Thanh Ha Duong Binks APPT8 Manila

While most of the poker world intently watches the 2014 WSOP in Las Vegas where the Main Event has now taken center stage, tournaments in other regions throughout the globe have taken a back seat in terms of coverage. So for those poker fans who may have missed the action in the Asia Pacific Poker Tour in Manila, Thanh Ha Duong pulled off an incredible comeback just a few days ago to win almost $80,000 in prize money.

In heads-up action after the rest of the field of 260 had been eliminated, Duong was looking across the felt at the chip stack of 4,400,000 of his opponent, Australian Michael Guzzardi. Duong's stack was only 800,000, putting him at a 5 and 1/2 to 1 disadvantage.

The Vietnamese player quickly improved his odds by doubling up when his pocket 7's found a set on the turn, negating the K-K of Guzzardi. After about an hour of back and forth between the final two players, Duong grabbed the chip lead when the K-4-2 flop shined on his rather lackluster 4-2 starting hand.

Some 20 minutes later, Duong's comeback was complete when his 7-3 also managed to connect on the board versus Guzzardi when the Australian again had the best odds before the flop. Guzzardi had A-4 under the hood and was looking good when the dealer flopped A-3-5, but the 7 of clubs on the turn gave Duong two pair.

Guzzardi had 16 outs to hit trips, a better two pair, or a straight. But an 8 came down fifth street, clinching the APPT8 Manila championship for Duong that included a trophy and a free seat to the ACOP HK$100,000 Main Event later in the year. That's in addition to the $79,562 in first place prize money.

Guzzardi's runner-up finish was good for $42,004. The entire prize pool for the event was $260,065, collected after the participants each ponied up 50,000 pesos ($1,150) to play. Guzzardi, however, qualified online at PokerStars, according to that site's blog.

Next on the docket for the APPT8 is the 2014 Beijing Millions from July 18-27 at the Beijing Star Poker Club in China. A total of eight events are scheduled, featuring the RMB 3,000 buy-in Main Event.