Main Event

It took a total of 195 final table hands for the Main Event title to be captured, 81 of those were at heads up. After a grueling heads up battle that lasted over two hours, the newest Asia Pacific Season XVIII Main Event champion emerged! Bulgaria’s Dimitar Blazhev defeated Kunwoo Kim to take home the top dog payout of Php 4,812,000 (~US$ 95,200) and the WPT Deepstacks Champion’s Trophy. Along with the prizes, Blazhev earned 900 points towards the APAC Player of the Year race.

Congratulations to the champion! We will have a recap for you soon. For now, you can browse the live updates to catch up on the action.

After two hours of heads up play, the final hand of the Main Event arrived. It was heads up hand #81. Kunwoo Kim raised to 400k, Dimitar Blazhev three-bet shoved, Kim tanked then called for his tournament life.

Blazhev A♣ 9♦ Kim K♦ J♣

The final board ran 7♠ Q♠ 3♠ Q♣ 7♦ , ace held to end Kim in 2nd place. He earned Php 3,372,000 (~US$ 66,700) for his largest live score.

Dimitar Blazhev checked on Kunwoo Kim’s limp, the flop ran 5♣ 4♥ 9♦ , no bets. On the turn 3♣ , Blazhev led for the minimum 150k, Kim called. It was back to checking on the 5♠ river. Blazhev won it with Q♦ 3♥ higher kicker to Kim’s 8♠ 3♠ .

Blazhev claimed the next pot as well, limping in and Kim checking. The flop ran K♥ A♠ 5♠ , both checked. On the turn 6♦ , Kim bet 300k, Blazhev called. On the river 8♣ , Kim folded to a 500k bet.

Blazhev up to 6.7M, Kim down to 3.6M.

Heads up hand #77, the board completed K♣ 9♥ Q♠ T♣ 4♥ , Dimitar Blazhev bet 350k, Kunwoo Kim folded. Blazhev 5.5M, Kim down to 4.8M.

It was Dimitar Blazhev’s turn to take in some heavier pots. He earned 500k off Kunwoo Kim on a board that completed 3♣ A♠ 5♦ 4♣ Q♦ . Limped pot preflop, both checked the flop, Kim check-called 150k on the turn. Kim check-folded to a 250k river bet.

Five hands after, Kim raised to 300k, Blazhev called, flop A♠ Q♣ 5♥ . Both checked. On the turn 7♥ , Blazhev led for 300k, Kim folded. Back to even.

Kunwoo Kim is on a roll here, claiming a majority of the larger pots. Heads up hand #66, Dimitar Blazhev limp called a 300k raise by Kim. On the flop 5♥ Q♥ 9♣ , Kim led for 575k, no call.

Next hand, Kim raised from the button and was called. On the flop J♠ T♠ 4♠ , Kim bet 300k, Blazhev check-called. On the turn T♣ , Kim fired 1M, Blazhev check-folded. Kim up 5.4M to 4.9M.

Limped pot, flop ran 5♥ J♥ 3♥ , Kunwoo Kim check-called 125k. No bets on the Q♠ turn. The river 2♣ , Kim banged out 200k, Blazhev folded.

Kunwoo Kim claimed several pots in succession to bring it up to just 100k difference. Heads up hand #53 Dimitar Blazhev limped, Kim checked. At the flop 4♦ 5♠ J♥ , Kim check-called 100k. No bets on the 2♦ turn. The river 3♥ , Kim led for 200k, no call.

Next hand, Km limped, Blazhev checked, flop T♠ A♥ Q♥ . Blazhev led for 125k, called by Kim. On the turn J♦ , Blazhev check-foled to a 400k bet.

Right after, another pot to Kim. Blazhev limped, Kim checked, flop A♣ 3♠ 9♦ , Kim check-called 125k. No bets on the T♣ turn. Kim bet 200k on the 7♣ river to win it.

Kunwoo Kim raised from the button, Dimitar Blazhev three-bet to 650k, Kim four-bet jammed, quick fold from Blazhev.

Hand #33, Dimitar Blazhev limped, Kunwoo Kim checked. Heavy betting action at the flop J♣ 3♣ 5♦ , Kim check-ed, Blazhev bet 80k, Kim raised to 280k, Blazhev three-bet to 925k, Kim folded.

Kunwoo Kim picked up 400k from Dimitar Blazhev to rise to 3.8M. One of the hands sawm him three-bet jam preflop. Another he had Q♠ 8♥ on a board Q♦ 9♥ 3♠ A♥ 6♠ .

Dimitar Blazhev picks up a few pots to rise to a 2:1 chip lead. The first big one he raised to 200k from the button, called by Kunwoo Kim. No bets on the flop J♥ 8♦ 6♠ . Blazhev fired 165k on the 2♥ turn, called by Kim. Another bet on the river Q♥ but Kim quickly check-folded.

Blazhev won a larger pot on a board showing 9♦ 2♣ 7♠ . 7♦ K♥ . Kim raised to 200k preflop, Blazhev called. On the flop, Blazhev check-called 200k. On the turn, Blazhev led for 200k, called by Kim. Blazhev fired 1.5M on the river, Kim folded.

Blazhev 6.9M, Kim 3.4M.

Kunwoo Kim made up some of the lost chips with Q♣ 6♠ flush on a board 8♠ 4♠ 2♠ J♠ K♦ . It was a limped pot then Kim bet 200k on the river. Dimitar Blazhev check-called.

After a five small pots, a decent one arrived. Button Dimitar Blazhev raised to 200k, Kunwoo Kim called. Both checked the flop 5♦ 4♦ Q♦ . On the turn A♠ , Blazhev bet 175k, Kim check-called. Blazhev bet 350k on the J♥ river, Kim check-folded.

First hand button Dimitar Blazhev raised to 200k, called by Kim. Flop 5♣ T♠ K♣ was checked by both. The turn 3♦ , Kim led for 250k, Blazhev called. The river A♣ was checked again by both. Kim had Q♣ T♦ , Blahev took it with K♥ 7♣ .

After all the paparazzi pics, heads up is underway between Kunwoo Kim and Dimitar Blazhev.

Km 5,370,000 blazhev 4,950,000

Chips in play 10,320,000 Average stack 5,160,000

Mark Dela Cruz was knocked out in 3rd place by Kunwoo Kim but before doing so, it was Dimitar Blazhev who crippled him down to 4.5 bbs. Small blind Blazhev limped then called a raise by big blind Dela Cruz. At the flop 9♠ T♦ 5♥ , Blazhev check called a 300k c-bet. No bets on the Q♦ turn. The river 5♠ , Blazhev fired 1M and Dela Cruz called. Blazhev showed 5♦ 6♦ trips for the win. Dela Cruz revealed his A♣ A♦ hole cards.

Down to just 360k, Dela Cruz put it all in two hands later. He was on the big blind. Kim raiased on the button and Dela Cruz tossed in the rest of his chips. Kim K♦ 7♦ , Dela Cruz 3♦ 4♥ , the board 4♣ 5♠ 9♠ 5♦ K♠ .

Dimitar Blazhev got full pay off the leader Kunwoo Kim to bring him to 3.62M. He raised from the button to 140k, called by sb Mark Dela Cruz and bb Kunwoo Kim. On the flop 6♠ Q♠ J♥ , Kim bet 200k, Blazhev jammed for 1.57M, Dela Cruz got out of the way, Kim called.

Blazhev A♣ Q♦ , Kim Q♥ 9♥ , both had top pair. With the turn 4♦ and river T♦ , Blazhev’s kicker played and shipped it. Kim down to 4.75M. Dela Cruz down to 1,95M.

Button Mark Dela Cruz raised to 130k, both blinds called and the flop came 2♦ 8♥ 4♥ . All three checked. On the turn Q♣ , Dela Cruz fired 275k, Kim check-called, big blind folded. The river 6♣ was checked down. Kim showed J♥ 3♥ missed draw, Dela Cruz shoved J♦ T♥ missed draw but higher spread to take the pot. Dela Cruz up to 2.6M, Kim dipped to 5.65M.

Kunwoo Kim 6M Dimitar Blazhev 2.25M Mark Dela Cruz 1.975M

Average stack 3,440,000 Chips in play 10,320,000

David Erquiaga will not be taking the top spot in the APAC Player of the Year race. He fell short in 4th place to Kunwoo Kim. This earned him 630 points added to his 750 points to take 4th rank with 1380 points. He is positioned just below the top three joint leaders each with 1500 points.

The hand that ended Erquiaga saw Kunwoo Kim raise to 150k from utg, called by sb Erquiaga and bb Dela Cruz. At the flop 7♦ 5♥ 7♠ Erquiaga led fro 170k, Dela Cruz folded, Kim raised to 500k, Erquiaga tank-jammed for 1.64M more, Kim reluctantly called.

Kim’s call was a good one. He dominated with T♦ T♣ to Erquiaga’s 9♦ 9♠ . The turn 4♥ and river 6♠ completed the board. Kim shipped it and climbed over 6M.

It was Dimitar Blazhev’s turn to stir up the table and in return, he climbed to 2.95M. The first pot was a double up through David Erquiaga. After Mark Dela Cruz opened 150k from utg, sb Blazhev shoved, bb Erquiaga called, Dela Cruz folded. Blazhev K♣ K♠ , Erquiaga was dominated with T♦ T♣ board ran dry for Erquiaga to bring him down to 1.74M.

Next hand, Blazhev three-bet Kunwoo Kim’s 140k raise to make it 400k. Kim called. On the flop and turn 4♦ T♦ A♥ T♥ no bets. On the river 3♣ , Kim immediately folded when Blazhev slid out a bet. Kim dropped to 2.9M.

We haven’t seen Kunwoo Kim in many pots until now. He won a couple of good ones off leader David Erquiaga. First was a double up. Kim jammed from the button with A♦ 9♥ , Erquiaga called on the big blind with 8♥ 8♣ . A nine came on the flop and held throughout. Board was T♦ K♠ 9♣ T♥ 2♣ .

He also siphone more off Erquiaga check-raising from 400k to make it 1M on a board 8♣ K♥ 7♦ Q♥ . Erquiaga folded. Erquiaga down to 2.7M, Kim in the lead with 3.1M.

After losing the lead, Rogel Del Rosario continued to spiral downwards and was out in 5th place. It took three hands to do it. The first one he raised 110k from utg+1, got called by big blind Mark Dela Cruz. At the flop and turn J♦ 3♣ 6♣ 3♠ , Dela Cruz check-called 200k and Del Rosario’s jam. Del Rosario showed 9♣ 9♠ , Dela Cruz had better J♥ T♦ , the river 2♠ doubled up Dela Cruz to 3M, Del Rosario down to 525k.

Two hands after Del Rosario dropped to 275k with Erquiaga winning a small pot holding A♠ J♦ on a board 6♠ 5♠ T♠ 9♦ A♦ . No bets on the board. Del Rosario showed A♣ .

Four hands later it was all over for Del Rosario. He pushed with A♦ Q♦ , Erquiaga called with A♠ 2♠ . The board favored Erquiaga running 9♦ 6♥ 6♠ 7♠ K♠ for a flush.

We are down to four players. Erquiaga up to 4.8M.

David Erquiaga grabbed another pot and this time much bigger to take the chip lead off Rogel Del Rosario. Action opened with button Del Rosario bumping it up to 150k, called by Erquiaga on the big blind. On the flop A♣ 2♥ J♣ both checked. On the turn 2♥ , Erquiaga check-called 175k. Then on the river T♦ , Erquiaga bet 225, Del Rosario raised to 750k, Erquiaga tanked then found the courage to call. When Del Rosario showed 7♣ 7♥ , Erquiaga K♣ J♦ for a higher pair. Erquiaga shipped it while commenting to Del Rosario “you always check the nuts but this time you bet”. Del Rosario said “good call”.

Erquiaga up to 3.9M, Del Rosario down to 2.050M.

David Erquiaga picked up two pots back-to-back against Dimitar Blazhev to rise to 2.55M. The first pot Blazhev raised 125k from utg, called by Erquiaga from utg+1. At the 4♣ 8♣ T♥ , Blazhev folded to a 100k bet.

Next hand, Erquiaga raised to 110k from cutoff, Blazhev defended on the big blind. No bets on the flop and turn for the board to complete T♠ 4♦ 9♥ Q♠ 6♠ . Blazhev led for 65k, Erquiaga raised it to 140k, Blazhev folded. Erquiaga showed his winning Q♣ 7♣ hand to Blazhev while saying “you’re so tight”.

Rogel Del Rosario 3,295,000 David Erquiaga 2,080,000 Dimitar Blazhev 1,880,000 Mark Dela Cruz 1,815,000 Kunwoo Kim 1,250,000

Hand #60 of the final table brought the downfall of Christos Vlahos in 6th place. From utg+1, he shoved with 705k holding 2♠ 2♣ . Small blind Rogel Del Rosario shoved his monster stack to isolate. He had A♠ Q♥ . The board ran A♦ K♣ K♦ J♣ 9♥ . Del Rosario shipped it.

We are down to 5 players. Del Rosario ahead with 3.4M. Average stack is 2,064,000.

After Rogel Del Rosario paid a chunk to David Erquiaga, he lost a bit more to Mark Dela Cruz. From utg+1, Del Rosario raised to 110k, big blind Dela Cruz defended. On the flop and turn A♣ 5♠ 9♦ 7♥ , Dela Cruz check-called 110k and 225k. On the river 5♥ , both checked. Dela Cruz won it with 8♠ 7♠ two pair. Del Rosario down to 2.590M.

Dela Cruz also won the next hand on a battle of the blinds against Kunwoo Kim. His flush earned him 175k off Kim’s stack.

First hand after the break brought immediate action between David Erquiga and massive chip leader Rogel Del Rosario. The hand opened with a button raise of 110 by Del Rosario, Erquiaga defended on the big blind. At the flop 8♣ J♥ J♦ , Erquiaga check-called 100k. The Q♥ turn, Erquiaga led for 250k, Del Rosario shoved his huge stack, Erquiaga tank-called for his tournament life.

Erquiaga had T♥ 9♦ straight, Del Rosario with K♥ J♣ trips, the river 4♥ secured the win for Erquiaga. He doubled up to 2.1M. Del Rosario dropped to 3M.

Average stack 1,720,000

Earlier, Christos Vlahos doubled up David Erquiaga to bring his stack below 10 bbs. He made up some of the lost chips off the same challenger. Action folded to the small blind Erquiaga who pushed with J♠ 6♥ , big blind Vlahos risked it with 3♣ 3♦ . No hits on the board for both players for a double up to 670k. Erquiaga dropped to 1M.

Rogel Del Rosario won a pot against Dimitar Blazhev to amass 4M in chips. The board completed 6♣ A♥ 8♣ K♥ 4♥ , both had a pair but Del Rosario’s kicker played. Blazhev with K♠ J♣ , Del Rosario K♦ Q♣ . Del Rosario won the 440k pot.

After getting chunked, David Erquiaga shoved on the next hand from small blind with K♠ J♣ , was called by big blind Christos Vlahos with A♦ 8♥ . The board favored Erquiaga running T♥ 9♥ 5♦ K♣ J♠ for a double up. Vlahos plummeted to 375k.

Two hands after, Erquiaga picked up more chips. He raised to 100k from cutoff, Kinwoo Kim defended. On the flop K♦ 3♦ 7♥ , Kim bet 140k, Erquiaga shoved, Kim folded. Erquiaga up to 1.36M. Kim down to 1.2M.

Battle of the blinds, Dimitar Blazhev limped in, big blind David Erquiaga raised to 165k, Blazhev called. On the flop 3♥ 3♦ 5♠ , Blazhev check-called 130k, then both floated the turn T♥ . On the river Q♠ , Blazhev checked, Erquiaga took a stab with 200k, Blazhev answered with a shove. Fold from Erquiaga who dropped to 510k.

The only Japanese player in the lineup, Ryo Naito, won’t be bringing the trophy back home. He fell in 7th place to Rogel Del Rosario. The hand opened with hijack Del Rosario bumping it up to 90k, button David Erquiaga three-bet to 290k, big blind Naito shoved his 1.155M. Del Rosario joined and announced all in, Erquiaga folded and is down to 1.030M.

Naito A♣ K♣ Del Rosario A♦ A♠

Naito’s final board was Q♠ T♦ Q♥ 5♦ 3♥ . He earned Php 784,000 (~US$ 15,500) for his deep run. This is his largest live cash.

We are down to 6 players. Average stack is 1,720,000. Del Rosario is chip leader with 3.9M.

Christos Vlahos raised to 80k from utg, called by small blind Dimitar Blazhev. Vlahos c-be the flop 4♠ K♦ J♦ and was called. On the turn K♠ both checked. The river A♦ , Blazhev led for 140k, no call. He boosted up to 1.77M, Vlahos dropped to 1.35M.

Rogel Del Rosario has watched David Erquiaga muscle him with big bets and seemed to return the punch. Action opened with hijack Del Rosario raising to 60k, button Erquiaga three-bet to 180k, tank-called by Del Rosario. No bets came on the 8♣ 4♥ 8♦ flop but on the J♦ turn, Erquiaga fired 400k, Del Rosario tanked then check-raised to 1M. Erquiaga tank-folded.

Del Rosario goes up to 2.33M, Erquiaga goes slightly below average to 1.45M. Average stack is 1.474M.

Hijack Ryo Naito raised to 70k, Dimitar Blazhev defended on the big blind. At the flop J♠ 4♥ 3♥ , and turn 8♦ , Naito betr 95k and 135k, both called by Blazhev. The river 2♠ , botrh checked. Blazhev with T♥ 8♥ , Naito won it with A♣ 8♣ higher spread.

Hand #16 and another player was booted out. India’s lone representative, Vikaash Shah pushed with J♣ J♠ that ran into button Dimitar Blazhev’s A♦ A♥ . The board came A♠ 4♥ 3♣ T♦ 7♠ to ensure the win for Blazhev and Shah an 8th place finish for Php 613,000 (~US$ 12,100).

Blazhev up to 1.68M. We are down to 7 players. Average stack is 1.474M.

Ryo Naito three-bet jammed with A♥ Q♥ and initial raiser Christos Vlahos called with 7♣ 7♦ . The board came 4♦ 8♦ 2♥ Q♣ Q♥ for a double up tp Naito to 915k, Vlahos down to 1.6M.

Rogel Del Rosario very active with yet another pot claimed. From utg with J♦ J♥ , he raised to 60k, called by big blind Kunwoo Kim. At the flop 6♣ 6♦ 7♥ , Kimled for 50k, called by Del Rosario. Betting switched on the turn Q♠ with Kim check-calling 75k. The river 4♣ , Kim led again for 50k and was called. Kim showed 7♦ 5♦ two pair, Del Rosario won it with a higher two pair.

On just the fifth hand of the final table, the first casualty was delivered with Jongjun Park eliminated by Rogel Del Rosario. From utg, Park jammed (515k), no callers until it reached the end of the orbit with Del Rosario on the big blind. He called and showed J♣ J♥ . Park needed to hit with A♥ Q♥ overcards. No luck came with the board running 2♦ 6♦ T♠ 2♣ 3♣ . Park earned Php 481,000 (~US$ 9,500) for his efforts for his largest live score.

Del Rosario at 1.5M. We are down to 8 players.

After four opening hands without a board, we finally got to see significant action. It was between two local players. Utg Rogel Del Rosario raised to 60k, APAC POY contender David Erquiaga three-bet to 155k. Del Rosario tank-called. Both players slowed down at the flop J♣ 7♥ K♠ with a check. The turn J♠ brought a 125k bet by Del Rosario, called by Erquiaga. On the river 5♣ , Del Rosario switched up and checked, Erquiaga fired 400k, no call.

Erquiaga up to 1.78M, Del Rosario down to around 1.1M.