Haruhiko ShinoharaThe TLPT $10k Superstar has come to an end inside LES A Casino, Jeju, with Japan’s Haruhiko Shinohara coming out on top after defeating Daniel “Jungleman” Cates heads-up to claim the trophy and $70,710 top prize.
The tournament attracted 15 players, with only the top three spots paid. Cates finished runner-up for the second time in two days at the same table, having also fallen heads-up to Joshua Gebissa in the TLPT High Roller Main Event. This time, it was Shinohara who denied him the title after making one of the biggest calls of the series.
| Place | Player | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HS Haruhiko Shinohara ![Japan [JPN]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/jp.svg "Japan [JPN]"){kind=small} Japan | $70,710 |
| 2 | DC Daniel Cates ![United States of America [USA]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/us.svg "United States of America [USA]"){kind=small} United States of America | $47,130 |
| 3 | QZ Quan Zhou ![China [CHN]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/cn.svg "China [CHN]"){kind=small} China | $32,160 |
Somuchpoker picked up the action with five players remaining on the soft bubble. Cates led the way, with Shinohara sitting second, while Xuan Liu, Quan Zhou, and Gebissa were still trying to lock up a payout.
Gebissa had already won the High Roller Main Event the night before, but his bid for back-to-back titles came to an end in fifth. He first found a miracle river to double through Liu, but soon after got his kings cracked by Zhou, who flopped two pair to send Gebissa to the rail.
The bubble then fell on Liu. Shinohara had just bluffed her off a pot to leave her short, and finished the job next hand when she jammed from the small blind with king-ten. Liu couldn’t improve against Shinohara's pocket deuces, and she was deemed the bubble girl of the tournament.
Xuan LiuThat left three players all in the money, but Zhou’s stay did not last too long. He tangled with Cates in a blind-versus-blind pot, betting flop, turn, and river before calling off his last chip. Cates had top two pair, which was enough to beat Zhou’s inferior two pair and send him out in third for $32,160.
Cates started heads-up with a big lead, but that lead disappeared almost immediately. Shinohara got the money in with two pair against Cates’ turned straight and needed a ten or eight on the last card to survive. The miracle river gave Shinohara a full house and brought the stacks back level.
From there, Shinohara found some favorable spots. Cates correctly folded top pair to Shinohara's river check-raise when the Japanese player held a boat, and then a few hands later, the final hand played out.
Daniel CatesCates raised from the big blind after Shinohara limped the button, and Shinohara called. Cates fired the flop, check-raised the turn, then jammed the river. Shinohara went deep into the tank with just a pair of deuces, knowing a wrong call would leave him with only a few big blinds.
In the end, Shinohara found the call. Cates could only show a missed flush draw, and Shinohara’s deuces were good. Cates joked that “America has been defeated” as he finished runner-up for $47,130, while Shinohara was crowned the TLPT $10k Superstar champion.
Haruhiko ShinoharaThat wraps up Somuchpoker’s coverage of the TLPT $10k Superstar, but the action in Jeju is not done yet. Be sure to tune back in for the last day of the series on Monday, May 25, from 3 p.m. local time for live coverage of the $3,000 High Roller Turbo.
Daniel CatesHaruhiko Shinohara called on the button before Daniel Cates raised to 100,000 out of the big blind. Shinohara stuck around with a call.
Cates continued for 100,000 on the 2♦ 5♠ 5♦ flop, and Shinohara continued by calling once again.
The 7♥ turn slowed Cates down with a check, allowing Shinohara to fire 200,000. Cates responded with a check-raise to 700,000, and after giving it some thought, Shinohara elected to continue.
When the 4♠ completed the board, Cates ripped in his final 485,000. Shinohara immediately asked for a count, fully aware that a wrong call would leave him with just a few big blinds behind.
After pondering over the decision for a while, Shinohara eventually tossed in the chips. Cates could only show a busted bluff with Q♦ 9♦.
Shinohara tabled A♥ 2♠ for just a pair of deuces, but it was enough to earn him the title in the TLPT $10k Superstar, while Cates walked away from the table and joked that "America has been defeated."
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
HS Haruhiko Shinohara Japan | 3,000,000(120 BB) | 1,300,000 |
DC Daniel Cates United States of America | busted | -1,300,000 |
Daniel CatesWith K♥ T♥, Daniel Cates raised to 50,000 on the button and Haruhiko Shinohara called from the big blind holding T♦ 2♥.
The dealer fanned the 7♣ T♠ 6♦ flop and both players checked for the 2♠ to hit the turn.
Shinohara checked again, and Cates bet 50,000. Shinohara elected to call.
The 2♦ rolled off on the river, getting a final check from Shinohara. Cates gathered together a bet of 200,000, sending Shinohara into the tank. Once Shinohara used a couple of his time banks, Shinohara check-raised to 600,000. Cates snap-folded top pair.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
HS Haruhiko Shinohara Japan | 1,700,000(68 BB) | 400,000 |
DC Daniel Cates United States of America | 1,300,000(52 BB) | -400,000 |
After many hands of preflop raising and folding, Haruhiko Shinohara with Q♦ T♣, raised the button to 50,000 and Daniel Cates defended from the big blind holding 6♥ 4♥.
The flop came down 2♥ A♥ 6♠ and Cates checked. Shinohara bet 50,000 and was met by a check-raise to 200,000 from Cates. Shinohara quickly folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
DC Daniel Cates United States of America | 1,700,000(68 BB) | 100,000 |
HS Haruhiko Shinohara Japan | 1,300,000(52 BB) | -100,000 |
With K♣ T♥, Daniel Cates raised the button to 40,000 and Haruhiko Shinohara defended from the big blind holding 5♣ 3♣.
On the A♠ T♣ 4♣ flop, Shinohara checked and Cates bet 40,000. Shinohara check-raised to 125,000, and Cates called.
Both checked the 4♦ turn, then saw the 8♣ on the river. Shinohara made a bet of 185,000, and Cates decided to fold.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
DC Daniel Cates United States of America | 1,600,000(80 BB) | 100,000 |
HS Haruhiko Shinohara Japan | 1,400,000(70 BB) | -100,000 |
Haruhiko ShinoharaDaniel Cates raised to 40,000 from the button and Haruhiko Shinohara defended his big blind.
Shinohara checked first on the 3♥ T♥ 8♦ flop and Cates bet 50,000. Shinohara check-raised the minimum to 100,000, which Cates called.
A 9♠ came on the turn, and Shinohara bet 80,000. Cates thought for a few moments and raised to 230,000. Shinohara three-bet ripped it for 595,000, which Cates called.
Haruhiko Shinohara: T♦ 8♣
Daniel Cates: Q♦ J♦
Shinohara had two pair, but Cates turned the nut straight, and only a ten or eight on the river would keep the tournament heads-up.
The dealer burned a card and put out the T♣ on the river, giving Shinohara the winner with a full house, and the stacks were now even.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
DC Daniel Cates United States of America | 1,500,000(75 BB) | -900,000 |
HS Haruhiko Shinohara Japan | 1,500,000(75 BB) | 865,000 |
The players are going on a short break before the start of heads-up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
DC Daniel Cates United States of America | 2,400,000(120 BB) | |
HS Haruhiko Shinohara Japan | 635,000(32 BB) | -110,000 |
Quan ZhouQuan Zhou completed from the small blind and Daniel Cates checked out the big blind.
Zhou checked on the 3♥ 7♣ Q♠ flop and Cates bet 20,000. Zhou check-raised to 80,000, which Cates called.
The J♣ came on the turn, and Zhou continued for 130,000. Again, Cates called.
An 8♠ completed the board, and Zhou bet 215,000 with just 5,000 behind. Cates jammed, and Zhou snap-called.
Cates showed Q♣ J♦ for top two pair, which was good to win the pot and bust Zhou in third as he held Q♦ 8♣ for an inferior two pair.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
DC Daniel Cates United States of America | 2,400,000(120 BB) | 1,000,000 |
QZ Quan Zhou China | busted | -610,000 |
Xuan LiuHaruhiko Shinohara limped from under the gun and Xuan Liu jammed for 95,000 from the small blind. Shinohara called to try and burst the bubble.
Xuan Liu: K♥ T♣
Haruhiko Shinohara: 2♥ 2♦
Shinohara was trying to finish off Liu and guarantee the remaining players a payday.
Liu found no assistance on the J♠ 7♠ 3♣ 3♥ 4♣ runout, and she was deemed the bubble girl of the tournament.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
HS Haruhiko Shinohara Japan | 745,000(50 BB) | |
XL Xuan Liu ![Canada [CAN]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/ca.svg "Canada [CAN]"){kind=small} Canada | busted | -95,000 |
With A♣ 2♥, Haruhiko Shinohara raised to 30,000 on the button and Xuan Liu defended her big blind holding T♦ 3♦.
Liu check-called a bet of 20,000 from Shinohara on the Q♦ 3♣ 9♥ flop.
The Q♠ hit the turn and Liu check-called a second bet of 20,000 from Shinohara.
The J♦ completed the board and Liu checked for the last time. Shinohara jammed for Liu's remaining 95,000, after a long tank, Liu folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
HS Haruhiko Shinohara Japan | 745,000(50 BB) | 55,000 |
XL Xuan Liu Canada | 95,000(6 BB) | -75,000 |
Joshua GebissaJoshua Gebissa raised to 30,000 from the button and Quan Zhou shoved from the big blind. Gebissa called for his stack of 265,000 and the cards were revealed.
Joshua Gebissa: K♣ K♠
Quan Zhou: A♣ 6♥
Gebissa was ahead with the cowboys, and Zhou's stack would be decimated if he didn't find any improvement.
The dealer spread out the 6♥ 4♥ A♠ flop to propel Zhou into the lead with two pair. Gebissa's run came to an end after Q♥ turn and 5♠ river didn't help him.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
QZ Quan Zhou China | 610,000(41 BB) | 250,000 |
JG Joshua Gebissa ![Germany [DEU]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/de.svg "Germany [DEU]"){kind=small} Germany | busted | -235,000 |
Xuan Liu raised to 40,000 from the button and Joshua Gebissa defended from the big blind.
Gebissa checked on the K♦ 6♠ 4♠ flop, and Liu put Gebissa all in for his last 65,000. Gebissa quickly called.
Joshua Gebissa: K♠ T♥
Xuan Liu: A♥ 8♠
Gebissa had outflopped Liu with top pair, but the A♣ landed on the turn to put Liu back in front with a pair of aces.
A miracle appeared for Gebissa in the form of the T♠ on the river, and he doubled through Liu.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
JG Joshua Gebissa Germany | 235,000(16 BB) | 115,000 |
XL Xuan Liu Canada | 170,000(11 BB) | -1,030,000 |
Daniel CatesWith J♠ T♦, Joshua Gebissa raised to 30,000 from under the gun and Haruhiko Shinohara called from the cutoff holding J♥ T♠. Daniel Cates defended the big blind with 8♠ 5♠ and the three players saw the 6♦ 7♣ Q♥ flop.
Everyone checked and the 9♠ arrived on the turn. Cates checked again and Gebissa bet 35,000. Shinohara and Cates called.
A 7♥ hit the river and Cates led out for 135,000, resulting in two folds from his opponents.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
DC Daniel Cates United States of America | 1,400,000(93 BB) | 955,000 |
HS Haruhiko Shinohara Japan | 690,000(46 BB) | -99,000 |
JG Joshua Gebissa Germany | 120,000(8 BB) | -74,000 |
With A♥ J♠, Xuan Liu raised to 30,000 from the button and Daniel Cates three-bet to 105,000 from the small blind holding A♣ 4♣. Liu called to see the 7♥ 2♦ T♦ flop that checked through.
A K♦ hit the turn and another round of checks came. The 8♥ on the river saw Cates fire out for a near pot-sized bet of 220,000. Liu gave it some thought and then folded the best hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
XL Xuan Liu Canada | 1,200,000(80 BB) | 652,000 |
DC Daniel Cates United States of America | 445,000(30 BB) | -655,000 |
TLPT $10k Superstar Final TableSomuchpoker is picking up the action in the $10k Superstar Final Table.
Martin Sedlak (ninth), David Peters (eighth), Nguyen Le (seventh), and start-of-day chip leader Rafael Navas (sixth) have all hit the rail, and only five players remain.
Daniel Cates is chip leading, with Haruhiko Shinohara in second, Xuan Liu third, Quan Zhou fourth, and Joshua Gebissa at the bottom of the pack in fifth.
There are only three spots available in the money, with the champion taking home $70,710.
| Player | Chips |
|---|---|
DC Daniel Cates United States of America | 1,100,000 |
HS Haruhiko Shinohara Japan | 789,000 |
XL Xuan Liu Canada | 548,000 |
QZ Quan Zhou China | 360,000 |
JG Joshua Gebissa Germany | 194,000 |
DP David Peters United States of America | busted |
RN Rafael Navas ![Spain [ESP]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/es.svg "Spain [ESP]"){kind=small} Spain | busted |
MS Martin Sedlak Germany | busted |
NL Nguyen Le ![Viet Nam [VNM]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/vn.svg "Viet Nam [VNM]"){kind=small} Viet Nam | busted |
YS Yoko Sasaki Japan | busted |
RS Ranno Sootla ![Estonia [EST]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/ee.svg "Estonia [EST]"){kind=small} Estonia | busted |
| Player | Chips |
|---|---|
RN Rafael Navas Spain | 528,000 |
HS Haruhiko Shinohara Japan | 502,000 |
QZ Quan Zhou China | 402,000 |
DP David Peters United States of America | 204,000 |
JG Joshua Gebissa Germany | 201,000 |
YS Yoko Sasaki Japan | 196,000 |
RS Ranno Sootla Estonia | 65,000 |
![South Korea [KOR]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/kr.svg "South Korea [KOR]"){kind=small}
South Korea, Jeju