APT Main Event (85,000 PHP)

The short-stacked Yan Wen Yee shoved his last 63,000 all-in with Ashby Rivera re-raising to 150,000 to isolate.

Yan Wen Yee: A♠ 6♥

Ashby Rivera: K♣ Q♣

Yee had a better hand pre-fop, but Rivera paired the Q♦ 4♥ T♦ flop to go ahead. The turn Q♥ sealed the fate of Yee, who was drawing dead. The 5♦ river was just a formality.

Action was folded around to create a Battle of The Big Blinds with Yan Wen Yee raising to 10,000 from the small blind and Michihiko Matsuda pushing all-in for 76,000 more. Yee took a while to check the status of his own stack in case of future damages, but he eventually said "call." Matsuda's K♣ 9♠ trailed the A♥ 6♥ of Yee. Both players hit their top pairs on a flop of A♦ K♠ J♦ . Matsuda had 5 outs to make a better hand, but the J♠ turn and 8♦ river didn't help, taking him out of the tournament and off to an early dinner.

Yan Wen Yee had the all-in button in front of him along with just over 100,000 of his chips. There was maybe another 60,000 chips beside a board of 6♥ 4♠ 6♦ 9♠ J♠ .

In the next seat over, Michikiko Matsuda was in deep thought about whether or not to make the call. Matsuda looked at his chip stack, stared down Yee, stared at the board, peeked at his cards, wondered if unicorns really existed, and eventually folded to give Yee the huge pot.

Yan Wen Lee was engaged in a lively conversation with his seatmates when he completed his small blind by limping into the pot, only for Matthew Chan in the big blind to raise to 5,000. Pausing his chat, Lee took a moment to consider before calling.

The flop revealed 8♥ 9♥ J♣ , and Lee checked the action to Chan, who then pushed all-in, risking his tournament life. After some thought, Lee decided to call.

Matthew Chan: T♣ 7♦ Yan Wen Lee: K♠ J♠

With the flop showing 8♥ 9♥ J♣ , Lee had made top pair, while Chan held a straight. The dealer turned over a 2♥ and then a T♦ on the river, leaving Lee without any chance for a redraw and sending Chan to victory.

Naruyasu Ota raised to 2,500 from the cut-off and when action was folded to Yan Wen Yee on the big blind, he liked his cards enough to re-raise to 10,000 and defend his big blind. Ota surrendered.

In the following hand, action was folded to the blinds with Yee completing the small blind. Jieun Um at the big blind raised to 4,500 to defend her big blind. Yee folded, getting a taste of his own medicine.

Defending the big blind proved to be a crucial key to success.