Kickoff (16,500 PHP)

Hogyun Kang defended his big blind vs Mike Takayama's 20,000 button open, and went on to battle on board T♠ 3♥ A♥ 9♠ K♦ . Takayama triple barreled - 18,000, 37,000, 80,000, and saw Kang check call all the way to showdown, only to muck as Takayama revealed top pair A♠ J♠ .

Hogyun Kang defended his big blind vs David Lennard Ang's 2,500 cutoff open, and went on to check raise 7,500 on flop Q♥ T♦ T♠ . Ang completed, revealing turn 9♦ . Both checked it through to river 2♠ , where Kang opted to check fold after Ang pulled a final 8,000.

Nichols Manalo raised all-in on the button for his last 65,000 and was called by Brenton Buttigieg right on the big blind.

At risk right on bubble time, Manaho headed out shortly after missing board 5♥ T♣ 4♠ 2♣ 7♥ .

Christopher Richards opened 25,000 utg and was met with two all-ins - Kiril Gelev (42,000) and Hogyun Kang (115,000). Richards put in the final call, making it a three way showdown.

Up against two aces, Kang's snowmen bound for the muck shortly after board 6♣ Q♣ K♥ Q♠ 4♠ sealed his fate as the stone cold bubble.

Hogyun Kang completed his big blind vs Roland Ferrer's utg open, and read a flop of K♦ K♣ 3♦ . Both players checked to turn 8♦ , where Kang led 20,000. Ferrer called behind, and arrived at showdown shortly after river T♠ collected no more bets.

Ferrer revealed A♦ A♣ for the win.

Masakazu Miyamoto opened to 15,000, called behind by Hogyun Kang. On board A♥ 4♠ J♦ A♣ , Miyamoto double barreled 13,000 and 19,000, with Kang calling both streets. Miyamoto slowed down on river 6♣ and Kang checked back, revealing two pair K♥ J♠ , good against Miyamoto's 3♦ 3♥ .

Hogyun Kang opened 10,000 utg+1, called behind by Jeffrey Ponce along with the big blind. Action on flop 6♠ T♣ 2♥ was checked to Ponce, who bet 13,000. Kang check called, revealing turn 9♣ . No more bets went in all the way through river A♣ , where Kang showed J♥ 9♥ for the win.

With 17 players remaining in an eight-handed format, the final two tables on Day 1a are in sight. Joining Hogyun Kang on the rail are the two local players Nichols Manalo and Lenart Ecarma, who will have to try again in the remaining two flights at Okada Manila to earn their share of the prize pool.