Warm-up (5,000 PHP)

The final hand of Flight B has the Philippines’ Lemmor Patulot open for 21,000 from UTG which is followed by an all-in declaration from fellow Filipino Jose Cheung from the +1 position for 45,000. It gets folded to massive chip leader Patrick Noonan of Ireland who makes the call from the BB. Patulot joins in.

The flop is 5♦ 6♦ K♠ as both check. The turn is the 5♥ as this time, Noonan leads out for 60,000. Patulot folds and the two remaining combatants now show cards.

Cheung tables J♦ T♥ while the Irishman shows A♣ 5♠. Cheung is drawing dead. The bubble has burst. The arrival of the 3♦ on the river signifies the end of the excruciating Hand-for-Hand saga and now 34 players from this session make it through to Day 2.

Left with only 25,000 in chips, Motoki Hamazaki is left with very little choice from the BB but to call the raise of Filipino Lemmor Patulot with what he has left.

Patulot shows A♥ T♥ while at the very least Hamazaki has live cards with 3♦ 2♥ .

No miracle is on the horizon for the Japanese player, however: 8♣ 7♦ 7♣ 5♣ Q♠ as there are now only 35 players remaining. Flight B is one elimination away from ITM.

The action is folded to the HJ where Lemmor Patulot of the Philippines raises it to 2,400 and it gets to the BB of fellow Filipino David Ang who opts to defend.

The flop is A♦ K♠ J♣ as Ang checks. Patulot continues for 2,500 but Ang check-raises his adversary to 6,500. Patulot comes back with a 3-bet to 15,000 to which Ang chooses to call. The turn is the Q♦ and after all the fireworks after the flop, both opt to check. The river is the 6♦ as Ang checks again. This time, Patulot goes all-in for his remaining 17,100. Ang makes the call.

Patulot flips over 4♦ 2♦ for a completed backdoor flush while Ang is in disbelief as he shows A♣ J♦ for Aces up on the flop.

The loss reduces Ang’s stack significantly.