Main Event (45,000 PHP)

The excitement at the Manila Megastack 21 Main Event is off to a thrilling start as Flight A has officially concluded with 83 total entries locked in for the battle ahead. After a grueling fifteen-level grind, the field narrowed down to just 13 survivors, all punching their ticket to Day 2 and securing a piece of the PHP 20,000,000 (~USD 342,705) guaranteed prize pool.

At the top of the leaderboard sits local grinder Mark Almusajin, who has set the pace in fiery fashion, bagging an astonishing 520,000 in chips - over 17 times the starting stack! Almusajin made an early statement in the day after a pivotal clash with Edilberto Gopez saw his pocket aces hold strong against Gopez’ ace-king, catapulting him to the top spot and allowing him to build a commanding lead that he would not once relinquish. For the next nine hours, Almusajin continued to control the action, steadily accumulating chips level after level.

Almusajin's dominance was seen in full display, leaving quite a distance with second in position Naohiro Arita's 320,000 chip count. Another Japanese contender joins the top ranks, with Teruhisa Aoyama trailing just behind his compatriot with 310,000 in chips.

But while Almusajin's performance has put him in prime position, the race is far from over. Three more flights are set to follow over the next two days, sure to bring an intense round of competition for Day 2's battle this coming Sunday. All Flight A survivors are off for a two-day break to recharge, or dive head first across the side events for a chance to claim a spadie in between.

Manila Megastack 21 Main Event

Date/s: January 23-27, 2025

Buy-in: PHP 45,000 (~USD 770)

Guarantee: PHP 20,000,000 (~USD 342,705)

Starting stack: 30,000

Flight A: 83 entries, 13 qualified

Flight B: Friday, January 24

Flight C: Saturday, January 25

Flight D [20/15]: Saturday, January 25

Day 2: Sunday, January 26

Final Day: Monday, January 27

Mark Almusajin opened 8,000 utg, called by player a seat after along with Paul Elliott on the big blind. On flop 3♣ 5♣ J♠ , Elliott led all-in for 49,500, called by Almusajin with his premium pair.

Paul Elliott Q♥ J♣

Mark Almusajin K♦ K♥

Elliott in rough shape, failed to catch up on either turn 8♥ or river 7♠ , sending him out as the flight's stone cold bubble.

Ho Tai Tsai defended his big blind against Naohiro Arita's 8,000 hijack open, and went on to lead all-in for 75,500 on flop T♦ A♣ 9♦ . Arita snap called with A♦ 8♦ , putting Tsai at risk with his lower kicker A♠ 5♠ .

Runout came K♣ J♦ , sealing the win for Arita as Tsai headed out two spots short of making Day 2.

With 50,500 centered around board 2♣ 4♣ A♦ 9♦ 8♦ , Naohiro Arita sent out a 36,500 bet from the big blind and left Ho Tai Tsai to take a minute. Tsai eventually decided to fold, shooting down to twenty big blinds.

Teruhisa Aoyama raised all-in on the small blind and saw Rey Roca right behind, commit his last 19,000.

Roca in search of a double up, instead bowed out after failing to improve on board 6♣ 4♠ J♣ Q♣ 7♣ .

Joshua Cuevas pushed all-in for his last 33,000 on the hijack and was called by Darren Moves right behind.

At risk, Cuevas bowed out shortly after board 7♣ 5♣ T♣ J♦ A♥ ran two pair for Moves.

Joshua Cuevas defended his big blind against Vamerdino Magsakay's 7,000 cutoff open, and headed to flop T♣ J♦ 6♦ . Action checked round to turn 3♠ , where Magsakay bet 14,000. Cuevas check called onto river 7♦ , and arrived at showdown after Magsakay checked it back.

Cuevas showed queen-high Q♠ 2♠ , behind on all streets against Magsakay's A♦ T♦ .

Sergei Korzhenko opened 6,000 utg and was joined by both players on the blinds onto flop T♣ 6♣ T♠ . Korzhenko continued for 3,000, check called by Paul Elliott on the small blind. Both players checked turn 4♦ through to river Q♣ , where Elliott led 10,000. Korzhenko surrendered, giving up the pot to his opponent.

A button vs big blind battle built up a pot of 26,500 before flop 4♥ J♣ T♥ rolled on the felt. Maxim Fana continued with a bet of 7,000, followed by another 18,000 on turn J♦ . Darren Moves check called one street yet laid it down after Fana proceeded with aggression.

Rick Jason Ambata opened 6,000 on the button and was joined by both players on the blinds onto flop T♠ Q♣ 5♠ . Ambata continued for 8,000, check called by Joshua Cuevas on the big blind. Turn 8♣ and river T♦ were checked to showdown, revealing Cuevas' two pair 5♦ 3♦ , no good against Ambata's K♦ Q♥ .

Mark Almusajin opened 7,000 on the cutoff, called behind by Sergei Korzhenko. Action on flop 6♥ 5♦ 2♣ was checked round to turn 9♠ , where Almusajin bet 8,000. Korzhenko made the call, and arrived at showdown shortly after no more bets went in river 7♠ .

Almusajin revealed nut straight 4♥ 3♦ , and added another pile onto his towering stack.

Rey Roca flicked in his last 26,000 on the cutoff and was looked up by Mark Almusajin right on the big blind.

Roca at risk, was left with no worries as board 7♣ 2♥ 9♣ K♣ 3♥ landed him a set to survive through.

Ricardo Torres opened 6,000 on the hijack and was joined by Flo Campomanes on the small blind. On flop T♦ J♠ 7♥ , Campomanes pulled a check raise for 29,000, and went on to demand for the rest on turn 6♠ . Torres called off for his last 15,000 with mid pair Q♥ T♥ , and shipped the win against Campomanes' K♦ Q♦ as the river J♥ bricked out for his opponent.

With 47,000 spread out across board 6♣ 3♠ T♥ 4♦ , Masahiro Toyoda went for a bet of 35,000 and left initial raiser Darren Moves unable to continue.

Flight A action is close to wrapping up, with five more eliminations to go before bagging time. 13 players out of the 83-entry field are set to advance to Day 2 on Sunday, January 26. Leading the charge is local grinder Mark Almusajin, who has consistently kept the lead all throughout the day.

Chip Counts

Paul Elliott pushed all-in for 48,000 against an utg open and saw Sergei Korzhenko cold call on the small blind. Initial raiser went out of the way, leaving the two to showdown.

Running a flip, Korzhenko instantly spiked the advantage on board 6♦ A♠ 3♣ Q♣ , up until the river 8h landed Elliot a set to turn the tables.

A blind vs blind battle saw Ilia Timofeev open to 7,000, called behind by Ricardo Torres. Timofeev continued for 6,000 on flop K♣ 8♦ 3♥ , and saw Torres raise to 12,500. Timofeev made it 30,000 to go, and Torres completed onto turn 8♣ . Timofeev didn't hesitate to lead all-in, called by Torres for his last 22,500.

Ilia Timofeev K♠ Q♣

Ricardo Torres 9♦ 8♥

Timofeev in rough shape against trip eights, booked the loss as river 6♠ completed the board.

Patrick Wahlquist defended his big blind against Mark Almusajin's 5,000 hijack open, and check called two streets - 7,000 and 17,000, on board K♣ 3♥ Q♦ 8♣ . River 5♣ was checked down by both, revealing Wahlquist's top pair K♠ 7♠ , behind against Almusajin's A♦ A♠ all the way.

With three limps ahead, Vamerdino Magsakay bumped it up to 14,500 on the big blind, and saw two continue to flop J♥ 5♦ 2♠ . Action checked to Darren Moves on the button, pushing him to bet 15,000. Magsakay raised to 42,000 and shipped the pot straight away.

Maxim Fana sent out a 17,000 three bet against an utg open and saw Daito Kamei on the big blind, shove for 59,000. Initial raiser opted out, leaving Fana to call for a showdown.

Board K♥ 3♦ A♠ J♣ A♦ instantly went Fana's way, quickly securing the pot with a boat while Kamei bound for the exit.

With 31,500 in the middle across board A♠ T♦ K♦ 9♣ , Ricardo Torres shot out a bet of 7,000 and was called behind by Naohiro Arita. On river 9♠ , Torres decided to slow down and check to Arita, who bet a hefty 26,500. Torres found the call, only to muck as Arita tabled trip nines 9♦ 8♦ .

Sergei Korzhenko opened 5,500 on the hijack and was joined by Rey Roca on the small blind. Action on flop Q♥ A♣ T♥ was checked round to turn 4♣ , where Korzhenko bet 10,000. Roca check called, yet gave it up by the river 3♦ after Korzhenko went for another 16,000.

Masahiro Toyoda defended his big blind vs Daito Kamei's 6,000 button open, and went on to lead 6,000 on flop A♥ 9♠ 3♣ . Kamei called behind, revealing turn Q♦ . Both checked it through to river 6♠ , where Toyoda bet a final 17,000. Kamei paid the price and mucked as Toyoda showed two pair Q♠ 9♣ .

Naohiro Arita opened 5,500 on the hijack, followed by an all-in for 23,000 from Roxanne Victorino right behind. Small blind cold called, leaving Ho Tai Tsai on the big blind to reshove for 36,500. Arita came out on top, pushing the small blind out of the way.

In for a race, board 9♦ 4♥ 4♠ 6♠ Q♣ landed in Tsai's favor, earning him a full triple up with two pair.

Facing a late position open and a three bet, Hogyun Kang squeezed all-in on the small blind for 88,000, and was snap called by Teruhisa Aoyama.

Kang drawing slim, found no hope on board 6♦ T♥ 2♦ 7♥ K♠ , eliminating him from today's Main Event flight.

Brenton Buttigieg opened on the hijack, and went on to four bet jam 55,500 in against Mark Almusajin's raise from the small blind. Almusajin called off, putting his opponent at risk over a flip.

Board K♦ Q♣ 3♥ 7♠ 8♦ missed to fill up Buttigieg's suited connectors, shipping Almusajin the pot with his pocket pair.

With a pot 11,000 situated on flop Q♠ 3♦ 4♦ , Brenton Buttigieg fired a bet of 5,500, and called a check raise to 16,000 from Mark Almusajin on the big blind. On turn T♦ , Almusajin sent out another 18,000, followed by a final 44,000 on river 5♠ . Buttigieg called him down, yet mucked as Almusajin revealed nut flush A♦ 6♦ .

Martin Gonzales open shoved 29,000, and saw Ilia Timofeev behind, rise to the challenge.

Dominated, Gonzales headed out shortly after board 4♦ T♦ 4♠ 2♣ Q♣ felted no nines.

With 19,000 in the middle across board 6♦ 2♣ 3♥ 4♣ , Darren Moves made a go for it with a bet of 7,000. Rick Jason Ambata called behind, and paid another 20,000 on river A♣ , only to muck as Moves showed a straight 5♠ 3♠ .

Darren Moves opened 5,000 on the hijack, and was called by the button along with Maxim Fana on the big blind. On flop 3♣ J♥ 4♣ , Moves continued for 10,000, check called by Fana. Both turn 4♦ and river A♥ welcomed no more bets, revealing Fana's 7♠ 7♣ , good for the win.

Ho Tai Tsai opened 5,500 and called Naohiro Arita's all-in on the button for 32,000 total.

In for a flip, board J♠ 3♥ Q♣ 5♦ 8♥ went in favor of Arita's overcards, keeping him in the Main Event games.

A five way limp pot rolled a flop of J♥ 2♠ 2♦ . Action checked to Ilia Timofeev, who bet 4,500. Ricardo Torres and Roxanne Victorino on the big blind, stuck around to see turn K♠ . Timofeev barreled another 5,500 and saw both continue once more to river 4♣ . All three checked it down, revealing Timofeev's two pair good for the win.

Mark Almusajin opened to 4,500, joined by Teruhisa Aoyama on the button along with the big blind onto flop A♦ 2♦ 6♣ . Almusajin continued for 5,500, called by Aoyama. Both players checked turn A♣ through to river 3♣ , where Almusajin bet a final 9,000. Aoyama gave it up, shipping Almusajin another boost to his already healthy stack.

This season's Main Event initial flight drew in a total of 83 entries across registration, with only 15% of the field at 13 players set to advance to Day 2. Three more flights will follow suit, each playing down to ITM.

Manila Megastack 21 Main Event

Date/s: January 23-27, 2025

Buy-in: PHP 45,000 (~USD 770)

Guarantee: PHP 20,000,000 (~USD 342,705)

Starting stack: 30,000

Flight A: 83 entries, 13 ITM

Flight B: Friday, January 24

Flight C: Saturday, January 25

Flight D [20/15]: Saturday, January 25

Day 2: Sunday, January 26

Final Day: Monday, January 27

Hogyun Kang opened on the button and was met with two all-ins from Patrick Wahlquist and Naohiro Arita (9,000). Kang put in the final call for his entire 40,000, making it a three way showdown.

Kang with the best hand, scooped it all as board K♦ 2♥ 7♦ 3♥ 6♣ ran safe for his pair of aces.

Teruhisa Aoyama opened utg and called an 8,000 three bet from Patrick Wahlquist behind. On flop 3♣ 4♣ 4♦ , Aoyama pulled a check raise to 15,500, and called for his remaining 21,600 after Wahlquist moved all-in.

Patrick Wahlquist Q♥ Q♠

Teruhisa Aoyama 5♥ 4♥

Aoyama a huge favorite, sealed the win just as turn 5♦ and river J♠ completed the board.

With 9,700 in the middle on flop J♥ 7♠ K♦ , action saw all three check round to turn 5♠ , where Rick Jason Ambata bet 3,300. Both opponents called to river Q♠ , pushing Bernard Vu to lead out 6,000. Ambata called him down with two pair K♥ J♠ and found it good against Vu's Q♣ J♦ .

Martin Gonzales opened 3,500 on the button following a limp, and saw Ricardo Torres squeeze all-in on the big blind. Gonzales called off for his entire 41,800, and found himself in for a flip.

Board 7♦ J♥ J♣ 7♣ A♠ landed Gonzales' way, propelling him to a big stack.

A button vs big blind battle brewed a pot of 9,700 in the middle on flop J♥ 6♣ A♥ . Kyoungsun Lee bet 5,000, and called Ma Carmen Esdaile's check jam for 9,400 more.

Ma Carmen Esdaile A♠ 7♣

Kyoungsun Lee Q♥ J♠

Esdaile with the advantage, secured the double up as her top pair held through on runout 9♣ 3♦ .

Joris Michl pushed all-in utg for his last 12,700 and was looked up by Sergei Korzhenko behind.

Michl dominated, bowed out shortly after board 7♥ A♥ 3♦ Q♠ 5♥ failed to save him from his demise.

Ilia Timofeev opened 2,400 on the hijack and was called by three other players behind. On flop 4♥ 5♣ 2♥ , Oleg Mordassov led all-in, leaving all three unable to continue.

Darren Moves opened 2,800 utg, joined by Maxim Fana and another player onto flop K♦ 5♠ 8♦ . Moves continued for 7,000, raised by Fana to 21,000. Moves came back with an all-in for 69,000 total, and Fana made the final call with two pair.

Darren Moves A♦ K♣

Maxim Fana K♥ 8♥

Moves in trouble, lucked out just as turn J♦ and river Q♦ rolled two more diamonds, giving him a flush to steal the win.

With a pot of 11,800 in the middle on flop J♥ K♦ 3♣ , Ma Carmen Esdaile bet 5,500, and was check called by Roxanne Victorino on the big blind. Esdaile followed with an all-in on turn Q♣ , called by Victorino for her last 9,000.

Ma Carmen Esdaile J♠ J♣

Roxanne Victorino A♥ 7♥

Victorino with a draw, found one of her outs on river T♣ , sparing her from elimination.

Daito Kamei opened 2,500 utg+1, called behind by Darren Moves along with the big blind. On flop 4♥ 8♠ Q♦ , Kamei continued for 3,000, raised by Moves to 8,000. Kamei completed, revealing turn J♣ . Both checked, and saw no more bets come in on river 5♠ , tabling Kamei's 9♦ 9♣ good for the pot.

Rick Jason Ambata opened utg+1 and called a 7,000 three bet from Ilia Timofeev a seat after. Action on board 8♥ 2♠ 9♠ 7♦ 3♠ was checked to the river, where Ambata led 9,000. Timofeev found the call, and mucked as Ambata showed a set 3♦ 3♥ .

Vamerdino Magsakay opened 2,700 on the hijack, and was called behind by Maxim Fana along with the big blind. Action on flop A♦ 3♠ Q♥ was checked to Fana, who bet 2,500. Magsakay check called, and faced another 8,200 on turn 5♦ . Magsakay unfazed, continued to river 3♦ , and paid a final 22,200, only to muck as Fana revealed trip threes 4♣ 3♣ .

Cezar Quiambao opened 2,500 utg and was met with a 7,500 three bet from Sergei Korzhenko right behind. Quiambao responded with another raise to 18,000, called by his opponent.

Action on flop A♣ 4♥ 8♣ was checked round to turn 2♠ , where Quiambao bet 12,000. Korzhenko made the call, and paid a final 20,000 on river 3♥ for a showdown.

Quiambao revealed K♥ K♣ , no good against Korzhenko's top pair A♠ Q♥ .

With 6,600 in the middle on flop 3♦ 9♥ 7♥ , both stacks rushed to the middle with Kyoungsun Lee at risk for his remaining 21,900 against Sun Chao Hsuan.

Kyoungsun Lee K♥ 9♣

Sun Chao Hsuan 7♦ 6♦

Lee ahead with top pair, locked in the double up after Sun failed to improve on either turn J♥ or river J♠ .

Sergei Korzhenko opened 2,600 on the button and saw both players on the blinds continue to flop J♦ A♣ A♦ . Korzhenko bet 2,200, yet immediately folded after Seonghun Jeong check raised to 5,000.

A three way raised pot saw Cezar Quiambao continue for 5,000 on flop 4♠ A♠ 5♣ . Both opponents called to see turn 3♣ , where Patrick Wahlquist led 15,000 off the big blind. Quiambao made the call, and arrived at showdown shortly after river J♠ welcomed no more bets.

Wahlquist showed flush T♠ 2♠ and scooped up the pot.

Sun Chao Hsuan raised all-in on the button and saw Taeil Yun call off for his last 17,000.

Crushed against the rockets, Yun exited the arena shortly after board A♠ 3♦ 9♠ J♥ 6♠ rolled on the felt.

Ricardo Torres sent out a 5,500 three bet vs Taeil Yun's utg open and saw both Yun and the big blind come along on flop 4♣ 4♠ 8♣ . Action checked round to turn 9♥ , where player on the big blind led 11,000. Yun shoved all-in, and was cold called behind by Torres for his entire 73,000. Big blind opted out, leaving the two to showdown.

Taeil Yun A♣ 9♣

Ricardo Torres 8♥ 8♣

Yun drawing dead against Torres' boat, forked over a huge chunk of his stack just as river 3♦ completed the board.

With a pot of 40,400 in the middle across board 4♣ 9♥ J♣ 2♣ 5♦ , Darren Moves shot out a final bet of 15,000. Hogyun Kang check called from the big blind, and mucked as Moves showed wheel straight A♣ 3♣ .

Facing an open and a call, Kyoungsun Lee squeezed to 6,000 on the button, and saw Ricardo Torres continue to flop 6♠ 4♣ 3♥ . Action checked round to turn 9♥ , where no bets went in once more. On river 8♣ , Torres led 7,000, called by Lee for a showdown.

Torres revealed a set 4♦ 4♠ , crushing Lee's ace-high A♠ Q♣ on all streets

A pot of 13,000 was seen spread out across flop 5♦ T♣ 7♥ . Mark Almusajin on the button, bet 4,000, followed with another 11,000 on turn 3♣ . Daniel Francis check called both streets, and paid a final all-in for his remaining 17,000 on river 4♣ with top pair T♠ 9♦ . Almusajin showed a better A♣ T♥ , and sent his opponent out the door.

With a pot of 28,700 in the middle across board 6♥ A♠ 4♥ 9♥ , Ilia Timofeev on the button, made a go for it with a bet of 9,500. Daniel Francis quickly surrendered, giving up the pot to Timofeev.

Patrick Wahlquist opened 2,000 on the cutoff, and was met with a 6,000 three bet from Cezar Quiambao right behind. Wahlquist responded with another raise to 14,000, yet folded after Quiambao bumped it further to 22,000.

With 9,500 situated in the middle across board 2♥ 7♣ 6♥ A♠ 8♣ , Ho Tai Tsai led out a bet of 3,500 from the small blind, and called 7,500 more following a raise from Maxim Fana behind. Fana showed A♦ 8♥ and shipped the pot as Tsai tossed his hand in the muck.

Brenton Buttigieg opened 1,600 on the hijack and was joined by four more players to flop 8♦ 5♥ T♠ . Action was checked to Darren Moves on the cutoff, allowing him to bet 5,000. All else folded, easily earning Moves the pot.

A four way raised pot dealt a flop of T♥ 5♦ A♠ . Action was checked to Ilia Timofeev on the button, pushing him to bet 2,000. Rick Jason Ambata check raised to 6,000, and followed with another 12,000 on turn Q♦ . Timofeev called down to river 4♦ , where he bet all-in for his remaining 34,000. Ambata paid the price with two pair A♣ T♦ , only to take a loss as Timofeev revealed nut flush A♦ 3♦ .

A four way raised pot dealt a flop of T♥ 5♦ A♠ . Action was checked to Ilia Timofeev on the button, pushing him to bet 2,000. Rick Jason Ambata check raised to 6,000, and followed with another 12,000 on turn Q♦ . Timofeev called down to river 4♦ , where he bet all-in for his remaining 34,000. Ambata paid the price with two pair A♣ T♦ , only to take a loss as Timofeev revealed nut flush A♦ 3♦ .

On his second bullet, John Constiniano raised all-in on the big blind and saw cutoff raiser Ma Carmen Esdaile call off for her entire 14,100.

In for a flip, board 6♠ 4♠ 6♥ 9♦ K♥ instantly left Constiniano drawing dead against quads, costing him half his stack straight away.

With a pot of 9,000 in the middle across board 8♠ 5♦ 9♠ 2♠ , Maxim Fana pulled out a bet of 5,200 yet folded after Bernard Vu check jammed for 37,500 total.

With 21,900 spread out across board K♦ A♥ 5♠ 5♦ , Patrick Wahlquist on the button, made an attempt for it with a bet of 6,000. Daito Kamei surrendered, shipping Wahlquist the boost to crack 100K.

A four way raised pot dealt a flop of 4♠ 2♦ 7♥ . John Constiniano bet all-in for his last 2,700, called by Ho Tai Tsai with his pocket pair.

John Constiniano 4♦ 2♥

Ho Tai Tsai 5♠ 5♣

Constiniano ahead with two pair, was crushed to see runout 8♦ 8♥ roll on board, giving Tsai the win to deliver his bust.

Cezar Quiambao opened 1,500 on the cutoff and saw both players on the blinds come along on flop K♦ J♦ T♣ . Quiambao continued for 1,100, check called by Seonghun Jeong. On turn 8♠ , Quiambao pulled another 3,800, enough to push Jeong out of the pot.

Following an open and a call, Sergei Korzhenko fired a 5,600 three bet from the big blind and saw both opponents continue to flop 3♠ 3♣ 9♥ . Korzhenko led 3,700, weeding out none onto turn T♠ . Korzhenko barreled another 18,000, and was followed by an all-in from Oleg Mordassov for 3,300 more. Korzhenko made the call, putting Mordassov at risk.

Oleg Mordassov 8♠ 7♠

Sergei Korzhenko Q♦ Q♠

River 7♦ bricked for Mordassov, knocking him out of the Main Event running.

With 6,500 in the pot on flop Q♣ J♦ A♦ , two stacks rushed to the middle - William Jones at risk for his entire 25,000 against Roxanne Victorino.

William Jones A♠ T♦

Roxanne Victorino A♥ K♥

Victorino ahead, scooped up the win just as runout 5♥ 7♦ ran dry.

With 5,700 in the middle on flop, action was caught on John Constiniano with a bet of 2,600. Ho Tai Tsai check called, and did so for another 6,800 on turn J♥ . On river T♣ , Constiniano decided to check back, revealing Tsai's pair of sevens A♣ 7♣ , good for the win.

Ho Tai Tsai opened to 2,100, joined behind by Hogyun Kang onto flop J♠ 9♣ 8♦ . Tsai continued for 2,500 and was called by Kang onto turn Q♣ . Tsai this time, opted to check call for 3,500, and pay another 5,400 on river 4♦ . Kang showed straight T♦ 9♦ and collected the pot.

Mark Almusajin opened to 1,900, raised by Edilberto Gopez on the button to 3,500. Almusajin bumped it up further to 11,000, and Gopez completed. On flop Q♥ 3♠ 2♠ , Almusajin continued for 9,000, and snap called Gopez' all-in for 56,700 total.

Edilberto Gopez A♠ K♦

Mark Almusajin A♦ A♥

Gopez in rough shape, found no hope on runout T♦ 2♣ , knocking him out of the Main Event qualifier.

Brenton Buttigieg opened 1,500 on the hijack and was called by two players behind. Action on board 9♥ J♣ T♠ 8♠ 7♥ was checked all the way down to the river, where Buttigieg fired a final 4,000. Claude Henoud made the call, and mucked as Buttigieg revealed a queen-high straight A♣ Q♥ .

Daniel Francis opened 1,500 utg+1, called behind by Emmanuel Derecho along with the big blind. Action on flop 5♦ 3♥ K♦ was checked to Derecho, pushing him to bet 2,500. Big blind called, followed by a raise from Francis to 10,000. Only Derecho stuck around to see turn J♥ , where Francis decided to check back. On river T♣ , Francis checked once more, and folded after Derecho barreled all-in.

Up against an early open and a call, Joshua Cuevas sent out a 3,500 three bet on the cutoff, and saw Seonghun Jeong complete. Cuevas continued for 5,500 on flop 5♥ A♥ Q♣ , enough to get Jeong to surrender.

With 8,200 in the middle on flop 3♠ 5♠ Q♦ , action was caught on Edilberto Gopez with a bet of 2,500. Sangjin An check called, and did so once more on turn K♠ for 6,500. On river 6♦ , Gopez decided to check back, revealing An's top pair K♦ 9♦ , good for the win.

Cezar Quiambao opened 1,200 utg and was joined by four other players onto flop 6♥ 3♠ 5♣ . Big blind led 3,500, pushing one player out of the pot. On turn A♠ , Quiambao went for an 11,000 bet and saw only Joshua Cuevas call behind. Quiambao pulled the trigger on river J♥ for 21,800, and finally convinced Cuevas to lay it down.

A button vs big blind battle brewed a pot of 22,600 across board A♣ 5♦ 7♣ 3♠ . Mark Almusajin led for 4,700, followed by a hefty 25,000 on river 8♥ . Carsten Klug called the turn bet but gave it up after Almusajin demanded for more.

With 5,100 in the middle on flop 6♠ Q♦ J♠ , four way action saw Mark Almusajin lead 1,500 utg, followed by an all-in from Ricardo Torres for 5,500. All three made the call onto turn A♥ , where Almusajin fired another 8,500. Ilia Timofeev called behind, yet folded on river 2♦ after Almusajin moved all-in.