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

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 245,000 remaining, Zhang moved all-in from the cut-off position and got called by Ratanatabtim in the big blind.

Minchen Zhang: A♦ 9♣ Sarawoot Ratanatabtim: Q♦ 7♥

The board did neither player give any pairs, as it ran out 6♠ 5♥ 3♥ 3♦ T♣ , giving Zhang a much-needed double-up.

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

The action folded around to Mingchen Zhang in the small blind, who shoved for around 2,600,000. Jansen Tiu was in the big blind and immediately asked for a count as he had a decision. With just over 2,000,000 in his stack, Tiu seemed like he knew he was going to call, but just couldn't say the words.

"I have a huge hand," said Tiu. After using some extra time, Tiu did call to put himself at risk.

Jansen Tiu: A♣ K♣

Mingchen Zhang: 6♥ 6♠

"You're never folding, man," remarked some of the other players at the table. "Maybe I would have, I was waiting for him to bust," replied Tiu in reference to Chayathon Wongpopatchai, who only had around 200,000 remaining.

Tiu never lived to regret his decision as he paired his king on the K♦ 8♠ 3♦ 7♠ 5♥ runout, which brought his stack to over four million, and left Zhang with just five big blinds.

Mingchen Zhang opened to 240,000 from under the gun only to be jammed by Jasen Tiu from the hijack and Zhang snap-called.

Jansen Tiu: A♣ Q♠

Mingchen Zhang: A♠ Q♦

The board ran out clean with T♦ 8♠ K♠ 9♥ A♦ , resulting in both players chopping the 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.

Atsushi Takeuchi shoved all in for 625,000 from under the gun and Minchen Zhang defended from the big blind to put his opponent at risk.

Atsushi Takeuchi: 8♦ 5♣

Mingchen Zhang: 3♦ 3♥

Zhang held the lead with pocket threes, but Takeuchi still had a chance to stay alive on the flop of Q♥ Q♦ K♣ . Unfortunately for Takeuchi, the runout came clean with A♦ 2♦ , sealing his elimination in eighth place. He exits with a PHP 94,000 (~$1,615) payout for his efforts today.

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.

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.

Ryosuke Ikari open-shoved for 430,000 from the hijack and Mingchen Zhang defended from the big blind to put his opponent at risk.

Ryosuke Ikari: A♠ 8♥

Mingchen Zhang: A♦ T♣

Zhang picked up the lead with kicker ten. A runout filled out 3♥ Q♦ J♥ Q♣ 4♦ , setting the tone for Ikari’s elimination in 12th place for a reward of PHP 54,000 (~$928).

Atsushi Takeuchi opened from under the gun to 70,000 and Kenta Takahashi called from late position. Mingchen Zhang then three-bet to 200,000 from the hijack, which Takeuchi four-bet to 470,000. Takahashi then folded. Zhang then shoved all in for 665,000, and this didn’t deter Takeuchi from going all in for around 1,045,000.

Atsushi Takeuchi: J♥ J♣

Mingchen Zhang: A♥ A♦

Zhang picked up the lead with pocket aces, but the flop revealed bad news as it came 9♥ 9♣ J♦ , improving Takeuchi to a full house However, it was still not right timing for Zhang to leave as the runout showed Q♥ A♠ , giving Zhang a higher full house to collect the pot.

Mingchen Zhang open-shoved for around 270,000 from the small blind and Nuttopol Meechaimanjit called off his last 96,000 out of the big blind.

Nuttapol Meechaimanjit: A♣ 5♦

Mingchen Zhang: A♦ 2♦

It looked likely to a be a chop pot, and even more so after the dealer fanned out a flop of K♠ J♣ 4♥ . The rest of the board ran out 3♠ 2♣ to give Meechaimanjit a straight and he doubled up through Zhang