Natural8 Open Main Event

Hon Leung Ip limps in and Chung Tang Lin checks the big blind. After the flop comes J♣ 7♣ 8♦, heavy bets erupt starting with a bet of 225,000 from Ip, Lin answers with a check-raise to 700,000 and Ip flats.

The turn comes2♠ and Lin takes the reins with a 1,000,000 bet, Ip flats again. When the 10♥ lands on the river, Lin steps on the brakes and checks, Ip goes all in for 2,325,000.

After using up two time extensions, Lin calls. Ip laughs and tables 4♣ 5♣ bluff, and Lin triumphantly shows 3♣ 10♣ to knock out Ip in 2nd place.

Chung Tang Lin limps in and Hon Leung Ip checks the big blind. Both players pass up the flop to proceed to a turn board A♠ 6♣ 6♥ 7♠. Ip slides out 150,000 and Lin calls. The 2♣ appears on the river and Ip bets 475,000. Lin calls then mucks to Ip’s 6♦ 7♣ full house.

After the double up, Hon Leung Ip opens and Chung Tang Lin calls out of the big blind. Ip continues 200,000 at the flop J♦ J♥ 8♦, and Lin check-calls.

The turn J♠ brings a change-up with Lin leading out 800,000 and after a bit of thought, Ip makes the call.

Both players step on the brakes on the river K♦ . Lin has 8♣ 3♣ , Ip wins the pot with a rivered top pair K♣ 5♦.

Chung Tang Lin is in full command of the the heads up round, slowly grinding down Hon Leung Ip to just 12 big blinds. On the button, Lin jams and Ip finally takes a stand then celebrates seeing he is ahead.

Hon Leung Ip: K♣ 10♠

Chung Tang Lin: Q♣ 10♦

The board runs clean with a king on the river J♣ 4♠ 2♦ 4♥ K♥ to ensure Ip the win and a double up.

After five hours of play, it is down to the final two players with Chung Tang Lin versus Hong Leung Ip for the title. Lin is fresh from his repeat victory at the Natural8 High Roller and has a massive chip advantage of 92 big blinds to Ip’s 20 big blinds.

Up for grabs is TWD 1,350,000 and TWD 927,700 for the runner-up.

Chung Tang Lin is still arranging his winnings when raises on the button then Kristof Segers three-bets all in. Lin snap-calls and Segers is in big trouble.

Kristof Segers: K♠ Q♦

Chung Tang Lin: A♥ A♦

The flop gives Segers a bit of hope with his king pairing up4♣ K♥ 2♠ but nothing follows to fall after the runout 3♦turn and 6♣ river.

After a lengthy four-handed battle, Chang An Chen bows out in 4th place on a flip. Taking all of his chips is the leader Chung Tang Lin who snap-calls the three-bet jam.

Chang An Chen: 2♣ 2♥

Chung Tang Lin: A♠ Q♠

The board favors Lin in every way, giving him an ace then the flush 7♣ 8♠ A♦ 3♠ 9♠ for an overkill defeat to Chen.

Chang An Chen’s chips have been draining without a fight until the massive chip leader Chung Tang Lin open-jams on the small blind. Chen snap-calls for his tournament life with just 1,345,000 behind.

Chang An Chen: A♣ 10♣

Chung Tang Lin: K♥ 2♣

Chen is ahead but Lin has live cards to keep him sweating until the last card lands on the board J♠ 6♦ 3♥ 9♣ 5♥.

On the button, Kristof Segers is down to just 1,855,000 when he jams with 9♦ 9♥ . Hon Leung Ip asks for a count then makes the call A♦ 8♦

Segers sweats it as he hopes to fade an ace. The board stays clean 6♥ K♣ 10♦ 6♣ 3♦ to award him a much needed boost.

Hon Leung Ip min-raises on the button and big blind Chang An Chen defends for a flop of 3♠ K♣ 6♣ then check-calls Ip’s 275,000 continuation bet.

No action on the turn J♣ with Ip checking back to Chen then Ip returns to betting when the river comes K♥. Chen calls then mucks to Ip’s J♦ 7♦ pair.

Level 29 is underway with four players on the hunt for the title. Blinds are up 60K-120K ante 120K.

Chung Tang Lin opens 200,000, button player Chang An Chen three-bets 450,000, then Kristof Segers four-bets 1,100,000. No risk-takers in the house for Segers to claim the pot.

Chung Tang Lin min-raises and the blinds defend for a rare three-way. At the flop 8♦ A♦ Q♦, Lin continues for 125,000 and only big blind Kristof Segers gives him action for a turn card of 5♦.

Lin puts Segers to the test with a bet of 200,000 and still, Segers sticks around to see the river J♥. Lin bets again, this time just the minimum and gets the call.

Lin turns over 10♦ 10♣ flush and rakes in the pot.

Kristof Segers limps in and go down the streets with big blind Hon Leung Ip on the big blind. When the board reaches its end Q♦ J♦ Q♥ A♣ 10♣, no bets land until Ip attempts a steal for 125,000. Action swings back to Segers who thinks about it while Ip says, “it’s one bb, just give it to me.”

Segers calls and Ip laughs as he turns over 6♥ 3♥ bluff that’s far behind Segers’s J♣ 7♥ jack-high.

Level 28 is underway with four players remaining. Blinds are up 50K-100K ante 100K

Kristof Segers min-raises, Chin Hei Chan slides out nearly all of his chips then commits the rest after Segers pushes.

Chin Hei Chan: A♣ 5♠

Kristof Segers: J♠ J♥

It’s not looking good for Chan with only the ace to spring him back to health. The board doesn’t help out 7♣ Q♣ 2♦ 5♥ 7♥ to end his run in 5th place.

Out of the cutoff seat, Chung Tang Lin calls under the gun Hon Leung Ip’s 160,000 raise then watches as Ip bets 120,000 on a flop 5♠ Q♣ 3♦. Lin calls to see the turn 5♦. Ip fires 325,000 and Lin is unfazed, making the quick call for one more round on the river 9♠.

This time Lin switches gears with a lead bet of 500,000. Ip tanks then gives up his stake in the pot.

Chang An Chen is back in the game with back-to-back takedowns courtesy of Chung Tang Lin. The first hand kicks off with a raise from Lin at cutoff, Chen reraises to 350,000 on the button, Lin four-bets all in, and Chen snap-calls for his tournament life.

Chang An Chen: A♥J♠

Chung Tang Lin: A♣ 6♦

Chen is looking prime for a double up and with the flop in full favor, he does so when the board completes J♦4♠ J♣ 2♥ 6♣.

On the very next hand, Lin raises again 160,000 then four-bet jams on top of Chen’s 600,000 three-bet. Chen snap-calls like previous.

At risk again, Chen has 8♦ 8♥ and is flipping against Lin’s A♦ 9♦ overcards. The board runs J♥ 3♣ 7♣ 7♠ J♦ keeping Chen safe for a second double up.

After Hon Leung Ip min-raises, Chin Hei Chan jams for his last 700,000 and Ip snap-calls.

Chin Hei Chan: A♠ K♣

Hon Leung Ip: K♥ Q♣

It’s looking peachy for Chan with the best hand which holds throughout the board 4♦ 6♦ 3♦ 9♠ 7♦ to secure a reload.

Chung Tang Lin is on a tear picking up another few pots with the largest up against the leader once again. Lin opens 160,000 at under the gun and Hon Leung Ip defends on the big blind.

At the flop of 3♥ Q♦ 9♣ , Lin continues for 100,000 and gets the call. On the turn 3♦, Lin fires 250,000 and that does the job with Ip letting go of his hand.

Chung Tang Lin picks up three consecutive pots with the biggest one seeing a raise of 175,000 from the leader Hon Leung Ip on the button. Lin defends on the small blind with a raise to 525,000, Ip four-bets to 1,025,000, then Lin fires a cold 1,700,000 five-bet.

After Ip uses up one time extension, he frustratingly folds and Lin roars as he flips over A♣ 4♣ semi bluff.

Level 28 is underway with five players remaining with blinds of 40K-80K ante 80K.

Immediately after shipping a big pot on Chung Tang Lin’s failed bluff, Hon Leong Ip raises to 125,000 and goes to the flop with Kristof Segers who defends on the big blind.

After the dealer spreads out 9♥ A♥ J♣, Ip barrels 225,000 and Segers check-calls to take them to the turn 5♣ . Again Ip barrels for 550,000 and it’s a repeat with Segers check-calling.

The board completes with a river card8♠ and Segers open-checks for the last time. Ip can’t find a third barrel to check back.

Segers hasJ♠ 9♦ and it’s good enough to claim the pot.

Hon Leung Ip continues to command with his massive arsenal which just got bigger in this hand against Chung Tang Lin. It opens with everyone folding to the small blind Ip who raises to 200,000. Big blind Lin defends.

The pot swells further with a c-bet of 65,000 from Ip that’s called by Lin on a flop of J♣ K♣ 10♠. Action heads to the turn 9♠ where Ip fires 225,000 and Lin check-calls again.

When the K♥ comes on the river, Ip triple barrels 375,000 only to be challenged with a 1,025,000 raise from Lin. After using up three time extensions, Ip finds the guts to call and Lin roars, can’t believe his bluff bet 7♣ 8♣ low straight doesn’t succeed with Ip turning over Q♣ 8♥ the higher straight.