Okada Micro (4,500 PHP)

Filipino player Rene Mar David delivered a knockout performance at the final table, eliminating three players before coming from behind to take down the inaugural Okada Micro event . In a post-win interview with the champ, he shared,

"It was kind of difficult. I had a lot of bad beats during Day 1. I had a total of 6 bullets. I felt completely lost but forced myself to stay focused even when I got variance."

At the final table, David was second in chips for most of the day until minutes into heads up play against Taiwan's Li Ming Liu.

"Before the heads up, I was studying how my opponent plays - from his body language, eyes, etc. Once I was able to see one of his hands, I could already tell what type of gameplay he had. There was one hand when I snap-called his all-in and I was able to trap him. Also in another hand, I had a flush draw on the flop. I checked-raised on the turn. On the river, I just tried to get value. I knew he had good hands when he called my re-raise. It's either an Ace or something. If he had a Q, then he would probably go all-in.

For his victory, David pocketed the largest cut worth PHP 420,000 + PHP 9,000 Super Qualifier Ticket.

Event Recap

The inaugural Okada Micro kicked off on April 7 at Okada Manila as one of the Okada Manila Millions key events. After two days and four flights, 545 entered to breach the guarantee. On the final day, 66 players returned to determine their cut of the PHP 2,093,454 (~US$ 36,500) prize pool.

Flight A: 115 entries / 14 qualifiers

Flight B: 121 entries / 15 qualifiers

Flight C: 158 entries / 19 qualifiers

Flight D: 151 entries / 18 qualifiers

Buy-in: PHP 4500 (~$80)

Guarantee: PHP 1,000,000 (~US$ 17,500)

Entries: 545

Prize pool: PHP 2,093,454 (~US$ 36,500)

ITM: 66 players

The final day was brutal for the day's entering chip leader Nikolas Rivera who lost a succession of pots to fall in 45th place. Flight D chip leader Jay Padilla finished 26th, second biggest stack Maxwell Rosete ran deep in 14th place, then on the seventh hour, the final table was reached after Flight A leader Azamat Shafiev was eliminated in 10th place.

The final table ran just over two and half hours with Benjamin Perez leading the way. Within the first hands, Li Ming Liu overtook and held the top spot until heads up. Liu collected more chips by eliminating Cheng Wen Huang while Rene Mar David tried to catch up by knocking out three players Jeffrey Calonge, Rick Jason Ambata, and Joseroy Jeremias.

Down to five players, Jonathan Duque nosedived on a flip to drop to barely a small blind. Stunningly, he recovered after winning three consecutive pots and had enough ammo to eliminate Perez in 5th place and Michael Bueza in 4th place. On a side note, kudos to Bueza for reaching the final table having fallen in 10th place at the Mystery Bounty and Sunday Millions. Despite Duque's return, he had to settle for 3rd place with all of his chips claimed by Liu.

Heads up kicked off with Liu sitting on a 3:1 advantage. David quickly bridged the gap when Liu's flush draw missed then continued to dominate the action to take the lead. Keeping Liu at bay, the final hand saw Liu shove on the flop with an open ended, David called with two pair that further improved to a full house.

Congratulations to the champ!

David is ahead with two pair while Liu has an open ended. The turn T♥ offers nothing new and with the river 3♥ , David further improves to a full house to knock out Liu.

Liu earned PHP 270,000 + PHP 9,000 Super Qualifier Ticket

Rene Mar David limps and Li Ming Liu checks his option. At the flop 5♥ 7♦ 4♣ , David bets 350,000, Liu check-raises 950,000, David three-bets all in and Liu gives it up.

Rene Mar David limps in and gets to see the flop cheap with Li Ming Liu checking. When the board runs 3♣ J♦ 4♠ 6♥ , David barrels 300,000 and 700,000, Liu calls both then they check the river 7♦ . Liu shows 3♠ 7♥ two pair and David mucks.

It didn't take long for Rene Mar David to slide into the top spot. From the big blind, he defended from a 600,000 raise and watched the flop land Q♣ Q♠ T♠ . Both players checked to the turn A♠ then Liu took a chance for 500,000 which was met with a check-raise of 2,000,000 from David. Liu tanked for two time banks then folded.

Rene Mar David cuts the gap between him and the leader Li Ming Liu after banking a double up. From the button, Liu opened 500,000 and David defended. At the flop 2♠ 8♥ 4♦ , Liu continues for another 500,000 and David calls. On the turn K♦ , Liu jams a massive 9,000,000, David tank-calls for his tournament life.

David flips open T♠ 8♦ , Liu is drawing with T♦ 7♦ . The river 5♣ gives David the double up.

After nearly nine hours of play, heads up has been reached with the title, trophy, and PHP 420,000 top prize on the table.

A pot of 1,500,000 has been brewed with Li Ming Liu and Rene Mar David as the only two left in the hand. The board shows T♣ T♠ 3♣ 3♦ 6♠ . Liu bets 1,125,000, David folds.

A♠ soon as the flop lands, Liu pairs up both cards and when the board completes, Duque doesn't improve.

Rene Mar David has already sent three players out of the final table and continues build his stack. In a hand against Jonathan Duque, with his 320,000 raise called preflop, they proceed to check down the board 8♣ 6♦ J♠ 4♦ 9♣ . Duque has A♣ 7♣ , David wins it with A♥ 4♥ .

Li Ming Liu becomes the first player to cross the 3M mark with the help of Rick Jason Ambata. From early position Liu raises 210,000 and Ambata calls from hijack. The flop comes A♥ T♣ 2♥ and Liu dumps in 160,000 more, Ambata calls then they both check the turn T♥ . On the river A♠ , Liu dips in his stack again for a bet of 400,000 and it's enough to earn the pot uncontested.

On the big blind position, Emman Segismundo called Benjamin Perez's 150,000 raise then check-raised all in on the flop A♥ T♠ 5♠ . Perez snap-called and was ahead with top two pair. The turn 4♦ sealed the win for Perez with Segismundo drawing dead.

Seung Hyun Han is next to fall with A♠ 4♠ unable to improve against Rene Mar David's A♣ T♥ on a board 9♣ 9♥ 6♠ 7♠ 8♣ . Han finishes in 13th place.

Following Han out is Seung Yong An in 12th place.

Norbert Koh finished in 15th place with all of his chips shipped to Benjamin Perez who landed a set of sixes while Koh had top pair.

Jonathan Duque continues to command the table entering numerous pots per orbit. Just before the blinds went up, he opened 150,000, Rene Mar David defended from the big blind for 400,000, the Duque four-bet shoved for 975,000. David folded.

Following a raise from Benjamin Perez of 125,000 that's called by Cheng Wen Huang, Jonathan Duque calls from the big blind for a three-way to the flop. All three check it to the turn 2♠ 2♣ 2♦ 6♦ where Duque bets 100,000 with one caller. On the river 9♣ , it is back to checking. Duque shows Q♦ T♥ queen high, Perez has A♦ 7♦ and claims the pot.

Jeffrey Calonge raises 125,000, Azamat Shafiev re-raises 300,000, Calonge four-bets all in for 1,455,000, Shafiev gives up his hand.

The river is T♥ , Calonge's kicker plays for a double up.

Rene Mar David has chipped up significantly to rise past a million. He first doubled up off Cheng Wen Huang with A-J pairing up the jack on the river to survive against pocket Nines. Keeping the momentum. David won a couple of more pots but without showdowns.

Before the new level, Ruzzel Jose lost a showdown against Maxwell Rosete to drop to 130,000 in chips. From under the gun, he tosses it in with J♠ 6♣ on hand that finds one caller until Michael Bueze re-raises 300,000 to isolate. Bueza has K♠ K♥ that stands throughout the board to end Jose in 18th place.

Garcia only has five outs to stay in the game but doesn't pan out with the river 9♥ .

The turn 6♥ and river 3♥ are no help to Sia while Perez ships it and rises past a mil.

Catching the action on the river with 370,000 in the pot and a board showing A♦ 7♥ 9♠ A♥ 2♥ , Benjamin Perez bets 150,000 and takes down the pot with Norbert Koh folding.

From under the gun, Joseph Sia has Q♠ 3♠ and raises it to 55,000. Button player Seung Yong An has A♠ 8♠ and makes the call. Action ignites at the flop with two spades showing 6♠ 5♠ K♥ . Sia bets 80,000, Seung raises all in for 240,0000, and Sia calls.

Upon revealing, Sia can only hope to pair up but no such luck with the turn 7♥ and river A♣ ensuring Seung the double up.

From the big blind, Vijay Singh defends by calling Rene Mar David's 55,000 raise then they both check the flop T♣ T♥ A♣ . Action resumes on the turn K♦ with Singh leading out 90,000 that David calls. Singh continues again on the river 9♣ for 100,000 and it's enough to win the pot uncontested.

Li Ming Liu kicks off with a 55,000 raise that gets called by the blinds. Liu continues to attack the felt with a c-bet of 65,000 on the flop 2♦ 6♦ 9♣ and only Jonald Garcia calls. Liu barrels again on the turn 5♥ for 120,000, and Garcia calls once more. With the river 5♦ both players opt to check.

Garcia flips over 8♠ 8♣ and wins the pot with Liu tossing his cards in the muck.

Cheng Wen Huang raises 35,000 from hijack then calls Jonald Garcia's 85,000 three-bet from the small blind. Both players take it easy on the flop then ramp up the aggression on the turn board 5♠ 8♥ 4♥ T♦ starting with a bet of 55,000 from Garcia. Huang uses up a time bank then doubles it up to 110,000 sending the action back to Garcia. After a bit of contemplation, Garcia surrenders his hand.

Norbert Koh raises 35,000 and finds two callers to go down the streets. At the flop and turn T♣ J♥ 7♥ 6♠ everyone checks to complete the board K♣ . No more checking for Koh as he fires a 100,000 bet, one player folds and Lemmor Patulot tanks using up a time bank before calling. Koh isn't stealing as he shows A♠ Q♣ straight to win the pot.

Jeffrey Calonge raises 35,000 under the gun with A♠ T♥ , two players call to head to the flop A♥ Q♥ 4♦ . Calonge lays out a near pot bet of 105,000 inducing one fold while Ramon Pablo check-raises all in for 201,000. Calonge isn't going anywhere with top pair and calls.

Pablo flips open A♦ 5♦ for top pair as well but is out-kicked. The turn Q♦ and river 5♠ boots Pablo out of the running.

At risk player Perez is ahead with a king kicker and is assured the double up with a king on the river.

Talamayan lands a pair on the flop to jump ahead however with Jeremias tripping on the turn, her hopes instantly vanish.

Action folds to the button Jeffrey Ballester, he raises 28,000 and big blind Seong Yong An defends. Ballester continues for 28,000 at the flop 2♥ 5♥ Q♦ , Seong calls, then they both check the turn 8♥ . When the river comes 9♠ Seong leads for 40,000, Ballester pays to see then mucks to Q♠ 8♣ two pair.

Baek is ahead with a pair and improves on the turn 6♥ for trips . Sia is drawing dead. The river was A♣ .

Following a raise from Jeong Seonghun that's called, big blind Joey Pardales calls for a three-way to the flop 2♠ 4♦ Q♣ . Jeong continues for 25,000 and only Pardales calls. At the turn 6♣ , Pardales switches gears and leads out for 45,000, Jeong reluctantly folds.

Khoang is ahead with a pair but still has to dodge the flip which he does on the turn K♥ and river 4♦ for a double up.

Fred Farboud looks down at A♠ K♣ and raises 17,000 from under the gun. Down the orbit Emmanuel Segismundo calls with Q♠ J♣ . At the flop K♠ T♥ 9♦ , Segismundo flops the straight and bets 20,000, Farboud check-calls with top pair. Same action on the turn 8♦ with a 53,000 bet from Segismundo that Farboud check-calls. On the river K♦ , Farboud improves to trips and jams a large 250,000, Segismundo can't let go and calls, sending Farboud crashing out.

Maxwell Rosete is dealt Q♥ 9♥ under the gun and raises 16,000. Down the orbit big blind Alex Torrefranca has K♣ T♣ and calls. When the flop lands 4♠ J♣ 9♣ , action heats up with Rosete betting 19,000, Torrefranca check-raises all in for 53,000, and Rosete calls with mid pair.

The turn T♥ gives Rosete more outs and with the river 8♠ , Torrefranca misses to fall to Rosete's straight.

Everyone folds to the small blind Dennis Gamboa, he raises 17,000. Big blind Vijay Singh won't let his blinds go that easy and calls. At the flop 3♣ T♣ 3♥ , Gamboa continues the pressure for 15,000 and still doesn't shake Singh who calls. Gamboa then checks the turn K♣ , Singh test-bets 20,0000, Gamboa gives it up.

Cheng Wen Huang raises 20,000 from hijack and is challenged by a 60,000 three-bet from Nikolas Rivera on the big blind. Huang answers back with a four-bet of 150,000 that sends Rivera to the tank then folds.

Ruzzel Jose opens 13,000 from under the gun that finds action from two players. At the flop 7♠ 2♥ Q♠ Jose continues for 14,000 and only cutoff Alex Torrefranca makes the call. With the turn 7♣ , Jose barrels 23,000 and his aggression pays off with a fold from Torrefranca.

With everyone folding to the small blind Vijay Singh, he raises to 12,000 and big blind Rolf Lopez defends. At the flop 6♦ 6♠ J♥ , Singh checks, Lopez test-bets 12,000 and Singh continues. Both players check the turn 6♥ then Lopez bets another 12,000 on the river 7♠ . Singh believes and let's go of his hand.

From the big blind, Seung Yong An called Jonathan Duque's 27,000 raise then checked the flop J♣ T♥ 7♦ . Duque checked back to see a turn 3♣ . Seung took charge for 10,000 and Duque called, then both went back to checking on the river 2♦ . Seung flipped open A♣ T♠ and won the pot.

From early position, Seung Hyun Han raised 12,000 and hijack Tony Khoang called. At the flop 5♣ 8♥ 9♦ , Han continued for 25,000 and Khoang called again. On the turn 6♠ , Han fired 55,000 that was enough to claim the pot.

Shuffle up and deal! Day 2 of the Okada Micro is underway with 64 players back in action for the title and the PHP 420,000 top prize.