The Party Poker Premier League III has come to an end with the final table chip leader, JC Tran, claiming his first championship and the $300.000 first prize. JC Tran best a field that included some of the best and most successful professional poker players in the world,  battling his way through a series of heats to reach the final table holding the chip lead. JC Tran is the first professional poker player to represent PKR.com; his most recent victory comes just three days after he joined his fellow APT ambassadors Nam Le, Chino Rheem and Quinn Do in a special Pro Bounty Tournament at PKR that ended up attracting a total of 1,130 runners playing for a $5k APT Manila package.

The event entered the final table with Tom Dwan on Seat 1 (260,000), Juha Helppi on Seat 2 (340,000), Tony G on Seat 3 (260,000), Roland de Wolfe on Seat 4 (230,000), JC Tran on Seat 5 (450,000) and Peter Eastgate on Seat 6 (390,000). The 2008 WSOP World main event winner and youngest World Series of Poker Champ became the first player eliminated and Tran’s first victim of the day. Eastgate was then followed by Roland de Wolfe and Tom Dwan and Juha Helppi.

Starting the heads-up battle, Tony held 1,150,000 and JC had 780,000, unfortunately for the Australian player, his advantage didn’t last long and several hands after the Heads Up started, Tran forced Tony G to fold a large pot hand, recovering the chip lead with 1,140,000 vs. Tony’s 790,000. On the last hand, JC Tran limped in with 9-7 and Tony checked with K-8. The Flop came 5-7-6, Tony moved all in and was immediately called by Tran. Tony needed any King, Four or Nine to take a large chip lead over Tran, however, a J came on the turn while a 2 was revealed on the River, giving Tran his first title at the Party Poker Premier League Champion.

The PartyPoker.com Premier League III final standings and prizes are the following:

  1. JC Tran - $300,000.
  2. Tony G - $150,000.
  3. Juha Helppi - $80,000.
  4. Tom Dwan - $50,000.
  5. Roland de Wolfe - $40,000.
  6. Peter Eastgate - $30,000.
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