♠, and with the runout 2♥ 6♣, he sits back down to scoop up his newfound chips.

Photo: Chung Tang Lin

Chung Tang Lin limps in and Weeraphat Manasakool checks to see a flop cheap. The dealer spreads 9♣ 6♠ 4♥, and betting begins with Manasakool sliding out 110,000. Lin calls and they head to the turn 10♥.

Manasakool backs down and checks, Lin hits the pedal with a 125,000 bet, and Manaskool calls.

After the river comes 5♠. action repeats with Manaskool checking again and Lin firing 300,000. Manaskool calls and turns over 9♦ 5♥ two pair, Lin has 10♠ 4♦ for a higher two pair.

Out of the button seat, Chung Tang Lin opens 135,000, Weeraphat Manasakool jams, Lin snap-calls for his tournament life.

Chung Tang Lin: 9♥ 9♠

Weeraphat Manasakool: 3♥ 4♠

Manasakool laughs as he opens his rag hand. Though he pairs up at the flop3♦ K♥ J♦ , that’s all the deck gives him as it runs out10♦ 9♦ for a set to Lin and a double up.

Level 24 is underway with blinds of 30K-60K ante 60K. It is heads up for the title and the TWD 380,500 top prize.

With a pot of 250,000 already in the middle and a board at its limit of 8♥ 6♥ K♣ A♠ J♦, Weeraphat Manasakool overbets 350,000. Lin tank-calls.

Manasakool laughs as he opens up 10♣ 4♣ bluff. Lin takes it down with J♣ 10♥pair.

Immediately after the failed bluff, Chung Tang Lin goes all in holding A♣ 10♠ and Weeraphat Manasakool snap-calls with 5♥ 5♠.

Lin needs to hit the board and quickly grants him a pair which holds through the runout 9♠ 10♣ Q♣ 7♥ Q♦ to avoid the rail.

Photo: Weeraphat Manasakool

Chung Tang Lin controlled the final table for a large portion of the day and now leadership has switched with Weeraphat Manasakool dragging in a big pot on a failed bluff by Lin. With a board showing Q♣ 4♣ J♥ 7♥ 4♠, Lin fires a 600,000 bet onto a pot of 950,000. Manasakool tanks then finds the reason to call.

It’s the right decision as Lin turns over 5♥ 3♦ bluff. Manasakool earns the pot with K♣ 7♦ pair.

Photo: Weeraphat Manasakool and Chung Tang Lin

The trophy is on the felt with the table down to the final two players. They are closely matched in chips. Will the defending champion Chung Tang Lin achieve a repeat?

Photo: Matuphoom Pangsrivinij

Matuphoom Pangsrivinij open-jams and Weeraphat Manasakool follows suit. Chung Tang Lin also likes his hole cards but open-folds instead one card A♥

Weeraphat Manasakool :A♣ Q♥

Matuphoom Pangsrivinij :A♦ 10♣

The others also have an ace with Manasakool holding the better kicker. The board drops blanks for Pangsrivinij 5♣ K♣ 3♠ 7♠ 2♥ to fall in 3rd place.

Weeraphat Manasakool is all in for his last 490,000 and is ahead of caller Matuphoom Pangsvirinij who has live cards.

Weeraphat Manasakool: A♣ K♦

Matuphoom Pangsvirinij: K♣ Q♦

Manasakool calls out, “no king, no king!” The dealer still drops one but an ace as well to keep him aheadA♦ K♥ 7♥ . With the turn4♠ and river 8♠, Manasakool doubles up.

After raising to 100,000, Matuphoom Pangsvirinij calls for all of his chips on Chung Tang Lin’s shove.

Matuphoom Pangsvirinij: A♥ Q♠

Chung Tang Lin: A♦ 8♠

It’s the right decision as he is ahead and the possibility of a boost is high. The board ensures it as it runs nine-high.

Chung Tang Lin has been claiming a majority of the pots with uncalled raises and follow up bets. His opponents are slowly draining to the ten big blind danger zone.

Level 23 is underway with blinds of 25K-50K ante 50K. Only three players remain out of a field of 36 entries. Average stack is 1,200,000.

Chip count update. Average stack is 1,200,000.

Chip count update. Average stack is 1,200,000.

Matuphoom Pangsrivinij open-shoves 405,000 on the button and big blind Chung Tang Lin calls to put him on the ropes.

Matuphoom Pangsrivinij: J♥ J♠

Chung Tang Lin: A♣ 7♣

Pangsrivinij needs to only fade the ace and does so on a board running 9♠ 4♠ 7♦ 2♠ 5♠ to secure a double up.

After a couple of uncalled shoves, no more steals for Chih-I Fang with the chip leader Chung Tang Lin sliding out the 345,000 call.

Chih-I Fang: K♦ 6♥

Chung Tang Lin: J♣ A♥

It’s not looking good for Fang and with no hits on the board 3♥ Q♥ 7♦ A♣ 7♠, instead further improving the leader, Fang finishes in 4th place.

Level 22 is underway with 4 players remaining. Average stack is 900,000.

Just before the break, Matuphoom Pangsrivinij three-bet shoves 231,000 and initial raiser Weeraphat Manasakool snap-calls.

Pangsrivinij turns over K♠ Q♣ and is flipping against Manasakool’s 10♠ 10♦ .

No help arrives on the flop and turn 4♠ 6♣ A♣ 5♠ and as he gets up to go, the Q♦ finds the river to award him a double up.

Chung Tang Lin min-raises from the button and goes flop hunting with small blind caller Matuphoom Pangsrivinij. Lin likes the spread K♠ 9♥ 3♦ and continues for 60,000. Pangsrivinij calls and they head to the turn A♠ where both players check.

The free river card comes K♥. Pangsrivinij tanks then bets 105,000. Lin tanks as well then raises to 300,000. Pangsrivinij folds.

Three hands later, Lin opens 60,000 from under the gun and Weeraphat Manasakool defends. Lin continues for 75,000 at the flop Q♠ 8♠ A♠ and Manasakool check-calls. Both players check the turn 10♠ and river 6♥ .

Manasakool turns over J♥ 9♠ straight and wins the pot besting Lin’s A♥ A♦.

Weeraphat Manasakool open-jams out of the small blind and in a snap, big blind chip leader Chung Tang Lin calls.

Manasakool is at risk however has the better hand.

Weeraphat Manasakool: A♠ K♦

Chung Tang Lin: A♣ 5♦

The board ensures Manasakool the reload as it runs out 9♠ Q♦ 2♦ 6♠ K♠.

Photo: Chamanan Arthachinta

After under the gun Chih-I Fang open-shoves 329,000, next to act Chamanan Arthachinta tanks and asks “do you have a pair? I wish you have a pair.” Fang only smiles. Arthachinta then riskx his tournament life with less behind.

Upon showdown, Fang does not have a pair, instead has the better kicker.

Chamanan Arthachinta: A♣ J♠

Chih-I Fang: A♦ Q♥

Needing help to stay in the game, the board 2♦ 9♦ 4♥ A♠ Q♦ doesn’t produce for Arthachinta to exit in 5th place.

Final 5 players. Average stack is 720,000.

Level 21 is underway with blinds of 15K-30K ante 30K. Only five players remain from a field of 36 entries.

On a board of 2♥ A♥ 7♣ 7♥ 8♥ with and 122,000 in the pot, big blind positioned Matuphoom Pangsrivinij bets 79,000 that sends small blind Chung Tang Lin in the think tank. After spending a time extension, Lin folds and says “I think you bluff.”

Pangsrivinij just smiles back while scooping up his winnings.

After numerous uncalled shoves, Matuphoom Pangsvirinij is at risk against caller Chamanan Arthachinta who defends his initial raise.

Matuphoom Pangsrivinij: Q♠ Q♦

Chamanan Arthachinta: A♥ K♣

Hanging on for his tournament life, Pangsrivinij finds relief after the dealer fans a board5♦ 5♣ 3♥ 9♥ 4♦ to double through.

Final 5 players. Average stack is 720,000.