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 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.

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

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 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♠ .

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

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.

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.

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♣ .

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.

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.

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.

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.

Castro paid the price, and mucked as Dela Cruz showed top pair K♠ J♣ .