APT Main Event (60,000 PHP)

as players returned from the break, most were focused on cruising into the money. Nobuaki Sasaki, however, had other plans, surging toward a seven-figure stack after a massive clash with Raju Jaruplavath.

Jaruplavath opened from middle position to 16,000, and Sasaki responded with a three-bet to 45,000 from the hijack. When the action folded back to Jaruplavath, he wasted no time four-betting to 150,000. Sasaki tanked, burning through two time banks before announcing he was all in for 461,000. Jaruplavath gave a shrug and said, "I call."

Nobuaki Sasaki: A♠ A♥

Raju Jaruplavath: K♣ K♥

A dream scenario for Sasaki — and a nightmare for Jaruplavath — just nine eliminations away from the money. Jaruplavath still had chips behind, but if he couldn’t find a Cowboy to lasso his way out of the situation, his stack would be in ruins.

There was an audible gasp from Jaruplavath when the 4♠ Q♣ 5♥ flop brought some paint, but it wasn’t the picture he wanted to see. The A♦ on the turn sealed the deal, locking up the pot for Sasaki and leaving Jaruplavath visibly deflated. A meaningless 3♣ fell on the river, and Sasaki raked in a mountain of chips.

Jaruplavath, now left with just 140,000, immediately shoved the very next hand. He found no callers but was still clearly rattled by the costly cooler.

Nobuaki Sasaki just brought the field one step closer to the money by eliminating Mun Leong Cheong.

Raju Jaruplavath had opened from early position to 10,000 and Sasaki three-bet the hijack to 28,000. Cheong then shoved for around 40,000 from the big blind, and only Sasaki called.

Mun Leong Cheong: A♠ K♠

Nobuaki Sasaki: J♥ J♠

Cheong picked up a plethora of outs on the 8♠ T♠ T♥ flop as he improved to a flush draw.

However, it was a case of 'too many outs' as the 3♣ turn and 5♣ river both bricked out, ending Cheong's run.