Dinh "All in" Le

 

Dinh ‘Daren' Le became China's first ever poker champion, winning the PokerStars.net Asia Pacific Poker Tour Macau: Asia Poker Open (APPT Macau) and pocketing a massive US$222,640 in prize money.

 

The 27-year-old Vietnamese concert promoter travelled to Macau with his good friend Tuan, never expecting PokerStars.net APPT glory. Before now his biggest poker tournament was at home in his own lounge room - today he leaves Macau as China's first ever poker champion. In Chinese culture the number 8 is seen to be very lucky and it proved to be on the final hand, with Dinh's pair of 8's defeating his opponent from Singapore, Zong Wei "Ivan" Tan.

 

"This tournament has been an incredible experience. I am honoured to be part of poker history today and very proud to become Macau's first poker champion. I am looking forward to competing in Sydney next month and representing Vietnam at the APPT grand final," commented Dinh directly after his win.

 

Starting with a record 352 players from 37 countries - the largest in Asian poker history. The field was reduced to just nine players on the final day, as they battled it out for their share of the US$810,000 prize pool. Some of poker's brightest stars travelled to the historic island of Macau, including the famed Team PokerStars Professionals: 2005 World Champion Joe Hachem, who was unlucky not to win coming in 8th place, taking home $24,288; 1998 World Champion Scotty Nguyen; and Isabelle "No Mercy" Mercier.

 

Over 200 players qualified for the tournament via PokerStars including ninth place finisher Simon Randall, who came all the way from London. Simon was joined at the final table by some of poker's biggest names including; Joe Hachem one of poker's most recognisable and successful players. Poker's best known "diva" Liz Lieu who was born in Vietnam but raised in the US', Bertrand ‘ElkY' Grospellier and Guillaume Patry who turned their skills at the strategy computer game ‘Starcraft' into success at the poker tables.

 

President of the PokerStars.net APPT Jeffrey Haas commented on organising China's first ever real money poker tournament.

 

"I am delighted to be launching tournament poker in Macau and excited that we have one of the most impressive final tables assembled in recent times. It really showcases how great this sport can be and the true strength of poker across the Asia Pacific region. Seeing so many players from so many countries demonstrates poker's place in Macau, the gaming capital of the world."

 

Dinh will join the APPT Seoul champion Ziv Bachar and the APPT Manila champion Brett Parise at the Grand Final at Star City Casino in Sydney, Australia, December 12 - 16.

 

The final standings and monies earned in US dollars are as follows:

 

$222,640 Dinh Le (Vietnam)

$129,536 Zong Wei "Ivan" Tan (Singapore)

$72,864 Sangkyoun Kim (South Korea)

$56,672 Guillaume Patry (South Korea)

$48,576 Bertrand ‘ElkY' Grospellier (South Korea)

$40,480 William Tam (Australia)

$32,384 Liz Lieu (USA)

$24,288 Joe Hachem (Australia)

$16,192 Simon Randall (United Kingdom)

TOTAL PRIZE MONEY US$810,000