APT Main Event (85,000 PHP)

Japan’s Toshihide Sawada opened the hijack to 1,800 and received calls from his countrymate, Rei Ikemiya, from the cutoff and Ivan Dela Cruz on the button.

Three players read a flop of Q♠ J♥ 3♥ , bringing flush draw possibilities. Dela Cruz and Sawada checked the action to Ikemiya, who bet 1,500, and only Sawada dropped in a call.

The 9♠ landed on the turn, where Sawada checked over, and Ikemiya then shoved all in, forcing Sawada to force.

Thah Tuan Nguyen bet 9,000 on a board of 4♣ 4♦ 7♥ A♣ . After some thought, Toshihilde Sawada re-raised to 18,000, then Nguyen shoved all-in.

While Sawada was thinking about it, the floor called for a break and the other players had left the two in favor of relaxation over poker action. Sawada eventually made the call and flipped over 7♠ T♠ for a pair of sevens while Nguyen showed 5♠ 4♠ for trip fours. Sawada needed a two-outer and the K♣ on the river wasn't one of them. Sawada made his exit, and Nguyen stacked his chips while explaining, "He didn't believe me! I bet on the flop and on the turn." Nguyen was then kind enough to count off his stack for me to report. "I have 105,000," he shared.

With 69 entries so far, only 66 remain in the seats as the three below have dusted off a stack in the early goings.

Action picked up on the turn with a sizable pot already in play, early in the day. The board showed J♦ 6♥ 9♦ 2♥ , and Toshihide Sawada led with a bet of 10,000, which Alfredo Boligar called from the button.

When the 3♣ hit the river, Sawada opted to check. Boligar, left with just 16,000 in his stack, pushed it all in. After a brief moment of contemplation, Sawada tossed his cards into the muck, conceding the pot to Boligar.