Zhen Chen

Day 2 of the PHP 85,000 APT Manila 2024 Main Event made tour history, setting a new record for the largest Philippines Main Event field in tour history with 1,081 entries.

China’s Zhen Chen topped the chip counts, amassing 1,094,000 chips and emerging as the only player to cross the million-chip mark.

The day began with 369 players, all vying for a payout spot to earn a share of the Philippines' biggest-ever guaranteed prize pool of PHP 100 Million (~$1.7 Million)

A minimum cash prize was set at PHP 167,000 ($2,840), and by the end of the day, 159 players had secured their place in the hallowed money spots.

The bubble burst quickly, wrapping up in just 15 minutes and concluding the Day 2 action with 42 minutes remaining on the clock on Level 17, with Norway's Mikal Blomlie finishing as the bubble boy.

Blomlie’s all-in with pocket sevens was called by South Korea’s Jae Wook Shin, whose ace-ten found a pair on the flop, ending Blomlie’s tournament run.

However, Blomlie didn't leave empty-handed, receiving a PHP 20,000 ticket (~USD 340) to Event #81: Double Stack PHP 15,000,000 GTD.

By evening’s end, the remaining players had bagged their chips, all locking up a place in Day 3. With several former APT Champions still in contention, the quest for the PHP 18,060,000 ($307,020) top prize promises to be an intense battle as the tournament action unfolds.

Vincent Huang

Close behind Chen, former APT High Roller Champion Vincent Huang from New Zealand bagged the second-largest stack with 974,000, while the Philippines' Lester Edoc followed with 777,000.

APT Taipei Mini-Main Event Champion Tom Verbruggen from the Netherlands, who topped the Flight D chip counts, finished with nearly the same stack after surrendering a significant portion of his chips to Chen. Two-time Main Event champion Mike Takayama also progressed to Day 3, sitting in thirteenth with a stack of 495,000.

Other notable players advancing include Thomas Ward (357,000), David "Spade" Erquiaga (331,000), Renniel Galvez (193,000), and Richard Marquez (83,000).

The top ten stacks can be found below.

A full APT Manila Main Event Day 2 Survivor List can be found by CLICKING HERE.

A full APT Manila Main Event Day 3 Seat Draw can be found by CLICKING HERE.

Mikal Blomlie

Action was picked up with Jae Wook Shin raising to 53,000 from the small blind, and Mikal Blomlie responding with an all-in shove for 158,000 on the button. Shin quickly called.

Mikal Blomlie: 7 7

Jae Wook Shin: A T

Since it was hand-for-hand play, players and spectators alike waited a moment before the hand could be displayed. Finally, the dealer revealed the flop: T 4 6 , giving Shin top pair and leaving Blomlie in need of a seven to stay in the game.

No longer hoping to catch a set, Blomlie stood up and began to gather his things even before the turn and river were dealt. The dealer then revealed the Q on the turn and the 9 on the river, confirming Shin’s win and sealing Blomlie’s elimination.

Jae Wook Shin raised to 12,000 from middle position and received calls from Alexander Lynskey from the hijack and Keijiro Shimojo from the big blind.

On the flop of T 3 6 , Shimojo and Shin checked the action to Lynskey, who then bet 11,000. Only Shin dropped in the call.

Both players kept their pace and checked through a runout of 7 K to a free showdown. Shin tabled A J for ace-high while Lynskey flipped over the sailboats with 4 4 , which shipped the pot his way.

Everyone loves a good underdog story.

Back in his Day 1 Flight, Korean player Jin Woo Choi was down to 4,800 chips earlier that day, but made a come back to bag his chips at the end of Day 1 and advance to the Day 2 leg.

Here at the Day 2 leg, Choi was fighting for his APT Manila Main Event life and went all-in with the threat of being the bubble, but his Queens held up instead to give him a double-up and a chance to continue his journey.

Jin Woo Choi: Q Q

Chaoui Mehdi: J J

Choi was ahead on the flop of 7 2 9 and stayed ahead when the dealer threw the 9 turn and the 8 river.

When the bubble burst, Choi also became one of 159 players to make it in the money and be guaranteed a minimum payout of PHP 167,000 ($2,840). Well done!

I think we deserve to cheers a few beers.

Now...On to win the championship!

Vincent Huang

On the soft bubble, big stack Vincent Huang opened from the cut-off to 12,000 and got three-bet by Morita Takuya in small-blind to 60,000. Huang made the call and they were off to see a flop of 4 4 2 . Not afraid, Takuya put out a continuation bet of 120,000. Huang made call and the turn brought the 9 . Takuya moved all-in and got quickly called by Huang.

Morita Takuya: K K Vincent Huang: 2 2

Takuya would have needed to either river a 4 or a K to keep his tournament dreams alive, but the 9 appeared on the river, busting the Japanese players just short of the money. Vincent Huang, however, will be in a great position to run deep in the Main Event.

With a few eliminations happening since play resumed, the APT Main Event is now hand-for-hand!

161 remain!

Zhen Chen

Six one-hour levels have been played so far with 166 poker hopefuls still going at it. Action will play until there are only 159 players left.

Zhen Chen seems to have the biggest stack with the way he's built a castle where he's seated.

Angelina Rich opened for 10,000, drawing calls from Mike Takayama and Siyoung Li on the button. The flop came down 6 8 J , and after checks from Rich and Takayama, Li bet 18,000. Rich responded with a hefty raise to 60,000, quickly forcing Takayama out. Li called, and the turn revealed the 2 .

Rich moved all-in, putting her tournament life at risk, and Li called without hesitation.

Angelina Rich: A A

Siyoung Li: 6 6

Seeing Li’s flopped set, Rich groaned and stood up, resigned to her fate. But as the dealer revealed the river card — the A — Rich let out a squeal of joy, securing a miraculous set-over-set win. Li, meanwhile, was left stunned by the unexpected turn.

Lester Edoc

Ronnie Tate opened for 12,500, getting calls from Gabriel Goh on the button and Lester Edoc on the big blind. The flop came 5 J 5 , and Edoc checked to Tate, who continued for 16,000. Goh quickly folded, but Edoc made the call.

On the K turn, Edoc checked again. Tate hesitated, gathering chips as if to bet, but ultimately decided to check, prompting Edoc to say, "Good check!"

The river brought the 8 , and Edoc led out with a modest 5,000 bet. Frustrated, Tate folded, showing Q Q . Edoc then revealed T T , having hit a flush on the river, leaving Tate visibly annoyed by the missed opportunity.

Zhen Chen opened to 12,000, and Kinam Kim three-bet to 130,000.

Before making his decision, Chen asked, 'Do you want a double-up?' Kim responded, 'It’s your option.' Chen replied, 'No, it’s your choice; if you want, I can, you know...' 'No, no, no... you choose,' Kim insisted. 'Can I choose?' joked Robert Bryan, drawing laughter from the table.

In the end, Chen returned his cards to the dealer.