Warm-up (5,000 PHP)

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.

The Philippines’ Alex Yao opens from UTG for 40,000 and right beside him in the +1 position, Kang Myeonghwa of Korea 3-bet shoves his last 280,000. Yao calls for his remaining 150,000.

Kang shows A♦ Q♦ while Yao tables A♥ J♥ .

The runout goes A♠ 7♣ 4♥ T♠ 4♦ as the Korean’s kicker cans Yao.

Kang now approaches the half million chip mark.

In a battle of the blinds, the Philippines’ Alex Yao completes his SB but gets raised by Kang Myeonghwa to 50,000. Yao re-raises all-in for his remaining 94,000 and Kang makes the call.

Yao turns over J♦ T♦ while the Korean shows K♦ Q♦ . The Filipino is at risk but with live cards.

The runout goes: 7♥ 3♣ 5♦ T♠ 9♦ as Yao hits a pair on the turn and it is enough to keep him in contention.