Warm-up (5,000 PHP)

Leading up to the most anticipated event in the Philippines, the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) is offering players a rare shortcut. Running from July 20-22, 2025 at Okada Manila is the APPT Manila Super Qualifier which serves as a direct passage to the APPT Manila Main Event (₱58 Million Guaranteed) at just a fraction of the ₱80,000 buy-in. Players can now secure a seat for just ₱9,000!

Unlike traditional satellites, this is a milestone event where players earn an APPT Manila Main Event seat the moment they accumulate 100,000 chips. No waiting for bubbles and final table negotiations, just hit the target and the seat is in the bag. Additionally, there are many chances to get there with 30 seats guaranteed.

For those looking to stretch value even further, the Step 1 Qualifier offers an even cheaper path. With a buy-in of just ₱2,000, players can vie for one of ten guaranteed seats into the Super Qualifier. The format mirrors the milestone structure with 50,000 as the goal to win a seat.

It all came down to consistency and one of the sickest reads and calls in the festival thus far, but despite ending the proceedings in a 3-way ICM chop, Japan’s Masafumi Kimura continues his blistering here as he copped the (Event #3) Warm-Up event of the Manila Super Series 22 at Pokerstars Live here in Okada Manila, besting a field of 402 entries for PhP209,800 (~US$3,752).

Masafumi triumphed in (Event #4) Run-It-Twice a couple of days ago and picks up his fourth career championship—all here at Pokerstars Live—having won the Run-It-Twice as well during Manila Megastack 20 last year and this year’s 20/15/10 in Manila Megastack 21.

“I'm feeling really happy right now. Winning two trophies in three days is amazing, and it's extra special because I also won two trophies at the last Manila Megastack. But I really want to win a PokerStars Main Event like the Manila Super Series, Megastack, or even APPT.”

After the elimination of erstwhile chip leader Michael Manlapaz of the Philippines in fourth place, the three remaining players tussled for a bit until Filipino veteran Jester Intia drew almost even to chip leader Raymundo Gomez via an outdraw. After that, they convened and agreed to chop it up and award the trophy to the Japanese campaigner.

“It was very difficult. There are so many good players here, both local and international. The competition is always strong, and you really have to be focused every step of the way. I’m just glad I was able to come out on top."

“I wanted to share the money with the other players. But at the same time, I really wanted the trophy. So the ICM deal felt like a good balance for everyone.”

The turning point, even among the players and aficionados who witnessed it, happened with still five players remaining as Kimura took on the always unpredictable and aggressive post-flop specialist Manlapaz wherein the Filipino bombarded on a board of K♣ 5♠ A♦ 2♠ 4♦ and made a big bet on the river. Kimura used a timebank card and made the call that had Manlapaz instantly muck his hand. Kimura turned over Q♦ 6♦ . He called with Queen high on that scary board.

“Yes, that was a key hand, I remembered that Michael (Manlapaz) had called several times preflop without raising, so I had a good read on his range. On the AK board, his line didn’t make much sense. It felt like he was bluffing. Based on his actions and the board texture, I thought he might have something like J7 or 10-8. I believed queen high was good.”

It will still go down as the talk of the event.

Second place officially went to Gomez although he won the most money, taking home PhP227,900 (~US$4,085) as he had the most chips (not by much) during the ICM chop. Intia was third for PhP197,300 (~US$3,535).

The Final Table participants also receive APPT Super Qualifier packages worth PhP9,000 (~US$160).

The three remaining combatants have agreed to spilt the remaining prize money via ICM chop and decided that Masafumi Kimura of Japan takes down the title.

Raymundo Gomez of the Philippines still gets the biggest cut as he was still barely the chip leader when the agreement was reached. Gomez gets second place and pockets the adjusted prize of PhP227,900 (~US$4,085) while Kimura earns PhP209,800 (~US$3,760). Jester Intia, also of the Philippines, takes third for PhP197,300 (~US$3,535).

Congratulations to this trio besting a field of 402 entries in the Warm-Up!

Jester Intia is still swinging away and continues to defy logic as a card seer.

Raymundo Gomez opens from the UTG/D for 500,000 and Intia shoves from the SB for his remaining 1,280,000. Gomez, the chip leader, makes the call.

Intia turns over A♣ 2♠ while Gomez shows J♠ J♥ .

Prior to the dealer putting out the flop, Intia calls for the Ace of Diamonds.

The flop comes A♦ 3♠ 6♣ as those railing became astonished. The turn is the 3♦ and the river is the 3♣ as Intia doubles through with a higher boat and almost pulls abreast of his opponent.

Former chip leader Michael Manlapaz puts it all on the line as he open shoves from UTG for his remaining stack of 1,785,000 and it folds to the SB where Masafumi Kimura makes the call.

Manlapaz turns over 6♦ 6♠ while his Japanese opponent shows A♥ Q♦ .

The flop instantly swung the favor to Kimura: A♦ J♠ 2♠ and there was no miracle on the horizon for the Filipino as the 3♥ and the 7♠ completed the runout.

With three players remaining, they are now all guaranteed PhP140,000 (~US$2,510).

Just as Raymundo Gomez appears to be heading into cruise control, his UTG raise to 250,000 is greeted by a 3-bet shove from Jester Intia from the SB for his last 640,000. Gomez makes the call.

Intia shows 7♦ 7♣ while Gomez is actually in a coin-flip for his opponent’s tournament life with K♣ 9♥ .

The runout, however, was bogey-free for Intia: J♥ 4♣ 4♦ Q♦ 5♦ as Intia moves into the seven-digit chip mark. Gomez still has a massive lead against the rest of the competition.

The ongoing saga between Raymundo Gomez and Michael Manlapaz continues on the very next after Manlapaz lost the chip lead as Gomez opens from the D for 260,000. Manlapaz calls from the SB.

The flop goes 9♦ Q♥ 5♣ as Manlapaz checks and Gomez fires again, this time for 250,000. Manlapaz calls. The turn card is the 3♠ as this time both slow down and check. The river is the 6♣ as Manlapaz checks a third time. Now, Gomez unloads 700,000 to which Manlapaz folds.

In two hands, Gomez has not only taken the chip lead away from Manlapaz but doubled his stack as opposed to his foe’s.

The action is folded to the blinds where Raymundo Gomez completes his SB but is met with a raise from the BB from chip leader Michael Manlapaz to 300,000. Gomez calls.

The flop goes 8♥ 5♥ K♠ as Gomez checks to the raiser. Manlapaz CBets 400,000 as Gomez calls. The turn is the K♥ and this time, both check. The river is the 6♣ as now Gomez bets 500,000. Manlapaz makes the snap call.

Gomez unveils K♣ 7♥ for trips on the turn while Manlapaz shows A♠ A♥ and is lucky to lose the minimum.

Manlapaz does lose the chip to Gomez anew.

From UTG, Mark Anthony Ciruelos raises it to 280,000 and erstwhile chip leader Michael Manlapaz calls from the D.

The flop is 4♦ 5♥ T♣ as Ciruelos continues for 300,000. Manlapaz raises all-in and Ciruelos tanks and utilizes his last timebank card before making the call for his remaining 1,670,000.

To Ciruelos’ surprise, however, Manlapaz tables J♥ J♣ while Ciruelos turns over K♣ T♥ .

Still with outs, the turn is the 9♦ and the river is the 4♦ to officially bust Circuelos in blindsided fashion.

Four players remain now all assured of PhP110,000 (~US$1,970).

Raymundo Gomez has it folded to him in SB where he completes in as chip leader Michael Manlapaz check his option in the BB.

The flop goes T♦ 9♦ 7♣ as both check. The turn is the Q♦ and once again they skip the street. The river is the K♠ and no one fires.

Gomez shows K♥ 2♦ while Manlapaz tables K♦ 6♠ for a split pot, but Manlapaz posted the ante, that is also divided, hence Gomez wins a little more and it is enough to take the chip lead away from Manlapaz.

The action folds to chip leader Michael Manlapaz on the D who limps in anew and it gets to the BB of Masafumi Kimura who keeps the pot unraised.

The flop comes K♣ 5♠ A♦ as both players check. The turn is the 2♠ and this time, Manlapaz bets 120,000. Kimura calls. The river is the 4♦ as Kimura checks a fourth time. Manlapaz unleashes 400,000 as Kimura goes into the tank and consumes one timebank in process. He makes the call.

Manlapaz instantly mucks his hand as Kimura turns over Q♦ 6♦ for a ridiculous call with Queen high.

Manlapaz still has the chip lead, but Kimura’s gutsy play has him hovering in the vicinity.

Mark Anthony Ciruelos opens from UTG for 250,000 and gets a BB defense from Masafumi Kimura.

The flop is 8♦ Q♦ Q♥ as Kimura checks. Ciruelos CBets for the same 250,000 and gets called. The turn is the Q♣ and Kimura checks again. This time, the Filipino tanks and uses a timebank card nefore declaring that he is all-in for 860,000. Kimura takes his time to consider and ends up burning two timebank cards. Consequently, the Japanese player chooses to fold.

Ciruelos’ win makes him the third Filipino to breach the two million chip mark.

Chip leader Michael Manlapaz has to folded to him on the D and proceeds to make a raise to 200,000. In the BB, Korea’s Kim Jongsu 3-bet shoves for his evaporating stack of 340,000. Manlapaz makes a snap call.

Kim turns over 9♦ 7♠ while Manlapaz brandishes K♠ K♣ .

The runout goes T♠ 2♠ 3♦ 5♠ 2♣ as Manlapaz now soars to over three million in chips while Kim leaves in sixth place.

There are only five players remaining, all now guaranteed PhP85,000 (~US$1,525).

The action gets folded to big stack Raymundo Gomez on the D and he raises it to 200,000. In the BB, Jester Intia announces he is all-in for his remaining 390,000. Gomez calls.

Intia tables A♠ 5♥ while Gomez has him dominated with A♣ J♦ .

The flop goes 6♦ 7♥ Q♣ while the turn is the 6♣ . With his chances looking bleak, Intia (in his big baritone voice) calls out for the 5♣ which does appear on the river.

The double up by Intia was hardly felt by Gomez, but more artillery is given to a dangerous competitor.

Raymundo Gomez opens from the +1 position for 200,000 and draws two callers in chip leader Michael Manlapaz in the HJ and Masafumi Kimura in the BB.

The flop is J♥ 4♣ 2♠ as Kimura checks. Gomez CBets for 250,000 and it is enough to get his opponents off the hand.

Gomez is now in solo second place.

Right after the break, former chip leader Patrick Noonan opens from UTG for 200,000 as it folds to the SB where another former chip leader in Michael Manlapaz makes the call. In the BB, Marciel Gerbito 3-bets all-in for 540,000 while Noonan’s response is a 4-bet shove for 815,000.

Manlapaz, who still covers both, snap calls.

Gerbito turns over A♣ Q♦ while Noonan has K♥ J♥ . Manlapaz, however, tables A♥ A♦ .

The flop brings in Q♥ 6♦ 3♦ to give Gerbito additional outs while the turn shows the 5♥ to give Noonan additional outs. None of them show up for the embattled pair as the K♣ appears on the river as the well-placed trap works wonderfully for Manlapaz.

Gerbito finishes in eighth place for PhP38,000 (~US$680) while Noonan captures seventh for PhP46,000 (~US$825).

Six players remain.

In a rarity in the Final Table, chip leader Michael Manlapaz opens from UTG for 200,000 and folds to the BB where Raymundo Gomez defends.

The flop is T♣ 6♥ 2♠ as Gomez checks. Manlapaz continues for 200,000 anew and gets check-raised all-in by Gomez for 735,000. Manlapaz makes the call.

Gomez tables A♠ T♦ while Manlapaz shakes his head as he shows 9♣ 9♠ .

The last two community cards of the hand are the 8♦ and the 2♣ .

Manlapaz’s stack goes down considerably and is now overtaken by Gomez.

Still smarting from losing a big chunk of his chips a few prior to the aces of fellow Filipino Mark Anthony Ciruelos, Marciel Cerbito is at it again, this time opening from the HJ for 180,000. It folds to Japan’s Masafumi Kimura who defends his BB.

The flop comes T♦ 8♠ 2♦ as Kimura checks. Cerbito CBets for 80,000 and Kimura calls. The turn is the K♦ and once again the Japanese player checks. This time, the Filipino fires 250,000. Kimura proceeds to check-raise all-in. Cerbito is covered. After contemplating, Cerbito folds but not before losing more chips.

Cerbito is now down to just over five BBs.

From the +1 position, Mark Anthony Ciruelos raises it up to 125,000 and gets called by chip leader Michael Manlapaz in the HJ. Meanwhile, in the CO, Marciel Gerbito 3-bets it to 625,000 and it gets folded back to Ciruelos who shoves his remaining stack of 700,000. Manlapaz folds and Gerbito calls.

Ciruelos turns over A♥ A♦ that completely blindsides his fellow Filipino who shows 7♥ 7♠ .

The runout goes 5♥ 6♦ Q♦ J♥ Q♥ as the double up Ciruelos drops Gerbito to below the one million chip mark.

The action folds to chip leader Michael Manlapaz on the D and he once again limps in. It folds to the BB of Patrick Noonan who checks his option.

The unraised pot sees a flop of J♣ 6♥ 3♦ as Noonan checks. Manlapaz leads out for 80,000 and Noonan calls. The turn is the 8♠ as this time, Noonan donks for 150,000. Manlapaz makes the call. The river card is the 8♥ and now further action transpires.

Noonan is first to show and the Irishman tables Q♥ T♣ for a miss while Manlapaz takes it down with 6♠ 4♦ middle pair on the flop.

The loss drops Noonan to just above the one million mark while Manlapaz’s separation from the other seven players behind is becoming more definitive.

Chip leader Michael Manlapaz has hardly raised when coming into a pot and once again the Filipino limps in from the +1 position and is joined by other players in Masafumi Kimura from the SB and Mrk Anthony Ciruelo from the BB who checks his option.

The flop is A♣ 5♠ 8♦ as all three players check. The turn is the 9♦ as the blinds check anew. Manlapaz bets 160,000 and it’s enough to take down the pot.

Manlapaz is moving closer to the three million chip mark.

Just as the new level dawns, Patrick Noonan opens from the CO for 200,000 only to be greeted by a 3-bet shove from Masafumi Kimura from the BB for all of his 1,080,000.

Noonan didn’t need a timebank card to fold but the move put the Japanese player to within in a heartbeat of drawing level against the former overall chip leader.

The very next hand has Mark Anthony Ciruelos opening from the +1 position for 150,000 and getting a customer in chip leader Michael Manlapaz in the HJ. Everyone else folds.

The flop comes J♣ 4♥ 2♦ as Ciruelos goes into the tank and burns a timebank card before deciding to bet 125,000. Manlapaz folds as Ciruelos inches closer to the one million chip mark.

In the 20th hand of the Final Table, Raymondo Gomez opens from the HJ for 125,000 and gets called in the SB by Patrick Noonan.

The flop goes 8♥ J♣ Q♦ as Noonan checks. Gomez CBets for 80,000 and gets called. The turn is the 6♠ and this time, both check. The river is the 9♥ as Noonan checks a third time. Gomez fires 200,000 and gets the Irishman to release his cards into the muck.

Gomez now also has seven digit holdings.

Chip leader Michael Manlapaz limps in from UTG and the action folds all the way to Raymundo Gomez in the BB who checks his option.

The unraised pot sees a flop of T♦ 9♥ 5♦ as Gomez checks. Manlapaz leads out for 150,000 and it’s enough to have his compatriot to fold.

The very next hand sees Raymundo Gomez open from the CO for 120,000 and it folds to the BB of erstwhile chip leader Patrick Noonan as the Irishman chooses to defend.

The flop goes A♥ 8♣ J♠ as Noonan checks and Gomez continues for 75,000. Noonan makes the call. The turn is the 6♠ and this time, both check. The river is the 3♦ and now Noonan leads out for 225,000. Time banks are now in play here in the Final Table and the Filipino uses up two of his immediately at this early stage. Gomez eventually decides to fold, awarding the pot to Noonan.

On the tenth hand of the Final Table, Raymundo Gomez has it folded to him on the D and raises it up to 125,000 and gets called by chip leader Michael Manlapaz in the SB.

The flop is J♣ T♦ 5♥ as both players check. The turn is the 7♥ and once again both opt to skip this betting street. The river is the 7♦ and this time, Manlapaz bets 125,000. Gomez elects to call.

Manlapaz shows 6♥ 5♠ for bottom pair. Gomez mucks.

After the first five hands of the final table carried no significant action, the sixth hand opens from the +2 position as the Philippines’ Michael Manlapaz limps in and gets raised from the LJ to 135,000 by fellow Filipino Marciel Gerbito. At the CO, Kim Hyoungchul puts his remaining 95,000 in the pot as Manlapaz decides to call Gerbito’s raise.

The flop comes Q♥ Q♠ 6♠ as Manlapaz bets 100,000. Gerbito folds.

Kim flips over J♥ J♦ while Manlapaz shows Q♦ 8♦ for trip queens on the flop and the lead. The turn is the A♦ and the river is the 4♦ as Kim becomes the first casualty of the Final Table.

Manlapaz is now the overall chip leader.

The Philippines’ Jay Payuyo has thus far staved off elimination on several occasions and now finds himself UTG and raising to 100,000. The action folds all the way to the BB where Masafumi Kimura of Japan opts to defend.

The flop comes A♥ 2♠ 6♥ as Kimura donks for 50,000 prompting the Filipino go over the top all-in for his remaining 370,000. Kimura makes the quick call.

Payuyo tables A♠ 5♠ for top pair while the Japanese player shows A♦ 2♦ for two pairs. Payuyo never recovers as the turn is the T♠ and the river is the 8♥ .

With Payuyo’s exit in tenth place, the Final Table is now set.

In a tussle between two Filipinos, Jester Intia raises from UTG to 100,000 and it goes all the ay to the SB of Mark Anthony Ciruelos of jams his remaining 205,000. Intia calls.

Ciruelos shows 4♥ 4♦ while Intia is flipping with J♣ T♣ .

The flop stays safe for Ciruelos: A♥ 8♦ 3♦ but then the 9♣ appears on the turn giving Intia an open-ended straight redraw to add more outs. The 3♠ on the river quelled any upheaval as Ciruelos doubles through and brings his opponent’s stack down to six figures.

The action gets folded to the blinds anew as Masafumi Kimura once again does his bully move of shoving from the SB but this time gets called by short stack Jay Payuyo for his last 225,000.

Once again, Kimura shows a funky hand in Q♥ 4♠ going up against the Filipino’s 9♥ 9♠ .

The runout did not change the outcome: 2♥ T♣ J♣ 5♠ A♦ as Payuyo gets a stay of execution and Kimura’s stack drops below the one million mark.

The two blinds go all-in preflop with SB Raymundo Gomez of the Philippines covering the 380,000 call of Korea’s Choi Younsik in the BB.

Gomez tables A♥ Q♥ while Choi holds T♣ T♦, coin-flipping for his tournament life.

The flop gives the lead to the Filipino: Q♠ 5♣ 8♣ followed by the Q♦ . Needing one of the two remaining tens in the deck to stay alive, the 5♥ on the river gives Gomez a full house that busts the Korean in 11th place.

Flight A chip leader Han Seung Hyun of Korea is down to his last 100,000 in chips and commits them to the pot from the +1 position. It folds to the Philippines’ Michael Manlapaz who 3-bets all-in for 680,000 and gets called in the BB by fellow Filipino Jay Payuyo.

Han flips over K♠ T♠ while Manlapaz shows Q♣ Q♠ . Payuyo has A♣ K♣ .

The runout goes 7♠ 6♣ 9♦ 9♣ 3♥ as the queens hold for Manlapaz, eliminating Han in 12th place and crippling Payuyo in one swift blow.

Korea’s Kang Myeonghwa swings for the fences from the +1 position for 405,000 and the action gets folded around to the BB where Marciel Gerbito of the Philippines makes the call.

Kang shows A♣ 3♥ while Gerbito has 7♦ 7♠ .

The runout goes 4♦ T♦ 5♣ T♥ 9♦ as the gutshot never shows up for the Korean and he bites the dust at 13th place.

From UTG, Japan’s Masafumi Kimura raises it up to 80,000 and gets called in the +1 position. It folds to the D where short stacked Jonathan Duque of the Philippines goes for it all by shoving his remaining 260,000. Kimura calls and the initial caller folds.

Duque flips over A♣ 7♥ while the player from Japan has him dominated with A♦ T♠ .

The runout goes K♦ 9♣ 5♠ 6♥ J♠ as Duque exits in 14th place.

Two Filipinos tangle as Michael Manlapaz goes all-in for his last 490,000 from the +1 position and is called by Jay Payuyo on the D.

Manlapaz shows 9♥ 9♣ while Payuyo is in a flip with A♠ T♠ .

The runout goes Q♦ 3♣ 3♥ 3♠ 5♣ as Manlapaz now hits seven figures and drags Payuyo back to six figures.

The action is folded to the HJ where Korea’s Kim Hyoungchul raises to 115,000 as it folds to the BB where Filipino Tony Abesamis elects to make the jump with his remaining 110,000.

Much to Abesamis’ chagrin, Kim unveils A♠ A♣ against his 8♣ 6♠ .

The runout held no landmines: 2♠ T♥ K♦ 6♥ J♣ as Abesamis finishes in 15th place.

Jonathan Duque of the Philippines opens from the +1 position for 80,000 and folds all the way to the SB of fellow Filipino Jay Payuyo who re-raises all-n for 655,000. Duque makes the call.

Payuyo turns over K♣ K♦ while a disgruntled Duque tables Q♠ Q♥ .

The flop makes it very slim for Duque: 2♦ 2♠ K♣ and is drawing dead on the turn when the J♣ arrives. The river card is the 3♥ .

This shift in the balance of power now puts Payuyo within striking distance of the chip leaders as Duque is now officially (and suddenly) a short stack.

Mark Anthony Ciruelos of the Philippines opens from the +1 position for 80,000 and gets called in the HJ by Korea’s Han Seung Hyun. Over at the SB, an other Filipino in Jester Intia 3-bet shoves for his remaining 400,000. Ciruelos opts to fold but Han makes the call.

Intia shows J♠ J♥ (which he calls “Pocket Jesters”) while Han tables A♥ K♣ .

The runout goes 8♥ 9♠ 9♥ 7♥ 9♦ as Intia’s full house brings him closer to the one million chip mark after being a short stack about an orbit ago. The Flight A chip leader is now an endangered species.

Chip leader Patrick Noonan of Ireland opens from UTG for 65,000 and is greeted with a 3-bet shove from the +2 position by Korea’s Kim Jongsu to 295,000. It gets folded to the BB where another Korean in Kim Hyoungchul makes the call. Noonan gets out of the way.

Jongsu turns over A♦ K♦ while Hyoungchul shows Q♥ Q♠ .

The flop becomes an instant concern for Hyoungchul: 2♦ K♣ 4♦ and for good measure the 6♦ renders Jongsu drawing dead as Hyoungchul hits the nut flush. The 6♣ on the river ensures that Jongsu trudges on but Hyoungchul now has one of the shortest stacks left.

The blinds and antes have eaten up the stack of Canada’s Claude Henoud as he is all-in on the BB for his last 15,000. The Philippines’ Jay Payuyo limps in from the HJ and is accompanied by Korean Han Seung Hyun from the D.

The flop comes T♠ 7♠ Q♥ as both check. The turn is the 9♠ as again they check and the river is the A♠ and no further action ensues.

Henoud turns over J♦ 5♥ while Payuyo shows A♥ 9♦ for top pair on the river. Han tables K♣ 5♣ .

Payuyo busts Henoud at 16th place.

The action is folded to the blinds as big stack Masafumi Kimura pulls a bully move by shoving from the SB against the Philippines’ Jay Payuyo in the BB who is down to his last 265,000. It just so happens that Payuyo makes the call as he has A♣ J♦ . Kimura tables 8♣ 6♥ .

The runout goes K♠ 9♣ 5♣ 9♠ 3♥ as Payuyo crawls back to past the half million mark. Kimura hardly felt the hit.

Big stack Jonathan Duque of the Philippines opens from the HJ for 60,000 but gets re-raised all-in by fellow Filipino Michael Manlapaz for his remaining 140,000 from the D. Duque calls.

Manlapaz tables K♣ Q♥ while Duque has the preflop edge with A♠ 7♣ .

The flop immediately gives the advantage to Manlapaz: K♥ T♥ 9♣ . The turn card is the 6♠ to bring in more outs for Duque as he gets a redraw to a gutshot that never appears as the 5♣ completes the board.

Duque’s stack falls below the million mark for the first time in a couple of orbits and Manlapaz is back in contention.

Big stack Jonathan Duque of the Philippines opens from the HJ for 60,000 but gets re-raised all-in by fellow Filipino Michael Manlapaz for his remaining 140,000 from the D. Duque calls.

Manlapaz tables K♣ Q♥ while Duque has the preflop edge with A♠ 7♣ .

The flop immediately gives the advantage to Manlapaz: K♥ T♥ 9♣ . The turn card is the 6♠ to bring in more outs for Duque as he gets a redraw to a gutshot that never appears as the 5♣ completes the board.

Duque’s stack falls below the million mark for the first time in a couple of orbits and Manlapaz is back in contention.

The Philippines’ Mark Anthony Ciruelos is at risk as his remaining 220,000 is in the pot against Claude Henoud of Canada.

Ciruelos shows K♣ K♥ while Henoud has A♥ 6♥ .

The flop already gives the Filipino a near insurmountable lead: K♠ 7♣ T♥ with top set. Henoud needs running cards to reverse the tide but the 4♠ on the turn assures more poker for Circuelos. The river is the 6♠ to officially put the Canadian in dire straits.

In a rare unraised battle of the blinds, the Philippines’ Raymundo Gomez in the SB and Choi Younsik of Korea see a flop of K♠ 8♥ 2♥ .

Gomez leads out for 30,000 and gets called. The turn is the J♣ and once again the Filipino stays aggressive by firing 65,000. This time, Choi raises all-in for his last 255,000. Gomez opts to release his hand.

After getting short-stacked going up against fellow Filipino Michael Manlapaz earlier, Jester shoves his remaining 155,000 against Canada’s Claude Henoud.

It’s Intia now who has A♠ A♦ while Henoud holds Q♦ Q♥ .

The runout goes 4♠ 2♠ K♦ 4♦ T♥ as Intia climbs out of the danger zone for the moment with his fortuitous double up at the most opportune instance. The Canadian now sees his stack slip to below the triple century mark.

With his stack shrinking, Japan’s Fumiaki Chono puts in his last 65,000 as the action gets folded to him on the D. Kim Jongsu of Korea calls from the BB.

Chono shows K♦ J♠ while Kim has 9♣ 9♥ .

The runout goes devoid of booby traps for the Korean: T♦ 6♠ 7♣ Q♣ (a sweat card as a straight redraw appears) 6♦ .

The Japanese player is out in 17th .

Israel’s Yossef Cohen shoves his dwindling stack of 175,000 from the +1 position and it folds to the HJ where Kim Songju of Korea isolates by re-raising all-in. No one calls.

Cohen tables A♣ 2♠ while Kim has T♦ T♥ .

The runout goes 6♦ 5♣ 7♠ 7♥ 2♠ as the tens hold for the Korean and Cohen busts out in 18th.

Masafumi Kimura of Japan raises from UTG for 50,000 and gets called by big stack Jonathan Duque of the Philippines from the CO.

The flop is K♦ 8♦ 2♦ as Kimura CBets for 35,000. Duque calls. The turn is the 9♣ and this time, both check. The river is the J♦ (completing a one-card flush). Kimura checks again and now Duque bets 100,000. Kimura calls.

Duque shows Q♦ T♠ while Kimura shows the T♦ before mucking his hand.

Michael Manlapaz of the Philippines opens from UTG for 50,000 and it gets folded to the BB of Canada’s Claude Henoud who chooses to defend.

The flop comes 8♦ 7♦ Q♣ as Henoud checks. Manlapaz fires 100,000 and Henoud check-raises all-in for 225,000. Manlapaz folds but not before showing the A♣ .

Three Filipinos are involved in this hand which sees Jonathan Duque open from the HJ for 40,000 and Michael Manlapaz calls from the CO. Jester Intia 3-bets from the D to 130,000 as Duque senses it’s his cue to exit and does. Manlapaz 4-bet shoves his remaining 200,000 and Intia makes the call.

Manlapaz flips over A♥ A♦ while Intia unleashes a few expletives before showing K♦ K♥ . Even the suits are covered.

The runout goes J♥ 8♦ 3♣ 3♠ 9♠ as Manlapaz nears the half century mark and Intia is down to about ten BBs.

Once again, it is all-in preflop with Korea’s Kang Myeonghwa tabling K♠ Q♠ while Hatim Hussein of Australia holds the edge with A♣ 3♥ . Hussein’s remaining 180,000 is now in the middle and he is at risk.

The first four community cards go T♠ 6♦ 3♠ 2♦ but the K♠ arrives on the river, sending the Australian to the rail.

20 players remain.

Two Filipinos are all-in preflop with Mark Anthony Ciruelos showing A♥ 2♦ while Jay Payuyo holds 7♦ 7♠ . Ciruelos is at risk.

The flop goes 4♦ A♣ 4♣ to give Ciruelos the lead that he would not relinquish as the 4♥ and the 2♠ complete the runout. Ciruelos emerges victorious with a higher full house to double up and practically pull abreast of his victim.

Fumiaki Chono of Japan open shoves from the HJ and gets called by Australia’s Hatim Hussein from the D. Short stack Raymond Enriquez of the Philippines also decides to take the leap for his last 25,000.

Chono tables A♦ K♥ while Hussein shows 8♣ 8♠ . Enriquez has Q♦ 5♠ .

The runout goes 4♣ 7♣ 2♦ 7♦ and the river brings in the A♣ which enables Chono to double up off of Hussein and eliminate Enriquez to come closer to another pay jump.

Hussein’s loss is catastrophic as now has about ten BBs left.

From the HJ, Hideaki Tani goes for it all as he shoves his last 235,000 and gets a caller in fellow Japanese player Masafumi Kimura in the SB.

Tani flips over A♠ Q♠ and is thrilled to see he dominates Kimura’s A♥ T♠ .

The flop comes A♦ A♠ 3♠ as both hit trips but Tani’s kicker is still in play. The turn is the 4♣ but the river is the T♣ which gives Kimura a full house and knocks Tani out of the competition.

Kimura is now the closest pursuer to Patrick Noonan’s massive stack.