Philippines National Cup (12,000 PHP)

India’s Raju Jaruplavath successfully claimed the Baby Lion Trophy in the PHP 12,000 Philippines National Cup, securing the coveted top prize of PHP 797,765 ($13,707) after a final heads-up duel with Singapore’s Zhi Png, who finished as the runner-up and took home an impressive prize of PHP 503,000 ($8,643).

After an intense Day 1, the field of 652 entries, generating a prize pool of PHP 4,034,765 (~$69,326), was whittled down to just 58 survivors. The Indian player maintained his momentum, eliminating three players at the final table, achieving his ultimate goal, and taking home his first APT Lion Trophy.

Jaruplavath showcased his stellar psychological play with a daring bet without showing hesitation against Mingchen Zhang, and managed to rake in a sizable pot with nine-five holdings.

Flight C frontrunner Katsuyuki Kondo of Japan narrowly missed out on making his maiden APT final table appearance, his tenth place exit at the hands of Thailand's Sarawoot Ratanatabtim setting up the nine-handed finale.

It took close to a cagey two hours and three levels of play before the first final table elimination, Thailand's Suprachaicharoen Prachaya losing a pre-flop all-in coin flip with pocket nines against the ace-ten of the Philippines' David Erquiaga who spiked his ace on the runout to send Prachaya to the rail in ninth place for a payout of PHP 75,000 (~$1,289).

Japan's Atsushi Takeuchi followed Prachaya to the rail shortly afterwards, open-shoving with eight-five only to be looked up by Zhang holding pocket threes. It was another coin flip, but unlike Erquiaga, Takeuchi didn’t receive any help sending him to the cash desk to collect PHP 94,000 (~$1,615) for his eighth place finish.

The pace of eliminations slowed, and the remaining seven players exchanged chips for over an hour until Erquiaga shoved with pocket tens, unfortunately, the Filipino ran into Zhang’s cowboys to exit in seventh place for PHP 132,000 (~$2,273).

Later that same level with slightly over one big blind, Thailand's Chayathon Wongpipatchai had no choice but to call a raise from compatriot Ratanatabtim, with Jaruplavath also coming along for the ride.

In the three-way hand, both Wongpipatchai and Ratanatabtim improved to top pair with queens; however, Jaruplavath continued his strong run and completed a Broadway straight, to send Wongpipatchai to the rail and take a big bite out of Ratanatabtim's stack. Wongpipatchai took home a payout of PHP 176,000 (~$3,024).

China's Zhang departed in fifth a level later after open-jamming with queen-ten and receiving two callers from the blinds, hoping for a double elimination.

However, small blind Jansen Tiu folded on the flop, leaving Zhang in a heads-up showdown against Jaruplavath’s pocket fives. The board provided no help for either player, and Zhang made his way to the cash desk to collect his reward of PHP 225,000 (~$3,875).

Ratanatabtim was the next elimination, departing minutes after Zhang; holding nine-eight, the Thai called a towering shove from Tiu, who held a dominating ace-eight. The runout favored Tiu, improving him to a top pair of aces, sending Ratanatabtim to the rail in fourth for PHP 287,000 (~$4,931).

However, Tiu did not get to enjoy his win for long and the Filipino player became embroiled in a raising war with Jaruplavath with all the chips going in pre-flop – Tiu’s ace-jack facing off against Jaruplavath’s pocket sixes. A six on the turn dashed Tiu's chances, giving Jaruplavath a set and bring play heads-up. Tiu collected PHP 361,000 (~$6,217) for his third-place finish.

In the final battle, Png played aggressively for a few hands before moving all-in with ace-three over the top of a Jaruplavath button raise, with the Indian player calling with a superior kicker holding ace-jack. The board did not improve either player, sealing the runner-up position for Png, who took home PHP 503,000 (~$8,643).

Congratulations to Raju Jaruplavath!

India's Raju Jaruplavath wins the Philippines National Cup for PHP 797,765 (~13,707).

Stay tuned for a full recap of the day's action

David Erquiaga shoved for 665,000 from under the gun and Suprachaicharoen Prachaya called off his stack of 350,000 from the cutoff.

Suprachaicharoen Prachaya: 9♠ 9♦

David Erquiaga: A♣ T♥

Prachaya was at risk and flipping for his tournament, which didn't get off to a great start as the 7♣ 3♠ A♠ flop left him with two outs. A 5♥ on turn was a brick, and the 6♦ river meant Prachaya was the first player to be eliminated on the final table.

After thinking for roughly one minute, Suprachaicharoen Prachaya opted to raise to 160,000 from under the gun, with only Mingchen Zhang defending from the big blind.

Both players saw the flop come Q♠ 4♥ 3♦ , where Zhang check-called bat of 130,000 from Prachaya.

The T♠ fell on the turn, and the action went check-check. The river came the 6♥ , and Zhang shoved all in for Prachaya's remaining 550,000. Prachaya snap-folded and the pot was sent over to Zhang.

Suprachaicharoen Prachaya looked down at his cards from under the gun and liked what he saw, so shoved for 280,000. Raju Jaruplavath was two seats over and just called, as did Chayathon Wongpipatchai from middle position.

The flop came 3♦ 2♠ 5♣ where Jaruplavath bet 200,000 into the dry side pot, which Wongpipatchai immediately called. Jaruplavath continued to fire, this time by going all in on the 7♦ turn, which got Wongpipatchai to fold for his stack of around 800,000, claiming he passed pocket jacks.

Suprachaicharoen Prachaya: 3♠ 3♣

Raju Jaruplavath: K♦ K♠

Prachaya had flopped a set of threes and was just one card away from a huge triple-up, which would see him leap from the bottom spot in the counts. Jaruplavath couldn't believe it, and saw the main pot shipped over to his opponent when the Q♦ completed the runout.

It wasn't all doom and gloom for Jaruplavath, as he did take down the side pot, which minimized his losses in the hand.

"I should have checked the turn, then you definitely shove," said Jaruplavath to Wongpipatchai after the hand.

Junyoung Kim opened up the action from early-position and only the short stacks in the blinds, Maxwell Rosete (110,000 remaining), and Prachaya Suprachaicharoen (205,000 remaining) called. The T♣ 2♣ 2♥ looked innocent, but turned out to be an action flop.

First-to-act player Rosete moved all-in, and the Thai player in the big-blind jammed all-in himself. This put the original opener Kim in an awkward spot. Considering the great price he got, he tanked for a couple minutes before deciding to gamble.

Maxwell Rosete: K♣ Q♣ Prachaya Suprachaicharoen: J♦ 2♦ Junyoung Kim: A♠ J♠

Suprachaicharoen was in a great spot to win an important pot with only three tables remaining. All he had to do was to fade the clubs and a few backdoors. The 7♠ on the turn and Q♦ on the river did exactly that and the Thai player is sitting now in a comfortable spot with the final table approaching fast.