Okada Kickoff

“Of course, I feel overwhelmed, I’ve been waiting for this win for quite some time. This is actually my first spadie, and I made a promise to my brother’s (Marc Rivera) father in law. I said I will give my next trophy to him. He has been waiting for a long time, a couple years. I’m very happy not only with the money, but also for my Uncle Jun.”, commented Rivera following his win.

“I’ll celebrate with my family, this is like an advanced birthday to myself since my 46th birthday is coming up this 31st. I hope my run good will continue to APT Manila.”



Following ten hours of play, the opening key event, Okada Kick Off wrapped up with local pro Czardy Rivera claiming his career first PokerStars win for PHP 1,870,000 (~USD 32,510). Rivera entered the final table rounds middle of the pack and patiently waited for the right spots. Down to seven big blinds at one point, Rivera only managed to recover after sending Kenneth Galola out with the rockets against the latter's ace-queen.

With ammo, the Filipino runner went on to overtake the lead at four handed play, having flopped a straight against Jessie Leonarez to amass nearly half the total chips in play. Rivera carried this momentum all the way to the end, chipping slowly off his final opponents in full control. Just 15 minutes later, Rivera secured the final victory, having finished Mike Takayama for the title. Along with his winnings, Rivera earns an APPT Championship entry, valued at PHP 165,000 (~USD 2,860).

Okada Kick Off

Date/s: October 18-20, 2024

Buy-in: PHP 25,000 (~USD 430)

Guarantee: PHP 10,000,000 (~USD 173,475)

Prize pool: PHP 10,000,000 (~USD 173,475)

Entries: 468

ITM: 71 places

Final Table Payouts

Left with one big blind, Mike Takayama settled for a runner up finish with Czardy Rivera shipping the final victory on board T♣ 6♣ 3♦ 8♠ A♣ .

Button Edgar Asehan opened to 1,000,000 and called off for his 2,200,000 behind after Czardy Rivera moved all-in. Slightly behind, running hot Rivera quickly landed the advantage on board Q♥ 3♥ T♠ T♥ 3♦ to deliver the bust.

Mike Takayama raised all-in, called by Edgar Asehan for his lesser 1,500,000. At risk, Asehan bagged the pot having outflopped his opponent on board J♠ 7♦ 7♠ 9♠ 4♦ .

Edgar Asehan opened to 500,000, called by Czardy Rivera. Big blind Mike Takayama fired a three bet to 1,200,000 and saw both players continue to flop 9♠ 7♦ 5♦ . Rivera leads all-in and takes the pot unchallenged.

Button Edgar Asehan raised all-in and saw Jessie Leonarez call off his last 760,000 (3 BB). Dominated, Leonarez bowed out shortly after board Q♦ 3♥ 6♣ 8♥ 2♥ hit the felt.

Czardy Rivera opened to 500,000, joined by both players on the blinds on flop 5♦ K♥ Q♠ . Rivera continued for 800,000 and saw Edgar Asehan make the call. Turn 4♥ went check check, revealing river J♠ . Checked to Rivera once more, he bet 1,000,000, and Asehan folds.

Jessie Leonarez opened to 600,000, called behind by Czardy Rivera. On flop Q♥ J♥ 8♦ , Rivera called for another 700,000, and went on to barrel 800,000 on turn 7♦ . Leonarez check calls yet folds after Rivera moved all-in on river 4♥ . Rivera shows straight T♦ 9♥ .

Edgar Asehan moved all-in from utg and saw Obaidullah Habibi call off for his last 1,200,000. In for a race, the board 5♥ 5♠ 2♣ 2♥ 9♦ ran dry, leaving Asehan's ace high good for the taking.

Obaidullah Habibi defended his big blind against a late position open from Edgar Asehan and open jammed 975,000 in on flop J♥ 9♦ 7♠ . Asehan gives it up and folds.

Mike Takayama opened from utg and called off Obaidullah Habibi's 990,000 (5BB) jam for a flip. At risk, Habibi's pocket pair held up on board 4♠ 3♠ 6♠ 3♣ Q♥ for a double up.

An all-in preflop situation saw big blind Karia Siddharth commit his last 390,000 against initial raiser Mike Takayama. Whilst ahead, Siddharth was instantly left drawing dead as the flop T♦ 7♦ 5♦ 2♠ 3♥ turned up all diamonds.

A preflop back and forth between Czardy Rivera and Kenneth Galola saw the latter call off for his entire 1,230,000 behind. Crushed against the rockets, Galola exited the final table shortly after the board 3♠ 4♠ 9♣ J♠ Q♥ was dealt.

Kenneth Galola opened to 320,000, joined by small blind Jessie Leonarez on flop 2♦ K♣ 5♣ . Galola continued for 350,000, check called by his opponent. Turn T♦ was checked through to river A♦ where Galola gunned for a final 550,000. Leonarez check calls once more and ships the pot with A♠ 2♠ , good against Galola's A♣ 8♠ .

Kenneth Galola opened to 350,000 and snap called all-in for his entire 1,335,000 following an all-in from chip leader Jessie Leonarez. Galola was left in no sweat just as board landed K♥ 8♦ 8♥ 4♣ 5♦ , shipping him the lead.

A limp pot blind vs blind revealed flop 9♣ 3♦ K♥ . Checked to Kenneth Galola, he bet 175,000 yet folded after Obaidullah Habibi check raised all-in for 935,000.

Seven players remain in the running for the Okada Kick Off PHP 1,870,000 (~USD 32,510) top prize with Jessie Leonarez currently stacking the highest.

Okada Kick Off

Date/s: October 18-20, 2024

Buy-in: PHP 25,000 (~USD 430)

Guarantee: PHP 10,000,000 (~USD 173,475)

Prize pool: PHP 10,000,000 (~USD 173,475)

Entries: 468

ITM: 71 places

Chip Counts

A four way raised pot rolled flop 4♦ 3♣ 2♥ , big blind Mike Takayama led out for 150,000 and picked up the pot after all opponents folded.

Kenneth Galola opened to 250,000 from utg and called off Karia Siddharth's 530,000 jam behind. A favorite to win, Siddharth remains in the running with his better ace-high good for the pot on board T♥ 2♥ J♦ 6♠ 8♣ .

Euryd Rivera went with A♦ 6♥ for his last 710,000 and was snap called by Jessie Leonarez with A♠ K♦ . Dominated, Rivera headed out shortly after board T♠ 4♣ 4♥ 7♥ Q♥ turned up on the felt.

Facing a button open, Kenneth Galola slammed his last 710,000 in and was followed with another all-in behind by Mike Takayama. Raiser opts out and the two run the board 8♠ 8♦ 7♠ 5♥ A♥ . Galola spikes the river, earning a full double up.

Folded to Euryd Rivera on the button, he shoved his last 405,000 in and was called by Obaidullah Habibi. In need of a double up, Rivera fortunately paired up on board 9♠ 4♣ 8♥ 6♠ 8♦ to bounce back to 9 BB .

Folded to Karia Siddharth on the small blind, he shoved 620,000 in and was tank called behind by Jessie Leonarez. At risk, Siddharth secured a double up just as board T♥ 7♦ 9♣ 4♦ 9♦ ran on the felt.

Karia Siddharth opened to 165,000 and saw Obaidullah Habibi complete from the big blind, revealing flop A♦ 4♠ 5♠ . Siddharth continued for 100,000, and another 115,000 on turn Q♦ , with Habibi check calling both streets. On river 2♥ , Habibi led for 305,000, and left Siddharth to use up all his time banks before throwing in the fold.

Obaidullah Habibi opened to 160,000, followed by a three bet to 240,000 from Kenneth Galola right behind. Action on small blind Jessie Leonarez, he fired another raise to 580,000 and shipped the pot uncontested.

John Matsuda defended his big blind against an utg open by Jessie Leonarez and check called two streets - 150,000, and 350,000 on board 8♥ 7♥ K♣ 7♣ . On the river 5♥ , Leonarez bet all-in for Matsuda's 1,190,000 behind and saw the latter tank call with J♥ 8♠ . Leonarez reveals K♥ K♠ , and sends his opponent out.

Kenneth Galola completed from the big blind and headed to flop 2♣ 5♠ Q♠ . Action was checked through to turn 6♦ where Galola led for 150,000. Matsuda makes the call and pays off a final 225,000 jam on river 4♠ . Galola shows straight 7♠ 8♥ , sending Matsuda's 7♦ 7♣ towards the muck.

Karia Siddharth opened to 130,000 and was met with a three bet to 285,000 from John Matsuda behind. Siddharth clapped back with an all-in for 1,115,000 total and Matsuda folds.

Karia Siddharth defended his big blind against a 125,000 utg open from John Matsuda and went on to check raise 200,000 on flop 7♣ 6♣ Q♠ . Turn A♠ and river 6♥ were checked down, revealing Siddharth's Q♥ 9♣ for the pot.

The first key event on schedule, Okada Kick Off is down to final nine players with Obaidullah Habibi leading the charge. Habibi inched over John Matsuda for the lead, having delivered the last two eliminations. Local force is still holding on strong with six of the nine contenders raising the Philippine flag.

Okada Kick Off

Date/s: October 18-20, 2024

Buy-in: PHP 25,000 (~USD 430)

Guarantee: PHP 10,000,000 (~USD 173,475)

Prize pool: PHP 10,000,000 (~USD 173,475)

Entries: 468

ITM: 71 places

Final Table Payouts

Obaidullah Habibi opened to 130,000 and went on to four bet all-in against Tom Verbruggen. Verbruggen called off for his entire 810,000 and headed out after missing board K♠ T♠ 3♥ 4♣ 2♥ .

Edwards Lawford open shoved his last 670,000 (13 BB) in and was met with another all-in from Obaidullah Habibi. Dominated, Lawford was left entirely crushed on board K♥ J♠ 3♠ 2♦ Q♦ .

A preflop back and forth between Czardy Rivera and Edgar Asehan brewed a 1,300,000 pot even before the flop K♥ 6♦ 5♠ was dealt. Both stacks rushed to the middle, revealing Rivera's A♥ A♠ against Asehan's A♣ A♦ . A rare occurrence, both players happily split the pot.

Alfredo Boligor stuffed his last 275,000 (7 BB) and was challenged by big blind Tom Verbruggen. Whilst ahead, Boligor couldn't escape his fate as the board 7♠ 6♠ 3♦ 7♥ K♥ landed trips for his opponent.

Jessie Leonarez open shoved 405,000 (10 BB), called by Obaidullah Habibi on the big blind. Dominated, Leonarez remains in the running, having spiked a four on board T♠ 2♣ 4♣ 6♠ T♣ .

An all-in preflop situation saw Xia Qi risk his remaining 750,000 against Edgar Asehan for a flip. Qi missed to pair up on board 9♦ 5♣ 9♣ 7♦ 8♥ , knocking him out a few spots short of the final table.

Forced all-in on the big blind, Yan Wen Yee was sent out of the arena just as Jessie Leonarez shoved all-in for 185,000 with A♥ T♥ . Tom Verbruggen joined the pot with K♠ 8♥ , and bagged the loss on board T♠ 9♥ J♦ 5♥ 2♣ .

Yan Wen Yee opened to 325,000, called behind by Obaidullah Habibi. On flop 2♦ 3♦ K♣ , Yee barreled 50,000 and was met with a call from Habibi. Having assumed his opponent to be all-in, Habibi revealed A♦ T♥ as turn T♠ landed on the felt. Yee check folds, and saves his last 5,000 chip.

Czardy Rivera opened once more and called off 230,000 more following an all-in from fellow Filipino pro Lester Edoc. Rivera with back to back kings, busted another with a full house right on board Q♣ J♠ 2♠ K♦ J♥ .

Czardy Rivera opened to 60,000 and called for 235,000 more after Chirag Shah moved all-in. Tabling a premium pair, Rivera delivered the elimination with no aces seen on board J♠ 9♣ 5♣ J♦ 4♠ .

The 468-entry field Okada Kick Off games is down to its final two tables with 16 players left in the running. John Matsuda holds a commanding lead over the field, having just eliminated Soriano Ramos minutes prior. Action will conclude once a winner is crowned, earning the champion PHP 1,870,000 (~USD 32,510) in prizes.

Okada Kick Off

Date/s: October 18-20, 2024

Buy-in: PHP 25,000 (~USD 430)

Guarantee: PHP 10,000,000 (~USD 173,475)

Prize pool: PHP 10,000,000 (~USD 173,475)

Entries: 468

ITM: 71 places

Chip Count Update

John Matsuda defended his big blind against Soriano Ramos and battled on board 3♦ Q♣ Q♠ 5♥ Q♦ . Matsuda check called two streets - 35,000, and 145,000, building up a sizeable pot. On the river, Ramos' gunned all-in for a final 300,000, tank called by Matsuda. Ramos' bluff J♦ 9♠ gets exposed, sending him out just as Matsuda tabled A♥ 8♥ . Matsuda soars to the lead, stacking well above the 2 million mark.

Folded to Yohei Katsuragawa on the small blind, he raised all-in for 315,000, called behind by Kenneth Galola. Slightly behind, Katsuragawa faded elimination having spiked two pair on board K♣ T♣ 2♦ 6♦ 9♥ .

Facing an open and a three bet, Euryd Rivera slammed his remaining 275,000 in and was called by Karia Siddharth. A huge favorite, Rivera easily secured a double up as board K♥ 5♥ 4♠ J♣ A♠ ran on the felt.

With 270,000 already in the middle on board T♠ 2♠ A♦ K♦ , action was seen on Tom Verbruggen with a bet of 175,000. Big blind Kenneth Galola check raised to 355,000 and shoved another 355,000 on river A♠ . Verbruggen surrenders and saves his chips behind.

Soriano Ramos opened to 40,000, joined by Jun Li for his last 35,000, along with John Matsuda and the big blind on flop 3♦ J♣ J♠ . Checked to Matsuda, he bet 45,000 and another 90,000 on turn 9♥ . Ramos check called two streets yet was unable to get to showdown after Matsuda barreled a final 280,000. Matsuda shows 3♣ 3♥ for the win.

Lester Edoc fired a three bet to 125,000, called by raiser Yan Yee. On flop T♦ T♥ 8♦ , Edoc check raised all-in for 375,000 after Yee bet 70,000. Yee folds, and Edoc takes the pot.

Edgar Asehan completed on the big blind vs a button open from Ramdrick Aznar and saw flop 2♣ 2♠ K♥ . Both players checked it through to turn T♦ where Asehan check raised to 100,000. Aznar calls and folds on river 7♣ after his opponent fired a final 165,000.

With an open and two calls ahead, button Jessie Leonarez fired a three bet to 170,000 and picked up the dead money following three folds.

Kenneth Galola defended his big blind against a 40,000 open from Ramdrick Aznar and headed to flop 4♠ 4♣ K♥ . Aznar continued for 25,000, check called by Galola. Turn 9♥ went check check, urging Galola to lead for 35,000 on river 6♣ . Aznar gives it up and folds.

Ambrosio Collado open shoved 101,000 in, followed by another all-in from An Sunhwi for a lesser 100,000. Big blind Euryd Rivera makes the final call for a three way showdown. Board ran 2♥ Q♥ 7♠ 6♣ 2♣ with Sunhwi scooping a full triple up with two pair.

Ambrosio Collado open shoved 101,000 in, followed by another all-in from An Sunhwi for a lesser 100,000. Big blind Euryd Rivera makes the final call for a three way showdown. Board ran 2♥ Q♥ 7♠ 6♣ 2♣ with Sunhwi scooping a full triple up with two pair.

Ambrosio Collado open shoved 101,000 in, followed by another all-in from An Sunhwi for a lesser 100,000. Big blind Euryd Rivera makes the final call for a three way showdown. Board ran 2♥ Q♥ 7♠ 6♣ 2♣ with Sunhwi scooping a full triple up with two pair.

Ambrosio Collado open shoved 101,000 in, followed by another all-in from An Sunhwi for a lesser 100,000. Big blind Euryd Rivera makes the final call for a three way showdown. Board ran 2♥ Q♥ 7♠ 6♣ 2♣ with Sunhwi scooping a full triple up with two pair.

Ambrosio Collado open shoved 101,000 in, followed by another all-in from An Sunhwi for a lesser 100,000. Big blind Euryd Rivera makes the final call for a three way showdown. Board ran 2♥ Q♥ 7♠ 6♣ 2♣ with Sunhwi scooping a full triple up with two pair.

Ruben Clamares opened to 35,000 and was met with a three bet to 91,000 from big blind Obaidullah Habibi. Clamares answered with an all-in for his entire 230,000, called by his opponent. Dominated, Habibi turned the tables as board ran Q♥ 6♦ 6♠ T♦ 9♦ .

Edgar Asehan opened to 35,000, called by both Tom Verbruggen and Kenneth Galola. On flop 2♥ 8♥ 9♥ , action was checked to Verbruggen who bet 45,000. Big blind Galola check raised to 145,000 and took it down after both opponents folded.

A three way raised pot rolled flop 7♥ 3♠ Q♥ where Alfredo Boligor sent out a 40,000 bet. Edvard Poltavets behind raised all-in for 251,000, called by Boligor with top pair A♥ Q♣ . Poltavets is significantly ahead with 7♦ 7♠ , and bagged the double up just as turn K♦ hit the felt.

An all-in preflop situation saw Thijs Hilberts dominated with 8♠ 8♦ against Edgar Asehan's T♥ T♦ . Both players spiked sets on board 2♥ 4♠ T♣ A♥ 8♣ , with Asehan's higher one still taking the cake.

Jigme Sherpa defended his open against Lester Edoc's 60,000 three bet and headed tp flop 9♥ J♦ 2♦ . Sherpa led all-in for 134,000, called by Edoc with A♣ 9♦ . Sherpa at risk with A♦ 4♦ , failed to fill up on either turn K♠ or river A♥ resulting to his elimination.

More than half of the returning 71-survivor field has already been eliminated by the first break with only 32 players remaining in contention for the Okada Kick Off title. Bracelet winner Mike Takayama currently holds down the lead, stacking three times the average stack. Tom Verbruggen follows behind with also over a million in chips.

Okada Kick Off

Date/s: October 18-20, 2024

Buy-in: PHP 25,000 (~USD 430)

Guarantee: PHP 10,000,000 (~USD 173,475)

Prize pool: PHP 10,000,000 (~USD 173,475)

Entries: 468

ITM: 71 places

Level 20: 6,000 / 12,000 ante 12,000

Average stack: 438,750 (36 BB)

Remaining players: 32

Top Chip Counts

With 190,000 already in the middle as action was seen on turn A♥ 6♦ 7♣ Q♦ , Edgar Asehan led for 100,000, followed by an all-in for 195,000 from Kim Hyungjin. Tom Verbruggen cold called and arrived at showdown after Asehan got out of the way. Kim shows A♣ K♥ , drawing dead against Verbruggen's set 6♠ 6♣ .

Obaidullah Habibi opened to 20,000, joined by both players on the blinds on flop 3♥ T♦ 9♥ . Action was checked through to turn 6♣ where Jesus Rivera led for 35,000. Both players continued to river 5♦, and faced another 94,000 bet from Rivera. Only Takayama puts in the chips and wins by default following a muck from his opponent. Takayama tables Q♠ T♥ .

Button Cho Jaegeol pushed for 100,000 (10 BB), called by Xia Qi on the big blind for a flip. None of Cho's overcards were felted on board Q♣ 8♥ 2♠ A♦ 7♣ , sending him out entirely.

Folded to John Constiniano on the small blind, he raised all-in and saw Rex Clinkscales right behind call off for his 131,000. In for a race, the board J♦ 3♥ 8♦ 6♠ 7♥ missed to connect with either player, leaving Clinkscales' ace high good for the pot.

Xia Qi opened to 18,000 and was met with a three bet to 38,000 from Jesus Rivera. Qi answered with another raise to 73,000, called by his opponent. On flop A♦ 9♦ 4♥ , Qi led for 50,000 and another 135,000 on turn 7♠ . Rivera raised all-in on the second barrel, snap called by Qi with A♥ K♣ . Rivera is behind with A♣ J♣ and remained that way down to the river.

A preflop back and forth saw Kim Seonggwan four bet jam 144,000 in, snap called by Jesus Rivera. At risk, Kim quickly headed out as board 2♥ 6♥ 9♠ 5♦ 3♦ failed to save him from his demise.

Kim Hyungjin opened to 16,000, joined behind by Moses Saquing on flop Q♠ 9♥ 7♣ . Kim continued for 12,000, Saquing again with a call. Both players checked turn K♣ through to river J♦ , where Kim fired a final 28,000, and Saquing snap folds.

Button Anacleto Quijano opened to 16,000, followed by a three bet to 46,000 from Alfredo Boligor. Ruben Clamares comes along for a three way pot on flop A♣ 5♥ 9♦ . Boligor leads out 60,000 and takes it down after both opponents fold.

Finn Penderak pushed for 59,000 and faced Kim Seonggwan's better king for his tournament life. Dominated, no help came on board 9♥ 7♣ 4♦ A♦ 7♥ , sending Penderak out of the running.

Jose Colada defended his big blind against An Sunhwi's 14,000 open and went on to check jam 97,000 on flop 6♠ 2♣ 5♥ . Sunhwi uses up two time banks and eventually folds.

Yohei Katsuragawa open shoved for 61,000 and ran into Alari Kunnapuu's premium ace on the big blind. Still a race, Katsuragawa managed to fade elimination having spiked a straight by the river 4♣ A♥ 8♥ T♠ 9♠ .

Kim Seonggwan opened to 10,000 and called Michihiko Matsuda's all-in for 34,000 more. In for a race, the board 4♠ T♣ J♥ K♣ 6♦ landed in Kim's favor, eliminating Matsuda from the games.

Finn Penderak defended his cutoff open and called a 28,000 three bet from Jesus Rivera behind. On board K♥ J♠ 4♣ 7♥ , Penderak check called one bet yet folded after Rivera jammed all-in on the turn.

Small blind Finn Penderak opened to 15,000, called behind by Jesus Rivera. On flop 4♦ 9♦ 5♦ , Rivera called for another 15,000 and got to showdown after action on turn 9♠ and river 6♠ were checked through. Penderak shows T♦ T♣ and Rivera mucks.

Following an open, Kim Wonjoong pushed all-in once more this time, for 105,000. An Sunhwi behind reshoved, and took it all as board A♠ Q♦ 3♠ 9♣ 2♠ left Kim entirely crushed.

Facing an open and a call, Kim Wonjoong stuffed his 45,000 in and was called by initial raiser Bae Wonchul. Kim was left in no sweat as he cruised to victory on board 7♣ 7♦ 4♠ 3♣ 3♥ .

The opening highlight across the APPT Manila Championship 2024 lineup, Okada Kick Off has officially wrapped up its Day 1 rounds, having run through three heats over the past two days. While the turnout was one entry short of meeting the PHP 10,000,000 (~USD 173,475) guarantee, a notable PHP 1,870,000 (~USD 32,440) top prize remains under everyone’s watch.

Flight C chip leader Lester Edoc leads the Day 2 charge with a mighty 618,000 (124 BB) to start the Day 2 games, followed closely by fellow Filipino pro Czardy Rivera just two big blinds behind. All 71 returning survivors are guaranteed a minimum payout of PHP 40,000 (~USD 690) and are one step closer to claiming a seven figure payday.

Action resumes at 11:00, October 20th – Level 16: 2,000/ 5,000 ante 5,000.

Okada Kick Off

Date/s: October 18-20, 2024

Buy-in: PHP 25,000 (~USD 430)

Guarantee: PHP 10,000,000 (~USD 173,475)

Prize pool: PHP 10,000,000 (~USD 173,475)

Entries: 468

ITM: 71 places

Flight A: 88 entries, 14 qualified

Flight B: 148 entries, 23 qualified

Flight C: 232 entries, 34 qualified

Day 2 Final: Sunday, October 20