Championship Event

Due to the regulations imposed by USOP organizers regarding the must-finish before midnight deadline. The last hands were played and the merging chip leader was none other than the Philippines' very own John Matsuda who topped with 14,925,000 chips to earn the biggest share in the ICM deal and, more importantly, the title of The Championship Champion.

The other placers based on their chip counts are as follows

2nd place: Harsh Bubna (7.4 Million chips)

3rd place: Hung Wan (6.05 Million chips)

4th place: Luong Viet Bac (5.75 Million chips)

5th place: Zhang Xun (5.7 Million chips)

6th place: Lee Kun Han (2,45 Million chips)

We will determine the final payouts from organizers once they've made the official announcement.

Hand 2

Hung Wan raised to 1,300,000 on the small blind. Big blind folded and Wan scooped the blinds.

Hand 3

John Matsuda gets a walk on the big blind.

Hand 4.

Harsh Bubna gets a pass on his big blind.

Harsh Bubna raised to 500,000 from under the gun and found two callers from the blinds.

The flop arrived T♦ 6♦ 4♠ . Option was given to Bubna who fired a c-bet 500,000. Small blind folded and big blind Jinlong Hu stayed on.

The turn came A♥. Hu checked and Bubna did not hesitate for another barrel of 750,000. Hu called to see a J♠ turn. Both checked to show cards.

Bubna flipped 9♠ 9♦ and Hu showed 8♥ 7♥, Bubna's nines brought the pot to his stack.

John Matsuda raised 500,000 from under the gun and small blind Hung Wan shoved his last 1,000,000 all-in. Matsuda added the spare change for the call.

Wan showed K♠ K♥ dominating Matsuda's K♦ T♦. The board ran 7♣ A♣ 8♦ 5♥ J♠. Wan's kings stayed ahead throughout to double his stack up and avoid elimination.

John Matusda raised to 800,000 from UTG+1 and Michael Falcon three-bet re-raised all-in for 2,100,000 in the hi-jack. Matsuda made the snap call.

Falcon showed 9♠ 9♥ and John Matsuda showed K♠ K♦

The board ran J♠ 6♣ 4♠ 7♥ T♦. Matsuda's kings stayed ahead throughout and Falcon had no other choice but to wish everyone a good game as he took his leave in 9th place.

Michael Falcon became the first final table casualty and his winnings will inch his total live earnings towards the USD 600,000 mark.

This is it! The final 9 players are set to play on the final table. Hopefully, a champion can be crowned by the 11:15 deadline set by the tournament director. ICM deal will be determined after the end of "regulation time"

Meanwhile, play continues as is.

Junseok Oh shoved his last 50,000 all-in from under the gun. Cutoff Harsh Bubna three-bet raised to 500,000. However, small blind Zhang Xun pumped it up all-in to 2,600,000. Bubna stood down.

Oh showed T♥ 6♠ and was dominated by the T♠ T♣ of Xun.

The board finished K♥ Q♣ 2♥ 5♠ J♦ and the table tapped "GG" as Oh stepped away from his seat.

Action fell to the blinds when small blind Junseok Oh raised to 800,000. Big blind Harsh Bubna defended.

The flop arrived Q♠ J♠ 9♥ Oh bet all-in and Bubna made the snap-call.

Oh showed K♦ Q♥ for a pair of queens, but Bubna showed K♠ K♥ for a better pair.

The board finished 8♥ 8♦ and shipped the chips to Bubna, leaving Oh with a stack in need of CPR.

Zhang Xun moved all-in for 1,350,000 on the button. Small blind John Matsuda liked what he saw in his hole cards and made the call. Xun showed A♠ 5♣ and wasn't thrilled when Matsuda peeled Q♥ Q♣.

The board completed 4♦ 9♦ 8♥ 6♣ 7♥. Runners on the turn and river gave Xun a straight to crack the queens and keep alive with a double-up.

John Matsuda and Junseok Oh were staring at a board of Q♣ Q♠ 3♠ 7♦ and a pot worth 2,500,000. Both checked to see a A♣ on the river.

Matsuda acted first and bet out 2,200,000. Junseok Oh gave his famous staredown and made the call. Matsuda turned over Q♥ 9♦ for triple queens and Junseok Oh mucked in disdain.

Li Shankui raised all-in from under the fun for 2,225,000 and John Matsuda made the call on the buttoon. Shankui showed A♣ 5♠ and Matusda opened a 7♥ 7♦.

The flop came 5♣ 5♦ Q♥ and brought "oohs" from the table. The A♦ turn even brought more roars. The 9♦ river silenced everyone while the chips were shipped Li's way.

On to the next hand.

Yuan Yilu raised all-in for his last 1,375,000 from under the gun and big blind Jinlong Hu defended.

Yilu peeled open 9♦ 9♣ against Hu's K♥ 9♥. The board ran 7♦ Q♦ J♣ 4♠ K♦. Yilu stayed ahead all throughout until the poker gods decided to award Hu with a king on the river to finally finish off Yilu and remove him from the championship in 11th place.

Li Shankui raised to 625,000 and Michael Falcon called.

Flop arrived 8♥ 6♣ 6♥

Li bet 200,000 and called the all-in raise of Falcon for 500,000 more Li showed T♣ 6♦ for trips sixes to the disappointment of Falcon, who expected a better hand. Falcon showed 5♥ 5♦ for two pair. The board completed 9♦ 7♥.

Junseok Oh was excited to point out a straight, thinking Falcon won. Both did make a straight, but Li's was better than Falcon's and earned the double-up.

Yuan Yilu went all-in for 750,000 on the cut-off and was called by Hung Wan on the small blind. Yilu opened K♣ Q♣ with Hung Wan showing A♥ 5♣.

The flop came K♥ T♣ 9♥ to give Yilu a pair of kings overtake Wan. The board finished J♥ 6♠, and gave Yilu the double-up pot.

Action folded to blinds. Harsh Bubna raised all-in for 2,300,000 on the small blind. Big blind Li Shankui defended.

Bubna showed K♦ Q♣ and Li showed 9♦ 9♠.The flop showed 2♥ 6♦ Q♥ giving Bubna the lead over Li. Bubna completed the double-up when the turn 4♥ and river 5♥ failed to improve Li.

Lee Kun Han risked 720,000 with A♣ J♦ and big blind Jinlong Hu challenged with 4♦ 4♣.

Board ran T♦ 6♠ K♥ Q♠ T♥

Han turned a straight and went on to double up.

Jinlong Hu raised to 250,000. Lee Kun Han called. Tran Minh Thang called all-in for last 240,000. Big blind Luong Viet Bac defended.

Flop came J♣ T♣ 6♠ All checked to see 8♥ turn. Jinlong Hu bet 700,000. Han and Bac surrendered. Hu showed K♥ T♦ versus J♦ 9♠ of Thang.Thang was ahead with pair jacks versus Hu's pair tens.

But then, the poker gods threw a T♥ on the river to give Hu trips tens and eliminated Thang from the tournament.

Action folded to the blinds. Small blind Tran Minh Thang shoved 1,975,000 all-in and big blind Hung Wan challenged after some consideration worth one time-bank token.

Thang showed Q♥ 7♥

Wan showed K♠ J♣

Board ran 3♠ 8♦ 6♠ 8♥ 3♣

The king of Wan was the better kicker for the board's two pair and took down the double up

Michael Falcon raised to 250,000 then called the 1,095,000 all-in re-raise of Yongxin Li

Falcon showed K♦ T♦

Li showed K♥ 3♥

Board ran 8♠ 4♠ 5♠ 8♠ 6♠

Falcon's cards make the better hand and eliminate Li.

Hi-jack raised to 240,000 when Li Shankui three-bet re-raised to 1,600,000 on the button.

Pham Tung Khanh risked 650,000 and made the call from the big blind.

Li peeled over T♥ T♣ while Khanh flashed A♥ Q♠

Flop came A♦ 4♠ 3♣ to give Khanh the lead. The turn J♦ didn't do anything except serve as a drum roll for the poker gods when they threw a T♦ on the river for Li to improve to a set and send Khanh out of the tournament.

Pham Tham Nghia risked 1,480,000 with K♦ Q♦

Michael Falcon challenged with A♥ 9♥

Board ran A♣ J♣ 6♣ 4♥ A♦

Falcon made trips to eliminate Nghia from The Championship

Both Chen Peng and Junseok Oh had their chips in the middle with Peng risking his remaining 1,500,000

Peng put his tournament hopes on J♦ T♦ against Junseok Oh's K♠ Q♠

The flop Q♣ 8♣ 2♣ strengthened Oh's lead, but Peng had outs.

However, the 2♥ turn and river 7♠ weren't any of them an Oh's queens went on to eliminate Chen Peng.

Big blind Luong Viet Bac raised all-in against two raisers with Lee Kun Han risking his last 585,000.

Han showed A♥ 8♥ versus Bac's A♦ J♦.

Han was an under dog but board came 8♣ 3♣ 5♣ K♠ 3♦. Han paired an eight to win the double up.

Harsh Bubna raised to 200,000 and called the 720,000 all-in of Sencer Ozturk

Bubna showed K♥ K♠ versus Ozturk's 7♠ 7♦

Board ran 8♦ Q♠ J♠ 6♠ 5♠

Bubna's flush was better than Ozturk's and Ozturk has to give up his seat.

Action folded to blinds. Small blind Tran Minh Thang raised all-in. Big blind Cheng Peng called to risk last 1,210,000

Cheng Peng showed J♦ 8♦

Tran Minh Thang showed 9♦ 5♦

Board ran K♦ 4♣ T♠ 6♠ K♥

Peng's cards were good enough to make a better hand and double up.

Biao Guo went all-in for last 840,000 with A♦ K♣ and challenged by Harsh Bubna with 9♣ 9♠

Board ran K♦ Q♥ 7♠ T♥ 7♣ to give Guo pair kings to win double-up pot.

Action went to the blinds. Small blind Biao Guo shoved and was called by big blind Pham Thanh Nghia, risking his last 995,000.

Guo showed K♣ 3♦. Nghia showed A♥ 7♠

Board ran 4♠ 6♠ 6♦ 2♣ Q♥

Ace-high of Nghia good enough to double up

Xin Yuan had 1,500,000 at risk with Q♠ J♠ versus A♥ K♣ of Harsh Bubna,

Board 4♦ 5♥ 7♠ 9♣ 9♠

Big slick sitll the better hand despite the miss and Yuan is asked to give up his seat.

All the raise re-raise led to an all-in and a call. Tran Minh Thang risked 2,315,000 on the strength of A♥ Q♣ versus the K♥ Q♥ of Chen Peng

Board ran 8♥ 7♣ 8♣ 3♥ 3♠ to give Thang the win and the chip lead.

Nothing but a G-Thang!

Michael Falcon raised to 160,000 from under the gun and called the 700,000 re-raise of Chen Xiong.

Flop opened T♣ 3♥ 8♦

Falcon bet all-in and Xiong called. Falcon showed 2♣ 2♦ versus A♥ Q♣ of Xiong.

Turn T♥ River 2♥

Falcon rivered a set to ensure Chen Xiong's exit.

Tran Minh Thang raised all-in from under the gun for his last 765,000. Hung Wan three-bet raised all-in from the cut-off to isolate the play.

Thang fliped over 9♣ 9♠ against Hung Wan's A♠ K♥

The board completed 3♦ 8♥ T♠ 8♠ Q♠ with Thang's nines maintaining its lead to double-up.

Both players had their chips in the middle with Kim Chong Hwa at risk for his last 355,000.

Hung Wan showed K♣ K♥ against Kim Chong Hwa's A♥ 2♠

The board ran 5♠ J♠ 2♠ K♠ 8♦, giving a set of kings to Wan and assuring Hwa's exit from the tournament.

USOP Organizers have announced the cancellation of some events and that the remaining ongoing events will only play until 11:30 in the evening. If the tournament is not yet over at that moment, there will be an ICM payout given to the remaining players.

This announcement was made to resolve issues on the license deadline of the event or something of that nature.

Armon Van Wijk was all-in for 55,000 with A♥ K♠

Karia Siddharth waas all-in for 135,000 with K♦ Q♦

Harsh Bubna was all-in for 2,040,000 with J♠ J♦

Board T♠ 5♣ 3♥ 4♣ 9♠

Bubna avoided all the over cards and took two players out in one blow.

Chen Peng raised to 125,000 and called the all-in re-raise of Kazimeras Sileikis for 495,000. Peng showed K♣ 5♣ against the A♣ J♥ of Sileikis.

Board ran 7♠ K♦ T♣ 7♥ 5♦ giving Peng all of Sileikis' chips and sending Sileikis to the exit.

Harsh Bubna raised to 120,000 and risked his last 975,000 when Armon Van Wijk raised to 1,000,000. Bubna showed Q♠ Q♥ versus the A♣ K♥ of Van Wijk.

Board ran 6♣ 3♣ 7♦ 3♦ T♠ keeping the queens ahead to double up and leaving Van Wijk in critical condition in need of life support.

Chen Peng raised to 125,000 and big bling Kazimeras Sileikis defended.

Flop opened 8♥ 9♦ 6♣. Sileikis check-called to 125,000 to see a 3♥ on the turn. Sileikis checked and did not continue when Chen Peng fired 1,000,000.

Short-stacked Kaoru Kishimoto raised to 165,000 on the button and big stacked big blind Zhang Xun raised to 300,000. Kishimoto pushed his 170,000 all-in. Xun showed T♠ 4♦ against Kishimoto's K♣ K♦.

Board ran Q♥ T♥ 2♠ 5♥ T♦. The poker gods gave a ten on the river to improve Xun to trips and run over the kings of Kishimoto, sending him out of the tournament.

Biao Guo made a raise to 125,000 from early position and Ankit Jain shoved all-in for 375,000 on the button. Small blind Li Shankui called, then Guo went over-the-top all-in to isolate.

Guo showed A♦ K♦ against the Q♠ J♣ of Jain. The board ran 4♦ 3♣ 5♣ 6♠ K♣ to eliminate Jain from the tournament.

Amit Kaushik had all his chips 450,000 at risk and showed 5♦ 5♥. Michael Falcon showed Q♥ T♥. Board ran 9♠ 7♥ 6♣ Q♣ 9♥ . Falcon turned a pair of queens and busted Kaushik from the tournament.

Junseok Oh raised to 100,000 and added the change to match Karia Siddhart's all-in for 150,000 on the big blind.

Oh showed J♠ 9♦ against Siddhart's T♥ 7♥. Board ran 5♣ 3♣ 2♠ K♥ T♣. Siddhart paired on the river to stay alive.

Do Quang Trinh was all-in for 1,000,000 and showed A♥ K♣. Li Yongxin had 350,000 in the pot, but did not continue. Oh Junseok covered Trinh and showed A♣ A♦.

Board ran J♠ 7♣ 6♠ 4♥ 5♦ . Oh's aces eliminated Trinh and built up his stack.

Hung Wan and Pham Tung Khanh were staring at a board of 5♣ 5♥ J♠ 3♦ and a pot of 475,000. Wan bet 150,000 and Khanh called. A 3♣ came on the turn. Wan checked and Khanh bet 350,000. Wan gave up.

Yuan Yilu showed A♦ T♦ and was at risk for all his 470,000. Ankit Jain showed 7♠ 7♣. Board ran 3♠ 8♦ 3♦ T♥ 6♣. Yilu's pocket tens were enough to scoop the double and do some damage to Jain's stack.

Hoang Hai Long had all his 405,000 at risk with K♣ Q♥ against Kim Soobum's A♠ J♥.

Board ran 5♥ 6♠ 2♠ A♥ 9♥ to give Soobum a pair of aces to win the pot and Soobum to the rail.

Junseok Oh had A♣ A♦ against the A♠ Q♥ of Erik Rozhynskyi, who was at risk for his last 950,000.

Board ran 6♠ K♣ 7♣ 3♣ 5♠. Oh's aces knock out Rozhnyskyi from the tournament.

Hung Wan and Nguyen Thai Quang were looking at a board of 2♦ 4♦ 6♥ A♠ with 730,000 chips beside it. Wan Bet 200,000 and Quang called to open a 9♣ on the river. Wan shoved all-in.

Quang went into deep thought, studied the board, studied Wan, wondered how oysters make pearls, threw in three-time bank cards and threw in his last 630,000 for a call.

Wan showed A♦ 6♦ for two pair and Quang showed 3♣ 3♥ for a pair of threes, ending his tournament life.

A raise-re-raise tug-of-war ended up with Eric Rozhynskyi all-in and at risk for his last 445,000 against Biao Guo. Guo showed J♠ J♥ against Rozhynskyi's A♥ K♣.

Board completed A♠ 8♥ 4♦ 9♠ 3♣ to give Rozhynskyi the double-up pot with a pair of aces.

After some raise and re-raise shoving. Zhang Xun pushed all-in and Nguyen Mang Hung called for his last 680,000. Hung showed A♣ Q♠ against the K♣ K♦ of Xun.

The board ran Q♦ 2♦ T♣ 4♣ J♦. Hung hit a pair queen, but was not enough to defeat Xun's kings and he gets eliminated from the tournament.

Pham Tung Khanh min-raised to 80,000 and Lee Kun Han called. Flop arrived Q♠ Q♥ 8♥. Khanh bet 60,000 and Han called. Turn came K♣. Khanh bet all-in and Han gave up.

Wonho Lee shoved all-in from the hi-jack, found no callers and scooped the blinds.

Andres Vasquez raised to 80,000 from the button and big blind Wonho Lee shoved all-in for 650,000. Vasquez folded and Lee scooped more chips.

Luong Viet Bac raised to 100,000 and called the all-in re-raise of Liu Defeng for 250,000. Defeng showed K♠ J♠ against Bac's 8♠ 8♣. A coin flip.

Board ran 9♣ 2♥ 8♦ T♣ A♠. Bac's set of eights win the pot and take out Liu Defeng from The Championship.

Some Busts

Wonho Lee raised all-in for 370,000 and Ankit Jain made the call. Lee showed A♥ Q♠ against Jain's A♣ J♦. Board finished T♦ 7♣ 2♥ 6♠ 5♦ to give Lee a double up.

Carsten Klug went all-in for 230,000. Pham Thanh Nghia called. Small blind Jun Li committed his last 55,000. Klug showed K♦ J♠. Nghia showed A♣ A♦. Jun Li showed 9♦ 8♠.

Board ran 3♣ 4♦ K♥ K♠ K♣ to give Klug quad kings over Nghia's full-house kings over aces.

In some poker rooms, this would win a bad beat jackpot, but it just eliminated Li from the tournament, doubled Klug and dented Nghia.

John Matsuda showed A♣ K♠ and was all-in for 745,000. Hon Cheong Lee showed Q♠ Q♣ and was all-in for 725,000. Go big or go home coin flip.

Board ran K♣ 3♦ 8♦ 7♣ 8♠. The king on the window gave Matsuda the pair to win the pot and send Lee out of the tournament.

Nguyen Van Trung raised to 60,000 then called the 180,000 re-raise of Harsh Bubna. Both were given a flop of K♥ 4♦ 2♠. Trung check-raised the 80,000 bet of Bubna to 250,000. Bubna called to open a 3♠ on the turn.

Trung bet all-in for 380,000 and Bubna snap called. Trung showed A♠ 9♠ for flush draw while Bubna showed A♥ K♣ for top pair. The river was a 9♣ and gave Bubna the win, eliminating Trung from his seat.

Jun Li was all-in for 230,000 and Kim Soobum was all-in for 205,000. Li showed A♠ J♣ against the Q♦ Q♥ Of Kim. Board ran J♥ 4♥ 6♠ 6♥ 7♠.

Li spiked a jack, but the queens were still the better hand and gave Kim the double-up and put Li in critical condition.

Andres Vasquex had his 315,000 at risk all-in with T♦ T♥ against the K♦ 4♦ of Hon Cheong Lee. Board ran A♦ 8♥ J♠ Q♣ 5♣ and sent the chips to Vasquez.

Do Quang Trinh raised to 50,000 and Jun Li defended the big blind. Flop came J♥ 7♠ 7♦. Li check-raised the 40,000 bet of Trinh to 100,000. Trinh re-raised it all-in and Li folded..trinh showed a J♠ before mucking it.

Jinlong Hu and Shravan Chhabria had their chips in the middle with Chhabrias 385,000 at risk. Hu showed A♥ Q♦ against Chhabria's A♦ 8♥.

Board ran 6♣ 3♣ 4♦ T♠ T♥ and Chhabria's run ended.

Jinlong Hu and Chen Xiong were staring at a board of K♠ 8♠ T♠ A♠ with 200,000 chips beside it. Hu check-called the 55,000 bet of Xiong to see a A♣ river. Hu checked and Xiong moved all-in. Hu called. Xiong showed K♥ 2♥ for two pair aces-kings. Hu showed 9♠ 9♣ for the rivered flush. Hu booked the win and doubled up.

Nguyen Manh Hung raised to 100,000 from early position. Sencer Ozturk three-bet re-raised to 300,000. Hung called and put his last 200,000 at risk. Ozturk showed Q♥ Q♠ versus the A♥ A♦ of Hung.

The board ran 7♣ 4♣ 6♥ 2♦ 2♣ and gave Hung a double up.

Michael Falcon raised to 55,000 from the lo-jack. Amit Kaushik three-bet re-raised to 155,000. Falcon four-bet re-raised to 355,000. Kaushik surrendered.

Nguyen Thai Quang showed J♦ J♣ against the 9♣ 9♦ of Jennifer Cassell, who had her last 325,000 all-in in the middle.

Board ran K♦ Q♦ J♥ 2♥ 2♦ and gsve Quang a full-house to send Cassell to the exits.

Nguyen Thai Quang showed T♠ T♣ against the A♦ Q♥ of Kang Yoon Koo, who was at risk for 270,000.

Board ran 7♦ 5♥ 4♠ 6♠ A♠. The Barry Greenstein ace on the river saved Koo and doubled him up.

Biao Guo made a min-raise to 40,000 from under the gun. Pham Duy Anh called on the lo-jack. Hi-jack Honghsuang Hu re-raised to 90,000.

Guo pumped up the volume to 200,000. Anh increased to a 420,000 all-in. Hu called for his lat 95,000. Guo also made the call.

Hu showed A♣ J♠. Anh showed T♥ T♦. Guo showed K♦ K♠.

Board ran 6♠ 6♦ 5♦ 2♦ J♦ . Guo's king-high flush trumped both challengers and sent them to the rail.

Carsten Klug raised to 40,000 from under the gun. Small blind Harsh Bubna re-raised to 125,000. Klug pumped it another notch to 345,000. Bubna thought long and hard, wondered where unicorns roamed during the time of the dinosaurs, threw in a time-bank token and made the call.

Flop came A♠ T♠ 8♣. Bubna checked and Klug bet all-in for 210,000. Bubna made the call.

Klug showed Q♣ Q♦ and Bubna showed A♦ J♦ for a pair of aces.The board ranTd J♠ and gave Bubna the win.