Warm-up (5,000 PHP)

Once again, Jonathan Duque of the Philippines is on the cusp of once again being on the donation end of reviving the tournament life of yet another endangered specie as Korea’s Sung Younghwan tables A♠ K♣ after Duque called his alleged desperation heave with A♥ 8♠ .

However, Duque defies the odds and snatches the edge on the flop: 5♦ 8♦ 6♥ . The turn is the A♦ but Sung finds the K♦ on the river as the Korean’s higher aces up allows him at least another orbit.

That’s twice in a row Duque has chips taken away from him.

Greece’s Ioannis Athiniotis sees that he has the BB in the next and jumps in from UTG for his remaining 70,000. It gets folded to Jonathan Duque of the Philippines who makes the call from the D.

Athiniotis shows A♦ T♦ while Duque turns over a dominated A♣ 6♦ .

The runout priduces no booby traps for the Greek player: 4♦ 9♦ K♣ 7♣ 8♥ for yet another double up from just 11,000 in chips to six figures in a little over an orbit.

Kang Myeonghwa of Korea has it folded to him in the CO and open shoves for 62,000. He gets called in the SB by the Philippines’ Jonathan Duque but Japanese player Satoshi Takahashi 3-bet shoves from the BB, forcing Duque out of the hand.

The Korean tables Q♥ Q♣ while Takahashi shows A♠ K♦ .

The runout kept the ladies favored: 5♦ 7♣ 9♠ 5♥ 4♣ as Kang doubles up and there are still 35 players left.

Jonathan Duque of the Philippines opens from UTG for 16,000 and gets called by a plauer in the HJ. It folds to Japan’s Yoshinori Fukazawa who 3-bet shoves his remaining 38,000. Duque then 4-bet shoves, forcing the initial caller to fold.

Fukazawa tables Q♥ Q♦ while the Fiipino shows A♣ K♦ .

Duque instantly grans the advantage on the flop: K♥ 8♠ 5♦ and the last two community cards are of no help to the embattled Japanese player as the 2♦ and the 6♠ complete the runout.

The elimination of Fukazawa gives Duque over a quarter of a million in chips and is within striking distance of the top spot.

The Philippines’ David Lenard Ang opens from the +2 position for 1,500 and gets two callers in fellow Filipino Jonathan Duque on the D and Kim Sangbum of Korea in the BB.

The flop comes 3♠ Q♠ 7♦ as Kim checks. Ang CBets for 2,500 ang can’t shake off both as they call. The turn card is the J♣ as Kim checks a second time. This time, Ang slows down and also checks. Duque then assumes the betting lead and fires 4,500. Kim folds but Ang calls. It is now Heads Up between the two Filipinos to the river where the 5♥ appears. Ang checks and Duque unloads 6,500. Ang gives it some thought before electing to make the call.

Duque unfurls 7♣ 5♣ for two pairs on the river. Ang mucks.