Asia Player of the Year Looks to Make His Mark in North America

While not a household name in North America yet, Alan "KingLune" Lau has already begun to carve out his legacy in Asia. In October of 2017, Lau took on the likes of Stephen Chidwick and Dominik Nitsche at the Asia Championship of Poker at the Red Dragon Main Event.

His victory earned him not only the $704,931 first place prize but the title of Asia Player of the Year making him the first player to ever be the Asia Player of the Year twice. Lau's first title was in 2015 where he accumulated the most points to make the the player of the year. This year he fought a tight race with Sparrow Cheung and Jack Wu to lock up the title again. His victory in the ACOP Main Event all but secured the title for him making him the first two-time APOY.

Lau's 2017 APOY year comprised of 34 cashes and 20 final table appearances as well as more than $1.5 Million in earnings.

Lau has just recently taken his seat here at the PCA Main Event and has already got himself involved in a few pots. In a recent hand he took on Ricky Guan.

A player opened in middle position with a raise to 400 before Lau reraised, making it 1,300 from the button. Action folded to the big blind where Ricky Guan four-bet, making it 3,400. The original raiser folded, but Lau called.

The flop came down and Guan led out with a bet of 2,200. Lau thought for a bit, then called.

Both players thought for a bit then decided to check on the turn. The river was the and Guan fired again, this time putting out a bet of 7,500. Lau thought for a long time, thinking through the hand, but eventually settled on a call. Guan turned over his for just ace-high, but Lau had him beat, turning over his for a better ace-high. That earned the reigning APOY the big pot and allowed him to chip up early here on Day 1b.