Finished

MGM Cotai

Macao, Macao

MGM Poker Classic 2026

2026.06.26 - 2026.07.06 Add to Calendar

MGM Poker Tournament

Info Chip Counts Event Photos

Blind level

Level 18: 6,000 / 12,000 ante: 12,000

Entries

29/235

Total Chips

7,050,000

Average

243,103

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 4:00:00 PM

Qiu Tu Dominates Day 1E as the Bubble Bursts to Lock In Day 2

Level 18: 6,000 / 12,000 ante: 12,000

The action-packed final opening flight of the MPT Main Event has officially wrapped up, locking in the final numbers for Day 1E at 235 entries. This final surge brings the comprehensive total field for the entire event to an impressive 778 entries.

While the massive turnout came incredibly close to matching the ambitious HKD 8,000,000 (~USD 990,000) guarantee, the final numbers revealed a very minor, unofficial overlay. In a fantastic turn of events for the players, the house will step in to cover the tiny deficit, offering pure, unadulterated value to every single contender moving forward in the field.

Qiu Tu

Throughout the day's play, a few key players separated themselves from the pack, but none more so than Qiu Tu. Tu put on a clinical performance to secure the absolute commanding chip lead of the flight, finishing with a towering mountain of 748,000 chips.

He heads into the next stage well ahead of his closest rivals, Donghui Chi and Chan Cheong Lam, who finished the session entirely deadlocked with 558,000 chips.

Top 10 Chip Count

Player	Chips	Progress
QT Qiu TuChina	748,000(62 BB)
DC Donghui ChiChina	558,000(47 BB)	-11,000
CC Chan Cheong LamMacao	558,000(47 BB)	8,000
YZ Yi ZhouChina	497,000(41 BB)	467,000
KH Ka Ho LamHong Kong	364,000(30 BB)	100,000
AA Adrian AlemanSpain	362,000(30 BB)	-101,000
JL Jiangtao LiuChina	334,000(28 BB)	67,000
JH Junyu HuangChina	332,000(28 BB)	22,000
XL Xia LiChina	301,000(25 BB)	271,000
SH Shehzad HassamUnited States of America	278,000(23 BB)	31,000

Bubble Bursts to End the Night

Only the top 29 players from this flight made the money and advanced to Day 2. Play slowed down significantly during a long, grueling hand-for-hand stretch before the bags could be distributed.

The wait finally ended on the money bubble. Xuewei Deng got the last of his chips into the middle, but his tournament came to an end when the chip leader, Qiu Tu, hit trips on the flop. The knockout officially burst the bubble, bringing today's play to a close.

Moving to Day 2

With Deng’s elimination, the field was trimmed down to the final 29 survivors. These players have successfully advanced and secured a minimum-cash for their efforts.

All surviving players will return tomorrow at 12 PM local time for Day 2, where a completely new seat draw will take effect. From there, the field will continue to play down toward the trophy and the lion's share of the HKD 8,000,000 prize pool.

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 2:40:00 PM

The Bubble Bursts: Tu Flops Trips to End Day 1

Level 18: 6,000 / 12,000 ante: 12,000

After an grueling, marathon stretch of hand-for-hand play, the tournament bubble has finally burst.

Left with only 36,000 chips in the cutoff, Xuewei Deng decided it was time to make a stand and pushed his short stack all in. Sitting directly on his left was the runaway chip leader, Qiu Tu, who quickly made the call to put Deng at risk.

Xuewei Deng: A♦ J♠

Qiu Tu: T♣ 6♣

The players erupted when the dealer fanned a dramatic J♥ 6♦ 6♠ flop. Tu hit trips to take a massive lead, though Deng still held a sliver of hope with a pair of jacks.

Spectators and players alike began shouting for the board to hold, and Tu did exactly that. The K♥ turn and 9♦ river completed the board, securing the knockout for the chip leader.

With Deng’s elimination, the field is officially down to the final 29 survivors. They have secured a minimum-cash and will return tomorrow at 12 PM local time for Day 2. Up for grabs is the coveted trophy, ultimate poker glory, and the lion's share of the massive HKD 8,000,000 (~USD 990,000) prize pool.

Congratulations to all the players who made the money!

Stay tuned for the full recap and official chip counts.

Player	Chips	Progress
QT Qiu TuChina	748,000(62 BB)	92,000
XD Xuewei DengChina	busted	-30,000

Level 18: 6,000 / 12,000 ante: 12,000

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 30/235

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 1:56:23 PM

Kuruneru Suffers Brutal River Exit

Level 17: 5,000 / 10,000 ante: 10,000

From early position, Cecil Kuruneru open-shoved his stack of 91,000 into the middle. Action folded to Junyu Huang, who spent some time in the tank before declaring himself all in as well, isolating to put Kuruneru at risk.

Cecil Kuruneru: 8♣ 8♦

Junyu Huang: A♥ K♣

It was a flip for Kuruneru's tournament life. The Q♦ J♦ 5♣ flop hit the felt, giving Huang a few extra backdoor straight outs alongside his overcards.

The 2♦ turn diminished some of those outs, heavily favoring Kuruneru to survive.

However, a brutal K♠ spiked on the river, pairing Huang to hand him the winning hand and eliminating Kuruneru in the most painful fashion possible, just one spot short of a paycheck.

With Kuruneru out, it is officially bubble time as the field hunts for the final elimination of the day.

Player	Chips	Progress
JH Junyu HuangChina	310,000(31 BB)	280,000
CK Cecil KuruneruHong Kong	busted	-30,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 1:35:00 PM

Chip Leaders!

Level 17: 5,000 / 10,000 ante: 10,000

Qiu Tu

Top 10 Chip Count

Player	Chips	Progress
QT Qiu TuChina	656,000(66 BB)	138,000
DC Donghui ChiChina	569,000(57 BB)	539,000
CC Chan Cheong LamMacao	550,000(55 BB)	72,000
AA Adrian AlemanSpain	463,000(46 BB)	433,000
DL Darwin LaiHong Kong	367,000(37 BB)	337,000
MD Mikael Daniel AnderssonSweden	271,000(27 BB)	40,000
JL Jiangtao LiuChina	267,000(27 BB)	151,000
KH Ka Ho LamHong Kong	264,000(26 BB)	234,000
PL Pengfei LinChina	251,000(25 BB)	221,000
JZ Junhao ZengChina	242,000(24 BB)	212,000

Level 17: 5,000 / 10,000 ante: 10,000

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 32/235

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 1:21:18 PM

Last Three!

Break

The players have headed out for what is likely the final break of the day. The field has dwindled down to just 32 players, leaving them agonizingly close to the finish line with only three more eliminations required to wrap up the night.

The tension is about to hit its peak; once one more player hits the rail and 31 remain, the tournament will shift into hand-for-hand play, marking the start of the soft bubble before the official money bubble bursts.

Break

15 minutes

Remaining Players: 32/235

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 12:50:00 PM

"Because I’m the Button"

Level 15: 3,000 / 6,000 ante: 6,000

Early position Alexander Kuzmin, who boasts more than $2 million in total live earnings but has yet to secure a tournament cash in Asia, opened the action. On the button, Shehzad Hassam made the call.

The flop landed a monochromatic A♣ Q♣ 2♣. Kuzmin fired a continuation bet of 20,000, only to face a massive all-in raise to 118,000 from Hassam. Kuzmin agonized over the decision before eventually committing the last of his 90,000-chip stack for his tournament life.

Alexander Kuzmin: A♦ Q♠

Shehzad Hassam: T♣ 6♣

Kuzmin was visibly shocked when the cards were turned over, asking Hassam, "Why did you call with that hand?" Hassam simply replied, "Because I'm the button."

Hassam had flopped a flush, leaving Kuzmin's top two pair in desperate shape. The J♠ turn changed nothing, and the 4♥ river sealed Kuzmin's fate.

While Kuzmin failed to secure his elusive first cash in Asia today, he will have another shot at redemption tomorrow in the High Roller event.

Player	Chips	Progress
SH Shehzad HassamUnited States of America	247,000(41 BB)	185,600
AK Alexander KuzminRussia	busted	-30,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 12:41:00 PM

Five Tables Left, Zero Room for Error

Level 15: 3,000 / 6,000 ante: 6,000

The tournament field is thinning out fast, down to the final five tables with just 43 players remaining. The tension in the room is palpable, as only 29 of them will lock up a minimum-cash and officially punch their ticket to Day 2 tomorrow.

With 14 players still needing to bust before the money bubble bursts, expect the play to tighten up significantly.

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 12:33:15 PM

Andersson Paints the River Red

Level 15: 3,000 / 6,000 ante: 6,000

From the hijack, Mikael Daniel Andersson opened the action to 12,000. On the other side of the table, cutoff Jungan Shi moved the last of his 60,000-chip stack into the middle. Andersson made the call to put him at risk.

Jungan Shi: 9♦ 9♠

Mikael Daniel Andersson: A♥ 8♣

Shi stayed safely ahead on the K♥ T♥ 5♠ flop. However, the J♥ turn opened up a massive sweat, giving Andersson a mountain of outs.

Sure enough, the 3♥ river completed a one-card flush for Andersson, drawing gasps from the table and eliminating a stunned Shi.

Player	Chips	Progress
MD Mikael Daniel AnderssonSweden	231,000(39 BB)	136,500
JS Jungan ShiChina	busted	-30,000

Level 15: 3,000 / 6,000 ante: 6,000

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 47/235

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 12:17:00 PM

Wang Turns the Tables on Kings

Level 14: 3,000 / 5,000 ante: 5,000

Under the gun, Gin Shun Philip Wang opened the action to 15,000. On the button, Lezi Chen three-bet shoved all in for 110,000. Action folded back to Wang, who hesitated for a moment before making the call to put Chen at risk.

Lezi Chen: K♣ K♥

Gin Shun Philip Wang: Q♥ Q♠

Both players held premium pocket pairs, but Chen was way ahead.

Chen stayed safely in the lead on the J♣ 7♣ 6♦ flop. However, the devastating Q♣ spiked on the turn, hitting one of Wang's two outs for top set, though Chen still picked up a live flush draw.

The J♠ river paired the board to hand Wang a full house, sealing a brutal bad beat and eliminating Chen from the tournament.

Player	Chips	Progress
GS Gin Shun Philip Wang Hong Kong	238,000(48 BB)	203,000
LC Lezi ChenChina	busted	-30,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 12:10:00 PM

Liu Turns the Straight

Level 14: 3,000 / 5,000 ante: 5,000

Action folded to the button, where Jiangtao Liu open-shoved for 53,000. In the small blind, Shen Ding Yoong made the call, while the big blind quickly folded to put Liu at risk.

Jiangtao Liu: K♠ Q♠

Shen Ding Yoong: A♠ 7♦

The flop came T♣ 9♥ 7♠, giving Yoong bottom pair to take the lead. However, the J♣ turn delivered a straight for Liu, leaving Yoong drawing dead. The non-bearing 6♣ river completed the board, securing the double up for Liu.

Player	Chips	Progress
JL Jiangtao LiuChina	116,000(23 BB)	86,000
SD Shen Ding YoongMalaysia	79,000(16 BB)	49,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 11:58:06 AM

Two Massive Chip Leaders

Level 14: 3,000 / 5,000 ante: 5,000

Two players have managed to break far ahead of the rest of the field. Qiu Tu leads the pack with an impressive 518,000 in chips, closely followed by Chan Cheong Lam with 478,000.

To put their dominance into perspective, the next closest player in the field is sitting around just 200,000. Despite their massive advantage, there is still halfway to go before the money bubble hits.

Player	Chips	Progress
QT Qiu TuChina	518,000(104 BB)	216,000
CC Chan Cheong LamMacao	478,000(96 BB)	377,000

Level 14: 3,000 / 5,000 ante: 5,000

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 60/235

Break

15 minutes

Remaining Players: 70/235

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 10:55:00 AM

Ace on the Turn Saves Bevin

Level 12: 2,000 / 3,000 ante: 3,000

Matthew Bevin found himself going all in for 45,500 and was called by Lu Dai, the former tournament chip leader.

Matthew Bevin: A♠ 7♠

Lu Dai: 8♦ 8♠

The Q♦ T♣ T♥ flop gave additional counterfeit and counterfeit outs to Bevin, and the A♥ turn paired his ace to vault him into the lead, leaving Dai with only two outs. The 4♠ river missed, and Bevin successfully secured the double up.

Meanwhile, Dai's stack took another hit, dropping the former chip leader down to 70,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
MB Matthew BevinAustralia	96,000(32 BB)	66,000
LD Lu DaiChina	7,000(2 BB)	-141,000

Level 12: 2,000 / 3,000 ante: 3,000

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 86/235

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 10:29:00 AM

Tong Flops Two Pair to Bust Kim

Level 11: 1,500 / 2,500 ante: 2,500

Folded to the cutoff, Chun Wai Ken Tong open-shoved for 35,000. On the small blind, Sihyun Kim, who was recently left short after losing a big pot, put his remaining 34,000 all in.

Chun Wai Ken Tong: A♦ 2♣

Sihyun Kim: 6♠ 6♥

Kim's hopes were cut short after Tong hit two pair on the A♥ 7♣ 2♠ flop to take a commanding lead. The 8♦ turn changed nothing, and the 5♠ river missed Kim completely. Tong scooped the pot, eliminating Kim from the tournament.

Player	Chips	Progress
CW Chun Wai Ken TongHong Kong	74,000(30 BB)	44,000
SK Sihyun KimSouth Korea	busted	-42,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 10:18:34 AM

Urtnasan Takes It on the Turn

Level 11: 1,500 / 2,500 ante: 2,500

Pre-flop action between early position Sihyun Kim and small blind Nasanjargal Urtnasan built a healthy pot of 45,000.

Urtnasan then fired a bet of 8,000 on the A♥ Q♠ 6♣ flop, which Kim quickly called to see a turn.

When the 9♥ peeled on the turn, Urtnasan didn't slow down, putting out another bet of 15,000. This second barrel proved to be enough to get the job done, forcing Kim to fold and surrendering the pot to the small blind.

Player	Chips	Progress
NU Nasanjargal UrtnasanThailand	154,000(62 BB)	12,000
SK Sihyun KimSouth Korea	42,000(17 BB)	12,000

Level 11: 1,500 / 2,500 ante: 2,500

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 106/235

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 10:00:00 AM

Classic Flip Doubles Li

Level 10: 1,000 / 2,000 ante: 2,000

Facing an initial raise, Chao Li moved all in for a three-bet shove totaling 22,000. The original raiser, Dongming Zhao, quickly made the call to put Li at risk.

Chao Li: A♥ K♥

Dongming Zhao: Q♥ Q♣

It was a classic flip, but Li found immediate help on the A♣ 9♠ 3♥ flop to pull ahead with top pair. Left with only two outs, Zhao found no miracle on the 5♠ turn or 5♥ river. Li successfully secured the double up to stay alive.

On the very next hand, action folded all the way to Li, who wasted no time putting the pressure back on by shoving all in once again. This time, he found no callers, successfully stealing the blinds and antes to add a few more chips to his newly replenished stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
CL Chao LiChina	51,000(26 BB)	21,000
DZ Dongming Zhao	48,000(24 BB)	18,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 9:45:11 AM

Tu Smashes Through 300K Mark

Level 10: 1,000 / 2,000 ante: 2,000

The post-registration carnage has officially begun. The field is shrinking at a rapid pace, plummeting from 150 players down to just 115 remaining in what feels like the blink of an eye.

Leading the charge and orchestrating a significant portion of that damage is Qiu Tu. Seated behind an absolute mountain of chips, Tu has been on a tear, delivering multiple knockouts to skyrocket his stack past the 300,000 mark.

To put his current dominance into perspective, Tu has already accumulated more chips than the projected average stack for Day 2, making him a serious threat.

Player	Chips	Progress
QT Qiu TuChina	302,000(151 BB)	167,000

Level 10: 1,000 / 2,000 ante: 2,000

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 122/235

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 9:30:00 AM

Day 1E Draws 234 Entries, 29 to Make Day 2

Level 9: 1,000 / 1,500 ante: 1,500

The registration desks have officially closed, locking in the final numbers for Day 1E at 235 entries. Combined with the 223 entries from Day 1C and the rest of the starting flights, the total field for the MPT Main Event settles at an impressive 778 entries.

While the field came incredibly close to matching the ambitious HKD 8,000,000 (~USD 990,000) guarantee, there is a very minor, unofficial overlay. The house will step in to cover the tiny deficit, offering pure, unadulterated value to everyone left in the field.

The tournament staff has also confirmed the payout structure for today's flight: the top 29 players will finish in the money (ITM) and automatically lock up a spot for Day 2. With 130 players still fighting at the tables, a long, grueling battle lies ahead, as more than a hundred hopefuls will still need to hit the rail before the remaining 29 can bag up for the night.

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 9:10:00 AM

Chip Leaders At The Break

Level 9: 1,000 / 1,500 ante: 1,500

Top 10 Chip Count

Player	Chips	Progress
LD Lu DaiChina	148,000(99 BB)	27,000
GK Gezhun KuangChina	143,000(95 BB)	99,500
NU Nasanjargal UrtnasanThailand	142,000(95 BB)
HM Haiwei MoChina	136,000(91 BB)	112,000
QT Qiu TuChina	135,000(90 BB)	106,000
CW Chang WenUnited States of America	132,000(88 BB)	105,000
TY Tao YueChina	110,000(73 BB)	27,000
SJ Shen JiawenChina	103,000(69 BB)	80,000
CC Chan Cheong LamMacao	101,000(67 BB)	73,000
KN Keung Nam WongMacao	97,500(65 BB)	-8,000
MD Mikael Daniel AnderssonSweden	94,500(63 BB)	67,500

Level 9: 1,000 / 1,500 ante: 1,500

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 150/235

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 8:30:28 AM

Break!

Break

The room has gone quiet for a moment as players head out for a quick 15-minute break.

Right now, the dealers are busy at the tables doing a chip race, coloring up and removing all the 100-denomination chips to clean up the stacks for the higher-blind levels ahead.

This is the absolute last call for anyone wanting a piece of the action. Once the break ends, the registration desk closes for good, the freezeout begins, and the official final field size and prize pool numbers will be locked in and posted.

Break

15 minutes

Remaining Players: 132/214

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 8:27:00 AM

The Ultimate Pre-Flop Cooler

Level 8: 600 / 1,200 ante: 1,200

One of the rarest and most brutal pre-flop confrontations in poker just exploded over on Table 29, leaving the rail completely stunned after a three-way all-in.

It was a total nightmare scenario for Mingming Chen, who woke up with a premium hand, only to run directly into the only two hands in the deck that could have him completely crushed.

Mingming Chen: K♦ K♥

Gin Shun Philip Wang: A♥ A♠

Keung Nam Wong: A♣ A♦

Holding pocket kings against two independent pairs of pocket aces is a minuscule statistical probability, and the board offered absolutely no escape.

The dealer rolled out J♣ 6♠ 5♠ 7♦ 5♦, bringing no help for Chen's kings. He was officially eliminated from the field, while Wang and Wong chopped up his remaining chips to share the massive main pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
KN Keung Nam WongMacao	109,000(91 BB)	79,000
GS Gin Shun Philip Wang Hong Kong	35,000(29 BB)	17,400
MC Mingming ChenChina	busted	-30,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 8:10:00 AM

Registration Window Slamming Shut

Level 8: 600 / 1,200 ante: 1,200

The opportunity to join the field for the MPT Main Event is rapidly slipping away. This is officially the final level for players to enter or re-enter the tournament arena.

Once this level concludes, the field will head out for a 15-minute break, during which the registration desks will close for good.

Level 8: 600 / 1,200 ante: 1,200

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 134/198

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 8:00:00 AM

Value Hunters Eye Main Event

Level 7: 500 / 1,000 ante: 1,000

The clock is officially ticking down for the MPT Main Event prize pool. The field is currently sitting just 58 entries short of hitting the massive HKD 8,000,000 (~USD 990,000) guarantee, with approximately one hour remaining before late registration officially closes for good.

If the field falls short of that magic number, the tournament will face an overlay. For players currently in the mix or considering a last-minute entry, an overlay represents absolute gold.

When a tournament overlays, the organizers must inject its own money to fulfill the promised prize pool guarantee. Essentially, players get to compete for a significantly larger pot of money without the field size expanding to match it, offering a massive boost in expected value (EV) and a much higher return on investment for every single chip in play.

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 7:50:00 AM

Brutal Rollercoaster Doubles Zhang

Level 7: 500 / 1,000 ante: 1,000

Facing a minimum raise, Hongjiang Zhang called from the button before big blind Ka Cheun Yip executed a three-bet to 8,000.

The initial raiser folded, and Zhang moved all in for 23,400. Yip made a snap-call to put Zhang at risk.

Hongjiang Zhang: 2♣ 2♥

Ka Cheun Yip: K♣ K♠

Left with only two outs, Zhang found an immediate lifeline on the 6♦ 5♠ 2♠ flop, completely turning the tables with a set of deuces. The 8♠ turn gave Yip real hope with a flush draw, which completed when the 6♠ landed on the river.

However, the river card also paired the board, improving Zhang to a full house to secure a dramatic double up over Yip's flush.

Player	Chips	Progress
HZ Hongjiang ZhangChina	50,300(50 BB)	20,300
KC Ka Cheun YipHong Kong	5,200(5 BB)	-24,800

Level 7: 500 / 1,000 ante: 1,000

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 128/172

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 7:15:00 AM

Yue Blockades Lei's Outs

Level 6: 400 / 800 ante: 800

With approximately 20,000 already in the middle, the board read A♣ 9♦ 8♦ J♣. Following heavy betting action on the turn, Tao Yue moved all in, and Zhenfan Lei called off his remaining 34,000, putting himself at risk against the larger stack of Yue.

Zhenfan Lei: 6♣ 5♣

Tao Yue: T♣ 9♣

Both players held a flush draw and a straight draw, but Lei was already drawing completely dead. Any card that could improve Lei's hand would simultaneously give Yue a superior straight or flush.

The K♠ river completed the board, and Yue officially secured the elimination.

Player	Chips	Progress
TY Tao YueChina	105,000(131 BB)	-19,500
ZL Zhenfan LeiChina	busted	-30,000

Level 6: 400 / 800 ante: 800

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 125/157

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 6:57:24 AM

Lee Wins Multi-Way Clash

Level 5: 300 / 600 ante: 600

From middle position, Robert Andersson opened the action to 1,500 and found three callers.

The flop landed T♦ 7♦ 7♠ .

Action checked through to cutoff Gezhun Kuang, who fired a bet of 3,500. Jinhyung Lee then deployed a strong check-raise to 10,000, prompting Andersson and the other caller to quickly fold their cards.

Back to Kuang, who went deep into the tank before eventually laying his hand down, surrendering the pot to Lee.

Player	Chips	Progress
GK Gezhun KuangChina	43,500(73 BB)	13,500
JL Jinhyung LeeSouth Korea	37,600(63 BB)	7,600
RA Robert AnderssonSweden	22,900(38 BB)	-7,100

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 6:47:44 AM

Towering Stack for Dai

Level 5: 300 / 600 ante: 600

A massive chip leader is quickly emerging here in the final flight of the MPT Main Event.

Lu Dai has put on an absolute masterclass early in the day, spinning up a towering stack of 121,000. To put that into perspective, that is over four times the initial starting stack of 30,000, standing well clear of the current tournament average stack which is hovering right around 37,000. Dai has completely taken control of the table, building a massive fortress of chips while the rest of the field battles just to stay afloat.

Player	Chips	Progress
LD Lu DaiChina	121,000(202 BB)	91,000

Level 5: 300 / 600 ante: 600

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 119/145

Break

15 minutes

Remaining Players: 110/135

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 6:00:00 AM

Two Pair Slashes Top Pair

Level 4: 300 / 500 ante: 500

Under the gun, Haiwei Mo opened with a minimum raise and found five callers, including both blinds.

On the A♠ 5♣ 3♠ flop, Mo fired a continuation bet of 3,000. Xinglong Shao, on the button, raised to 7,500. The remaining players folded back to Mo, who moved all in for 25,100. Shao made a quick call, putting Mo at risk.

Haiwei Mo: A♣ J♠

Xinglong Shao: A♦ 3♦

Shao revealed two pair against Mo's top pair. While the Q♠ turn provided additional outs for Mo, the 4♥ river failed to improve his hand, and Mo was sent to the registration desk to re-enter.

Player	Chips	Progress
XS Xinglong ShaoChina	71,000(142 BB)	41,000
HM Haiwei MoChina	30,000(60 BB)

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 5:43:00 AM

Day 1E Surpasses 100 Entries

Level 4: 300 / 500 ante: 500

The final flight is exploding with action. More than 100 entries have already been logged in just the first three levels of play today.

Coming into Day 1E, the tournament needed exactly 242 entries to hit the massive HKD 8,000,000 guarantee. With any threat of a possible overlay now completely crushed by this massive early turnout, and late registration still wide open, the field is on a very fast track to completely smashing right through that prize pool target.

Level 4: 300 / 500 ante: 500

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 100/112

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 5:25:00 AM

The Great Macao Comeback

Level 3: 200 / 400 ante: 400

There was a time, not too long ago, when it felt like live poker had completely vanished from Macao. Between the strict changes in local gaming regulations and the quiet years during the pandemic, the once-vibrant tournament rooms went dark, and many feared the game might never truly return to this city.

But true passion doesn’t just disappear. Step by step, the community fought its way back, and the city breathed new life into the game.

Seeing the room today at MGM Cotai feels like a triumph. Poker didn't just come back - it came back stronger, more organized, and filled with a deeper appreciation from everyone who missed the thrill of the live felt.

There is a beautiful sense of a second chance in the air today, and every chip riffling in the room is proof that Macao poker is right back where it belongs.

Level 3: 200 / 400 ante: 400

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 84/91

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 5:06:00 AM

Andersson Eyes Macao Flag

Level 2: 200 / 300 ante: 300

Mikael Daniel Andersson

Sweden's Mikael Daniel Andersson, who is listed as a Macao resident according to The Hendon Mob, has officially joined the field.

He is a very familiar face across the Asian poker scene, having traveled and played extensively in different countries, racking up over USD 600,000 in total live earnings along the way.

Andersson is now looking to secure his first career cash here at MGM Cotai to finally add the Macao flag to his tournament resume, which already boasts deep runs and cashes in Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea, and Cambodia.

Player	Chips
MD Mikael Daniel AnderssonSweden	30,000(100 BB)

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 4:55:00 AM

Kicker Decides Three-Way Clash

Level 2: 200 / 300 ante: 300

After losing most of his chips, under the gun Wei Huang limped and found another limper, as did small blind Gin Shun Philip Wang. Big blind Shizi Xiao raised to 900. Action back to Huang, who three-bet shoved for his remaining 1,600. The middle limper folded, and Wang made the call.

Back to Xiao, who was not done, and four-bet to 4,300. Wang made the call.

Xiao then fired 3,200 on the A♠ Q♣ 7♠ flop and another 4,500 on the A♣ turn. Both streets were check-called by Wang.

When the 5♦ river came, Wang checked for the last time, and this time Xiao slowed down and also checked back.

Wei Huang: J♠ 8♠

Gin Shun Philip Wang: A♥ T♣

Shizi Xiao: A♦ J♦

Xiao and Wang both had an ace for trips, but Xiao held the higher kicker, winning both the side pot and the main pot to eliminate Huang.

Player	Chips	Progress
SX Shizi XiaoChina	48,000(160 BB)	18,000
GS Gin Shun Philip Wang Hong Kong	17,600(59 BB)	-12,400
WH Wei Huang (9)China	busted	-1,700

Level 2: 200 / 300 ante: 300

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 65/66

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 4:27:00 AM

First Level, First Double

Level 1: 100 / 200 ante: 200

Shehzad Hassam

Just 10 minutes into the game, one player has already doubled up.

With a pot of around 38,000 in the middle and the board showing 8♣ 7♦ 6♣ 4♥ Q♥ complete, Wei Huang checked, and Shehzad Hassam announced all in for 11,700. Huang tanked and eventually made the call.

Shehzad Hassam: 5♠ 2♠

Wei Huang: A♥ 8♥

Hassam turned over the one-card straight, and it was good for an early double up, while Huang was left short.

Player	Chips	Progress
SH Shehzad HassamUnited States of America	61,400(307 BB)	31,400
WH Wei Huang (9)China	1,700(9 BB)	-28,300

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 4:10:00 AM

Shuffle Up and Deal!

Level 1: 100 / 200 ante: 200

Last flight of the MPT Main Event at MGM Poker Classic inside the MGM Cotai Macao is officially underway with 40 players already seated before the clock started.

Best of luck to everyone hitting the felt!

Level 1: 100 / 200 ante: 200

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 40/40

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/5/2026, 1:17:51 AM

Final Flight Fantasy: MPT Main Event Day 1E Begins in Macao

Level 2: 200 / 300 ante: 300

It is absolute last-chance saloon at MGM Cotai in Macao as the fifth and final starting flight, Day 1E, officially gets underway.

The momentum has been building fiercely over the last few days. Following an action-packed double-flight Sunday, the tournament numbers have skyrocketed. Last night’s Day 1D flight attracted another 127 entries, with 15 players successfully bagging up chips.

Combined with Day 1A (147 entries/18 survivors), Day 1B (88 entries/11 survivors), and the recently wrapped Day 1C (181 entries/22 survivors), the total field across the first four flights stands at a staggering 543 entries with 66 players already through to Day 2 and safely in the money.

For anyone who has yet to secure a bag, or those looking to fire their final bullet, this 12:00 PM local time flight represents the ultimate opportunity to claim a slice of the massive MOP 8,000,000 (~USD 990,000) guaranteed prize pool.

The structure remains identical to previous flights: players receive a deep starting stack of 30,000 chips (150 big blinds) with 30-minute levels. Late registration and re-entries will remain open until the start of Level 9 (approximately 4:30 PM local time).

Once this flight concludes, the surviving players from the entire field will immediately unite for Day 2 on Monday, July 6 at 12:00 PM noon local time to play all the way down to a champion.

Event starts 12:00 local time..