National

Action began on Ong Dingxiang who raised the small blind to 180,000 and Kim Enriquez calling behind. The two checked a flop of 6♣ 7♦ 9♥ to move on to the turn 6♥ . Ong checked once again and Enriquez threw in a bet of 85,000. Ong made the call to reveal another 9♠ on the river. Ong led out for 140,000 but was met with a raise to 350,000 from Enriquez. Ong calls the 210,000 more, only to see Enriquez’ winning hand Q♣ 9♣ for a full house nines over sixes.

Enriquez collects the pot and climbs to 2.1 Million in chips.

Folded to him on the small blind, Moses Saquing jammed with K♥ 5♠ and was called by Lloyd Locsin with K♣ 9♦ on the big blind. Both players missed to pair on board J♠ 4♦ 3♥ Q♠ 6♥ but meant Locsin’s better kicker placed. Locsin took down the pot and left his opponent to call it a day.

With his double up, Thoo Ming Ken went on to lose a small pot against Ong Dingxiang prior to his elimination. The two once again battled head on as Thoo moved all-in for roughly 12 BB from the small blind with 4♦ 9♦ . Ong called on the big blind with Q♣ J♣ , slightly covering his opponent. The board 3♦ 4♠ 3♣ Q♦ 2♠ gave both players two-pair albeit Ong with the better one.

Ong Dingxiang climbs back to 1.6 Million in chips while Thoo Ming Ken heads for the rails in 12th place.

Similarly, Thoo Ming Ken moved his short stack all-in folded to him on the small blind. Ong Dingxiang on the big blind called with 8♣ 8♦ , way ahead of Thoo’s K♠ 5♣ . Thoo’s aggression however, paid off as the board revealed A♥ 5♦ 4♠ 9♥ K♥ for a rivered two-pair. Thoo Ming Ken scores the double as Ong Dingxiang drops down to 700,000.

A blind vs blind battle, Vamerdino Magsakay on the small blind raised all-in with A♣ K♦ covering Carmelo Tutay Jr’s 600,000 stack. Tutay Jr made the call with J♣ J♠ but was left drawing thin when the flop revealed 4♣ Q♠ K♣ . The runout T♣ K♥ improved Magsakay’s hand to trip Kings, forcing Tutay Jr out in 13th place.

Running a short stack, Darren Yu jammed his remaining 400,000 in the middle, called by Hyung Kim Tae with 7♣ 7♥ . Yu was in dire need of luck as he found his small pocket pair 3♦ 3♠ dominated. The board drew a blank and Yu was left to settle in 14th place finish.

From the small blind, Carmelo Tutay Jr risked his 350,000 stack with 4♠ 4♦ after Moses Saquing opened from late position. Saquing defended his raise, calling with K♦ Q♠ . The board J♠ 9♣ 3♦ A♣ A♥ revealed several overcards, none of which were that of Saquing’s. Tutay Jr doubles up to 800,000.

14 players left in the running. Listed below are the estimated chip counts on both tables.

Folded to Zhilian Dong on the small blind, the Chinese runner raised all-in covering Jaehyun Park’s 10 BB stack. Park quickly found a call with A♠ K♥ as Dong showed 7♣ T♣ . The flop 9♥ K♠ J♦ gave Dong an up and down straight but bricked the turn and river to double up his opponent. Park packs in 900,000 after winning the pot with Dong downsized to 1.1 Million in chips.

After losing a pot vs Edgar Asehan, Hyung Kim Tae quickly recovered after calling Oleg Alex Kaminski’s 800,000 all-in from the cut-off. Hyung was ahead with A♣ K♦ against Kaminski’s Q♣ J♣ . Both players missed the board and Hyung’s Ace-high was good enough to boot Kaminski in 15th place.

The hand kicked off with Edgar Asehan opening from under the gun to 85,000. Hyung Kim Tae on the small blind fired a three-bet to 320,000 and was called by Asehan. The two saw a flop of 3♣ 5♥ T♣ , proceeding Hyung to put maximum pressure on his opponent. Asehan happily called for his tournament life with top set T♠ T♦ as Hyung’s 8♣ 8♠ headed straight for the muck. Asehan takes down the 1.35 Million pot, leaving Hyung with still a healthy stack of 2.5 Million.

Facing an under the gun open from Zhilian Dong, Archie Mariano pushed all-in with his 11 BB stack with A♦ K♣ . Dong made the call, tabling T♠ T♥ . The board ran 9♥ Q♠ 4♦ 3♣ 2♣ with Dong’s pocket pair holding up for the win. Mariano is dusted in 16th place, claiming PHP 155,000 in prize money.

Beginning with an open from the cut-off, Ong Dingxiang called behind with T♠ T♦ . Moses Saquing from the small blind found a three-bet to 250,000. Original raiser folded and Ong moved all-in for 745,000 in total. Saquing made the call with K♥ Q♦ for a flip. An eight-high board once again ran in favor of Ong, as he claimed a full double up to 1.65 Million.

Turn action saw all of Ong Dingxiang’s chips in the middle with Q♠ 9♠ on a board of 3♣ T♥ 5♠ Q♣ against Carmelo Tutay Jr’s better K♠ Q♦ . Luckily for Ong, one of his three outs appeared on the river 9♦ , extending his run to 950,000 in chips. Tutay Jr survives with a 10 BB stack.

A preflop battle that ended with a five-bet jam from Kang Yunku and a call from Hyung Kim Tae ensued just as Level 24 was about to end. Kang’s Q♦ Q♣ was in trouble against Hyung’s nutted Aces. Waiting for a two outer, no Queen came on board 4♠ 6♦ 8♣ 5♦ 3♥ , sending Kang out in 17th.

Hyung Kim Tae piles 2.6 Million in chips as he makes his way to two tables remaining.

In a good spot to gain some chips, Rommel Angeles on the big blind could not dodge this situation. Folded to the button, Ong Dingxiang went all-in for his 320,000 with J♣ 8♣ . Angeles, right on his tail called with 8♦ 8♥ and crushingly saw a board of Q♣ K♠ 2♣ 9♦ 3♣ . Ong’s made flush on the river awarded him the double up and his opponent down to 2.5 BB.

Angeles busts shortly to Thoo Ming Ken, thus completing his run at the APPT National event in 18th place.

With pressure from the blinds increasing, Mac Mantos jammed his 9 BB stack from under the gun with A♣ 5♦ . His all-in unfortunately did not get through as big blind Lloyd Locsin made the call with 8♥ 8♦ . Mac missed to spike the much needed ace, costing him a run to the trophy.

Lloyd Locsin boosts to 1.375 Million in chips.

Another thrilling pot went down with 160,000 in the middle on a flop of 5♦ 6♦ 7♠ from a button vs big blind situation. Defender Thoo Ming Ken check-raised all-in to 465,000 against Rommel Angeles‘ 200,000 bet. Angeles made the call with K♦ Q♥ , drawing dead against Thoo’s flopped straight 8♥ 9♥ . Angeles drops down to 380,000.

Following a call from the cut-off, Lester Edoc moved all-in on the button for 835,000 with 4♣ 4♦ . Kang Yunku on the big blind woke up with a premium hand Q♣ Q♥ and called all-in for 545,000. The board offered no help and Edoc clips down to 290,000.

Next hand right after, Edoc puts in his remaining 11 BB with A♣ 5♣ , called by Oleg Alex Kaminski with J♥ J♠ . The flop 5♦ 7♦ 9♦ gave Edoc a pair but failed to improve on turn 6♦ and river 6♣ . Edoc is left to settle for a 20th place payout of PHP 138,000.

Action was seen on a flop of 8♥ 8♠ 2♠ with a 175,000 pot already brewing. From under the gun, Edgar Asehan check-raised all-in Lloyd Locsin’s 75,000 bet with Q♠ Q♣ . Locsin made the call with J♠ 9♠ for a flush draw. The turn 7♠ completed Locsin’s flush but the river Q♥ deservingly gave Asehan a full boat.

Edgar Asehan survives with 735,000 in chips.

Trickled down to 180,000, Richard Marquez slammed his remaining 13 BB on the button and was called by Zhilian Dong on the big blind. Marquez’ 9♠ 9♦ needed to win a crucial flip against Zhilian’s A♠ T♥ . The board Q♥ A♥ 4♣ K♣ 3♠ however, ran in favor of Zhilian as Marquez collected PHP 121,000 for a 21st place payout.

Zhilian Dong sits with 800,000 following the hand.

With already 500,000 (20 BB) in the middle, a runout of T♦ J♣ 9♦ K♣ faced players Acain Henrieto Bonachita and Lloyd Locsin. Bonachita on the small blind checked the turn, inducing Locsin to fire a 250,000 bet. Bonachita raised all-in and Locsin folded.

Acain Henrieto Bonachita banks 1.5 Million in chips.

Day chip leader Lloyd Locsin continues to dominate as action seen on a 100k built pot on flop A♣ J♠ 7♦ . Checked by Locsin, Oleg Mordassov commanded a flop bet of 50,000. Locsin raised to 120,000, answered by another raise from Mordassov to 250,000, and Locsin once again to 550,000. Mordassov finally moved all-in with Locsin making the call. Mordassov showed top two-pair A♥ J♣ up against Locsin’s flopped set with 7♠ 7♣ . Failing to improve on turn 3♦ and river 8♣ , Mordassov is eliminated in 22nd place as Locsin collects the huge pot.

Lloyd Locsin tops the ranks with 2.7 Million in chips.

Six hours of Day 2 play has passed with 25 players left vying for the APPT Manila National title and PHP 3 Million top prize. Minimum payout amounting to PHP 104,000.

Day 2 set to play through all the way to the final nine.

The hand began with Malaysia’s Thoo Ming Ken opening the button for 32,000. Both blinds decide to come in with all three players facing a flop of 7♦ 2♥ J♥ . Checked to Thoo, he decided to shoot out a bet of 45,000. Only Oleg Mordassov on the small blind made the call and the two carried on to see a turn of K♠ . Checking once again, Thoo fired a heftier bet of 130,000, met with a call by Mordassov soon after. The river delivered a 4♦ and Mordassov check-folded Thoo’s 320,000 bet. Thoo showed T♥ 9♣ for a missed straight draw.

Thoo now with 1.1 Million in chips.

A three-way all-in situation preflop, largest stacked Vamerdino Magsakay sent Alexis Cruz and Diana Tan out in 31st and 30th place respectively after spiking a two-outer. On a board of 2♦ 9♣ K♠ J♥ 6♥ , Tan’s A♦ A♣ ended up being no good against Magsakay’s flopped set of Kings.

Vamerdino Magsakay’s stack rises to 1.4 Million.

Fighting for a 250,000 built pot, the river saw Zhang Lei move all-in for roughly 500,000 on a board of 6♣ 7♣ 9♥ J♣ 5♠ . Lloyd Locsin found the call with 7x 7x , dominating Zhang’s set of sixes to secure the seven-figure pot.

Zhang Lei exits in 32nd place for PHP 80,000. Lloyd Locsin sits comfortably with 1.7 Million in chips.

Struggling to survive, Edwin Dela Cruz was in need of a double up after losing several pots. Folded to him on the cut-off, the local runner went with K♦ T♥ and was up against Oleg Mordassov’s A♥ 4♥ . Missing both hands on a board of J♦ 9♠ 9♦ 3♠ 5♣ , Mordassov’s ace-high is good enough to take the pot down.

Edwin Dela Cruz finishes in 33rd place. Oleg Mordassov sits with a healthy 1.35 Million stack.

With 140,000 in the middle, both Park Jaehyun and Rommel Angeles checked a flop of K♣ 5♥ 3♣ . The turn 9♣ was checked again by Angeles as to which Park jammed his 360,000 stack in. Angeles made the call and the river T♠ completed the board. Park tabled K♠ K♥ for the win, beating Angeles’ 9♦ 9♠ for a full double up.

Park Jaehyun picks up the 860,000 pot.

After losing a flip against Acain Henrieto Bonachita, Lim Yan Ming went with {a} Q♣ for his remaining 6.5 BB stack. Diana Tan made the call from the button with K♦ J♦ for a race. The board unfortunately for Lim, ran J♣ 3♣ 9♣ 6♦ K♥ , giving Tan the win and his opponent eliminated.

An all-in battle ensued on a board of 6♠ T♠ 5♠ 3♥ Q♣ with Acain Henrieto Bonachita’s 7♥ 7♣ holding against Lim Yan Ming’s A♣ J♠ . Bonachita chips up to 550,000 while opponent Lim drops down to a short stack of 80,000.

Starting with an open from the button by Lloyd Locsin and a call from the small blind, big blind Li Yakai slammed his 15 BB stack through with Locsin defending his raise with A♠ T♠ . Li revealed a monster holding K♥ K♦ but the board T♣ Q♣ A♦ 9♠ A♥ fell on Locsin’s side. Locsin’s full boat wins the pot and sends Li out with a terrible bad beat.

Locsin reaches the 1 million mark.

With pressure of the blinds increasing, Singapore’s Xiang Jason Toh Jing left no time to waste as he shoved his 157,000 stack against Timothy Nichols’ button open. Nichols, risking a quarter of his stack, made the call with Q♠ J♣ . The board showed 9♠ 3♦ 5♦ 5♣ 9♥ , securing Xiang a full double up and another run for the trophy.

Second break of the day sees 42 players remain in contention of the APPT Manila National title. All runners are now guaranteed a minimum payout of PHP 70,000.

Folded to Hyung Kim Tae on the lo-jack, the Korean national opened to 25,000. Lim Yan Ming three-bet to 70,000 from the cut-off and was met with a cold four-bet to 230,000 by Vamerdino Magsakay from the small blind. Both players threw their hands in the muck as Magsakay raked in all the dead money in the middle.

Vamerdino Magsakay closes in to 700,000 in chips.

A crucial hand for the Japanese, Haraguchi Satoru needed to spike his overcards for his survival. Following an under the gun open from Lim Yan Ming and a call behind, Haraguchi pushed his 15 big blind stack in the middle with K♥ Q♠ . Lim reshoved his 300,000 stack and tabled J♣ J♦ for a flip. The board ran 9♦ A♣ 9♣ 4♥ 9♠ and sent Haraguchi out of the tournament.

Lim Yan Ming rises to half a million in chips.

56 players remain in the running.

Kicking things off with an early open from Alvir Inocentes, Zhang Lei wasted no time and moved all-in for 190,000. Sitting right after, Seol Taek Su with a slightly bigger stack likewise pushed all his chips in the middle and Inocentes joined the battle. The board revealed 4♦ T♠ 3♦ J♥ 6♣ , giving Zhang no bad beats to claim the 586,000 pot.

Zhang A♦ A♣ Seol A♥ K♥ Inocentes Q♦ Q♣

A three-way all-in preflop ensued after Vamerdino Magsakay opened to 18,000 from under the gun. Player after him made the call and Hyun Jin Jung moved all-in with his 11 big blind stack. Mar David Rene on the big blind also called all-in with a smaller stack and Magsakay reshoved to keep it three-handed. The board ran A♣ 2♣ 7♠ 7♣ 2♠ , leaving Magsakay with still, the best pair to beat.

Magsakay K♣ K♠ Hyun 4♠ 4♥ Mar 6♦ 6♥

Vamerdino Magsakay sweeps the pot and soars to 550,000 in chips.

Action was reported with roughly 150,000 in the middle and the board turned 8♠ 9♣ 6♥ A♠ . Zhang Li Jun on the big blind check-called Hyung Kim Tae’s 88,000 bet. The river J♦ completed the board and Zhang once again checked his option. Hyung pushed all-in and Zhang answered with a muck. Hyung showed K♠ Q♠ for a bluff.

Hyung Kim Tae sits with 750,000 in chips.

Entering as the Day chip leader, Lloyd Locsin managed to preserve his hefty stack and remain in top form. From the small blind, Locsin opened to 18,000 and was called by Jharome Pena on the big blind. The flop came 7♣ J♦ 2♦ and Locsin fired a 27,000 continuation bet. Pena did not back down and both players went on to see the turn K♣ . This time, Locsin pushed out a bigger bet of 65,000, leaving Pena to fold.

Lloyd Locsin chips up to 850,000 while Jharome Pena drops down to 10BB, 80,000.

With 79 making the money out of the 139 Day 2 qualifiers, it was Dexter Manapat who bubbled the PHP 58,000 minimum payout. Manapat risked his tournament life with A♥ Q♦ after Xu Qiang opened from the lo-jack. Xu however, made the call with Q♠ 5♥ and spiked a 5♦ on the board to claim the pot.

Xu Qiang packs in a 390,000 stack while Dexter Manapat exits in 80th place.

Hand began with Joseph Antoi opening to 16,000 from under the gun. Oleg Mordassov decided to come along from the small blind and both players saw a flop of A♣ 4♣ 8♦ . Mordassov check-raised all-in right on the flop and Antoi made the call with A♠ K♣ . While a pretty good flop for his premium hand, Antoi was crushed to see his opponent’s flopped two-pair A♥ 8♣ . The turn and river delivered no changes and Antoi busted just a few places short of the money.

Oleg Mordassov rises to 640,000 in chips.

A button vs. blind battle, Rommel Angeles took advantage of his position and opened to 15,000. Jinlong Hu defended his big blind with a three-bet to 40,000. Angeles answered with a four-bet to 95,000 which Hu found the call. The flop 2♠ 4♥ K♦ hit both players evident by Hu’s check-call for 50,000. The turn showed J♣ , Hu checked and Angeles pulled the all-in for his opponent’s remaining chips. Hu made the call and was left drawing thin after seeing Angeles’ A♦ K♣ . A 6♣ completed the board but showed no improvement for Hu’s Q♣ 4♣ .

Rommel Angeles sits with a healthy 560,000 stack.

An early open from Lim Yan Ming, Hara Mayu moved all-in with premium hand A♦ Q♥ . Lim made the call for a better A♠ K♥ . The board ran 4♣ J♠ 8♦ 4♠ K♣ and Mayu was left heading towards the exit.

Lim Yan Ming collects the pot, sits with 420,000 in chips.

After crushing Aces with his combo draw, Timothy Nichols was once again in the middle of the action. Facing an open from the cut-off to 12,000, Sam En Zhi Jereld on the small blind re-raised to 43,000. Nichols on the big blind, cold called Sam’s three-bet as to which the original raiser folded. The flop revealed K♣ 8♣ 8♥ , forcing Sam immediately to give up after Nichols raised his continuation bet.

Timothy Nichols climbs to 450,000 in chips.

Action was caught with 100,000 in chips already in the middle by the river on a board of 5♥ 2♥ 9♣ 8♣ 7♠ . Louis Bilodeau on the small blind opted to check and Timothy Nichols took the chance to move all-in. Bilodeau found the call with A♣ A♠ which was no good against Nichols’ rivered straight Q♥ 6♥ .

Louis Bilodeau drops down to 7,000.

Another three-bet preflop situation, the hand began with an open from under the gun and Lester Edoc with a call from late position. Teoh on the big blind found a raise to 38,000 with only Edoc calling behind. The two saw a flop of 2♦ 3♠ 6♠ and Teoh fired a continuation bet of 25,000. Edoc called and the turn 7♠ completed a possible flush on board. Teoh check-folded after Edoc bet 47,000 on the turn.

Edoc picks up the pot and now sits with 360,000 in chips.

Riding her wave of fortune, Zhang Li Jun was found yet again collecting more chips. An open from early position, Young Shin Jo moved all-in with his short stack and was surprisingly met by another all-in from Zhang on the small blind. Young revealed A♥ 9♠ , dominated by Zhang’s A♦ K♦ . The board 6♣ 7♣ 2♣ 5♠ 3♦ was of no help to Young as he headed to the rails.

Sitting on the hi-jack, Rick Jason Ambata opened the hand to 7,000 and was called by both small blind and Day 1B chip leader Zhang Li Jun on the big blind. The flop ran Q♦ J♦ 2♠ and Zhang led out a small bet of 6,000 which was called by both players. The turn came K♣ and was checked by both players on the blinds. Ambata fired a bet of 18,000 and was called only by Zhang. The river Q♣ was enough for Zhang to lead out a sizable 30,000 bet. Ambata made the call only to see Zhang’s Q♥ 4♠ for the win.

Zhang Li Jun rises to 580,000 while Rick Jason Ambata is left with 11BB, 34,000.

Action began from a raise under the gun, followed by a call from William Teoh on the button. Yan Ke on the small blind found a three-bet to 23,000. Original raiser folded and Teoh made the call. Flop came J♠ 4♣ 2♦ and Yan proceeded with a check-raise to 74,000. Teoh moved all-in and Yan happily made the call with the nuts. Teoh showed 2♣ 2♠ , way behind Yan’s top set with J♥ J♦ . The turn 2♥ however, put Teoh in the lead after pulling the one outer. A K♣ completed the board and Yan unfortunately packing.

Teoh survives with 350,000 in chips.

From under the gun, Sergei Kochergin was looking for action after raising to 7,000 with A♥ A♠ . Kochergin got exactly that after a player from lo-jack called and a three-bet from Jester Initia on the small blind. Kochergin pushed a four-bet to 57,000, forcing a fold from lo-jack and a call from Initia for the rest of his chips. Pair vs pair, Initia revealed J♠ J♥ which was no good against Kochergin’s Aces on board 8♣ 9♣ 7♦ J♦ A♥ .

Sergei Kochergin bumps up to a 190,000 stack.

Beginning with an open to 7,000 from the cut-off, Zhang Li Jun called off Ko Taekbeom’s 14 BB shove from the big blind with A♥ K♠ . Ko tabled 7♥ 3♣ . The board ran 9♣ Q♣ 2♠ A♦ 9♦ giving Zhang top pair, enough to send Ko out on the first level.

Zhang Li Jun rises to 530,000 in chips.

Cards are in the air, Good luck to all the players! ITM at 79 players for a minimum payout of PHP 58,000 (~USD 1,057).

Final Nine Chip Counts

Remaining Payouts

1st - PHP 3,244,690 2nd - PHP 2,045,000 3rd - PHP 1,464,000 4th - PHP 1,141,000 5th - PHP 895,000 6th - PHP 703,000 7th - PHP 525,000 8th - PHP 363,000 9th - PHP 287,000

A preflop game from hereon, Zhilian Dong raised all-in from the small blind with A♦ 8♦ and was met with a call from Timothy Nichols on the big blind for his remaining chips. Nichols held 4♥ 4♦ , finding a flip for his survival. The flop 3♠ T♦ A♥ immediately crushed his hopes, and continued with 3♥ 6♠ to deliver his elimination.