PokerStars Red Dragon

After more than two grueling hours of heads up action, Aladin Reskallah of France takes down the Pokerstars Red Dragon championship after outlasting Malaysia's Joshua Tan for the coveted Dragon Trophy and the adjusted top prize of PhP4,230.000* (~US$72,228).

Reskallah bested a field of 404 entries that forked out PhP70,000 (~US$1,195) to see action in this PhP25,000,000 (~US$426,876) guaranteed event.

The Frenchman dedicated the win to his daughter, who was also born in the year of the Dragon and that his lucky charm--a lamp that resembles that of Alladin's--were also to thank for the triumph.

Reskallah was the chip leader heading into heads up and before it began, both players agreed to an ICM deal that would split the remaining prize money and set aside PhP730,000 (~US$US$12,465) to play for along with the trophy.

However, it was a roller coaster affair against Tan, a non-poker pro.

Tan, who runs his own IT company in Kuala Lumpur, acknowledged that Reskallah is definitely the better player with more experience but he enjoyed taking him to the limit in the marathon duel.

Reskallah's next mission is to make waves with his Team Scimitar (five Frenchmen based in Asia that frequent the circuit) in the upcoming APPT Cambodia.

Event #43: Pokerstars Red Dragon

Dates: October 25-27, 2024

Venue: Okada Manila

Buy in: PhP70,000 (~US$1,195)

Guarantee: PhP25,000,000 (~US$426,876)

Entries: 404

Players ITM: 60

Champion: Aladin Reskallah (France) – PhP4,230.000* (~US$72,228)

Note that there was an ICM deal reached prior to Heads Up between Aladin Reskallah and Joshua Tan that led to the final payouts being adjusted.

Final Table Payouts

It's Reskallah's turn to open shove and go for the jugular, but Tan calls it goes to showdown.

King high is all it took for the Frenchman to finally take the title against the Malaysian. Aladin Reskallah is the champion of the Pokerstars Red Dragon event!

Reskallah wins the trophy and PhP4,230,000 (~US$72,228) while Tan takes the runner-up prize of PhP3,500,000 (US$59,763).

Dodging all of his opponent's outs, the Frenchman now gains a sizeable advantage as Tan is now down to barely over ten BBs.

Reskallah limps from the D/SB and Tan checks his option in the BB.

The flop is 5♣ T 4♥ as both check. The turn is the Q♥ . Tan checks but the Frenchman fires a bet of 300,000 as Tan calls. The river is the A♣ . The Malaysian checks a third time and Reskallah unloads 1,100,000. Tan goes into the tank and is forced to use a Time Bank card. He eventually calls.

Reskallah shows A♦ Q♣ for two pairs on the river. Tan mucks.

They are almost even stack again.

While still behind on chips, the Frenchman at the very least gains more ammo to make several more stands.

The flopped set gives the Malaysian not only a new lease on life, but the chip lead anew.

Tan raises from D/SB and Reskallah calls.

The flop is 9♥ T♦ 5♣ as Reskallah checks. Tan CBets to 200,000 and Reskallah calls. The turn is the T♥ and the Frenchman checks again. Tan now puts in 550,000. Reskallah still calls. The river is the A♣ and Reskallah checks for the thrd time. Now the Malaysian unloads 1,200,000. Reskallah quickly calls.

Tan quickly mucks as Reskallah shows J♣ T♣ for trips on the turn.

That hand now gives the Frenchman almost a 3-1 chip advantage.

Tjan on the D/SB makes a biggish raise to 300,000. Reskallah calls.

The flop is 5♥ 5♦ 8♠ as Reskallah checks. Tjan CBets to 200,000 and gets called. The turn is the 5♠ and now both check. The river is the K♣ . Reskallah checks a third time as Tjan bets 300,000. Reskallah calls again.

Tjan shows 3♦ 3♥ for a full house on the turn. The Frenchman mucks.

Reskallah opens from D/SB for 200,000 and Tjan calls.

The flop is 6♣ 5♣ 5♦ . Tjan leads out for 250,000. Reskallah calls. The turn is the J♦ and this time both check. The river is the Q♥ . Tjan bets 375,000 but gets raised by Reskallah to 900,000. Tjan makes the call.

The Frenchman tables Q♣ 8♦ for top pair on the river. Tjan shows K♣ 5♠ for trips on the flop.

Round one goes to the Malaysian as he retakes the lead.

Before the start of Heads Up both Aladin Reskallah and Joshua Tjan reach an agreement to merge the remaining money and split it evenly:

Reskallah: PhP3,500,000 (~US$59,763)

Tjan: PhP3,500,000 (~US$59,763)

They will play for the trophy and an additional PhP730,000 (~US$12,465) will go to the eventual champion.

Heads Up commences shortly.

Heading into the final duel, the Frenchman holds a slight lead over the Malaysian.

It will be France's Aladin Reskallah versus Malaysia's Joshua Tjan for the championship of the Pokerstars Red Dragon event. Both are now guaranteed PhP2,980,000 (~US$51,557) but the winner takes home PhP4,750,000 (~US$82,180).

Tjan wins the flip and pads his chip lead. The Malaysian also assures the three players remaining of at least PhP2,130,000 (~US$36,851).

From UTG, Aladin Reskallah opens for 200,000 and the action is folded to the SB of Filipino Alfonso Baja who 3-bets to 600,000. The Frenchman contemplates his next move and in the process uses up three Time Bank cards. His next move is a 4-bet shove against Baja who folds.

The pot now brings Reskallah close to the four million mark. Needless to say, he has also claimed the chip lead.

Czardy Rivera of the Philippines opens from UTG to 260,000 and the man he took chips from barely an orbit ago is now in the BB as Malaysia's Joshua Tjan makes the call.

It goes to a flop of 7♣ 7♦ 4♣ as Tjan checks. Rivera CBets to 120,000. Tjan check-raises to 300,000 as Rivera burns two Time Bank cards and eventually 3-bet shoves. Tjan snap calls.

Rivera shows J♣ 9♣ for a flush draw while Tjan has 8♥ 7♠ for trips on the flop.

The turn card gives the Filipino one of his outs as the Q♣ completes his flush. But then the river card arrives: the 7♥ to give the Malaysian quads and boot out one of the most seasoned veterans at the Final Table.

With the redemption of chips, Tjan is once again the chip leader.

The final four is now guaranteed PhP1,640,000 (~US$28,374).

The double up by the Filipino further damages the stack of the former chip leader who is now down to a still serviceable 18 BBs. Rivera regains artillery to just over 17 BBs.

For the third time, the stars align to find Alfonso Baja of the Philippines raising from UTG for 200,000 and the action gets folded to the BB of fellow Filipino Czardy Rivera who again chooses to defend.

The flop is A♠ 3♣ 4♥ but it's Rivera who donks in for 100,000. Baja makes the call. The turn is the 2♣ completing what appears to be a one card straight. Apparently unfazed with his, Rivera bets again, this time for 200,000. Baja still calls. The Rivera is the 3♦ . Rivera puts in 350,000 and is quickly called.

Rivera tables Q♥ J♠ for a botched bluff while Baja shows 4♣ 4♦ for a set on the flop and a full house on the river.

Baja now officially captures the chip lead and decimates Rivera's stack to a mere seven and a half BBs.

In hat was shaping up to be Filipinos Clash III, Alfonso Baja opens anew from UTG for 160,000. However, chip leader Joshua Tjan of Malaysia chooses to call from the SB. Rivera joins in from his BB.

The flop is Q♥ Q♦ 7♠ as the blinds check. Baja CBets to 85,000 and gets a call from the Malaysian. Rivera exits the hand. The turn card is the 6♥ . Tjan checks again as Baja continues his assault with a bet of 225,000. Tjan chooses to fold.

Baja flips over 7♣ 7♥, showing that he filled up on the flop. The win now ties the Filipino for the chip lead with the Malaysian.

The action is folded to France's Aladin Reskallah who raises from the CO for 160,000 and gets a call right beside him on the D from chip leader Joshua Tjan of Malaysia.

The flop comes Q♦ 5♦ 7♦ as Reskallah checks. Tjan takes the betting lead and fires on the monochrome board for 120,000. The Frenchman calls. The turn is the K♥ as once again Reskallah checks. The Malaysian keeps the guns ablaze, this time for 450,000 and still gets a call from Reskallah. The river card is the 8♥ and Reskallah checks a third time. Tjan chooses to just check behind.

Reskallah flips over K♦ Q♥ for two pairs on the turn. Tjan mucks.

The stack of Japanese player Takashi Yagura has dipped below the ten BB mark and he open shoves from UTG for his remaining 635,000. It folds around to the SB where Czardy Rivera of the Philippines decides to give him some action.

Exactly one orbit after their first encounter, Alfonso Baja finds hmself pening anew from UTG to 160,000 and once again Czardy Rivera defends his BB.

The flop is 6♦ 5♦ A♠ as Rivera checks. This time, Baja CBets to 125,000. Rivera makes the call. The turn is the J♠ and Rivera checks again. Unperturbed, Baja fires 300,000 as Rivera still calls. The river is the T♠ . Now both opt to check.

Rivera turns over J♦ 9♦ for a missed flush draw but a hit on the turn. Baja shows 6♣ 5♣ for two pairs on the flop and collects the pot.

Alfonso Baja opens from UTG for160,000 and gets a call all the way in the BB by Czardy Rivera.

The flop is 3♠ Q♦ 9♦ as both players check. The turn is the 3♦ as Rivera checks again. Baja now leads out for 100,000. Rivera calls. The river is the 7♥. Rivera then bets 100,000 but Baja come back with a raise to 315,000. Rivera goes into the tank and consumes one Time Bank card in the process before folding.

Opening from UTG, Filipino pro Czardy Rivera brings it up to 120,000 and gets a call on the D from Japan's Takashi Yagura. However, chip leader Joshua Tjan of Malaysia tests the resolve of those in the pot by 3-betting to 380,000. Rivera stops to think and eventually burns a Time Bank card before opting to call. Yagura also joins.

The flop comes 9♦ 9♠ 7♦ . Tjan slows down and checks as and so does Rivera. It's now Yagura's turn to go into the tank and uses a Time Bank card before betting 375,000. Tjan folds but the Filipino calls. The turn is the 7♣ as the board now double pairs. Rivera then declares he is all-in. Yagura decides to fold.

A series of mishaps led to the stack of Germany's Martin Sedlak to get depleted and finds himself going all-in from UTG for his last 220,000. This is the very next hand after the exit of China's Li Zhe. Everybody folds until it gets to the BB of Frenchman Aladin Reskallah who opts to call.

None of the German's live cards appeared to save him from elimination as now the five players remaining are all bonafde Philippine millionaires as the next person out will receive PhP1,260,000 (~US$21,799).

Reskallah winning the coinflip now allows the remaining six players to ride the pay jump up to PhP975,000 (~US$16,869).

This now guarantees that the seven players left are guaranteed PhP750,000 (~US$12,976).

After spewing chips at the onset of the Final Table, Filipino Sergius Santos had the action folded to him on the HJ and limped. Chip leader Joshua Tjan of Malaysia raises to 150,000. It is folded back to Santos who 3-bets all-in for remaining stack of 900,000. Tjan snap calls.

The elimination Santos now assures the last eight players remaining of pocketing PhP615,000 (~US$10,640).

The hit reduces Santos' stack to about 12 BBs.

Takashi Yagura of Japan opens from the CO for 85,000. On the D, Taiwan's Carlos Chang goes into the tank and uses two of his newly acquired Time Bank cards before deciding to call. Sergius Santos of the Philippines also calls from the BB.

The flop comes 8♠ 5♥ 7♥ as Santos checks. Yagura CBets to 140,000 and Chang makes the call. Santos now goes into the tank and utilizes a Time Card in the process before opting to step aside.

The turn is the T♠ and Yagura takes time to ponder his next move. The Japanese player uses a Time Bank card and then declares he is all-in for 665,000. Chang now burns a third Time Bank card to contemplate his next move. He decides to err on the side of caution and folds.

Yagura draws first blood.

The player eliminated will be pocketing PhP510,000 (~US$8,824).

John Joseph Panish of the United States open shoves from UTG for his last 410,000 and it gets folded to the BB of Filipino Sergius Santos who makes the call.

The outdraw accomplished by Santos now brings the Pokerstars Red Dragon event to the Final Table.

It gets folded to the D where Takashi Yagura of Japan goes all-in for his remaining 385,000. He gets called on the SB by Filipino Sergius Santos.

Santos almost got away with it by picking up a redraw to a gutshot on the turn but many were surprised when he called an almost ten BB shove with what he had. The double up of Yagura still keeps the field at ten players.

The action is folded to Czardy Rivera of the Philippines and he raises to 80,000 in the CO. Malaysia's Yan Wen Yee 3-bets all-in right beside him on the D. It gets folded back to the Filipino who makes the call.

Rivera's stack now goes over the one million mark and the ten players left are still guaranteed PhP425,000 (~US$7,353), The next bust out will bring in the individual pay jumps and usher in the Final Table.

The next bust out will be receiving PhP425,000 (~US$7,353).

Not too long after getting crippled, Israel's Daniel Benor shoves from UTG for what's left of his decimated stack of 55,000 and surprisingly gets no caller until Takashi Yagura of Japan has to make the duty call from the BB.

There are now only 11 players remaining and all are now assured PhP425,000 (~US$7,353).

Daniel Benor of Israel opens from the HJ for 60,000 and gets re-raised all-in by local bet Sergius Santos for his remaining 865,000. Benor calls.

The outdraw not only cripples the Israeli, but restores Santos' pursuit of the chip lead in one of the most volatile chip graphs of the competition thus far.

Carlos Chang of Taiwan opens from UTG to 60,000 and the action gets folded around all the way to the BB where Japan's Go Saito 3-bets all-in for his remaining 235,000. Chang makes the call.

The 7♣ on the flop was a sweat card for Chang who managed to evade the six outs his Japanese opponent required on the last two community cards. The Taiwanese player also gets an infusion of chips.

Chip leader Joshua Tjan of Malaysia makes a raise from early position to 60,000 and gets called by countryman Yan Wen Yee in the HJ.

The flop is 4♥ 8♣ 8♥ . Both players check. The turn is the T♥ as Tjan checks again. Yee tests the waters with a bet of 75,000. Tjan calls. The river is the 6♦ and suddenly the bet sizing for Yee changes as he unleashes 300,000. This sends Tjan into the tank and uses two Time Bank cards before calling.

Yee is obliged to show Q♣ J♣ for a missed gutshot on the turn. Tjan turns over K♦ K♠ to now breach the two million chip mark and pad his lead over the competition.

American John Joseph Panish opens from UTG for 60,000 and the action goes all the way to the BB of Filpino Sergius Santos who defends.

The flop comes 6♦ 7♥ 8♠ as both players check. The turn is the 7♣ and this time Santos leads in for 50,000 which gets a call from the American. The river is the K♣ as the Filipino fires 125,000 and gets snap called by Panish.

Although Santos is first to show, Panish turns over Q♥ Q♠ . Santos mucks his hand and takes another hit to his stack, falling way below the one million mark anew.

Everyone still in is guaranteed PhP350,000 (~US$6,055).

It appeared that Hilberts was on his way to pulling off a runner-runner straight but it never got there as Rivera was blocking his outs. The Filipino now also nears the one million chip mark.

Si never rivered his gutshot and Saito failed to hit his two-outer as the triple up now puts the Taiwanese in good shape for a deep run.

In dire need of a double up, Singapore's Giam Jian Hui goes all-in for his remaining stack of 275,000 from the +2 position. The action is folded to the SB where Filipino Sergius Santos--apparently still miffed over his recent loss--makes the call.

Santos' demeanor quickly changed from glum to upbeat after getting trip queens of his own leading to a full house to put him back over the one million mark.

Israel's Daniel Benor has it folded to him on the HJ and raises to 50,000. Sergius Santos of the Philippines calls from the CO. Then on the D American John Joseph Panish 3-bets all-in for his stack of 385,000. Benor folds but Santos, one of the chip leders of the tournament, makes the call.

Panish did even have to hit to beat his Filipino opponent, but getting trips made the win even sweeter for a double up. Santos, who was contending for the chip lead, now has to restart the grind.

China's Li Zhe opens the action from the HJ for 40,000 and gets re-raised to 80,000 by Thijs Hilberts of The Netherlands. Li calls.

The flop is 9♥ 2♦ 6♣ as Li checks. Hilberts CBets to 60,000 and Li makes the call. The turn is the 7♣ and suddenly the Chinese player takes the betting lead by firing 50,000. the Dutchman calls. The river is the A♠ . Li checks again and Hilberts goes all-in. Li snap calls for his remaining 165,000.

Hilberts shows the bluff: K♦ T♥ while Li shows A♦ 9♣, rivering the ace and catapulting his chip stack to almost 800,000. Hilberts is down to less than 300,000.

Germany's Martin Sedlak open from the CO for 45,000 and gets 3-bet all-in by Wu Di of China for 410,000. Sedlak makes the quick call.

Sedlak is now among the chip leaders and continues to rise towards the twilight of the tournament.

Aladin Reskallah of France, one of the most colorful players on the circuit, is at risk against Israel's Daniel Benor.

Although Reskallah didn't really need to rub the lamp (his card protector), it gave him a little assurance against his opponent from Israel.

John Joseph Panish of the United States opens from the HJ for 40,000 and gets called by Malaysian Joshua Tjan. In the BB, Tomoyuki Yoshimiya of Japan re-raises all-in for his remaining 45,000. Panish and Tjan call to double team.

Both players opt not to create a side pot as they check down the board of J♠ 7♠ 2♥ and then A♦ J♣ .

Panish shows K♦ Q♠ while Tjan tables 9♥ 9♠. Yoshimiya busts holding 6♥ 6♠ .

Tjan is now a legitimate contender for the chip lead anew.

From UTG, Korea's Jeong Seonghun sends his 70,000 stack to the middle and gets called by Martin Sedlak of Germany on the D.

Jeong was drawing dead on the turn as the German now nears the one million chip territory.

Takashi Yagura of Japan open from the CO for 40,000 and gets a BB defense from China's Wu Di.

The flop is Q♦ 7♣ 6♠ as Wu checks. Yagura CBets to 30,000. Wu check-raises to 90,000 as Yakura now becomes the caller. The turn is the 7♦ . This time, Wu checks and Yagura moves all-in. Wu cannot call.

In a battle of two Filipinos, Jose Colada has the action folede to him on the D and makes a raise to 40,000. Sergius Santos in the SB re-raises to 100,000 as Colada calls.

The flop is 4♦ 3♥ 6♠ as Santos CBets for 25,000. Colada raises to 115,000 and Santos makes the call. The turn is the 5♣ as Santos checks. Colada then goes all-in for 430,000. Santos uses up a Time Bank before choosing to call.

Colada tables T♦ T♠ while Santos shows his over pair of Q♦ Q♥ .

The river is the 4♠ sending Colada out of the tournament, ironically also after just making it to the leaderboard.

With the triumph, Santos has taken the overall chip lead.

Mehra loses the flip and gets booted out after just making into the leaderboard. Tjan is the new chip leader.

Here are the top ten so far:

Takashi Yagura of Japan opens from UTG for 32,000 and gets called by a pair of Filipinos in Jose Colada on the D and Serguis Santos in the BB.

The flop goes Q♠ Q♣ T♦ as Santos leads out for 20,000. Yagura calls but Colada steps out of the way. The turn is the 5♠ and Santos keeps firing, this tie for 50,000. The Japanese player thinks about it and uses a Time Bank card before calling. the river is the 2♠. This time, Santos makes a small river bet of 16,000, which Yagura calls.

Santos turns over T♥ 5♥ . Yagura throws his hand into the muck.

It is folded around to the CO of Malaysia's Joshua Tjan and he raises to 32,000. In the SB Rishi Mehra of Singapore makes the call.

The flop comes Q♥ T♦ 6♣ as Mehra donks in for 45,000. Tjan calls. The turn card is the T♥ and this time but check. The river is the A♥ as the Singaporean fires 55,000. Tjan raises to 145,000. Mehra opts to fold.

The action is opened from the CO by Filipino pro Jose Colada for 33,000 and gets called by Truong Chan of Vietnam from the BB.

The flop is 2♦ 8♥ 5♦ as Colada CBets to 75,000. Truong raises all-in for 97,000 and the Filipino snap calls.

Colada turns over 7♥ 5♠ for middle pair on the flop while Truong has A♣ 4♦ for a gutshot and an over card to the board.

The turn is the 2♣ and the river is the 2♣ as Colada's full house ejects Truong from the competition.

Korea's Jeong Seonghun opens the action from the CO for 32,000 and gets re-raised by Go Saito of Japan in the SB. Another Korean in Kim Wooseok 4-bets all-in from the BB for 111,000. Jeong folds but Saito makes the call.

Kim actually had outs on the flop but could not get them on the last two community cards as the player from Korea is now sidelined for good.

With the action folded to the D, Malaysia's Joshua Tjan raises to 25,000 and gets 3-bet by on the SB by Giam Jian Hui of Singapore for 65,000. Meanwhile, Japan's Tomoyuki Yoshimiya makes a 4-bet all-in to 337,000. Tjan snap calls for his remaining 270,000 as Giam opts to fold.

The T♠ appearing on the turn was a sweat card for the Malaysian but in the end his aces hold for a much needed double up while Yoshimiya's stack is now on the respirator.

Japan's Takashi Yagura has the action folded to him in the HJ and raises to 24,000. Kim Wooseok of Korea chooses to defend his BB.

The flop goes T♥ A♠ 6♦ as Kim checks. Yagura CBets for 38,000 and gets a call from his Korean opponent. The turn is the 7♦ as once again Kim checks. Yagura once again fires, this time for 72,000. Kim still makes the call. The river is the 5♥ as Kim checks a third time. The Japanese player unloads 185,000 sending Kim into thought mode. The Korean burns one Time Bank card before making the call.

Yagura shows 9♥ 8♥ for a straight on the turn, totally catching Kim by surprise. The Korean chooses to muck.

Thijs Hilberts of the Netherlands goes into a preflop raising battle against Filipino Joemark Vasat with the end result being all their chips going into the pot as Vasay slightly covers the Dutchman.

By getting the case card on the flop to ensure the victory, Hilberts doubles up and all but decimates the Filipino's stack.

Kim Dohwan of Korea opens from UTG for 24,000 and gets called in the SB from Israel's Daniel Benor.

The flop is 5♥ 5♣ 6♠ as both players check. The turn is the J♣ as Benor leads out for 55,000. Kim makes the call. the river card is the 6♥ . The Israeli unloads 140,000 and sends the Korean into the tank. Kim takes so long that he is forced to utilize two Time Bank cards. He eventually decides to call.

Benor shows 5♠ 4♠ for trips on the flop. Kim mucks, but not before losing a huge chunk of his chips to his Israeli opponent.

Japan's Takashi Yagura opens from UTG for 24,000 and gets calls from the blinds in Filipino pro Czardy Rivera (SB) and Daniel Benor from Israel (BB).

The flop is 4♣ 2♦ J♠ as the blinds check. Yagura CBets to 33,000 and gets a call from Rivera. Benor folds. The turn is the 7♠ and this time Yagura and Rivera both check. The river is the 5♦ as Rivera takes the betting lead for 65,000. Yagura opts to fold.

American Joey Weissman opens from UTG for 25,000 and get 3-bet all-in by Joshua Tjan of Malaysia, putting his remaining 175,000 on the line. Folded back to Weissman, he decides to call.

Tjan stayed ahead on the flop, lost the lead on the turn and hit his two-outer on the river to keep him in the competition. Weissman loses more than half his stack in the hand.

The action is folded to Japan's Go Saito on the D and he raises to 20,000. Martin Sedlak of Germany defends his BB.

The flop is J♠ Q♦ Q♣ as both players check. The turn is the 3♦ and now Sedlak leads out for 40,000. Saito calls. The river is the K♠ . Sedlak bets 40,000 and still gets a call from his Japanese opponent.

Sedlak shows K♣ 9♦ , hitting top pair on the river. Saito shakes his head and mucks.

Czardy Rivera of the Philippines exacts some form of revenge against Singapore's Matthew by grabbing back some of the chips he lost earlier. The preflop raising war ends with all the chips going in the middle with Rivera's tournament life on the line.

Rivera's queens hold and this duel is now tied.

Alfonso Baja of the Philippines engages in a preflop raising war with Japan's Kyosuke Nagami ending up with all of Nagami's 470,000 going into the pot.

Outflopping and busting his Japanese opponent, Baja's monster stack continues to grow.

China's Wu Di starts this off from UTG with a raise to 21,000 and gets two callers in Truong Chan of Vietnam in the CO and Germany's Martin Sedlak in the BB.

The flop comes 2♦ 6♣ Q♥ as Sedlak checks. Wu CBets to 26,000 and gets called by Truong. Sedlak folds. It is heads up to the turn of the 5♠ and this time Wu opts to check. Truong takes the betting lead, firing 70,000. Wu makes the call. The river is the 3♠ and this time, both players check.

Wu shows A♠ Q♠ for top pair, top kicker on the flop. Truong opts to muck.

Vietnam's Truong Chan opens the action from UTG for 20,000 and it is folded all the way to the SB where Filipino pro Jose Colada makes the call.

The flop is 9♥ J♣ 8♠ as the Filipino checks. Truong CBets to 24,000 and Colada calls. The turn is the K♦ as Colada checks again. The Vietnamese player fires again, this time for 45,000. Colada still calls. The river is the 4♥ and this time both check.

Colada tables Q♥ J♥ for top pair on the flop. Truong mucks.

Here's a look at the current top ten in chips:

Hong Kong's Alex Chong opens the action from UTG for 25,000 and gets called in the CO Alfonso Baja of the Philippines.

The flop goes T♦ J♣ J♦ as Chong CBets to 20,000. Baja raises it to 70,000. Then Chong 3-bets to 170,000 and Baja 4-bets all-in for 500,000. Chong snap calls.

Chong tables A♣ A♠ while Baja reveals that he's n the lead now with K♦ J♠.

The turn is the Q♦ which now has the Hong Kong player drawing dead and the river is the 9♣ to make the rockets cracking official.

With the win, Baja becomes the first to hot seven digits in the chip and is the new chip leader while Chong is left with 3 BBs.

Kim Dohwan of Korea raises from UTG to 16,000 and beside him on the +1 position shoves Singapore's Matthew Chan for his remaining 143,000. Local pro Czardy Rivera makes the call from the CO as Kim folds.

Rivera had just acquired chips before losing most of them to Chan.

The action gets folded to the D where Guy Taylor of England open shoves his stack of 100,000. He gets called by Japan's Naohito Tamaya in the SB.

Taylor is eliminated.

Singapore's Matthew Chan opens from the HJ for 16,000 and gets called by Czardy Rivera of the host nation in the D. In the SB, Czechia's Philipp Zukernik 3-bets all-in for his last 110,000. Chan folds but Rivera makes the call.