Survivor Knockout [25K bounty] (12,500 PHP)

Another spadie has been lifted off the podium with today's Survivor Knockout games awarding Filipino runner Anthony Castro the win for his impressive display. Castro outlasted the 162-entry field, and took home the biggest share of the PHP 1,728,540 (~USD 29,615) lot. For his triumph, Castro locked in the PHP 216,380 (~USD 3,705) top prize and banked seven additional bounty tokens, bringing up his total to PHP 391,380 (~USD 6,705).

"I'm very happy, because in the Megastack I only got 1 ITM out of 9, but here at the Super Series I'm 4 out 4, and 3 final tables.", commented Castro following the victory.

Castro has had a great run at this season's Manila Super Series, having already landed two final table appearances prior to his victory. Third time's the charm as they say, Castro closed out the win following a noon to midnight grind and finally came out with a trophy in hand.

Castro's road to victory was smooth sailing for the most part, having stepped out into the lead seven-handed. The local regular continued to battle aggressively across the final rounds, extending his lead even further after delivering a double elimination - Ryan Tan (5th place) and Marco Almerez (6th place). Castro fared unstoppable from there and kicked off the final duel against Japan's Kei Shinagawa with a significant advantage.

"I only got the momentum when I became the chip leader.. If we look at the payouts, the bounty is much bigger than the pay jumps. It was my chance to bust out two and get more bounties, that's why I took the risk. But luckily I won and got massive.", he added.

Shinagawa however, was a tough opponent to boot and managed to even out the stacks right away. A crucial race half an hour in, landed Shinagawa over 80% of the chips in play, putting Castro’s victory hopes in doubt. Castro bounced back quickly, having secured two double ups within the next fifteen minutes, and eventually finished off his last opponent with the final hand seeing a pocket pair showdown. Castro delivered the final blow with pocket eights, crushing Shinagawa's pocket fives entirely to leave him settling for a runner up finish.

Survivor Knockout [25K Bounty]

Date/s: February 4, 2025

Buy-in: PHP 12,500 (~USD 215)

Guarantee: PHP 1,000,000 (~USD 17,130)

Entries: 162

Total prize pool: PHP 1,728,540 (~USD 29,615)

ITM: 23 places

Final Table Results

Kei Shinagawa pushed his last 1,800,000 in, and was called by Anthony Castro for a pocket pair showdown.

Shinagawa drawing slim, settled for a runner up finish after missing to improve on board A♠ 4♦ 9♥ 4♣ 6♥ , awarding Castro the final victory.

Anthony Castro opened on the button and called off for his tournament life - 1,480,000.

At risk, Castro outflopped his opponent on board 3♠ K♣ 6♠ 7♣ 4♣ , securing the win with top pair along with the lead once more.

Kei Shinagawa raised all-in, leaving Anthony Castro to call off for his last 600,000.

Running another race, Castro had it this time on board Q♥ 8♦ 6♥ 9♥ 2♥ , earning him back some of the chips he just lost.

Anthony Castro raised all-in on the button and saw Kei Shinagawa call off for his entire 2,010,000 stack.

A crucial race, Shinagawa flopped a monster on board Q♣ K♥ Q♠ 2♥ 5♦ , shipping him over 80% of the chips in play. Castro survived the damage but is cut down to 15 big blinds.

Anthony Castro remains to play aggressively with three back to back pots seeing Kei Shinagawa unable to take a stand. Still a long way to go as both continue to hover above the 40 big blind mark.

Kei Shinagawa defended his big blind once more against Anthony Castro's 80,000 button open, and check called another 150,000 on flop 4♦ 5♦ 9♠ . On turn 4♣ , Shinagawa gave it up after Castro continued for a heftier 250,000.

Kei Shinagawa defended his big blind against Anthony Castro's 80,000 button open and went on to battle on board 2♦ 6♦ A♦ 7♦ 9♣ . Castro triple barreled - 100,000, 250,000, including a final all-in, with Shinagawa check calling all the way to showdown.

Castro showed bluff 8♠ 2♠ , leaving Shinagawa's flush 4♦ 5♠ good for the takedown.

A limp pot between the final two read a flop of Q♠ 7♦ 6♥ . Kei Shinagawa check called 50,000 from Anthony Castro, and moved onto turn T♣ . Both checked it through to river A♣ , where Castro went for a final 200,000. Shinagawa used up a time bank and eventually made the call, but mucked as Castro showed top pair A♠ 3♥ .

Only two players remain standing with local runner Anthony Castro stacking the lead against Japan's Kei Shinagawa. Both players are already guaranteed PHP 135,000 (~USD 2,310) in winnings, with the final pay jump seeing a significant difference to the PHP 216,380 (~USD 3,705) listed top prize.

Chip Counts

Kei Shinagawa raised all-in on the button and saw Battulga Ganbold call off for his last 340,000.

In for a flip, Shinagawa immediately landed the advantage on board 9♦ A♦ 6♣ 4♣ 8♦ , enough to send Ganbold's pocket pair flying towards the muck.

Kei Shinagawa limped on the button and Anthony Castro checked his big blind option. Action on flop 4♣ 3♠ 4♥ was checked round to turn 4♦ , where Shinagawa bet 30,000. Castro check called, and went on to pay another 225,000 on river 6♣ , only to muck as Shinagawa tabled A♦ A♣ .

Anthony Castro limp called Battulga Ganbold's 200,000 all-in on the button for another showdown.

Board 4♦ 3♣ 6♥ A♠ 8♥ ran dry for both, earning Ganbold the pot with king-high.

Riener Magbutay pushed his last ten big blinds in the middle utg, and was looked up by Anthony Castro on the big blind.

On a bounty hunt, Castro locked up another one, having ran a flush on board 9♠ 7♠ T♦ Q♣ 3♠ to bag the win.

Anthony Castro open raised all-in utg and saw Kei Shinagawa call off for his entire 515,000 on the small blind.

Shinagawa in great form, had no worries on board Q♣ 8♠ 5♣ 4♠ K♠ , shipping him an easy win to 1 million.

Marco Almerez went all-in for his last 230,000, and saw Anthony Castro bump it up to 400,000. Ryan Tan on the button, reshoved for 1,290,000 total, in hopes to isolate. Castro however, put in the call, making it a three way showdown.

Board K♦ T♠ 2♣ T♥ 6♠ landed in favor of Castro, giving him two pair to deliver the double elimination and add a clean PHP 50,000 (~USD 860) in bounty prizes to his pocket.

Marco Almerez flicked in his last 85,000 and saw chip leader Anthony Castro isolate successfully.

Almerez a favorite to win, remained in the game as board 2♥ J♠ 7♣ 3♣ 7♥ kept his king-high ahead all the way through.

Kei Shinagawa opened 60,000 on the cutoff and saw both Marco Almerez and Anthony Castro on the blinds come along on flop A♣ 3♦ 6♦ . Shinagawa continued for 70,000, weeding out none onto turn J♦ . Action checked round to river 8♠ , where Castro bet 200,000. Shinagawa tank folded, and left Almerez to take the spot.

Castro showed two pair Q♣ 3♥ and earned the boost to crack the 2 Million count while leaving Almerez down to three big blinds.

Battulga Ganbold stuffed his last 160,000 on the hijack and faced Anthony Castro behind at showdown.

Castro dominated, forked over the chips as board 2♥ 5♣ 8♣ 7♣ 8♦ offered no chops.

Kei Shinagawa opened 50,000 on the hijack and was joined by both players on the blinds onto flop 5♦ 2♥ T♣ . Shinagawa continued for 65,000, but was left unable to continue after Anthony Castro check raised for 100,000 more.

Ryan Tan opened 50,000 utg, called by Battulga Ganbold for his last 35,000. Both players on the blinds come along on flop 6♠ A♥ Q♣ , yet laid it down after Tan continued for 60,000.

Ryan Tan 9♠ 5♦

Battulga Ganbold A♦ 4♥

Ganbold ahead with top pair, sealed the win as turn 6♣ and river 8♣ completed the board, giving him another chance at the trophy.

Kei Shinagawa open shoved 270,000 on the button and was looked up by Battulga Ganbold on the small blind.

Shinagawa at risk, caught up on the turn A♥ K♣ 3♦ K♠ Q♥ , sending Ganbold plummeting down to a single big blind.

Marco Almerez raised all-in for 185,000 against a late position open and saw Anthony Castro behind push likewise. Initial raiser opted out, leaving the two to showdown.

Almerez striked a full house on board Q♣ T♠ 7♠ 2♦ 2♣ , easily earning him the double up off the chip leader

Edwin Dela Cruz risked his last four big blinds and found himself in a flip against Ryan Tan for his tournament life.

Board 9♣ T♦ 2♣ 6♦ 8♣ steered clear of Dela Cruz's overcards, eliminating him from the running.

Anthony Castro opened utg+1 and called a 150,000 three bet from Ryan Tan behind. On flop 4♦ A♥ 6♣ , Castro check called a 100,000 cbet from Tan, peeling turn J♠ . Both checked it through to river T♦ , where Castro fired a final 400,000.

Tan gave it a thought and eventually paid the price, only to muck as Castro revealed the nuts K♠ Q♥ .

Junj Javalera pushed all-in for 479,000 following an utg limp, and saw Ryan Tan cold call behind. All else folded, leaving the two to showdown.

Javalera in rough shape, exited the arena shortly after board K♣ 7♠ K♥ 3♦ 6♥ left his suited ace behind all the way.

A blind vs blind battle saw Ryan Tan open 55,000, called behind by Riener Magbutay. On board 8♠ 6♣ 8♦ 5♦ , Tan double barreled - 40,000 and 85,000, and saw Magbutay call behind both streets. Tan decided to slow down on river T♦ , and surrender after Magbutay pushed all-in.

Junj Javalera opened utg and called Battulga Ganbold's short stack all-in for 156,000.

Ganbold secured the win on board 2♠ J♦ T♥ 4♣ 3♦ with top pair, earning him a much needed double up.

Junj Javalera defended his open and called a 90,000 three bet from Anthony Castro. On flop 9♥ 2♣ A♠ , Javalera check called another 80,000, yet laid it down after Castro pulled 150,000 more on turn 2♠ .

Kei Shinagawa opened utg and called a 125,000 three bet from Ryan Tan on the button. On board 6♦ 2♠ 9♦ 3♦ , Tan double barreled - 90,000 and 200,000, leaving Shinagawa to give it up by the turn.

Riener Magbutay defended his big blind against Kei Shinagawa's 35,000 early open, and went to battle on flop Q♥ 6♣ 6♠ . Action checked round to turn 8♠ , where Magbutay led for 21,000. Shinagawa made the call, and arrived at showdown after no more bets went in on river 7♠ .

Magbutay showed two pair Q♠ T♥ and shipped the pot.

Dmitrii Belikov opened 32,000 utg+1, and was joined by both players on the blinds onto flop J♦ K♠ 5♠ . Belikov continued for 25,000, called by the small blind. Anthony Castro on the big blind, raised for 50,000 more, and put out the rest after Belikov came back with an all-in for 344,000 total.

Dmitrii Belikov J♠ T♠

Anthony Castro K♥ Q♦

Belikov with a pair and a flush draw, failed to improve on either turn 3♥ or river 5♦ , knocking him out as the first final table casualty.

Today's Survivor Knockout highlight is down to its final table following a lengthy ten hour grind. Stacking the lead is Ryan Tan with a massive 1,326,000 stack, having just delivered Feridoun Farboud's elimination in 10th place. All players are now guaranteed a minimum payout of PHP 25,000 (~USD 430) and a chance to claim the PHP 216,380 (~USD 3,705) top prize.

Final Table Chip Counts

Remaining Payouts

Ryan Tan opened utg and gladly put out the chips after Feridoun Farboud shoved 516,000 in from the small blind.

Farboud in rough shape, exited as the final table bubble after missing board 3♥ Q♠ 6♥ J♥ Q♥ completely.

Vivencio Nachor stuffed 196,000 in on the big blind against Junj Javalera's button open, and saw the latter call off.

In for a flip, board 3♥ 9♥ 5♣ 9♦ J♣ ran in favor of Javalera's overcards, eliminating Nachor two spots short of the final table.

Anthony Castro opened 32,000 on the hijack and was met with a 90,000 three bet from Ryan Tan on the small blind. Castro responded with an all-in for 378,000 total, enough to throw Tan out of the action.

Anthony Castro open shoved 180,000 on the hijack and was looked up by Ryan Tan on the small blind.

Dominated, Tan turned the tables, having flopped trips on 8♦ 8♥ 6♠ . The runout 7♦ J♣ however, filled up Castro's straight, shipping him back the advantage.

Marco Almerez flicked in his last 30,000 and was up against initial raiser Junj Javalera along with the big blind. On flop 4♦ 8♣ 5♣ , Javalera gunned for 100,000, pushing the big blind out of the pot.

Marco Almerez A♥ 7♥

Junj Javalera Q♥ 4♥

Almerez behind, managed to pair up on runout 3♣ 7♠ , offering him another run at the title.

Anthony Castro committed 77,000 on the cutoff, leaving himself with 1,000 behind. Dmitrii Belikov called for the rest, giving Castro a sweat for his tournament life.

While behind, Castro caught up on board Q♣ T♣ 2♣ Q♥ 3♣ , running the nut flush to survive through.

Marco Almerez opened utg and called off Vivencio Nachor's all-in from the big blind for 122,000.

Board 4♣ J♠ 3♣ 9♠ 3♦ missed to pair either player, leaving Nachor's ace-high good for the win.

Rick Jason Ambata open shoved his last 139,000 on the cutoff and was looked up by Junj Javalera right on the big blind.

A pocket pair battle, Javalera easily bagged the win with his better pair holding up on board 8♦ 5♥ 9♣ K♦ 5♣ .

Junj Javalera opened 24,000 on the hijack, called behind by Vivencio Nachor. On flop 2♣ 4♥ 7♠ , Javalera check called a 25,000 bet from his opponent, revealing turn 9♠ . Both checked it through to river Q♦ , where Javalera led for 40,000.

Nachor made the call, only to muck as Javalera showed top pair K♣ Q♥ .

With a pot of 104,000 situated in the middle across board 7♦ 8♥ 3♠ 5♠ , action was caught on Kei Shinagawa with a bet of 55,000 on the big blind. Vivencio Nachor raised to 205,000, and called 210,000 more following an all-in from his opponent.

Kei Shinagawa 6♠ 4♠

Vivencio Nachor 8♣ 5♥

Shinagawa ahead with the straight, locked in the win just as river 3♣ completed the board.

Facing an open and two calls, Ryan Tan squeezed to 125,000 on the big blind and saw only Dmitrii Belikov on the button, complete. On flop K♣ 9♦ 2♦ , Belikov stuffed the rest against Tan's 120,000 cbet and was called down by his opponent with top pair.

Dmitrii Belikov 8♦ 5♦

Ryan Tan K♥ J♥

Belikov looking for a third diamond, found none on runout 4♥ 7♠ , leaving him to fork over nearly half his chips.

Action folded to Dmitrii Belikov on the small blind, prompting him to open for 36,000. Marc Gagne answered with an all-in for his entire 333,000 stack, called by Belikov with a premium pair.

Gagne in trouble, crashed out shortly after missing to improve on board 8♦ 6♠ 7♣ K♣ 2♠ , propeling Belikov right into the lead.

Kei Shinagawa opened on the button and snap called Kang Beomhui's shove for 211,000 total.

A cooler situation, Kang bound for the exit after board T♠ 8♠ T♥ 3♦ 8♥ felted no queens.

Anthony Castro defended his big blind against Ryan Tan's 22,000 cutoff open, and headed to flop Q♥ 9♠ J♥ . Action checked round to turn J♣ , where Castro led for 35,000. Tan called behind, and paid another 100,000 on river 2♦ to get to showdown.

Castro revealed two pair T♥ 9♥ , no good against Tan's better K♣ 9♣ .

Vivencio Nachor opened 22,000 on the cutoff and called 110,000 more following an all-in from Kei Shinagawa on the big blind.

In for a race, Shinagawa kept his advantage all the way through board T♦ 6♦ 7♥ 5♠ A♣ , costing Nachor a 13 big blind loss.

Having lost a big pot just moments before, Jose Colada pushed his last 60,000 in and was called by initial raiser Dmitrii Belikov.

Colada ahead, failed to dodge the ace on board 8♠ K♣ 3♠ J♣ A♥ , cleaning him out completely.

Jose Colada opened utg+1 and called a 50,000 three bet from Anthony Castro on the button. On flop 4♦ 5♥ T♠ , Colada check called another 35,000, and went on to check jam on turn J♥ against Castro's 70,000 second barrel.

Castro called off for his remaining 93,000 with Q♥ Q♠ , and was way ahead of Colada's bottom pair A♠ 4♠ . River 5♦ made no difference, shipping Castro a huge double up his way.

Marco Espela shoved his remaining 57,000 on the small blind and was challenged by initial raiser Marco Almerez.

In for race, Espela quickly found no hope on board 9♦ 7♦ 5♠ K♣ J♦ after his opponent flopped a straight to knock him out.

Lemmor Patulot pushed his last 93,000 on the cutoff and was called by Vivencio Nachor on the small blind, putting him at risk.

Patulot quickly landed top pair on flop 8♠ 7♣ J♦ , yet headed out as the runout T♦ Q♣ offered Nachor a straight to deliver the bust.

Junj Javalera scored a full double up off Rick Jason Ambata with ace-king after the latter missed to fill up his flush draw. Ambata survived the damage yet shot down to a 16 big blind stack.

Jerick Dale Santerva open shoved 114,000 in utg+1 and was called by Jose Colada on the hijack.

A crucial flip, Santerva missed to pair up his overcards on board 9♦ 3♣ K♥ 4♥ 4♣ , sealing his elimination.

Kei Shinagawa opened 16,000 utg and was joined by Vivencio Nachor on the button onto flop K♥ 4♦ A♦ . Shinagawa continued for 15,000, followed by 33,000 on turn 2♥ . Nachor raised to 78,000 on the second barrel, and went for an all-in on river Q♥ . Shinagawa found a fold, saving his 19 big blinds behind.

A six way limp pot read a flop of T♠ T♥ A♣ . Action was checked to Edwin Dela Cruz on the button, who bet 16,000. Dmitrii Belikov made the call, along with Gyusun Park for his last 15,000.

Turn 6♦ was checked through to river 9♣ , where Belikov gunned for a final 35,000. Dela Cruz put in the call with two pair for a side pot, revealing a showdown.

Belikov's kicker ran in play, earning him all the chips in the middle and eliminating Park in the process.

Feng Ji Chua opened 50,000 on the button, and called for his remaining 20,000 after Vivencio Nachor moved all-in on the big blind.

Running a flip, Chua immediately found no hope as Nachor flopped a set on board 4♣ 2♦ 9♠ Q♥ 5♦ to take it down.

Lemmor Patulot opened 15,000 utg and called 71,000 more following an all-in from Junj Javalera behind.

In for a flip, Javalera secured the double up, having landed top pair on board 5♣ A♠ 7♥ K♠ 9♣ .

Anthony Castro opened 16,000 utg+1, raised by Marc Gagne on the button to 50,000. Battulga Ganbold on the big blind, shoved all-in, and left both opponents in quick surrender.

Beni Goldstein raised all-in for his last 53,000 and saw Lemmor Patulot on the big blind, rise to the challenge.

Patulot instantly spiked trip tens on board T♣ 2♥ T♥ Q♣ 8♦ , sending Goldstein off the arena just moments later.

With a pot of 139,000 seen in the middle on flop 4♣ T♣ 2♦ , three way action was checked to Battulga Ganbold, who bet 65,000. Both Dmitrii Belikov and Marco Espela surrendered, shipping Ganbold a sizeable boost.

Benjamin Mangaliman pushed his last 46,000 on the cutoff and was looked up by Feridoun Farboud right on the big blind.

Slightly behind, Mangaliman failed to catch up on board T♥ 6♠ A♦ 4♣ 6♣ , eliminating him one spot shy of the money.

Kei Shinagawa defended his big blind against Rick Jason Ambata's button open, and headed to flop 6♦ 4♠ K♠ . Both checked it through to turn 4♣ , where Shinagawa led 9,000. Ambata made the call, and faced a final 25,000 bet on river 7♠ . Ambata decided to put in a raise for 35,000 more, leaving Shinagawa unable to continue to showdown.

Rick Jason Ambata opened 11,000 utg and called 38,000 more following an all-in from Junj Javalera behind.

Ambata in search of an ace, found none on board 4♣ 4♠ J♣ 5♣ 2♠ , earning Javalera the double up close to bubble time.

John Tech committed his remaining 60,000 preflop and found himself in for a race against Anthony Castro.

Board 4♥ 6♠ K♠ Q♦ 5♠ ran in favor of Castro, knocking out Tech from the running.

With 88,000 in the middle across board 7♦ A♦ 6♦ 5♦ T♣ , Riener Magbutay went for a final 45,000 off the small blind. Battulga Ganbold made the call, yet mucked as Magbutay showed flush Q♦ Q♣ .

Feridoun Farboud limped in and saw both players on the blinds come along on flop K♠ 9♠ T♥ . Action checked round to turn 2♦ , where Rick Jason Ambata led for 7,000. Farboud called behind, and faced another 16,000 on river 5♠ . Farbound raised to 95,000 and convinced Ambata to lay it down.

Emmanuel Segismundo kicked off the action with a 25,000 raise utg, followed by an all-in for 43,000 from Feng Ji Chua. Battulga Ganbold reshoved on the big blind, and Segismundo called off for his remaining 20,500 for a three way showdown.

Chua ahead, locked in the win as board 9♣ K♥ 3♠ 7♠ A♥ ran dry for both opponents.

Tamon Nakamura flicked in his last 17,000, and was followed with another all-in from Hirotoshi Fukumaru for 55,500 total. Ryan Tan on the big blind, put in the final call, making it a three way showdown.

Board Q♣ 9♦ K♣ 6♣ 7♦ remained in favor of Nakamura, earning him a full triple up while Fukumaru shipped the side pot to cover his losses.

Action has entered its knockout phase with 20% of the 162-entry field remaining in play. Each of the 33 players has a PHP 25,000 (~USD 430) bounty on their heads, bringing a 2x return on their investment per elimination.

Payouts will follow once the field is further reduced to 23 runners.

Lenart Ecarma stuffed his last 48,000 on the hijack and saw Kang Beomhui behind, happily oblige.

Crushed against the rockets, Ecarma missed the knockout cut by one after board A♣ Q♦ 7♠ 9♠ J♦ offered him no salvation.

Dmitrii Belikov opened on the cutoff and was met with a three bet from Marc Gangne right behind. Belikov responded with a raise to 58,000, yet decided to let it go after Gangne shoved for the rest.

Lenart Ecarma open shoved 26,500 utg+1 and was looked up by Hirotoshi Fukumaru on the button.

Ecarma at risk, held onto his seat after his opponent missed to pair up on board 8♥ J♠ 5♦ J♥ T♠ .

A back and forth between Ryan Tan and Tamon Nakamura landed a pot of 53 big blinds in the middle with Tan at risk.

In for a flip, Tan was left with no worries, having instantly spiked a set on board 6♦ A♦ T♣ 7♦ 3♥ to secure the double up.

Junj Javalera opened 10,500 on the button and saw both Beni Goldstein and Vivencio Nachor on the blinds put in the call. On flop 9♥ 7♥ 7♣ , Golstein went ahead and bet all-in for 57,500 and shipped the win straight away.

A button vs blind battle built a pot of 26,000 preflop. On flop 5♥ 8♠ K♥ , Anthony Castro check called a 7,000 bet from Edwin Dela Cruz, revealing turn T♣ . Both checked it through to river 6♣ , where Dela Cruz went for a final 16,000.