Mikes Millionaire Maker:  3M for 3K kicks off

PASAY CITY, Philippines—The second major tournament of this country’s pace-setting card room went into full swing today as MIKES ROOM opened the gates for its 3M for 3K tilt.

MIKES ROOM follows the tremendous success of its initial effort last June wherein the 2M for 2K shattered all Philippine records with a staggering 1,403 total buy-ins.

The same formula – with a slightly higher entry fee and a bigger prize pool – will once again be employed in this endeavour with the champion coming away with not only PhP1,000,000 but also a brand new Toyota Wigo—an added perk for this undertaking.

“I’m sick of seeing (my players) ride a jeepney (a popular local form of public transportation),” Kim said of the inclusion of an automobile to the winner. “At MIKES ROOM, we want our players to travel in comfort.”

29 advance from Day 1A “Regular”, Yutangco leads field

267 entrants saw action in the first flight of competition here. When the smoke cleared from the wars on the felt in Day 1A “Regular”—wherein thirty minute levels are utilitzed—29 runners made it to Day 2 of the event, which will be held on Sunday (August 21st).

Atop the leaderboard is Alejandro Yutangco who is more known in the local chess circles than at the card tables.

Yutangco, who is a regular competitor in the national chess circuit, bagged 175,000 in chips and is closely followed by MIKES ROOM cash game regular Larry Latigay (158,500) and Asian tournament grinder Eman Segismundo (153,500).

Korea’s Jeon Seung Soo led the way for the international campaigners with 151,000 in holdings (fourth overall) while countryman Kilian Marcus (122,500) and Nigerian national Jeorge Lagatuz (122,000) were not that far behind.

Day 1A Regular was halted with less than ten minutes remaining in the fifteenth level (with the blinds a 2000/4000/500) and drawn to deal four final hands.

Among the notables who saw action in the opener were 2M for 2K titlist Boyet Drilon, his runner-up Mike Takayama, MIKES ROOM PLO champion Jay Lubas and a phalanx of regulars as well as newcomers to the renowned poker establishment.

Here is the complete list of qualifiers from Day1A Regular:

Alejandro Yutangco	PHI	175,000
Larry Latigay	PHI	158,500
Eman Segismundo	PHI	153,500
Jeon Seung Soo	KOR	151,000
Antonio Angeles	PHI	143,000
Leonard Aban	PHI	136,000
Mike Bueza	PHI	131,000
Kilian Marcus	KOR	122,500
Jeorge Lagatuz	NGR	122,000
Alexander Tan Chen	TPE	111,500
Joven Huerto	PHI	103,500
Sandy Cea	PHI	102,000
Vamerdino Magsakay	PHI	101,500
Precil Paalisbo	PHI	99,000
Gary “Ganern” Ramayrat	PHI	98,000
Hideaki Hasuike	JPN	83,000
Bing Soriano	PHI	81,000
Moe Saquing	PHI	80,000
Christopher Quinlog	PHI	69,000
Anthony Andrada	PHI	67,500
John Clyde Tan	ENG	61,000
Rolando Amorin	PHI	57,000
Pedro Gutierrez	PHI	55,000
Angelito The	PHI	54,500
Robert San Juan	PHI	51,000
Rene Pacayra	PHI	47,500
Jose Francisco Zulueta	PHI	33,000
Jun Sacote	PHI	29,000
Bryan Bandada	PHI	13,500

India’s Rishi Pradhan tops Day 1A “Turbo” flight

95 entries saw action in the “night” session of Day 1A of ’s 3M for 3K tournament and the turbo version of the event saw twelve runners advance to Day 2 of the competition with PhP1 Million going to the champion along with a brand new car.

Indian grinder Rishi Pradham emerged as the chip-leader with 127,500 in holdings. The long time Philippine resident carries a considerable stack entering Sunday’s penultimate war for the biggest chunk of the PhP3,000,000 guaranteed prize pool.

Pradham, burst into prominence back in 2013 where constantly cashed in the local tournament scene. His return to the circuit here at MIKES ROOM makes him a new contender for the title as he blitzed through one of the tougher evening fields in the competition, and breezed past a phalanx of local sharks on the way to the chip lead.

Not far behind Pradham was enigmatic Romualdo de los Reyes (104,000) as he hardly exchanged any conversation with fellow combatants en route to attaining his stack.

2M for 2K runner-up Mike Takayama bucked an early exit from the “Regular” session to snare third place with a healthy 98,500 in chips.

The final bust out of the undertaking came in form of former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) cager Joey Mente as the wily point guard ran into to two outdraws to sideline him for good—at least until the sun rises for Day 1B.

This brings the total number of Day 1 entries to 362, just six short of the combined Day 1A total of MIKES ROOM’s inaugural 2M for 2K tournament last June.

Day 1B commences on Friday (August 19th) with the “Regular” session kicking off at 2:00PM and the “Turbo” edition happening at 8:00PM.

Here is the official chip-count from the 3M for 3K Day 1A Turbo flight: 

Rishi Pradhan	IND	127,500
Romualdo de los Reyes	PHI	104,000
Mike Takayama	PHI	98,500
James Cheong	SIN	92,500
Joseph Santos	PHI	84,500
Conrado Pumicpic	PHI	79,000
Miguel Marantan	PHI	78,000
Bertrand Ortiz	PHI	72,500
Felesito Rosales	PHI	68,500
George Salud	PHI	58,500
Nelson Ong	PHI	48,500
Adrian Co	PHI	38,500