PASAY CITY, Philippines—It took about less than two hours before the Money Bubble burst and in Level 23, play was halted as the final 27 players called it a day and moved one step closer to their dream of being crowned a millionaire and claim the title in the “2M for 2K”, the inaugural tournament of MIKES ROOM here.
With the field whittled down to 140 to start Day 2 after a record-setting deluge of Day 1s that brought in 1,403 entries, the remaining players engaged each other as the structure slowed down to forty minutes per level—as opposed to the thirty minute pace in the Day 1s “day” flights and the fifteen minute turbo version in the “Night” flights.
Overall chip leaders Noel Ogama and Martin Ealdama happened to be among the early casualties as their run in the qualifiers was stymied by being card dead and were forced to make moves—where opponents were waiting to trap them.
When the Money Bubble burst in the bust out of John Tech and another player (both eliminations happening simultaneously in different rooms), everyone was now guaranteed a portion of the more than PhP2,000,000 ($42,569) prize pool.
It was at this point when Tournament Director Chris Dalida announced that the competition will played down to the final three tables.
In between, there was a lot of riveting action and fierce exchanges coupled with unlikely double-ups and a few shocking bust outs.
Rico de la Cruz, one of the original local poker grinders and a veteran of several Final Tables on the national scale, had the misfortune of have his AKh lose to another player holding AJo with the J instrumental in catching a runner-runner straight to eliminate the grizzled warrior and send the ones left in contention in jubilation for having advanced to the final day of the tournament.
The day belonged to cash game regular Lito Bautista who trapped American Brian Mason’s top pair with a made straight on the turn to quickly turn what was a dwindling stack that started at fifth overall into the event’s chip lead for over a million in holdings.
Bautista, who has been seen at the MIKES ROOM cash tables prior to the undertaking, is also joined atop the leaderboard by Korea’s Hyung Taek Jo—known colloquially as “Sanay Jo”.
Hyung also breached the one million mark and with the average stack now just barely over five hundred thousand, joins Bautista as having more than a fair shot at the PhP1,000,000 ($21,250) top purse of the champion.
Notables that also advanced to Day 3 are Lester Edoc, Mike Takayama and Jose “Boyet” Drilon, along with international campaigners Chia Wei Chang of Chinese Taipei and Australia’s Harold Stewart—who qualified for this tournament via the innovative Cebu Day 1.
Recap in video
Day 3 is set for Monday (June 27th) which will also have the second and final Side Event, the Open Faced Chinese (OFC) Pineapple event at 3PM.
The Asia Poker League (APL) will also be having a Mega Satellite (PhP5,000 buy-in) to its inaugural $500,000 guaranteed event in Beijing, China at 4PM. One package is guaranteed to the winner which includes the buy-in of $1,100, airfare, hotel accommodations and Visa processing assistance.
Keep it locked on Somuchpoker as the action in MIKES ROOM’s “2M for 2K” tournament comes to a pulsating conclusion and find out who will be the next poker millionaire.
Article by Noel Zarate
Day 2 – Chip count
1. Lito Bautista 1,146,000
2. Hyung Taek Jo (KOR) 1,092,000
3. Edward Tan 972,000
4. Conrado Pumicpic 889,000
5. Chia Wei Chang (TPE) 808,000
6. Jason Magbanua 777,000
7. Mario Valdeviezo Jr. 743,000
8. Eugene Co 663,000
9. Angel Mejia 564,000
10. Del Ty 542,000
11. Lester Edoc 508,000
12. Rommel Morfe 499,000
13. Harold Stewart (AUS) 448,000
14. Mike Takayama 447,000
15. Philip Reyes 437,000
16. Janno Riga 399,000
17. Alex Taneo 381,000
18. Luke Pangan 378,000
19. Boyet Drilon 372,000
20. Edwin Marzan 361000
21. Bong Tan 319,000
22. Dennis Reyes 275,000
23. Val Crisostomo 248,000
24. Darwin Garcia 238,000
25. Anthony Amora 196,000
26. Orville Bingcoleta 172,000
27. Franklin Oligario 112,000