APT Main Event (60,000 PHP)

Kilian Kramer opened to 1,200 from middle position and found two callers in Christopher Mateo and Yonghwi Im on the button. Cheng Zhou, sitting in the small blind, had other plans—he three-bet to 6,000, applying pressure on the field. Jae Lim quickly folded from the big blind, but Kramer, Mateo, and Im all opted to call, setting up a sizable pot heading to the flop.

The dealer fanned a A♠ 8♠ 3♥ flop, and action checked to Kramer, who fired a 6,000 bet. Mateo, short-stacked, opted to fold, but Im wasn’t done yet—he raised to 15,000, sending a clear message. The pressure was too much for the rest of the table, as Kramer and Zhou both folded, giving Im the pot.

With a grin, Im flashed A♣ J♥ to his tablemates before raking in the chips.

Three players saw a flop of Q♥ 4♦ 9♥ . Action checked to the button, where Yi Hung Chen fired out 900, finding calls from Yonghwi Im in the small blind and Rajeev Kanjani in middle position.

The turn brought the J♣ , and Im led out for 1,500. Kanjani stayed in the hand, but Chen responded with a raise to 4,500, prompting Kanjani to fold under the mounting pressure. Im, however, made the call.

On the river Q♦ , Im checked, and Chen applied more pressure with a 7,000 bet. Im made the call, only to see Chen table A♣ Q♠ for trip queens. Frustrated, Im mucked his hand.