APL Main Event (65,000 PHP)

Mitsuki Sakimoto opened on the button and snap called Soo Jo Kim's 960,000 all-in from the big blind.

Kim dominated, accepted his fate and headed for the rails just as board J♣ 7♠ Q♣ 9♣ 9♠ kept him behind all the way.

Soo Jo Kim pushed 535,000 on the hijack and was looked up by chip leader Mitsuki Sakimoto on the small blind.

Kim a huge favorite, easily secured the double up on board 5♣ 3♥ 5♥ J♦ 4♣ , boosting him back up to 15 big blinds.

Hyuntae Kim flicked in his last 175,000 utg, called by Czardy Rivera on the small blind. Soo Jo Kim on the big blind, reshoved for 480,000 and successfully got Rivera out of the way.

Whilst a cooler situation, no damage was done on either player as the runout 9♣ 5♣ 7♦ 8♥ 6♥ landed a straight on board for a split pot.

Action is down to the final two tables. Another seat redraw will be put in place, with play continuing down to the final nine.

Chip Count Update

Hoseung Jung fired a 225,000 three bet against an early open and saw Soo Jo Kim on the small blind, bump it up to 550,000. Jung jammed his entire 1,025,000 in, called by Kim for a showdown.

Jung well ahead, kept his advantage all the way through board 7♦ 5♣ 6♦ K♥ 3♠ , leaving Kim drawing dead right by the turn.

With action folded to the blinds, Mistuki Sakimoto opened to 175,000, called behind by Soo Jo Kim.

On flop K♦ 3♦ 4♣ , Kim called a 65,000 cbet from Sakimoto but gave it up shortly on turn T♠ after Sakimoto went for another 250,000.

Jeseok Lee opened in early position and was met with a 150,000 raise from Mitsuki Sakimoto on the button. Soo Jo Kim on the small blind, padded it further to 385,000 and saw only Sakimoto complete.

On flop 5♥ 7♥ 2♣ , Sakimoto called another 255,000 bet from Kim and arrived at turn K♦ . Kim this time, checked and tank folded after Sakimoto shot out a bet of 450,000. Sakimoto picked up the pot, pushing him atop the ranks over the last three tables.

With only 26 players remaining, the final three tables are due for a seat redraw. Only nine runners will advance to the Final Day, where the hunt for the APL Main Event title continues.

Here are the chip counts:

In a preflop battle, Lester Edoc put his tournament life on the line with king-queen and was up against Soo Jo Kim's queen-jack. Edoc was geared to take a double up, yet instead crashed out as Kim spiked a jack on the river to snag the win and bust the Filipino out.

Masafumi Matsushita opened 55,000 on the cutoff, called by Soo Jo Kim right behind.

On board 9♠ 6♦ 5♦ 8♥ T♦ , Matsushita check called three streets from Kim - 55,000, 140,000, and a final 230,000, only to muck as Kim revealed a flush J♦ 9♦ . Kim picked up yet another 22 big blind boost, putting him in command over the 35-player field.

Ron Ryan Mesina fired a 200,000 three bet on the cutoff against a hijack open and saw Soo Jo Kim raise all-in on the big blind. Mesina called off his remaining 127,000, and found himself in rough shape against Kim's better pair.

Board A♥ 9♥ 2♥ 4♣ 2♣ offered no surprises, eliminating Mesina from the Main Event running.

Yu Liu defended his big blind against Soo Jo Kim's 35,000 open, and led all-in for his last 90,000 on flop 8♣ 5♣ 6♠ . Kim decided not to take the spot, giving up the pot to Liu.