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

Raju Jaruplavath raised to 900,000 on the button and Zhi Xiang Png shoved all in for around 1,530,000 in the big blind. Jaruplavath snap-called.

Zhi Xiang Png: A♥ 3♦

Raju Jaruplavath: A♠ J♣

Jaruplavath took the lead with a better kicker and a clean board revealed swiftly 7♣ 2♥ T♥ 7♦ 6♠ , sealing Png’s elimination in second place for a payday of PHP 503,000 (~$8,643).

We are down to our final two players at the 2025 Manila Classic Philippines National Cup. It all looks like Raju Jaruvaplath will take down this tournament, as he is going into the heads-up match with a commanding chip lead.

Png folded on the button and Jansen Tiu completed from the small-blind. The chipleader Raju Jaruplavath made it 560,000. At this po,int it was a bit unclear as to whether Tiu wanted to announce a raise, as he seemed like he wanted to call. However, the decision that he had to put in a raise persisted so he had to put in a minimum raise to 940,000. Jaruplavath responded with an all-in, covering Tiu's around 2,000,000 chips.

Jansen Tiu: A♦ J♥ Raju Jaruplavath: 6♦ 6♥

The board ran out 8♠ 4♠ 3♣ 6♣ T♥ , busting Tiu in 3rd place, which made him PHP 361,000 for his great run.

With three players remaining, the action is being played at a lightning pace.

Not long ago, Raju Jaraplavath raised the button to 320,000 and Zhi Png called from the small blind, playing a stack of just over 2,000,000.

Jansen Tiu was in the big blind and shoved for around 2,600,000, which earned him the pot as both of his opponents folded.

Jaruplavath still remains in command with over half of the chips in play.

Short-stack Mingchen Zhang opened jammed his 340,000 from the button and got a chance for a triple up, as both blinds called. The flop came down 6♣ 6♥ 3♠ , and after Jansen in the small-blind checked, Jaruplavath put out a bet of 500,000, which was enough to make this a heads-up pot.

Mingchen Zhang: Q♥ T♠ Raju Jaruplavath: 5♦ 5♣

The A♣ turn and 8♦ did not bring any help for Zhang who busted in 5th place, good for PHP 225,000.

With only 5 players left at the table Jansen Tiu opened to 450,000 from under the gun. Raju Jaruplavath immediately shoved from the cutoff covering the entire table. When the action got back to Tiu, he put his head in his hands.

"Why bro, why?" cried Tiu.

Some time went by and eventually, Tiu tossed his cards face up in the muck, showing Q Q .

"I promise I had you beat," said Jaruplavath when he saw the cards of his opponent.

"You swear?" replied Tiu.

Jaruplavath didn't reply.

Big, big fold from Tiu!

The remaining five players are on a 15-minute break.

Sarawoot Ratanatabtim raised to 250,000 from under the gun and Raju Jaruplavath called in the small blind. After thinking for a while, Chayathon Wongpipatchai elected to call off his remaining 170,000.

Three players read a flop of Q♥ K♥ T♦ Jaruplavath check it to Ratanatabtim, who bet 150,000. Jaruplavath then raised it to 300,000, which Ratanatabtim dropped in a call to see the 7♠ land on the turn.

Jaruplavath fired out 600,000 and Ratanatabtim snap-called.

The river showed T♥

The action went check-check. Wongpipatchai showed Q♦ 2♠ while Ratanatabtim turned over A♣ Q♣ , giving both players two pair.

It was not enough to best Jaruplavath’s A♦ J♣ for a flopped Broadway straight, sealing the elimination of Wongpipatchai and awarding Jaruplavath a huge pot.

Mingchen Zhang opened to 200,000 from the button and Raju Jaruplavath called from the big blind.

Both saw the flop of A♠ 9♥ 5♣ , which went check-check to the Q♠ turn. Jaruplavath then led out with a bet of 250,000, and Zhang quickly called.

A 4♣ completed the runout and without any hesitation, Jaruplavath grabbed a stack of green chips, worth 25,000 each, and slid them into the middle for a bet of 500,000. Zhang looked down at his stack of around 2,300,000 and after some deliberation, he called.

"Two pair," said Jaruplavath as he showed 9♠ 5♥ . Zhang tapped the table and then mucked, prompting a celebration from Jaruplavath.

"Yesss, big blind special!" he shouted as he clapped his hands.

"Wow, you are crazy," remarked Jansen Tiu.

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.

Jansen Tiu made it 125,000 from middle position and Raju Jaruplavath called from the next seat. Sarawoot Ratanatabtim also came along from the button.

All three checked the 4♥ A♦ K♠ flop to see the 3♦ drop on the turn. Tiu checked, then Jaruplavath fired out 170,000. Ratanatabtim folded, then Tiu went into the tank.

"Do you have pocket aces?" he asked. After using some extra time, Tiu shoved for 335,000.

"How much more?" asked Jaruplavath, who then was told it was 165,000 more to call. Despite the fantastic odds on offer, Jaruplavath decided to fold, and Tiu flashed the K♦ as he raked in the pot.

"You must show the other king," joked Jaruplavath.

"Cannot, cannot," replied Tiu as the players headed into break.

Raju Jaruplavath raised to 125,000 from the cutoff and was called by the blinds.

There players saw a flop of 6♦ 7♣ A♣ , where David Erquiaga, from the small blind, fired out 325,000, which only Jaruplavath dropped in a call.

The turn revealed the Q♦ , and Erquiaga checked it to Jaruplavath, who then shoved all in and forced his opponent to fold.

Mingchen Zhang raised the hijack to 100,000 and Raju Jaruplavath defended from the big bind.

Both players read a monotone flop of J♦ K♦ 4♦ , and Jaruplavath checked it to Zhang, who continued for 80,000. Jaruplavath called to see the T♥ fall on the turn. The action went check-check.

The river brought a 2♥ , and the two decided to check to a free showdown. While Jaruplavath revealed a pair of fours with 7♠ 4♥ , Zhang showed Q♥ J♥ for a higher pair of jacks to collect the pot.

Raju Jaruplavath opened to 100,000 from the button and found a caller in Chayathon Wongpipatchai out of the small blind.

The two saw a Q♠ 7♦ 9♦ flop, where Wongpipatchai wasted no time in leading out for 50,000. Jaruplavath made the call.

The 5♣ landed on the turn, and once again, Wongpipatchai kept up his quick pace, firing another 50,000. In an instant, Jaruplavath raised to 200,000. Wongpipatchai took a moment to consider before making the call.

Both then checked to showdown on the 8♣ river and Wongpipatchai showed A♣ 9♥ for a pair of nines.

"Ace-high?" asked Jaruplavath, who then rolled over K♦ 5♠ for a pair of fives. However, he soon realized that his opponent had paired his nine and quickly mucked his cards.

Haewon Jung moved his stack into the middle from the hijack for around 225,000, and Raju Jaruplavath flicked in the call from the big blind with a covering stack.

Haewon Jung: K♣ Q♥

Raju Jaruplavath: 7♥ 7♣

Jung was flipping for his tournament life, but was left on the brink of elimination after the 8♣ 7♠ 4♠ flop gave Jaruplavath a set of sevens. Only running cards could save Jung from the rail, but he couldn't find the miracle he needed as the 9♥ 6♦ runout left him on the sidelines.

First-to-act player Raju Jaruplavath opened up the action and got three-bet by the Russian Denis Semerenko next to him. It folded around to the opener raiser, who put in the call.

The flop came down K♣ T♣ 7♥ , and, afer Jaruplavath checked his option, Semerenko continued with a bet of 40,000. The Indian professional responded with a raise to 120,000, effectively putting Semerenko all-in. After a couple of minutes of thinking time, Semerenko decided to not put his tournament life at risk, letting his hand go.

Anthony Gabitan opened from early position with Dongjae Kim calling from the small blind, and Adrian Lutia defending from the big blind.

On a flop of J♦ 9♦ 8♥ , Dongjae Kim decided to lead out for 20,000, which was called by both Lutia and Gabitan.

The 2♦ on the turn brought in the flush, but this didn't slow Kim down as he continued with a bet of 35,000, leaving himself with around 55,000 behind. This was enough for Kim to make both of his opponents fold and he took down a nice pot early on day 2.

The refreshing air fills the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria for Day 2 of the Philippines National Cup, which kicks off at 11:15 am local time. Beginning with 4,000/8,000 and an 8,000 big blind ante, the hopefuls will compete for a slice of the prize pool of PHP 4,034,765 (~USD 69,326) until a champion is crowned.

A total of 652 entries were recorded across three Day 1 flights. Only 58 survivors advanced to Day 2 and made it into the money. Each player now has their sights set on the trophy and the top prize of PHP 797,765 (~USD 13,700).

Singapore's Dalvin Carvalho sits at the top with a towering stack of 601,000, the only player surpassing 600,000 mark heading into the final day. Close behind are Nattawut Kwunsong (530,000), Zhi Xiang Png (508,000), Kenta Takahashi (478,000), Cheng Yen Lo (442,000), and Katsuyuki Kondo (407,000), who all have healthy stacks to begin Day 2.