PASAY CITY, Philippines—The second major tournament of this country’s pace-setting card room went into full swing today as MIKES ROOM opened the gates for its 3M for 3K tilt.
MIKES ROOM follows the tremendous success of its initial effort last June wherein the 2M for 2K shattered all Philippine records with a staggering 1,403 total buy-ins.
The same formula – with a slightly higher entry fee and a bigger prize pool – will once again be employed in this endeavour with the champion coming away with not only PhP1,000,000 but also a brand new Toyota Wigo—an added perk for this undertaking.
“I’m sick of seeing (my players) ride a jeepney (a popular local form of public transportation),” Kim said of the inclusion of an automobile to the winner. “At MIKES ROOM, we want our players to travel in comfort.”
29 advance from Day 1A “Regular”, Yutangco leads field
267 entrants saw action in the first flight of competition here. When the smoke cleared from the wars on the felt in Day 1A “Regular”—wherein thirty minute levels are utilitzed—29 runners made it to Day 2 of the event, which will be held on Sunday (August 21st).
Atop the leaderboard is Alejandro Yutangco who is more known in the local chess circles than at the card tables.
Yutangco, who is a regular competitor in the national chess circuit, bagged 175,000 in chips and is closely followed by MIKES ROOM cash game regular Larry Latigay (158,500) and Asian tournament grinder Eman Segismundo (153,500).
Korea’s Jeon Seung Soo led the way for the international campaigners with 151,000 in holdings (fourth overall) while countryman Kilian Marcus (122,500) and Nigerian national Jeorge Lagatuz (122,000) were not that far behind.
Day 1A Regular was halted with less than ten minutes remaining in the fifteenth level (with the blinds a 2000/4000/500) and drawn to deal four final hands.
Among the notables who saw action in the opener were 2M for 2K titlist Boyet Drilon, his runner-up Mike Takayama, MIKES ROOM PLO champion Jay Lubas and a phalanx of regulars as well as newcomers to the renowned poker establishment.
Here is the complete list of qualifiers from Day1A Regular:
Alejandro Yutangco
|
PHI
|
175,000
|
Larry Latigay
|
PHI
|
158,500
|
Eman Segismundo
|
PHI
|
153,500
|
Jeon Seung Soo
|
KOR
|
151,000
|
Antonio Angeles
|
PHI
|
143,000
|
Leonard Aban
|
PHI
|
136,000
|
Mike Bueza
|
PHI
|
131,000
|
Kilian Marcus
|
KOR
|
122,500
|
Jeorge Lagatuz
|
NGR
|
122,000
|
Alexander Tan Chen
|
TPE
|
111,500
|
Joven Huerto
|
PHI
|
103,500
|
Sandy Cea
|
PHI
|
102,000
|
Vamerdino Magsakay
|
PHI
|
101,500
|
Precil Paalisbo
|
PHI
|
99,000
|
Gary “Ganern” Ramayrat
|
PHI
|
98,000
|
Hideaki Hasuike
|
JPN
|
83,000
|
Bing Soriano
|
PHI
|
81,000
|
Moe Saquing
|
PHI
|
80,000
|
Christopher Quinlog
|
PHI
|
69,000
|
Anthony Andrada
|
PHI
|
67,500
|
John Clyde Tan
|
ENG
|
61,000
|
Rolando Amorin
|
PHI
|
57,000
|
Pedro Gutierrez
|
PHI
|
55,000
|
Angelito The
|
PHI
|
54,500
|
Robert San Juan
|
PHI
|
51,000
|
Rene Pacayra
|
PHI
|
47,500
|
Jose Francisco Zulueta
|
PHI
|
33,000
|
Jun Sacote
|
PHI
|
29,000
|
Bryan Bandada
|
PHI
|
13,500
|
India’s Rishi Pradhan tops Day 1A “Turbo” flight
95 entries saw action in the “night” session of Day 1A of ’s 3M for 3K tournament and the turbo version of the event saw twelve runners advance to Day 2 of the competition with PhP1 Million going to the champion along with a brand new car.
Indian grinder Rishi Pradham emerged as the chip-leader with 127,500 in holdings. The long time Philippine resident carries a considerable stack entering Sunday’s penultimate war for the biggest chunk of the PhP3,000,000 guaranteed prize pool.
Pradham, burst into prominence back in 2013 where constantly cashed in the local tournament scene. His return to the circuit here at MIKES ROOM makes him a new contender for the title as he blitzed through one of the tougher evening fields in the competition, and breezed past a phalanx of local sharks on the way to the chip lead.
Not far behind Pradham was enigmatic Romualdo de los Reyes (104,000) as he hardly exchanged any conversation with fellow combatants en route to attaining his stack.
2M for 2K runner-up Mike Takayama bucked an early exit from the “Regular” session to snare third place with a healthy 98,500 in chips.
The final bust out of the undertaking came in form of former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) cager Joey Mente as the wily point guard ran into to two outdraws to sideline him for good—at least until the sun rises for Day 1B.
This brings the total number of Day 1 entries to 362, just six short of the combined Day 1A total of MIKES ROOM’s inaugural 2M for 2K tournament last June.
Day 1B commences on Friday (August 19th) with the “Regular” session kicking off at 2:00PM and the “Turbo” edition happening at 8:00PM.
Here is the official chip-count from the 3M for 3K Day 1A Turbo flight:
Rishi Pradhan
|
IND
|
127,500
|
Romualdo de los Reyes
|
PHI
|
104,000
|
Mike Takayama
|
PHI
|
98,500
|
James Cheong
|
SIN
|
92,500
|
Joseph Santos
|
PHI
|
84,500
|
Conrado Pumicpic
|
PHI
|
79,000
|
Miguel Marantan
|
PHI
|
78,000
|
Bertrand Ortiz
|
PHI
|
72,500
|
Felesito Rosales
|
PHI
|
68,500
|
George Salud
|
PHI
|
58,500
|
Nelson Ong
|
PHI
|
48,500
|
Adrian Co
|
PHI
|
38,500
|