Warm-up (5,000 PHP)

Two players from Japan are all-in preflop as Fumiaki Chono shows A♥ A♣ against Nobayasu Sato’s A♦ 5♦ .

The runout led to the inevitable: 4♦ T♣ 8♠ 8♥ 6♠ .

After a stellar performance, Sato walks into a trap and thus ends his campaign in this tournament.

Japan’s Nobusayu Sato opens from the HJ to 2,500 and it gets folded to the SB where Andrew Xu of Australia who 3-bet shoves his last 30,300. Sato calls.

Xu tables 8♦ 8♣ while Sato has him crushed with T♦ T♠ .

Sato even has his Australian opponent more crushed when the flop shows T♥ 7♥ 5♣ for top set and the turn card being the 2♥ has Xu drawing dead. The river card is the J♣ to officially eject Xu but he still has time to re-enter as Level 9 is in its twilight.

Japan’s Nubuyasu Sato opens from the +1 position for 600 and gets called by Han Seongbae of Korea in the +2. It gets folded to the BB of another Korean in Michael Wookju Chung and the man known as “The Ripper” 3-bets the duo to 1,500. Both call.

The flop is 5♦ 3♥ 9♣ as Chung decides to check. Sato also defaults to Han to takes the betting lead for 2,100. Both of his opponents stick around. The turn is the K♦ as once again it is checked to Han who once again bets, this time for 5,500. Now, Chung folds but Sato still calls. The river card is the 4♠ as suddenly Sato declares he is all-in for 12,800. Han goes into the tank and eventually releases his hand.

The Japanese player turns over 9♠ 9♦ for top set on the flop.