Warm-up (5,000 PHP)

With the original guaranteed prize pool surpassed at the onset, Flight B of the (Event #3) Warm-Up drew 227 entries as the new total prize pool more than doubled to PhP1,715,736 (~US$30,755). 34 survivors from this session move on to join the 27 that advanced from Flight A as the scene now shifts to Day 2 tomorrow (June 8) at Pokerstars Live here at Okada Manila.

Day 2 commences at 12:00NN (UCT+8).

The PhP780,000 (~US$13,980) was already eclipsed when cards took flight in Level 1 and it gradually swelled with the influx of additional notables such as Manila Super Series 21 Mini Main Event champion Nikolai Babushkin of Russia, China’s Qi Xia who was the Manila Super Series 18 Main Event runner-up, flag chaser Yossef Cohen of Israel as well as Filipino icons Eman Segismundo, Richard Marquez and Michael Bueza.

Many vied for the chip lead but it was Korea’s Kim Jongsu who became the first massive chip leader when he took on two foes and prevailed to become the first to breach the triple century chip mark in Level 14. However, Ireland’s Patrick Noonan used the looming money bubble masterfully to become the first to make it past the half million mark and held on throughout the excruciating Money Bubble that saw the Hand for Hand process witness seven all-in and calls that led to double ups.

The bubble was finally burst by Noonan when he eliminated the Philippines’ Jose Cheung with trips and made the final cast of combatants a total of 61, all guaranteed a piece of the payouts that has a min-cash of PhP8,000 (~US$145).

The eventual titlist will pocket PhP300,000 (~US$5,375) while the final nine players also receive APPT Super Qualifier packages.

Noonan’s stack of 621,000 is significantly ahead of Flight A chip leader Han Seung Hyun who garnered 461,000.

Finishing second from Flight B is Czar Ian Mrcos of the Philippines with 322,000 while another Filipino in Mark Anthony Ciruelos was in third with 307,000.

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.

Filipino Raymundo Gomez has it folded to him on the D and raises it 1,600 as the blinds decide to call.

The flop is 4♦ J♦ 8♣ as Australia's Qi Xia in the SB and Patrick Noonan of Ireland in the BB opt to check. Gomez CBets for 2,200 as Qi calls. The Irishman then check-raises it to 7,200. Both his opponents lay it down.

Noonan shows the J♠ .