Main Event

12:00PM Cards in the air

Blinds: 100/100

After Michael Soyza raises to 160,000 first to act, Filipino Mike Takayama sends him a message that he isn't going to be pushed around by 3-betting to 480,000 causing the Malaysian to tank before eventually folding.

Left with less than 5BB to work with, Huang Yu Chen jumped the gun with Q♦ T♥ and was called by small blind Ronato Alcano with A♣ J♣ . The board ran J♦ 4♥ 5♣ 7♥ 9♠ , giving Alcano top pair for the win. Huang exits as Day 1A’s bubble with two more chances to return for a chance of the Manila Super Series 18 Main Event title.

Main Event - Live Updates - Day 1A

The 198-entry field has dwindled down to 15% or 30 players to wrap up today’s games. Two more flights - Day 1B and Day 1C are available on schedule with all qualifiers returning to the Day 2 games on Saturday, September 23.

Shin Hyeonho leads the 30-player pack with 507,000 in chips (~101 BB), followed by Ashley Patterson with 485,000 (~97 BB). Runners Ronato Alcano (482,000, ~96BB), John Tech (347,000, ~69BB), and Jester Initia (328,000, ~65BB) bag big stacks as well to cap the day.

Running a short stack, Ye Jiaxian flicked in his 34,000 stack with 7♥ 7♦ and was called by big blind Ashley Patterson with K♠ 8♠ . Whilst a flip, Ye was quickly left drawing thin after Patterson paired up on the flop 4♥ 9♦ 8♣ and further improved to two pair on runout J♣ K♥ . Ye exits in 32nd, just two spots short of qualifying into Day 2.

Folded to the hijack, Anthony Cierco moved all-in with A♥ T♦ and was called by shorter stacked Reynolds Nicholas behind with 9♠ 9♦ . Up for a flip, Reynolds faded all Cierco’s outs on board 6♠ Q♣ 7♥ K♠ K♥ and dodged an untimely elimination.

Hijack Oleg Mordassov opened to 10,000, called behind by Hong Jung Gi. Button Marko Puskadija squeezed all-in for 80,000 total, Mordassov folds, and Hong quickly puts the chips in.

Puskadija A♠ J♣ Hong K♥ K♣

The board 5♥ 8♦ 7♠ K♦ 8♣ was no sweat for Hong as his full house easily put Puskadija out a few places before bubble time.

Facing an open jam from bigger stacked Kim Kihyung, Yee Shun Jian called off for his remaining 70,000 with A♠ 9♥ and was crushed to face Kim’s K♠ K♦ . The board A♦ K♣ 3♣ T♠ 8♦ landed Yee top pair but still remained behind against his opponent’s set of Kings.

Following the loss a few minutes beforehand, short stacked Lee Wei dodged a potential elimination after he moved all-in against utg Ashley Patterson’s open. From the small blind, Reiji Amada shoved behind for 68,000 total, prompting the original raiser to fold.

Lee 9♥ T♥ Amada A♦ K♦

The flop 3♠ 9♠ J♥ instantly gave Lee a pair of nines and was good enough to claim the 75,000 pot after Amada failed to pair up on the turn or river.

An early open from Jester Initia saw two players call behind, revealing a flop of 5♦ 5♣ 6♣ . Initia continued with an 8,000 bet, raised by cut off Lee Wei to 21,000. Initia made the call and moved on to turn T♣ . Both players checked round and the river 7♥ completed the board. Initia fired a 21,000 river bet and Lee made the final call. Initia showed trips 9♦ 5♥ , followed by a muck from Lee to secure his win.

After raising utg to 12,000, Ivan Tabucal called a 68,000 all-in from Jose Cheung with A♣ Q♣ . Whilst a premium hand, it was no match for Cheung’s A♦ A♥ and was left with little hope after the board ran low and dry.

Utg+1 Kenzo Mendoza opened to 11,000, called by cut off Ashley Patterson and button Lee Wei. On the small blind, Reynolds Nicholas opted to squeeze to 47,000 total, leaving only Patterson with the call behind. Heads up, the flop came K♥ J♥ 8♦ , and Reynolds bet folded 35,000 after Patterson raised for 65,000 more.

Oleg Mordassov opened on the button to 9,000, called by the small blind and saw a three bet from big blind Shin Hyeonho to 45,000. Mordassov makes the call and small blind folds. Action went check-check on both flop 5♦ 6♠ 6♥ and turn A♥ . The river 5♣ saw Shin throw in a 120,000 overbet to which Mordassov folded.

With an open from the cut off, button Gosai Diven fired a three bet to 35,000 and was committed to calling off after small blind Amada Reiji slammed his short stack in for 4,000 more. Original raiser folds and the two table:

Reiji A♣ J♠ Diven Q♥ J♥

Runout revealed a dry ten-high, giving Reiji’s ace-high the win.

Cutoff John Tech kicked off the action with an open to 8,000 and was met with a three bet from small blind Bardauskas Aivaras. Tech decided to go with it and put his opponent all-in. Aivaras made the call with A♣ J♥ and was ahead against Tech’s K♥ 8♥ . The board T♠ 7♣ 7♦ 7♠ remained safe for Aivaras up until the river 8♦ paired up Tech for a full house.

Utg+1 Ye Jiaxian opened to 10,000 and Anthony Cierco defended his big blind. The two saw a flop of A♦ Q♦ J♥ and Ye continued with a 10,000 bet, check-called by Cierco. Turn came T♠ and Ye fired another 15,000, to which Cierco folded.

41 players remain in the running out of the 198 total entries recorded. Day 1A play ends after ITM is reached at 30 players.

Top Chip Counts:

Folded to Alvir Inocentes on the button, he raised all-in with A♣ Q♣ and was called by big blind Gerges Kyrillos with A♦ 7♥ . An ace high flop 5♦ A♥ 8♦ gave both players top pair but the run out 2♠ J♣ meant that kickers would place. Inocentes locked up the win with the better ace for a full double up.

Beginning with a limp from Reiji Amada, small blind Lee Wei jumped the gun and moved all-in for his 34,000 stack. Amada made the call with T♠ T♦ and was up for a flip against Lee’s A♣ K♣ . The board ran J♠ 9♣ K♥ 2♣ 7♠ , giving Lee top pair for the win.

Preflop action was spotted with all the chips in the middle with Sidark Amanda’s T♥ T♦ up against Reynolds Nichols’ Q♥ Q♠ . The flop Q♦ 7♦ 5♦ gave Nichols a set but left Amada drawing to a diamond flush. The runout however, drew blank as Nichols took down the pot, leaving Amanda with 6BB behind.

Facing an open from Yee Shun Jian, big blind Mason Warren went all-in for 25,500 total and was called by his opponent with K♣ J♥ . Warren was ahead with Q♦ Q♥ and scooped up a double after the board ran 4♦ 7♦ 4♣ 8♥ 8♣ .

Another preflop all-in situation, Abesamis Antonio found himself as the underdog in a cooler spot against bigger stacked Reiji Almada.

Almada K♠ K♥ Antonio Q♣ Q♦

Unfortunately for Antonio, the jack-high board 8♣ 6♦ J♥ J♣ 5♦ wasn’t good enough to save him from being eliminated.

Short stacked Dexter Santos was facing pressure from the increasing blinds and decided to go with J♣ 9♠ for his 9BB stack. Big blind Hong Jung Gi made the call with A♠ 8♦ for a race. Hong remained ahead all the way on a board of T♣ 4♦ 5♠ K♥ 4♥ and successfully secured the additional 20,000 boost to his stack.

Cut off Ken Okumura opened to 5,000, called behind by button Ishikawa Yusuke and big blind Alcano Ronato. Flop came 5♦ 8♥ 6♠ and first to act Ronato checked, Okumura bet 12,000, called only by Yusuke. Turn saw a 6♥ , checked by both players. A 9♥ completed the board and Okumura bet all-in. Yusuke makes the call with A♦ 9♦ for rivered top pair, well beating Okumura’s king-high bluff K♦ J♣ . Okumura is eliminated while Yusuke boosts to a healthy 52BB stack.

Folded to small blind Jayson Langlan, he shoved his 10BB stack in with 6♣ T♥ and was snap called by big blind Jeon Changhyun with Q♦ Q♣ . Langlan flopped a pair on T♣ 8♠ K♦ 7♣ 8♥ but was not enough to beat his opponent’s holdings.

A three-way all-in preflop ensued with Beaudoux Bertrand Zo covering both short stacked Marc Rivera and Choi Hyeonwoo.

Zo Q♣ Q♦ Rivera A♠ T♥ Choi A♦ Q♠

A nine high board 6♦ 9♥ 7♥ 3♣ 7♦ faced up with Zo’s two pair queens and sevens, enough to send both players out.

With half his stack already in, Myungil Ryu called for his remaining 15,000 in after small blind Gosai Diven raised all-in.

Ryu 8♦ 8♥ Diven Q♣ T♣

Up for a flip, Ryu’s hopes were immediately crushed after the flop revealed J♠ K♦ T♠ with no eights coming up on either turn or river. Diven’s pair of ten secures the win as Ryu is eliminated.

Utg Oesterstroem Phenix opened to 4,000, followed by a three bet to 12,000 from Karl Batao two seats behind. Oesterstroem clapped back with another raise to 30,000, and Batao pushed a five-bet to 62,000 total. Oesterstroem found the fold, saving his chips for a better spot.

Folded to hijack Giovanni Belcastro, he open shoved his 16BB stack in and was called behind by Jester Initia for a flip.

Belcastro A♥ Q♠ Initia T♥ T♦

Board 5♥ K♥ 7♣ 5♣ 7♥ faded Belcastro’s outs, sending him out in today’s games.

Early position Julio Anicete opened to 5,000 and defended his raise against Kenzo Mendoza’s three bet to 17,000. Flop came 3♥ T♥ J♦ , and Anicete check-called Mendoza’s all-in bet with two pair.

Mendoza A♥ K♠ Anicete J♥ T♦

Mendoza was left drawing to four outs for a straight or a runner-runner situation. The runout 9♠ 8♦ showed none of that as Anicete bagged the 140,000 pot.

Utg Alvir Inocentes stuffed his short stack in and was called by small blind Lee Wei with Q♥ T♣ . Inocentes revealed K♥ 3♦ and secured a double up after the board ran 5♦ 7♦ J♦ 6♣ K♣ .

A button vs big blind battle, all the chips piled high in the middle preflop after Myungil Ryu fired a final five-bet jam of 96,500 total. Karl Batao found the call for his tournament life, only to find himself as the underdog.

Batao A♦ Q♣ Ryu A♥ K♣

Dominating his opponent for the huge pot, Ryu unfortunately saw a terrible runout on board 5♦ 9♥ K♦ T♦ 4♦ as the river completed Batao’s nutflush.

After outflopping Zhuchkov Viktor’s K♦ Q♥ with K♣ J♥ just the hand prior, Rebei Karim delivered two more eliminations following his momentum. Karim opened to 4,000, and called small blind Tan Wei Chuan’s 22,000 shove while also including Sato Hajime’s 2BB stack.

Karim K♦ Q♦ Tan T♠ T♦ Sato T♣ 4♣

The flop gave Karim no sweat as it instantly revealed 2♦ 4♦ K♠ with the runout continuing to fade Tan’s one outer. Karim scoops up the pot, eliminating both players in quick fashion.

Cut off John Tech opened to 3,500, and button Doroshenko Bogdan and big blind Tomoto Daijiro both called behind. Flop saw A♣ 4♠ 5♦ and action went Daijiro with a check-fold to Tech’s 6,000 bet. Bogdan made the call and saw a turn of 7♠ to which both players checked round. Another 7♥ showed up on the river and Tech sent out an 8,500 bet. Bogdan made the final call, revealing Tech’s A♥ 9♦ for the win.

Facing a button open, big blind Antonio Angeles jammed his short stack in with 4♠ 4♥ and was up against Jose Cheung’s A♥ Q♠ . Board 5♦ J♠ 9♠ 7♠ Q♦ fared well for Angeles up until the river landed him his unfortunate demise.

Registration is closed for Day 1A with a total of 198 entries recorded and a generated prize pool of PHP 2,535,192. Remaining field will play down to ITM at 30 players to cap the first flight on schedule.

Big stacks spotted:

Button Edwin Dela Cruz opened to 2,500, small blind Ho Tung Chun three-bet to 6,600 and big blind Lau Chun Ming decided to four-bet squeeze all-in. Both players fold and Lau Chun Ming takes the preflop pot down with his aggression.

Action began with an early open from Paolo Boccaletti, called behind by John Tech and Reiji Almada. Flop came T♦ 9♦ A♠ and was checked to button Almada who bet 5,500. Boccaletti raised all-in to 12,400, followed by Tech who came over the top with 22,500, and Almada called to complete the action.

Boccaletti T♣ T♠ Tech A♣ K♣ Almada A♦ Q♦

Covering both opponents, Almada spiked the flush on the turn 3♦ and sealed the win as the river 8♣ missed to pair the board.

Cut off Junnie Pamplona opens to 2,400 and calls button Steve Arnold’s short stack all-in of 7,500.

Pamplona J♠ 9♠ Arnold 2♣ 2♥

The board ran 3♦ Q♥ 9♦ 7♣ 9♣ , leaving Arnold out one level left before registration closes.

Utg Egor Starovoitov opened to 2,200, Marc Rivera right behind three-bets to 5,000 and cut off Doroshenko Bogdan joins the action, as well as Starovoitov. The three see a flop of J♦ J♥ 4♣ and Starovoitov checks, Rivera bets 3,000, and Bogdan raises to 7,000. Starovoitov folds and Rivera continues to the turn 2♦ . Rivera checks and Bogdan moves all-in, prompting the Filipino pro to fold.

On a lucky streak, utg Tomoto Daijiro opened to 2,500, Egor Starovoitov fired a three-bet to 7,000, and big blind Karim Rebei cold-called behind. Action back on Daijiro he reraised to 22,000 total, Starovoitov folds and Rebei shoved his 30,000 stack in. A quick call from Daijiro, revealed both players’ hands:

Rebei J♠ 3♠ Daijiro J♦ J♣

Rebei, way behind found no luck as the board ran 3♥ 5♥ 4♥ 9♦ K♥ , guaranteeing his elimination. Daijiro takes the easy win and climbs to 160,000 in chips.

After losing 19,000 in the pot beforehand, Pablo Pastores opened under the gun and was answered with a three-bet to 4,500 by small blind Tomoto Daijiro. Pastores raised all-in for his remaining 25,000 and Daijiro made the call.

Pastores A♣ A♠ Daijiro 3♠ 3♣

In a sweet spot for a double up, Pastores couldn’t fade his opponent’s two outs as the board ran 3♦ 7♥ 6♥ K♥ 7♠ . Pastores’ pocket aces is cracked, eliminating from the games.

Facing a late open, button Ju Jaeheung three-bet to 5,300 and big blind Chierro De Leon pushed all-in for 18,000 total. Original raiser folds and Jaeheung makes the call.

De Leon A♠ T♠ Jaeheung J♣ J♥

The flop T♥ 8♣ A♦ favored De Leon, but the runout 9♦ Q♠ gave Jaeheung a straight, giving his pocket pair justice.

Hijack Dexter Santos opened to 2,400 and was met with a three-bet behind from Georges Chenade to 6,200. Santos completes and moves on to see a flop of T♠ 2♥ 8♥ . Santos checks, Chenade fires a bet of 4,600 and action back on Santos sees him raise to 10,400 total. Chenade gives up the fight and slips his cards face down.

Facing an open, Kuchin Yu threw in his remaining 11BB and was called behind by small blind Ju Jaeheung. Original raiser folds and the two run a flip.

Yu 7♣ 7♠ Jaeheung Q♠ J♠

Board ran 7♥ J♥ 6♣ 4♦ A♣ , giving Yu a set right on the flop and a smooth double up to remain in the game.

Preflop action saw Lee Youngsai open to 1,200, Jinwoo Yu called, and button Edgar Asehan raised to 8,000. Only Yu completed and immediately bet all-in (10,000) on a flop of A♥ J♥ K♦ . Asehan made the call with A♣ Q♠ , behind Yu’s two pair K♣ J♦ . The turn T♠ however, gave Asehan the nut straight with the river 9♥ sealing his win.

Hijack Anicete Julio opened to 1,800, called by small blind Lau Chun Yin. Flop came A♥ 9♥ J♦ and Yin check-raised to 5,500. Julio made the call and saw a turn of 9♣ . Yin continued with a 7,000 bet and called Julio’s all-in behind.

Julio Q♠ 9♦ Yin A♣ J♥

River came blank and Julio’s turned trips against Yin’s two-pair earns him the double up.

Folded to Lau Chun Yin on the button, he shoved his remaining 6,700 in with K♥ 9♠ . Small blind Ishikawa Yusuke made the call with 7♥ 7♠ and the two saw a board of 7♦ T♥ 6♣ 2♣ 3♥ . Yusuke’s flopped set scoops the win and Lau Chun Yin is eliminated with king-high.

Utg Beaudoux Bertrand Zo opened and called button Yuki Watanabe’s three-bet to 2,200. Flop revealed K♦ 3♣ 2♦ which saw all the chips quickly pushed in the middle within a few minutes.

Zo K♠ 2♠ Watanabe A♦ A♣

Runout came 9♠ 5♥ , leaving Zo’s flopped two pair ahead all the way.

First break of the day sees 144 runners in and the pot up to PHP 1,843,776.

Button open to 1,100 was met with a three bet from small blind Abesamis Antonio to 5,000, followed by a four-bet all-in of 13,000 from big blind Shikanai Shota. Button folds and Antonio makes the call.

Shota A♠ Q♠ Antonio 7♣ 7♦

Board ran J♣ 3♣ 3♠ K♠ 2♥ , dodging all of Shota’s outs as he headed for the rails.

Utg Christian Ong opened to 1,200, called by Kirishima Akinobu on the cut-off. Big blind Mark Ortiz answered with a three bet to 4,600 with only Akinobu completing behind. The two went on to see a flop T♦ T♠ 4♦ and Ortiz continued with a 3,500 bet. Akinobu called and turn a third diamond 5♦ . Ortiz checked and Akinobu shoved for 12,300 total. Ortiz folds and gives up the fight.

A four-way pot beginning with an open from Christopher Mateo, the flop 6♥ 2♠ T♥ saw all the chips pile in the middle after action was checked to Beaudoux Bertrand Zo on the button. Zo bet 3,500, Kaktsuka Tetsuya called, and was raised by Mateo to 15,000. Hugh made the call behind and Zo raised all-in over the top. Mateo folds and Hugh makes the call.

Beaudoux Bertrand Zo T♣ T♠ Sule Hugh K♣ K♥

A 3♣ 2♣ runout completed the board, improving Zo’s flopped set to a better full house.

Hijack Ju Jaeheung opens to 1,200, called by Karl Batao on the button. Big blind Chen Zhigang raises to 5,200, called by both behind. Flop came A♦ 6♠ J♥ and Chen checked. Ju fired a bet of 6,300 and the two mucked their hands one after the other, not after Chen showed Q♣ Q♥ .

Action began with an open from Won Jongmin to 700, called by Sule Hugh behind. On the button, Beaudoux Bertrand Zo raised to 2,100 and both players made the call. Flop came 7♠ T♠ 9♦ and Won led out a 3,500 bet. Hugh folds and Zo raised all-in. Won snaps with the nuts J♣ 8♣ , leaving Zo’s K♠ K♦ drawing dead.

Action began with a ~15BB open shove from Lau Chun Yin on the cut off, called by Almir Alimkulov on the big blind.

Yin K♦ T♦ Alimkulov A♠ 5♣

Board ran 8♦ 6♠ 9♦ 7♠ 5♣ , giving Yin a higher straight for the pot.

A three-bet pot with small blind David Rodgers as the aggressor, three players went on to see a flop of Q♦ J♣ 6♣ . Rodgers continued with a bet of 2,500, called behind by Giovanni Belcastro. Turn came 7♣ and Rodgers check-called Belcastro’s 5,000 bet. The river 2♠ completed the board and Rodgers check-folded a final 10,000 bet from his opponent.

Following a limp-limp, button Won Jongmin bumped it up to 800 and both players made the call. Flop came 5♠ 3♠ A♥ and action checked to Jongmin where he bet 1,500. Cowan Graham raised all-in and Jongmin made the call.

Cowan Graham 4♠ 9♠ Won Jongmin A♦ 9♣

Turn immediately saw a 7♠ , completing Graham’s flush for the win.

Hijack Javalera Ireneo opens to 300, joined by Mark Ortiz on the button and Kirill Gladchenko on the big blind. Flop came 9♠ 5♥ 6♥ . Checked to Ortiz, he fires 500, called by both players. Turn saw 4♣ and Gladchenko led out 1,100, Ireneo folds, Ortiz bumps it up to 3,500. Gladchenko makes the call and sees an A♦ complete the board. Gladchenko check calls a 9,000 bet from Ortiz. Ortiz shows 8♥ 7♥ for a flopped straight.

Preflop action began with an early open from under the gun and three callers behind. Ryoma Kochi on the big blind led out an 800 bet on flop T♣ 8♥ 2♠ , called by all three opponents. Turn came 5♦ and Kochi sent out another 2,000 bet. Only Cowan Graham threw in the chips and saw the river 4♦ . Kochi fired a 4,000 river bet, commanding another call from Graham. Kochi revealed A♠ T♦ for top pair, top kicker, good enough to take down the pot.

Shuffle up and deal, good luck to all the players!