Main Event

Joel Diaz bags big at Day 1B

Date: May 1, 2024 Buy in: PH₱ 18,800 (~USD 327) Guarantee: PH₱ 5,000,000 (~USD 86,900) Day 1B: 32 entries ITM: 4 players

Cutoff Philip Reyes raises 11,000, and Aning on the button re-raises all in for 53,000, Reyes calls and shows K♥ J♦ . At risk player Aning dominates with A♠ J♠ . With the board running 4♦ 2♦ 3♠ K♦ 4♠ , Reyes catches a king to eliminate Aning on the bubble.

Everyone folds to the blinds. Small blind Joel Diaz raises 11,000 and Edgar Asehan calls in the big blind. Flop runs 3♥ 4♥ T♣ , Diaz c-bets 7,000 and Asehan calls. The turn J♠ Diaz fires again betting 10,000, this time Asehan check-raises to 34,000, and Diaz calls. The river Q♣ , Diaz checks, Asehan bets 40,000, and Diaz calls. Diaz has Q♠ T♦ two pair wins it over Asehan’s A♣ J♦ pair of jacks.

Ronie Arguelles on the cutoff raises 11,000, the button Edgar Asehan and big blind Aning call the raise. Flop runs 8♥ 4♣ 6♥ , Arguelles c-bets 30,000, Asehan calls, and Aning check-folds. On the turn 6♣ , Arguelles goes all-in for 26,000, and Asehan calls. Arguelles opens 8♠ T♠ , Asehan has A♣ 8♣ making the same two-pair combination but with a higher ace kicker.

Cutoff Joel Diaz opens 9,000, and Philip Reyes on the big blind calls. When the flop runs 3♥ T♦ T♥ , Diaz c-bets 5,000, Reyes check-calls. On the turn J♥ , Diaz bets 10,000, Reyes check-raises to 30,000, Diaz folds.

Unraised pre-flop with Ronie Arguelles on the cutoff and both blinds in. Flop runs A♦ A♠ J♦ . Check down from all players. The turn T♠ Arguelles bets 85,000, the big blind folds, and Ametan calls. The river 4♣ Arguelles double barrels 13,000, and Ametan folds.

Jun Jun Ametan raises to 10,000 on the button, Joel Diaz on the small blind re-raises his massive 432,000 stack, Ametan calls 95,000 all-in for less. Ametan”s T♠ T♥ is flipping against Diaz’s K♥ Q♣ . Board runs 2♠ A♣ A♥ 2♣ 7♦ . Ametan doubles up.

Under the gun, Ronie Arguelles raises to 9,000, Edgar Asehan on hijack re-raises to 20,000. Arguelles folds.

From under the gun, Joel Diaz opens 9,000, and Jun Jun Ametan on the big blind calls. At the flop T♥ 2♦ 6♣ , Ametan checks, Diaz bets 7,000, and Ametan calls. The turn 4♥ is checked down to head to the river K♠ . Ametan checks, Diaz bets 100,000, Ametan folds.

6 players remaining. Only two more busts needed to call it a day.

6 players remaining. Only two more busts needed to call it a day.

Jun Jun Ametan on cutoff raises 7,000, and Edgar Asehan defends the big blind. Flop runs J♥ 4♥ T♣ . Asehan checks, Ametan bets 10,000, Asehan calls. The turn 7♠ — another check-bet-call action at 20,000. Ther river J♦ is checked down. Asehan first-to-show 4♠ 9♠ . Ametan mucks.

Three players in on a limped pot, the flop runs Q♣ 3♣ 7♠ . Blind players check, under the gun Joel Diaz bets 6,000, small blind folds, big blind Ametan calls. On the turn K♣ , Ametan checks, Diaz bets 11,000. Ametan stops contesting the pot.

Jun Jun Ametan raises 7,000 from cutoff, Edgar Aseban shoves all-in for 69,000 on the big blind. Asehan A♠ Q♠ is fighting for his tournament life against Ametan K♦ 5♦ . The board runs 4♣ 7♠ 9♥ 6♠ 2♣ . Aseban’s ace-high holds and earns a double-up.

Bubble nearing with 7 remaining and 4 qualifying to the ITM round.

Ten players remaining out of the 32 entries; 4 to ITM

Under the gun Ronie Arguelles raises all-in for his last 8 bb, next to act Mr. Lee calls, and everyone else folds. Arguelles flips over A♦ 8♦ , Mr. Lee attempts to eliminate with 9♦ T♦ . The board runs 7♣ Q♥ A♦ 5♣ 9♠ , Arguelles top pair awards a double up.

On his third bullet, Eric Alcantara shoves his last 8 bb and big blind Ronie Arguelles calls to try to eliminate Alcantara for the second time. However, that would not be as Alcantara’s Q♦ T♥ forms a straight on the board 9♠ 8♣ A♣ T♣ J♦ to beat K♥ 7♦ .

Jun Jun Ametan shoved a huge 36 bb from under the gun and gets called by Mr. Lee on the big blind. A♠ the cards open, its a flip with Ametan 6♣ 6♦ and Lee A♣ 9♣ . With the board running 8♠ 8♥ 6♠ 6♥ T♥ . Ametan improves to quads to ensure the double up.

Day 1B registration closes at 32 entries. Only 15 players remaining with 4 guaranteed a spot in the ITM round.

Fro the button, Chris Boys is all in for his last 3 bb and falls to Joel Diaz with A♠ 2♥ dominated throughout by A♦ T♦ on a board 4♣ 9♠ T♥ 7♥ J♣ .

ZEric Alcantara three-bets shoves 45,800. Initial raiser Zandy Cea calls 27,000 all-in for less. Cea has A♦ J♠ , Alcantara is live with 6♥ 7♥ . Board runs 9♣ J♣ 8♦ 8♠ 2♠ , Cea doubles through.

Under the gun+2 Mr. Lee raises all-in with 22,600, Mike Takayama on the button shoves all-in with 33,000, and Chris Boys goes all-in with 45,600 for a three-way showdown..

Mr. Lee J♦ 3♠ Mike Takayama K♦ 6♣ Chris Boys A♣ 7♥

The board runs 9♠ J♠ 4♥ 4♦ 6♠ . Mr. Lee sweeps to triple up.

Hijack opens 2,500, small blind Mike Takayama calls and both head to the flop T♠ 3♣ 8♠ . Takayama wastes no time counting and shoves 9,900, hijack calls to put Takayama at risk. Takayama has 8♣ 9♥ pair, hijack J♠ 9♦ open ended. The turn 9♠ and river 3♦ further improve Takayama to secure a double up.

Last level to enter today’s flight. 27 entries on the screen.

Joel Diaz opens then calls small blind’s three-bet of 20,000. At the flop T♠ K♠ 3♦ , Diaz shoves, small blind calls with less. Diaz is ahead K♦ 9♥ over T♥ 5♥ . The turn and river 7♠ 2♠ keep top pair ahead for Diaz to ship it.

Chris Boys three-bets all in from cutoff and is called by initial raiser utg and caller hijack. Both players check to the turn 2♦ 3♠ 5♥ Q♣ . Utg bets 7,000 for a side pot, hijack calls, then both check the river 6♦ . Hijack wins the side pot with 8♣ 8♠ , Boys claims the main with Q♦ J♥ top pair.

26 entries with two levels left to jump in.

From hijack, Mike Takayama opens 4,000, Chris Boys on the button re-raises all in for 49,400, Takayama calls and proceed to double up with Q♥ Q♣ over Boys A♣ Q♦ on a board 8♠ 6♠ K♠ 5♥ 5♠ .

Under the gun raises 2,000 and from the button Eric Alcantara calls. At the flop 6♣ 4♠ 9♥ , utg c-bets 4,000, Alcantara flats, both headto the turn 2♠ . Utg double barrels 7,000, this time Alcantara shoves 14,600, utg calls and shows K♦ 9♦ top pair. Alcantara behind K♠ 6♠ with bottom pair flush draw. The river J♠ is one Alcantara’s outs to double through.

Aning raises 1,200 from under the gun, small blind goes all in for 22,400, Aning calls and opens J♦ J♠ . Alcantara dominates with A♥ A♠ . Board runs 6♣ 7♦ T♣ 2♣ J♠ . Aning spikes the two-outer on the river and eliminates Alcantara.

Button player Joel Diaz opesn 2,000, both blinds call, and they head to the flop J♦ T♠ 9♦ . Heavy bets follow as Diaz c-bets 4,000, small blind check-calls, big blind check-raises all in for 25,900, Diaz calls, small blind joins a three-way with the lowest stack of 21,300.

Diaz opens Q♣ J♣ top pair, small blind with 7♦ 3♦ flush draw and big blind 9♥ J♠ two pair. The turn and river 8♣ 7♥ make a straight on the board. Diaz’s higher straight delivers a double knockout.

From under the gun+1, Jesse R raises all-in for 11,700 and Mike Takayama calls on the big blind. Jesse’s A♥ Q♥ dominates Takayama’s K♦ Q♠ and stays ahead on a board A♠ 5♠ A♣ 7♣ T♥ .

Under the gun player raises 2,000, hijack and cutoff call, Eric Alcantara on the small blind re-raises all-in for 10,200. Chris Boys calls from the big blind and the rest opt to fold. Alcantara has K♦ T♥ and is flipping against Boys’s 7♦ 7♥ . The board runs 8♦ 2♦ 9♦ 3♥ 9♥ . Alcantara busts for the second time today.

Blinds up, 18 entries now. Registration is open until the start of Level 9 which means plenty of time to jump in before it closes. Prize pool is PHP 5 Million (~USD 86,900).

Filipino ace Mike Takayama is in the field. Action folds to the blinds, small blind Ronie Arguelles raises 1,200, big blind Takayama shoves with 18,400. Takayama dominates wit A♠ K♠ over Arguelles A♣ T♥ . Board runs out 8♠ T♣ K♦ 8♥ 3♠ . Both players connect. Takayama’s higher two pair wins the pot for a double up

Button player Alique Visitacion raises 5,000 and is called by Ronie Arguelles on the small blind. On the flop 8♥ 2♦ A♥ , Arguelles leads out 3,000 then calls Visitacion 10,000 raise. On the turn J♣ , Arguelles shoves 21,200 and Visitacion calls to put him on Arguelles on the ropes. Arguelles flips over A♠ J♦ two pair, Visitacion A♦ K♣ behind with just top pair. The river }2c} changed nothing for Visitacion for a double up to Arguelles .

Action starts with an under the gun raise to 1,200, hijack calls, Jun Jun Ametan on the small blind shoves all-in for 15,200, Joel Diaz calls from the big blind. The rest fold. At the showdown, Ametan A♦ 8♣ ahead of Diaz J♠ T♣ . The board runs 6♦ 8♥ J♥ J♣ 6♣ . Diaz improves to a full-house and eliminates Ametan .

Jun Jun Ametan on hijack opens with a shove (9,400) and Raymond Gomez defends his small blind. At the showdown, Ametan has Q♥ J♥ and Gomez 7♠ 7♥ . The board runs out 8♠ T♠ T♥ Q♠ 6♦ . Ametan spikes the higher two pair.

Cutoff player Jun Jun Ametan raises 1,200, button Joel Diaz calls, both head to the flop 8♣ 9♠ A♠ . Ametan bets 6,000, Diaz calls. The turn J♥ brings another bet from Ametan of 3,000, Diaz answers with a shoves of 21,400, Ametan calls. At the showdown, Ametan opens A♥ 7♥ and Diaz A♦ K♦ . With the river 2♦ , Diaz king kicker wins the pot.

Field has grown slightly to 14 players. Registration is open until the start of Level 9 which means plenty of time to jump in before it closes. Prize pool is PHP 5 Million (~USD 86,900).

Raymond Gomez from under the gun raises 1,200 and Eric Alcantara on hijack three-bets all-in for 14,000. Gomez calls and flips over A♦ J♣ , Alcantara behind A♥ 9♥ . The board runs 5♦ 7♥ 8♣ 8♥ K♥ . Alcantara improves to a flush and takes the pot.

Joel Diaz on the button raises 1,500 and big blind Eric Alcantara calls. Flop runs J♠ 3♠ 3♥ , Diaz c-bets 1,000, Alcantara raises to 3,000, Diaz responds with an three-bet all in shove for 12,600, Alcantara calls for the showdown. Diaz turns over A♠ K♠ flush draw, Alcantara has Q♠ J♦ top pair. Remaining community cards open turn 4♠ and T♦ . Diaz makes his flush and gets maximum pay.

Under the gun+2 opens with 1,000 raise, finds two callers, then button re-raises to 5,000. Initial raiser and cutoff Chris Boys call while one player in between folds. Three-way flop runs 9♥ 6♠ 3♦ . Both players check to the button who c-bets 8,000. Utg+2 folds, Boys shoves with 13,900. Button folds with 18,200 remaining stack.

Under the gun raises 1,200, dealer button raises all-in 18,200, Ronie Arguelles on the big blind shoves all-in 25,200, and original raiser folds. Button has 8♥ 8♠ , Arguelles dominates with J♦ J♣ . The board runs 3♣ Q♦ A♠ J♥ 5♦ . Though not needed, Arguelles improves to a set of Jacks and eliminates his opponent.

Hijack raises 1,500 and Jun Jun Ametan on the cutoff calls. Flop runs 7♥ 6♦ 5♦ , hijack continues with a 2,500 bet, Ametan calls. Another bet on the turn A♠ by hijack of 5,000, this time Ametan raises all-in for 21,000, hijack lets it go.

Cards are flying once again with 9 players now for a full table. Registration is open until the start of Level 9 which means plenty of time to jump in before it closes. Prize pool is PHP 5 Million (~USD 86,900).

With only two players remaining, they finished the previous level and opted to stop until more players sign up. Clock will continue to run.

Eric Alcantara, on the dealAer button, raises a huge 5,000, small blind folds, Alique Visitacion re-raises all-in to 25,000 and shockingly Alcantara calls all-in for less to be at risk this early in the game. At the showdown, Alcantara has T♣ T♥ and Visitacion dominates with Q♣ Q♥ . The board runs 3♦ 6♦ Q♠ 2♠ 7♣ . Vistacion’s set of Queens wins the pot and eliminates Alcantara.

Ronie Arguelles on the dealer button opens with a 1,100 raise, and both blinds call. Flop runs K♦ 9♣ 9♥ check down from all players. Small blind checks the turn 3♦ , big blind Eric Alcantara bets 1,800, Arguelles calls, and small blind folds. The river 9♦ , Alcantara opts to check, Arguelles goes all in for 13,300, Alcantara calls. Arguelles shows Q♣ Q♦ and Alcantara mucks.

No newcomers during the first level. Still 3 players. Registration is open until the start of Level 9 which means plenty of time to jump in before it closes. Prize pool is PHP 5 Million (~USD 86,900).

Eric Alcantara on the small blind opens with a 1,200 raise, and Ronie Arguelles defends the big blind. Flop runs 6♣ T♦ 4♣ , 1,500 c-bet from Alcantara, and a call from Arguelles . Turn 2♦ sees checks from both players for a free river K♥ . Alcantara bets 2,000, Arguelles calls, Alcantara shows A♦ J♥ ace high, Arguelles takes the pot with 7♥ 7♣ .

Cards fold to the blinds. Alique Visitacion raises 500 from small blind and big blind Eric Alcantara calls. The flop lands 6♠ 5♥ 3♠ , Visitacion c-bets 800, and Alcantara calls. Turn }Kd}, Visitacion fires again for 1,200 and still Alcantara calls. On the river 7♠ , Visitacion slows to a check then gives up on Alcantara’s 1,800 bet.

From the dealer button, Ronie Arguelles raises to 700, Eric Alcantara, small blind, calls, and big blind folds. The flop runs 2♠ K♦ 7♥ , Arguelles c-bets 2,800, Alcantara check-calls to proceed to the turn A♥ . The action starts with another check and 2,1000 bet, which Alcantara calls.. On the river Q♦ , Arguelles fires a third barrel worth 7,100, and this time Alcantara folds.

After some delay, Day 1B is now underway with 3 players at the onset. Registration is open until the start of Level 9 which means plenty of time to jump in before it closes.