Main Event (45,000 PHP)

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♥ .

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

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♠ .

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♦ .

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♥ .

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♦ .

Edilberto Gopez sent out a 3,500 three bet against a button open, and saw Rick Jason Ambata cold call behind. On flop 2♦ 7♣ 4♦ , Gopez pulled a check raise to 16,000, called by his opponent. Ambata gunned for another 20,000 on turn 4♦ , enough to push Gopez out of the way. Ambata showed A♦ A♣ as he raked in the pot.

Sun Chao Hsuan opened 500 on the cutoff and called 1,000 more following a raise from Rick Jason Ambata on the big blind. On flop 5♦ 7♣ 6♣ , Sun called another 2,000, revealing turn Q♠ . Ambata checked this time to Sun, pushing him to bet 4,000. Ambata raised for 7,000 more, and called the rest after Sun moved all-in for 16,200 total.

Sun Chao Hsuan Q♥ 8♥

Rick Jason Ambata K♦ K♥

Crushed against an overpair, Sun exited the arena shortly after river A♠ completed the board.