The fourth edition of the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) Cambodia wrapped up this past Tuesday, crowning Vietnam’s Hai Ha Tran as the main event champion, who walked away with his first major live title and a career-best $155,225. Running from May 2-13, the 12-day festival more than lived up to the expectations, attracting players from all across the world and crushing its $1.50 Million guaranteed across its 68 events.
While it had a dream ending for Hai Ha Tran, there were several other players who won big at the series, including Daniel Neilson, Fabian Rolli, Mauricio Salazar Sanchez . Neilson from Australia overcame a field of 87 entries and defeated Russia’s Artem Vezhenkov in heads-up, claiming victory in Event #58: APPT High Roller ($3,000) and taking home $65,599 from the total prize pool of $232,916. This was the second biggest score awarded at the series. This marked his third live title of 2025 after his High Roller Action Clock win for $ 51,681 at WPT Prime Gold Coast and Single Day Challenge win for $ 127,255 at WPT Cambodia Championship.
The third biggest victory at the 2025 APPT Cambodia series belonged to Swiss pro Fabian Rolli, who emerged victorious in Event #19: APPT National ($1,000) from a field of 309 entries to claim his first win on Asian soil and a $52,342 from a guarantee-busting $269,757 prize pool.
Among other big winners was Mauricio Salazar Sanchez, who won not one but two tournaments at the recently-concluded series. He won the first ever high roller of the series with a victory in #2 Warm-up High Roller ($1,500) where he bested a field of 14 players and overcame WSOP bracelet winner Renji Mao to claim $9,370 in top prize. Later, the Colombian pro shipped Event #31: APPT Super High Roller ($10,000) after defeating China’s Renji Mao (2nd for $23,052) claiming $42,811 and etching his name as the only player to win two titles at the series.
Team India’s Impressive Run At The 2025 APPT Cambodia
Continuing their momentum from the Poker Dream 17 Malaysia and the record-breaking APT Taipei 2025, Indians made a stronger impact at the APPT Cambodia, claiming 4 titles and scoring over 30 final table scores.
Team India Clinches Four Trophies At 2025 APPT Cambodia
It was Arun Godiyal who kicked off things for India with a victory in Event #3: Knockout Turbo [$100 Bounty] for $2,789 and his second spadie. The second trophy for India was won by Ajay Abrol, who shipped Event #12: Shot Clock ($300) and took home $5,222.
Team India’s campaign continued in full force with rising star Nikesh Chawla claiming third trophy with a win in Event #35: High Roller Turbo ($2,000) for $17,634 – the biggest win for India at the recent series.
Adding to Team India’s trophy tally was Avneesh Munjal, who overcame a field of 26 entries in Event: #62 Knockout High Roller ($2,000) to win $12,695 and become the fourth Indian player in this APPT series. Earlier in the series, Munjal also placed 26th in Event #1: $500 Nagaworld Kickoff for $853 and 10th in Event #57: $600 Survivor Knockout Bounty for $3,670. His total winnings from this series stood around $17,218, while his live earnings reached an impressive $233,568 after the series.
Somashekar Kurkhepally Shines With Runner-Up Finish In Main Event
Capping off Team India’s campaign in style was Somashekar Kurkhepally. A regular on the Asian Circuit now, he came very close to clinching the festival’s most coveted title — the APPT Cambodia Main Event, where he ultimately finished runner-up for a career-best $155,225 (INR 1.32 Crores).
Unfortunately in the final hand against Vietnam’s Hai Ha Tran, his pocket sevens lost to the latter’s jack-seven, dashing his dream run for the coveted title. Despite narrowly missing out on the title, he racked up $155,225 – the biggest Indian score in this series. This score combined with another runner-up finish for $ 5,245 in Event #30 Super Knockout [$350 Bounty] took his winnings from the series to $160,470 (INR 1.37 Crores), making him the biggest Indian winner at the 2025 APPT Cambodia edition.
Abhishek Paul & Other Indians Running Deep In APPT Cambodia Main Event
Another Indian pro who made waves in the Main Event was Abhishek Paul. The DPT November 2022 Main Event champion finished in eighth place, winning $22,970 to his earnings – his third-best live score and by far the second-highest Indian scorer at the recently-concluded festival.
Apart from Kurkhepally and Paul, there were several other Indians who cashed, including Amit Kaushik (11th for $13,654 ), Sumit Sapra (18th for $7,174), Umang Kakarania and Abhijith Cheruku cashing for $4,724 for 29th and 31st place respectively. Pranav Bathija placed 33rd for $4,108, and he was followed by Arjun Dhingra (41st for $3,572), Sameer Agarwal (53rd for $3,572), and Anil Adiani (71st for $3,106 ).
Somashekar Kurkhepally’s spectacular runner-up finish in the Main Event, following a similar dream run by Nishant Kumar at APT Taipei 2025 Main Event is a testament to Indian players’ ability to perform at the biggest stage. This strengthens their reputation on the Asian circuit.
Team India’s Scorecard – Top 10 Scores, Wins & Final Table Finishes
| Rank | Name | Event Name | Prize (USD) |
| 2 | Somashekar Kurkhepally Nahadeva | Event #40: APPT Main Event ($1,750) | $155,225 |
| 8 | Abhishek Paul | Event #40: APPT Main Event ($1,750) | $22,970 |
| 1 | Nikesh Vijay Chawla | Event #35: High Roller Turbo ($2,000) | $17,634 |
| 11 | Amit Kaushik | Event #40: APPT Main Event ($1,750) | $13,654 |
| 1 | Avneesh Munjal | Event #62: Knockout High Roller ($500 Bounty) ($2,000) | $12,695 |
| 18 | Sumit Sapra | Event #40: APPT Main Event ($1,750) | $7,174 |
| 4 | Somasekhar Sanampuri | Event #61: APPT Mini Main Event ($400) | $5,449 |
| 2 | Amit Kaushik | Event #69: 1K NLH ($1,000) | $5,347 |
| 2 | Somashekar Kurkhepally Nahadeva | Event #30: Super Knockout [$350 Bounty] Final ($750) | $5,245 |
| 1 | Ajay Abrol | Event #12: Shot Clock ($300) | $5,222 |
| 3 | Somasekhar Sanampuri | Event #25: Knockout High Roller ($1000 Bounty) ($2,500) | $4,653 |
| 2 | Arjun Dhingra | Event #65: Deepstack ($300) | $4,275 |
| 5 | Vineet Kumar | Event #61: APPT Mini Main Event ($400) | $4,192 |
| 2 | Ajay Abrol | Event #22: 6-Handed Turbo ($250) | $3,673 |
| 5 | Bagaria Raj Vardhan | Event #45: Megastack ($500) | $3,283 |
| 2 | Anju Abrol | Event #12: Shot Clock ($300) | $3,396 |
| 7 | Pranav Bathija | Event #61: APPT Mini Main Event ($400) | $2,728 |
| 1 | Arun Godiyal | Event #3: Knockout Turbo [$100 Bounty] | $2,789 |
| 3 | Amit Kaushik | Event #9: Megastack Turbo ($300) | $2,426 |
| 5 | Ajay Abrol | Event #5: SuperStack ($300) | $2,320 |
| 5 | Vineet Kumar | Event #43: Deepstack Turbo ($300) | $2,186 |
| 5 | Nageshwara Alaparthy | Event #65: Deepstack ($300) | $1,878 |
| 4 | Romit Advani | Event #9: Megastack Turbo ($300) | $1,867 |
| 7 | Amit Kaushik | Event #30: Super Knockout [$350 Bounty] Final ($750) | $1,475 |
| 3 | Arun Godiyal | Event #14: Win The Button – Hyper Turbo ($300) | $1,248 |
| 7 | Anju Abrol | Event #22: 6-Handed Turbo ($250) | $1,033 |
| 5 | Gagandeep Singh Malik | Event #67: Knockout ($100 Bounty) Turbo ($300) | $618 |
| 7 | Romit Advani | Event #26: PLO Knockout [$200 Bounty] ($500) | $595 |
A Look At APPT Cambodia 2025 Top 10 Winners
| Rank | Player | Event | Prize (USD) |
| 1 | Hai Ha Tran | Event #40: APPT Main Event ($1,750) | $155,225 |
| 2 | Daniel Neilson | Event #58: APPT High Roller ($3,000) | $65,599 |
| 3 | Fabian Rolli | Event #19: APPT National ($1,000) | $52,342 |
| 4 | Mauricio Salazar Sanchez | Event #31: APPT Super High Roller ($10,000) | $42,811 |
| 5 | Hao Lin | Event #6: Mystery Bounty ($750) | $33,476 |
| 6 | Sanjeev Kapoor | Event #57: Survivor Knockout [$1K Bounty] ($600) | $25,560 |
| 7 | Nikesh Vijay Chawla | Event: #35 High Roller Turbo | $17,634 |
| 8 | Chak Hei Chan | #61 APPT Mini Main Event ($400) | $15,863 |
| 9 | Aleksandr Diudiaev | #7 Megastack High Roller ($2,500) | $15,617 |
| 10 | Craig Jones | #20 Mini High Roller ($2,000) | $15,087 |
Keep following PokerProNews Events & Tours Page for the quick recaps of live poker festivals across the world.
Sources: SMP and LifeOfPoker
