Xiaosheng Zheng captured the WPT Cambodia Championship on Monday at NagaWorld Integrated Resort in Phnom Penh, closing out the World Poker Tour’s latest international festival with a career-defining victory.
The $3,500 buy-in championship event drew 425 entries and generated a $1.5 million prize pool, with the top 54 players earning payouts. Zheng’s win was worth $244,500 and also included a seat in the season-ending WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas, along with his name being engraved on the prestigious Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup.
“I feel very happy and excited right now. This is my first championship title in so many years,” Zheng said after the win. “I believed that as long as I stuck to my strategy that I would win this eventually. I think it’s always been in my heart.”
Heads-Up Deal Determines Final Payouts
The final two players agreed to adjusted payouts during heads-up play. Although Zheng secured the title, runner-up Michael O’Neill earned the largest cash payout of the tournament, taking home $249,700. Zheng received $244,500 following the deal.
Kunal Patni finished third for $145,000. Chengcai Pan placed fourth for $110,000, followed by Julien Sitbon in fifth ($83,000) and Pang Kok Yong in sixth ($63,000).
Decisive Final Hand
The championship was decided on the 106th hand of heads-up play. O’Neill moved all in holding A♦ J♣ and was called by Zheng with A♠ A♣. The board ran out 7♣ 6♠ 3♠ J♦ 2♦, pairing O’Neill on the turn but leaving Zheng’s pocket aces best to seal the victory.
Final Table Highlights
The final table began on Day 5 with Chengcai Pan holding the chip lead at 68 big blinds. Julien Sitbon, a World Series of Poker bracelet winner, entered the day as the short stack.
Sitbon was eliminated in fifth place after his pocket queens were cracked by O’Neill’s pocket nines. Pan followed in fourth after losing a race with pocket queens against Zheng’s ace-king. Patni was later eliminated in third place after losing an all-in confrontation with O’Neill.
Pang Kok Yong’s sixth-place finish capped an impressive run, coming just days after he placed third in the WPT Prime Cambodia Championship.
WPT Prime Cambodia Championship
The WPT Cambodia festival also featured the WPT Prime Cambodia Championship, which attracted 1,095 entries. Andrei Kalgin outlasted the field to win his first WPT Prime title and $154,170, the largest share of the $1.06 million prize pool.
What’s Next for the WPT
Following the conclusion of the Cambodia stop, the World Poker Tour returns to the United States. The next event on the schedule is the $5,000 buy-in WPT Venetian Las Vegas Spring Championship, beginning February 19.
WPT Cambodia Championship Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Xiaosheng Zheng | $244,500* |
| 2 | Michael O’Neill | $249,700* |
| 3 | Kunal Patni | $145,000 |
| 4 | Chengcai Pan | $110,000 |
| 5 | Julien Sitbon | $83,000 |
| 6 | Pang Kok Yong | $63,000 |
*Payouts for first and second place were adjusted following a heads-up deal.
