Tight at the Top
It’s pretty tight at the top of the chip counts at present with the chip lead changing hands at least once an orbit. It looks like it is Malaysia’s Michael Soyza who currently holds it at present, though Percy Chao is not all that far behind.
We caught the two in action with Soyza the initial aggressor in this particular hand, making it 5,200 to go from middle position, with Chao choosing to defend his big blind.
Chao checked the 
flop over to Soyza, who continuation bet 6,000, which Chao called. The 
turn brought checks from both players and after the 
river completed the hand Chao opened for 22,000 and Soyza folded immediately. Chao climbed to 97,000 after the hand while Soyza looked to have around 120,000.
Chao pushed Ka Ho Sun off a hand not long afterward to pad his stack out a little more, before passing some chips the way of Wai Kiat Lee a couple of hands later. It was Chao who was the pre-flop raiser this time around, making it 5,500 to go from middle position and Lee made the call from the cutoff to take the action heads-up to a flop of 
.
Both players slowed it down and the action went check, check and the dealer burned and turned the . After Chao checked again Lee led for 7,500 and after a little time in the tank, Chao made the call.
The 
river is a blank if ever we saw one and Chao checked again, opening the door for Lee to bet big and he duly did so, making it 19,500, which was enough to get Chao to give it up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
117,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
||
|
104,000
8,400
|
8,400 |
|
76,000
3,800
|
3,800 |