Warm-up (5,000 PHP)

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!

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).

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The action begins from the +1 position with a raise to 32,000 and a call from the HJ. The Philippines’ Irineo Javalera 3-bets it to 70,000 then Masafumi Kimura of Japan 4-bet shoves and forces the initial participants to fold, except for the Filipino who puts in his remaining 78,000.

Kimura flips over A♥ K♥ while Javalera is slightly ahead with 6♠ 6♣ .

The first three community card stayed safe for Javalera: 4♠ 3♣ T♣ but the turn card produces the K♠ . The 4♠ arrives on the river to rail Javalera in 30th place and bring Kimura’s stack within range of the chip leaders.

Edwin de la Cruz of the Philippines (known in the local poker scene as “Hit D’Heat”) has it folded to him on the D and open shoves his last 177,000 only to be called in the BB by Masafumi Kimura of Japan.

De la Cruz tables A♥ J♦ while Kimura is in a coin-flip with T♠ T♥ .

The flop comes 4♥ K♣ 3♠ but the turn brings in the T♦ to reduce the Filipino to just four outs (from initially six). The K♥ on the river sends de la Cruz packing.

Kimura is now among the big stacks.