APPT National

In what was an epic struggle in Day 2, the last nine players remaining will be locking horns anew in less than 24 hours for the title in a biggest chunk of the PhP20,847,240 (~US$358,815) prize pool here at the APPT National at Okada Manila.

Chen Zhen of China did his damage early and surged to prominence after battling seasoned Filipino competitors Renniel Galvez and Flo Campomanes at the midway point of the day, engaging them in a 5-bet war that had both opting to back down. Chen's steady performance nets him the chip lead of 3,150,000.

He won two High Roller events in the recently concluded Manila Megastack19 and is already guaranteed his first cash in these proceedings.

Closely following Chen is South Africa's Jonathan Chetty who made a late upheaval by crippling Indian pro Karia Siddharth in a hand that saw Chetty's A♠ J♥ overcome the Indian's A♥ K♥ by canning two pairs on a flop of A♦ 2♣ J♦ and eventually booting out tenth placer (and former chip leader) Edgar Asehan of the Philippines by shoving 7♥ 3♣ on his opponent's SB and beating the Filipino's A♦ K♦ on a flop of 4♠ 6♦ 5♥ . Chetty brings 2,920,000 to the Final Table.

Third place is presently held Czechia's Philipp Zukernik with 1,325,000.

Only one local bet remains in Okada Kickoff champion Czardy Rivera.

The Final Table commences on October 24 (Thursday) at 11AM (UCT+8).

APPT National

Dates: October 21-24, 2024

Buy in: PHP 60,000 (~US$ 1,038)

Guarantee: PhP 15,000,000 (~US$ 262,000)

Total Prize Pool: PhP20,847,240 (~US$358,815)

Entries: 398 (206 unique)

ITM: 60 players

Players remaining: 9

Chips in play: 11,940,000

Average stack: 1,326,667

Level 26: 25,000/50,000 (50,000 BB ante)

Flight A (October 21): 63 entries, 10 qualified

Flight B (October 22): 192 entries, 29 qualified

Flight C - Turbo (October 22): 143 entries, 22 qualified

Day 2 (October 23): 60 players (all ITM)

Day 3 (October 24): 9 players remaining

With the specter of the Final Table bubble now a reality, walks have abound in the last two tables.

In what appeared to be another hand destined for that fate, the action gets folded to the SB of big stack Jonathan Chetty but instead of surrendering his SB, the South African shoved to steal the ante and the BB of former chip leader Edgar Asehan of the Philippines. The Filipino veteran snap called the all-in move and when the cards were tabled Chetty sheepishly showed 7♥ 3♣ while Asehan turned over Big Slick A♦ K♦ .

But like out of a bad dream for the Filipino, the flop came: 4♠ 6♦ 5♥ for the second nut straight. Needing running diamonds to pull off a miracle comeback and stay in the competition, the poker gods added insult to injury for Asehan by bringing out the K♠ and the K♥ as the last two community cards.

In practically back-to-back hands playing from behind, Chetty enters the Final Table as one the big stacks heading into Day 3.

Trying to steal the blinds and ante, South Africa's Jonathan Chetty raises to 100,000 from the CO. When the action is folded to the BB, Karia Siddharth of India moves all-in on a 3-bet for 1,350,000, covering his opponent. Chetty decides to it's time to shine and makes the call.

However, the South African is dismayed to see that Siddharth has A♥ K♥ which dominates his A♠ J♥ . But the flop made Chetty smile when it came A♦ 2♣ J♦ to have him hit his kicker along with pairing his ace. Needing a king or running cards to make a straight, not even a sweat card showed up as the 5♠ and the Q♥ completed the board.

The Indian is now down to less than ten BBs as the Final Table bubble nears.

With action folded to the D of Jonathan Chetty, the South African decides to steal the blinds and the ante by going all-in for 485,000. However, Filipino pro Flo Campomanes also goes all-in for his remaining 410,000.

Chetty flips over A♠ 9♠ while Campomanes shows 5♥ 5♦ .

The South African immediately builds a death trap when the flop comes 4♠ T♠ Q♠ for the nut flush. Needing running cards to overcome the deficit, Campomanes had a glimmer of hope when the T♥ came on the turn to pair the board and bring in a potential full house. However, all hopes were dashed when the J♣ becomes the river card and reduces the field to ten players remaining.

From the HJ, Karia Siddharth from India raises to 100,000 but in the CO is England's Grant Gardner who re-pops it to 220,000 (and leaves a 5,000 chip behind). Siddharth just flats the 3-bet.

The flop comes 3♦ 2♣ 9♦ as the Indian checks. Gardner throws in his last chip and Siddharth calls.

Gardner shows 7♠ 7♣ while Siddharth has over cards to the board in the Q♠ J♣ .

Unfortunately for the Englishman, the Q♦ arrives on the turn and his elimination is solidified with the 3♠ on the river.

There are now only 11 players left.

Philipp Zukernik of Czechia makes a raise from UTG to 85,000 and the action gets folded all the way around to the BB of American Brett Kennedy who chooses to call and the two who tangled just a few hands ago go at it again.

The flop is Q♥ 3♥ 5♣ as Kennedy checks. The Czech player continues for 60,000and gets a call from the American. The turn is the 5♠ and this time, both check. The river is the 2♦ and once again, it goes check-check.

Kennedy tables 7♣ 7♦ . For the second time, Zukernik throws his cards into the muck.

The action is folded to Brett Kennedy of the United States and he raises to 80,000 in the CO. Czechia's Philipp Zukernik calls from the D as the blinds get out of the way.

The flop brings the 2♦ 3♠ J♦ as Kennedy CBets to 60,000 and gets called by Zukernik. The turn is the 7♣ and the American unloads 110,000. Zukernik still sticks around. The river is the 3♥ and this time Kennedy bombs the pot for 155,000. Zukernik does not call.

Czechia's Philipp Zukernik raises from UTG to 80,000 but then gets re-raised from the HJ by chip leader Chen Zhen of China to 200,000. Waiting in the BB, another Chinese player in Wu Di 4-bets all-in for 300,000. Zukernik opts to fold but for 100,000 mre and a chance to eliminate a player, Chen makes the call.

Wu shows 7♦ 7♠ while Chen has A♥ 6♣ .

The flop gives Chen the lead when it comes A♠ K♠ K♥ but Wu surges back on top with the 7♣ coming out on the turn. The river, however, brings out the A♣ and Chen ousts his countryman via a higher full house and adds to his chip edge with 12 players remaining.

With the shortest stack in the competition, the action is folded to Mark de la Cruz in the SB and the Filipino pro shoves his remaining stack of 65,000. Fellow Filipino pro Czardy Rivera performs a "duty call" in the BB.

De la Cruz turns over Q♠ T♣ dominating Rivera's Q♣ 2♣ .

The flop comes 7♥ 6♦ J♣ but the turn gave Rivera the lead as the 2♠ showed up. The river was the 9♣ as only 13 players remain.

Guy Taylor of England raises from early position and gets a call all the way from the BB of Filipino pro Mark de la Cruz who defends.

The flop is J♥ T♦ 7♠ as de la Cruz checks. Taylor CBets 50,000 and is greeted with a check-raise all-in by the Filipino. Taylor's response is a call for his tournament life and his final 360,000.

De la Cruz tables K♣ Q♠ for an open-ended straight draw while Taylor shows A♣ J♠ for top pair, top kicker.

The turn is the 6♣ and the river is the 2♣ to reduce de la Cruz's stack to less than two BBs.

American Brett Kennedy raises from the HJ to 60,000 and the action is folded around to the BB of Filipino pro Flo Campomanes who defends.

The flop is A♦ 3♣ A♠ as both players check. The turn is the T♥ and Campomanes checks again. Kennedy fires 35,000 as Campomanes calls. The river card is the 4♣ . Campomanes checks a third time and the American puts in a river bet of 115,000.

The next action is a fold by the Filipino who has his stack down to 400,000.

Joris Michl of the Netherlands has the action folded to him on the CO and makes a raise to 40,000. It is folded to the BB of former Day 1C chip leader Flo Campomanes of the Philippines who chooses to defend his BB.

The flop comes K♣ 5♥ 7♣ as Campomanes checks. Michl CBets to 40,000 and gets a call from his opponent. The turn is the 7♥ and this time the Filipino donks out for 80,000. Michl calls. The river is the 8♦ as Campomanes once again checks. The Dutchman bets 100,000 and is called by Campomanes.

To everyone's surprise, Michl tables A♣ A♦ . Campomanes mucks.

With the tables now turned, Joris Michl of the Netherlands is now applying as table captain and with the action folded to him on the D, he makes a raise to 60,000. Former chip leader Edgar Asehan, however, ships his remaining stack of 380,000 from the BB and is quickly called by the Dutchman.

Asehan shows that he's way ahead with K♠ K♥ while Michl has an inferior pocket pair in J♦ J♠ .

The runout kept the Filipino ahead for the win: 5♠ A♥ 8♠ 9♣ 8♦ .

Asehan nears the one million mark anew while Michl still has a seven digit stack despite the hit.

Here's a look at the top stacks before entering the next blind level:

In a series of raises leading up to both players going all-in preflop, England's Guy Taylor is in it for his tournament life holding A♣ Q♣ against a made hand by China's Chen Zhen with J♦ J♠ . Taylor has his last 262,000 in the middle of the table.

Then Taylor flops the nuts: 3♣ 5♣ J♣ . Since Chen flopped a set, he needs the board to pair to eliminate the Englishman. It doesn't happen as the turn is the Q♦ and the river is the K♦ .

Chen is still among the chip leaders of the tournament despite the hit.

At one point, Thomas Ward of New Zealand was among the first to garner over one million in chips. Now he's fighting for his tournament life as he 3-bet shoves Czechia's Philipp Zukernik for 355,000. Zukernik calls the shove.

Ward shows A♦ 4♣ while Zukernik has 6♣ 6♠ .

The flop goes Q♥ 4♠ 7♠ to give the Kiwi more outs, but the turn is the 3♥ and the river is the river produces the T♣ to give the chip lead to the Czech national and bounce Ward in 15th place.

Going all-in preflop is the case again here as India's Anju Abrol takes on Joris Michl of the Netherlands. Abrol flips over A♠ K♣ after her last 364,000 went to the middle of the table. Unfortunately for her, Michl shows A♦ A♥ .

The runout goes: 2♣ 6♣ 4♦ 9♥ 8♥ busting out the Indian lady as Michl inches closer to the Final Table.

"Steady Chetty" Jonathan Chetty of South Africa boosted his bid for a Day 3 appearance as he engaged Korea's Bae Wonchul in an all-in preflop situation.

Bae turns over K♠ Q♠ while Chetty brandishes the Rockets, A♣ A♥ .

If Chetty had his Korean opponent against the ropes preflop he all but knocked him out on the flop of A♠ Q♦ K♥ and dealt the death blow on the turn as the A♦ arrived. The T♣ on the river sealed the deal and bounced Bae from the competition. Chetty also gains over one million in holdings.

Bae finishes in 17th place.

The action is folded around to the CO of Dutchman Joris Michl who raises to 50,000. It is folded to former chip leader Edgar Asehan of the Philippines who 3-bets all-in. Michl ships his remaining 492,000 as both players show their hands.

Michl flips over T♠ T♣ while Asehan has A♣ 9♠ .

The runout goes: 6♠ 4♠ 6♣ 2♣ K♦ as Asehan drops to just over 500,000 and Michl now climbs to over one million in chips as the competition nears the homestretch.

Going for the Hail Mary, China's Lai Jun put it all on the line UTG for 250,000 and gets called on the CO by Filipino ace Czardy Rivera.

Lai shows K♦ J♦ while Rivera tables A♥ Q♥ .

The flop gave a huge boost to the hopes of the Chinese player: 3♦ 7♣ T♦ , however no further help came as the turn is the 5♣ and the river is the 9♥ .

With the win, Rivera now has a chip stack exceeding the one million mark heading into the deep waters of Day 2.

Lai finishes in 17th place.

With only two Indian players remaining, it would be inevitable that they lock horns at some point.

With the action folded to the HJ, Anju Abrol raises to 48,000 and is met with a 3-bet shove from countrymate Karia Siddharth to 324,000. Abroi makes the call.

Siddharth shows Q♣ Q♠ while Abrol has A♥ J♥ .

The flop gave Abrol additional outs: J♦ 5♠ 3♥ but the turn of T♦ and the river of 7♠ did nothing to change the outcome of a double up for Siddharth and the crippling of Abrol. The Indian showdown, for now, favors the gentleman over the lady.

With the action folded to him, American Brett Kennedy raises it to 40,000 from the CO and gets 3-bet all-in by chip-leader Edgar Asehan of the host nation in the BB. Kennedy calls by shoving his last 278,000.

Asehan shows A♣ Q♦ while the American tables Q♥ Q♠ .

The flop of 5♥ K♥ T♦ gave a semblance hope to the Filipino as a gutshot striaght draw appeared. The last two cards are the 6♦ and the K♦ to drop Asehan below one million in chips for the first time in a couple of orbits and have Kennedy averting an assassination attempt.

Once among the chip leaders, England's Guy Taylor found himself in a rut and is struggling to stay in the hunt when Chen Zhen of China (easily the most active player at the table) made yet another move with action folded to him on the HJ by raising it to 40,000. Taylor countered with a 3-bet to 200,000 which is called by Chen.

The flop comes 3♥ 7♣ A♥ as Chen fires 111,000. Taylor opts to stuck in his remaining 119,000 and Chen makes the call.

Taylor shows 5♣ 5♦ while Chen has over-cards in K♥ J♦ .

The last two community cards are the 8♣ and 2♥ allowing the Englishman to garner a double up and move Chen out of the one million chip mark for the moment.

It didn't take long for China's Chen Zhen to complete the task begun by Finn Penderak of Germany in dispatching Filipino pro Renniel Galvez. In fact, Penderak also offered an initial assist.

Folded to Galvez in the +2 position, the Filipino shoved his remaining stack of 76,000 and got called by Penderak on the D. But Chen re-popped it to 150,000 from the SB and still got called by the German.

The flop came J♥ J♦ 8♠ . Chen led out for 115,000 and Penderak folded.

Galvez was initially thrilled to see he was ahead with Q♦ 8♦ against his opponent's K♠ Q♠ .

However, the turn was the 9♣ and the river was the T♥ to have Chen emerge victorious via a backdoor straight.

Chen also joins the seven digit circle with the win.

In dire need of a double-up, Singapore's Ajay Abroi open-shoves his remaining stack of 151,000 folded to him on the D. In the BB, Thomas Ward of New Zealand makes the call.

Abroi flips over A♣ 2♦ and has one over-card to the K♥ K♣ of the Kiwi.

The runout goes: 7♣ 8♥ 7♠ 7♦ (for a one-out sweat) and 5♠ .

Ward now joins Filipino Edgar Asehan in the one million chip club.

When India's Karia Siddharth raised from UTG for 32,000, he had no idea about the impending carnage that would ensue.

After Thijs Hilberts of the Netherlands made the call, China's Chen Zhen 3-bet to 100,000. Siddharth opted to fold and, true enough, Hilberts 4-bet shoved for 312,000 and got snap called by the Chinese player.

Hilberts showed K♦ K♥ while Chen tabled A♥ A♣ .

The set up concluded with a board of 2♦ 9♠ 6♥ 3♥ 2♠ and the exit of one of the more dangerous players in the competition.

Filipino pro Renniel Galvez had the action folded to him on the CO and raised to 32,000. In the SB, Finn Penderak of Germany re-raises all-in for 381,000 and sends Galvez into the tank so long that he needed to use two Time Bank cards before deciding to call.

Penderak turns over A♥ Q♦ while Galvez has J♣ J♥ .

The flop automatically swung things around in favor of the German: Q♣ 5♣ 8♥ and the subsequent cards were 5♦ and 6♠ .

Galvez now drops to well below ten BB on the hit.

Another battle was won before any community cards were dealt when New Zealand's Thomas Ward raised from UTG for 32,000 but gets re-popped by Lai Jun of China to 100,000.

Ward counters by 4-betting all-in for 665,000. Lai consumes two Time Bank cards before deciding to fight another day.

Japan's Go Saito makes a raise to 32,000 from UTG and it folds all the way to the BB of Singapore's Ajay Abroi who opts to defend.

The flop comes 6♦ 4♦ 6♣ as both players check. The turn is the A♣ and this time Abroi comes out firing for 40,000 to which The Japanese player calls. The river is the Q♠ as the Singaporean once again barrels for 45,000. Saito still calls.

Abroi is first to show and tables K♣ 2♣ for a missed flush while Saito shows A♦ J♥ for top pair on the turn.

Here are the top ten in chips thus far:

After coming back slowly from near annihilation, Thijs Hilberts of the Netherlands 3-bet all-in an early position raise from Filipino pro Flo Campomanes.

Hilberts shows K♥ K♣ while Campomanes tables A♣ T♣ .

The flop did nothing to help the Filipino as it came: J♣ 2♠ 5♣ and when the K♦ arrived on the turn, Campomanes was drawing dead. The 2♦ on the river was the coup de grace as the full house allows Hilberts to double through and continue his rise to relevance.

Just when it appears that Filipino contender Mark de la Cruz is about to join the leaders, he suffers a huge hit.

Germany's Daniel Smiljkovic opens the action from UTG for 24,000 and it gets folded around to the HJ of India's Anju Abrol who makes the call. De la Cruz attempts to steal the pot by 3-betting to 90,000. Smiljkovic decides to fold but Abrol 4-bets all-in and is called by the Filipino.

The Indian tables A♠ K♠ while de la Cruz shows Q♥ Q♦ .

The flop favored Abrol immediately as it came 2♠ 7♠ K♣ and no help came on the subsequent community cards of 3♥ and 4♣ .

De la Cruz lost almost half his stack in the outdraw and Abrol is the one that is now approaching the seven figure mark.

Filipino pro Renniel Galvez opens the action from UTG for 24,000 and gets 3-bet by Chen Zhen of China to 56,000 in the CO. Waiting in the D is another Filipino pro in Flo Campomanes who 4-bets it to 120,000. Galvez folds but Chen takes it a step further by 5-betting to 230,000. Campomanes decides to fold.

In one preflop move, the Chinese player is able to take chips from two of the toughest Filipinos in the competition.

Korea's Bae Wonchul riases from UTG for 25,000. Shen Shuen of China (D) and Englishman Grant Gardner (BB) come along.

The flop shows 4♥ 5♦ 9♦ as it is checked around. The turn is the 9♣ . Gardner checks and Bae comes to life by betting 31,000. Shen calls and Gardner folds. The river brings the 2♠ and the Korean unloads 155,000 to which Shen folds.

After China's Shen Shuen raised to 24,000 from the D, Jeremy Jehanne of France went for it all by making a 3-bet shove from the SB for 146,000. Shen makes the call.

Jehanne reveals A♣ K♦ dominting Shen's A♠ 7♠ .

The runout goes: 4♥ 2♥ 9♠ T♣ K♠ as the Frenchman stays in contention.

Keeping it simple, Korea's Im Youngshin shoves his stack of 144,000 to the center of the table and when the action gets folded to New Zealand's Thomas Ward in the SB, he isolates by re-raising all-in and gets no call.

Im shows A♦ J♦ while Ward flips over K♥ K♠ .

Not even a sweat card appeared on the board: 7♣ 2♦ 9♦ 5♣ 8♥ as Im gets bounced from the tournament and Ward nears the one million chip threshold.

Daniel Smiljkovic of Germany opens the action from UTG for 20,000 and gets called by Filipino Mark de la Cruz in the CO and Joris Michl of the Netherlands in the BB.

The flop is 7♦ 6♣ 2♠ . Michl and Smiljkovic check and de la Cruz nabs the betting lead by firing 35,000. Michl folds but Smiljkovic stays in. The turn is the Q♥ . Both check and the river is the 7♣ as once again both players check.

De la Cruz is first to show and tables 8♣ 8♦ . The German throws his cards into the muck.

De la Cruz is starting to get into an upswing.

Thomas Ward of New Zealand has the action folded to him on the HJ and raises to 20,000, but right beside him in the CO is Japan's Yashiro Naoki who 3-bets all-in for 131,000. It gets folded all the ay back to Ward who opts to call.

Naoki shows A♠ J♠ while Ward is in a flip with 3♠ 3♥ .

The flop practically shut the door on the Japanese player: K♣ 3♦ K♥ to give the Kiwi an near insurmountable lead. Naoki was drawing dead on the turn of 9♥ and the river of 6♦ made the elimination official.

In what was shaping up to be a rare unraised pot, Joris Michl of the Netherlands has the action folded to him in the SB as he completes. However, Germany's Daniel Smilkjovic has other ideas as he raises to 35,000. Michl makes the call.

The flop comes 3♥ 8♠ A♣ as Michl checks. Smiljkovic fires a CBet of 20,000 and the Dutchman calls. The turn is the K♥ and this time the German unloads 100,000 after his opponent checks. Michl still calls. The river is the Q♦ as Michl checks a third time. Smiljkovic this time opts to check behind.

Michl shows A♦ Q♠ for two pairs on the turn. Smiljkovic mucks.

Czardy Rivera of the Philippines performed a 4-bet shove for his remaining 175,000 and gets called by Korea's Bae Wonchul.

Rivera tables A♠ A♥ while Bae shakes his head as he shows 8♣ 8♦ .

The board runs: K♦ 4♥ 2♠ 6♥ 9♣ as the Filipino pro gets a much needed double-up.

Chip leader Edgar Asehan of the Philippines ha the action folded to him in the HJ and raises to 22,000. He gets a call from Singapore's Ajay Abroi but then Alari Kunnapuu of Estonia 3-bets all-in for 250,000 from the BB. Asehan calls as Abroi folds.

Kunnapuu turns over A♦ Q♥ while Asehan brandishes A♠ K♥ .

This time, there is no miracle as the runout goes: 8♥ 7♠ 8♣ 5♥ T♣ .

The Estonian is railed and Asehan becomes the first to hit seven digits in chips.

Czechia's Philip Zukernik opens from UTG for 20,000 and right beside him in the +1 position is an all-in declaration from local bet Mark de la Cruz for 160,000. Then Jennifer Cassell from Australia also declares that she's all-in for 206,000. The action causes Zukernik to bow out of the hand.

De la Cruz tables A♥ K♥ while Cassell shows that she's ahead with K♣ K♠ .

The flop is 4♠ T♠ 3♦ but then the turn is the J♣ which increases the outs of de la Cruz. The answer to the Filipino's prayers happens on the river when the Q♥ hits as de la Cruz nails the runner-runner straight to get the double-up in miraculous fashion.

Desperately seeking a double-up, Justin Chu of Taiwan swings for the fences by shoving his remaining stack of 92,000 from the +1 position and gets a customer in Germany's Daniel Smijkovic in the CO.

When cards are revealed, Chu has K♦ T♦ and is crushed by the German's A♥ T♥ .

The flop immediately flips the script in favor of the Taiwanese player: 7♦ K♥ 4♣ to attain top pair. The turn is the 7♥ to give Smiljkovic a redraw to the nut flush but the river blanks out as the 7♣ arrives.

Chip-leader Edgar Asehan of the Philippines makes a raise on the CO for 18,000 and gets called on the SB by Singapore's Ajay Abroi.

The flop comes 9♠ 7♣ 6♦ as Abroi chooses to donk out for 16,000. Asehan calls. The turn is the 2♣ and Abroi continues unloading chips, this time for 17,000. The Filipino once again makes the call. The river is the 5♦ completing a one-card straight. Abroi now fires 51,000. Asehan still makes the call.

The Singaporean shows A♥ Q♥ while Asehan flips over 9♦ 5♠ for two-pairs on the turn, much to the astonishment of Abroi.

The Filipino now nears the one million chip mark.

Daniel Smiljkovic of Germany opens the action from the +1 position for 16,000 and gets re-raised by Ireland's Gary Thompson in the +2 for 48,000. Smiljkovic decides to call.

The flop is 6♣ 9♠ 8♦ as the German donks out for 30,000. Thompson calls. The turn is the Q♠ . Smiljkovic fires anew, this time for 55,000 and still can' shake off the Irishman. The river brings the 9♣ and this time Smiljkovic slows down and checks. Thompson goes virtually all-in with a river bet of 166,000--leaving only a solitary 1,000 chip behind.

Smiljkovic paused for a moment, but eventually made the call.

Thompson tables A♦ T♠ for Ace-high and a missed straight draw while a triumphant Smiljkovic shows T♥ 8♥ , pairing the eight on the flop and making a sick call to reduce Thompson's stack to almost nothing.

Edgar Asehan of the Philippines has now ascended to the chip lead without a single community card hitting the board as he raised to 17,000 from the +2 position and gets called by Japan's Go Saito on the D.

However, Firat Basbaydar of England opts to 3-bet to 65,000. It's at this point where Asehan 4-bets to 150,000. Saito folds and Basbaydar resorts to using a Time Card to contemplate his decision. The Englishman eventually folds.

The pot now puts Asehan above the 800,000 mark and climb atop the leaderboard.

Yashiro Naoki of Japan starts the action with a UTG raise for 18,000 and gets calls from Korea's Bae Wonchul and Kiwi Thomas Ward.

The flop comes T♠ 7♦ 9♦ . Ward checks, Naoki CBets to 20,000 and gets called by Bae. Ward steps aside. It is heads up to the turn: Q♣ . Naoki fires again, this time for 45,000 and the Korean still calls. The river is the 7♣ . This time, both check.

Naoki is first to show and he flips over A♦ K♠ for a bunch of missed draws while Bae shows 8♠ 8♦ for a missed gutshot but most importantly a pair that withstood the board and the bombardment from the Japanese player.

Here are the chip-leaders entering the upcoming blinds - 4,000/8,000 (8,000):

Finn Penderak of Germany shows Siddiq Hassaan of Pakistan the door after a raise and a 3-bet shove and call resulted in Penderak tabling J♠ J♦ and Hassaan one point back with T♣ T♠ .

The board made it official: 6♠ 2♦ Q♠ 9♠ K♥ .

The raise of 12,000 from the HJ of Ireland's Gary Thompson is greeted with a 3-bet shove from Filipino Mark de la Cruz for 45,000. Thompson puts the local bet at risk by making the call.

De la Cruz flips over A♥ 5♥ while Thompson is behind but live with K♦ J♥ .

The board blanks out for the Irishman: Q♠ 6♦ 2♠ 7♦ 9♠ and de la Cruz returns to the six-figure mark with the victory.

Another early position raise is executed by Filipino Renniel Galvez as he pumps it to 12,000 from UTG. Japan's Takumi Odomi in the +1 and Karia Siddharth from BB join in.

The flop is 2♥ 3♦ 5♦ as Siddharth and the original raiser Galvez check. Odomi takes the betting lead for 14,000 as the Indian folds. Galvez, though, check-raises to 42,000 and Odomi makes the call. The turn is the 5♣ as Galvez shoves his remaining 178,000 to the middle. Odomi squirms in his seat and burns two YTime Cards before yileding to the Filipino's aggression.

The pot almost double's Galvez's stack.

India's Karia Siddharth puts in an early position raise from the +1 for 13,000 and the action is folded around to Chen Zhen of China who defends his BB.

The flop is 7♣ A♠ 5♥ as Chen checks and Siddharth CBets to 12,000 which gets a call from the Chinese player. The turn is the 8♦ and Chen once again check-calls the 38,000 bet from the Indian. The river is the 7♥ and Chen checks a third time. Siddharth goes into the tank in deciding whether or not to continue firing. In the process, the Indian uses two Time Bank cards and chooses to check behind.

The Chen turns over 5♣ 8♠ for two pairs on the turn. A relieved Siddharth shows A♣ K♠ for a higher two pairs on the river.

Raising from UTG, Japan's Yoshihiro Naoki raises to 13,000 and gets called by local bet Flo Campomanes in the D and Thomas Ward of New Zealand in the BB.

The flop comes 5♠ 4♣ A♥ . All check. The turn is the 4♥ as it is checked to Campomanes who leads out for 42,000. Ward calls and Naoki folds. It is heads up to the river of the 6♥ as both check.

Ward flips over A♦ 3♥ for top pair and a not so sexy kicker. Campomanes mucks.

Thijs Hilberts from the Netherlands raises from the HJ to 13,000 and gets a call from Filipino poker ace Flo Campomanes who defends his BB.

The flop is 5♣ 2♦ 3♣ as both players check. The turn is the 9♥ and this time Campomanes leads out for 21,000. Hilberts calls. The river is the Q♥ . Both players check.

Campomanes shows A♦ 5♦ for top pair on the flop . Hilberts folds and falls below the 100,000 mark.

With the action folded to the D of China's Wu Di, he makes a raise to 11,000 and gets a call from the SB of Singaporean Ajay Abroi. But then Go Saito of Japan 3-bets from the BB for 55,000. Abroi folds as Wu 4-bets all-in and gets a quick call from Saito for his tournament life and 114,000.

Wu shows A♦ J♥ while Saito is ahead with Q♣ Q♥ .

The board ran 2♥ 3♠ 8♥ 3♦ J♠ as the loss sends Wu to the doldrums with less than five BBs and Saito gains more ammunition to trudge on.

Ajay Abroi of Singapore opens the action from the D on a raise to 12,000 but Taiwanese poker icon Nevan Chang 3-bets to 42,000 from the BB. Abroi calls.

The flop comes 5♥ 8♣ 3♣ . Chang continues firing for 25,000. However, Abroi min-raises to 50,000. Chang calls. The turn is the A♦ as Chang unloads 45,000 and is met with an all-in raise to 180,000 from the Singaporean. Chang makes the call.

Abroi tables A♣ Q♥ while Chang learns he is out-kicked as he shows A♥ J♥ .The river is the 4♣ which sends the Taiwanese player packing--but gets his first cash in these proceedings.

Raising from early position, Korea's Hwang Seokchul makes it 10,000 to go, but is greeted with a 3-bet on the CO from Yashiro Naoki of Japan to 30,000. Then from the BB American Scott Black 4-bets to 75,000 and practically commits himself to the pot with more than half of his stack already in. Hwang opts to fold as Naoki 5-bet shoves. Black snap calls.

Naoki flips over A♠ K♣ while Black shows J♦ J♥.

Black falls behind on the flop as it comes K♠ K♦ 3♣ . That didn't last long as Black hits one of his two outs on the turn as the J♣ arrives. It's now the Japanese player in need of hitting one of his four remaining outs, but the river denies him with the 4♣ .

The American gets a much needed double-up.

With action folded to the D of Alari Kunnapuu, the Estonian raises to 10,000 but Jong Kong's Pun Si Ng re-raises it to 33,000 from the SB. Kunnapuu makes the call.

The flop is 8♦ 8♣ 2♥ as Pun fires 18,000 and gets called. The turn is the 3♦ and Pun still bets out, this time for 40,000. Kunnapuu still calls. The river is the T♦ as this time Pun takes longer to act and even ends up using a Time Bank card. Pun then goes all-in for 104,000. After some tanking of his own, the Estonian eventually folds; but not before losing almost half his stack to the player from Hong Kong in that exchange.

The Philippines' Edgar Asehan opens the action by raising to 9,000 in the HJ an gets a call from Wu Di of China. However, Filipino Alvir Inocentes 3-bets all-in for 44,000 followed by another shove from Australia's Matthew Wakeman for 77,000.

A♠ Asehan folds, Wu was preparing the call for Inocentes' shove when the dealer mentioned the amount he had to put in was that of Wakeman's stack--which Wu was totally unaware of. Stopping his forward motion just in time, Wu ends up burning two Time Bank cards while reassessing the situation. The Chinese player ends up making the call.

Inocentes shows J♣ J♠ while Wakeman reluctantly turns over T♥ T♠ . Wu then reveals he has the worst of it with 7♣ 7♦ .

The flop immediately shifts the fortunes to Wu by going 7♠ K♣ 8♥ for bottom set. The turn of the A♠ now required both at-risk players to hit a two-outer on the river that never came as the 2♥ officially eliminates Inocentes and Wakeman and gives a relievd Wu some much needed artillery.

In early action, Edgar Asehan of the host nation raises to 9,000 from UTG and get 3-bet all-in by Great Britain's Li Jun for 41,000 in the HJ. With action folded back to the Filipino, he makes the call.

Li tables A♣ K♦ while Asehan is live with 7♣ 8♥ .

The flop comes J♥ 9♠ K♣ with Li pairing his King but also giving Asehan a gutshot straight draw. The turn pairs the board with the J♣ with the Filipino down to any of the four remaining tens--which he gets on the river as the T♦ arrives and sends Li to the sidelines for good.

With 60 players remaining, the action has resumed here in Day 2!

The APPT National resumes today, October 23, 2024 at Okada Manila with Day 2 starting at 11am. Out of the 398 entries, 60 players return for a shot at the PHP 4,080,000 (~US$ 70,600) top prize.

Buy in: PHP 60,000 (~US$ 1,038)

Guarantee: PHP 15,000,000 (~US$ 262,000)

Entries: 398

Prize pool: PHP 20,847,240 (~US$ 361,640)

ITM: 60 players

The player to watch is APPT champion Florencio Campomanes who enters with a towering 701,000 stack. Campomanes has already captured two APPT shard trophies in his career and has also reached the final table of the recently concluded APPT Open.

Other players to watch for are Gary Thompson and Edgar Asehan - both players have consistently run deep at multiple APPT events, APPT Open champion Matthew Wakeman, Mini High Roller champion Thomas Ward, Taiwanese ace Nevan Yu Chung Chang, and Okada Kickoff champion Czardy Rivera.

The plan today is to play down to the final table. Day 2 opens with blinds at 2000-4000 ante 4000.

Somuchpoker is onsite to bring you the action from start to finish.