Stephen Pang Had to Win the APT Incheon Main Event Twice

Stephen Pang’s road to the APT Incheon championship included one of the strangest finishes of the festival.

After reaching heads-up against China’s Shoumin Zhang, Pang appeared to have already won the tournament.

The final board was dealt, the players shook hands and Pang celebrated.

Then came the problem.

The hand had been dealt with an incorrect number of cards.

The tournament staff determined that the hand could not stand, forcing the players back into action. Pang would have to win the championship again.

He eventually did exactly that.

The final result remained the same: Pang was crowned champion and collected KRW 411.18 million, approximately US$293,700.

The bizarre incident came after an already dramatic heads-up battle.

Zhang had survived a near-elimination situation earlier in the final table after being reduced to approximately one big blind. He managed to continue for around 30 hands before eventually reaching the final two.

The tournament therefore produced both a remarkable comeback and an unusual false finish.

Pang ultimately held on.

After more than five days of tournament poker, the Hong Kong banker finally had the APT Main Event trophy in his hands.

The result also gave Pang a career-best live tournament score.

For a tournament already remembered for breaking attendance records, the unusual heads-up finish provided another memorable chapter.
photo credits to Asian Poker Tour