Philippines National Cup (12,000 PHP)

Dongjae Kim just experienced the full spectrum of tournament poker — ecstasy, agony, and everything in between!

With just 5,000 left in his stack, Kim tossed in his last blue chip from under the gun. Sangyeol Jeon, sitting in the hijack, shoved for around 250,000, and the rest of the table got out of the way.

Jeon then turned over A♠ A♣ , causing Kim to drop to his knees as he revealed K♦ K♥ — a brutal cooler at the worst possible time. The 3♦ 9♣ 5♥ flop did him no favors, and it looked like the end of the road. But then, the K♣ landed on the turn, flipping the script and putting Kim in the lead! A harmless 6♣ river sealed his unlikely comeback, turning his last 5,000 into 70,000.

In the very next hand, Ryosuke Ikari moved all in from the button, and Kim, still riding the high of his double-up, called off his remaining 20,000 from the big blind — without even looking at his cards!

Ikari showed 4♠ 4♣ , while Kim, one by one, peeled A♦ 5♥ .

The 3♠ T♠ 8♥ flop kept Ikari ahead, but the 5♣ turn sent Kim into another celebration as he paired his five to take the lead. However, as the saying goes, it’s not over until it’s over — and the 4♦ river delivered a set for Ikari, slamming the door shut on Kim’s wild rollercoaster ride.

What a run, what a heartbreak!

Kenta Takahashi opened to 22,000 from under the gun and received three callers: Martin Gonzales from late position, Dongjae Kim on the button, and Katsuyuki Kondo from the big blind.

A flop ran out 3♦ T♦ A♣ , where Kondo checked over before Takahashi continued for 20,000, which was followed by a fold from Gonzales and a call from Kim. When the action got back to Kondo, he mucked. The T♠ fell on the turn, and Takahashi fired out 45,000. Kim called to see a 5♣ land on the river, which Takahashi fired another chunky bet of 85,000 and sent Kim into the tank. After around two minutes, Kim eventually elected to fold.