HomePASAY CITY, Philippines – After finishing second in yesterday’s (Event #1) Mystery Bounty, WSOP Bracelet winner and former two-time Asian Poker Tour (APT) Player of the Series (POS) Mike Takayama of the Philippines garnered his 12th title on tour by capturing (Event #8) the PhP65,000 (US$1,131) Single-Day High-Rollers even as compatriot Hazel Timonera kept (Event #6) the “Women of Poker” (Ladies Event) title on home soil as the busiest day in APT 2022 Philippines went down at the Grand Wing Casino, Newport World Resorts here.
Takayama, who lost to fellow Filipino Whoody Jeremias in the finale of the staging’s opening salvo, upended Korean opponent Kim Hyo Gyun for his first APT crown since winning the same event last May also here at this venue.
Mike Takayama (PHI) wins his 12th APT trophy and is the first player to breach the PhP1M mark in these proceedings
The win gave the former cue sports professional PhP366,700 (US$6,379) to add to the PhP710,000 (US$12,355) he got from the ICM chop in the Mystery Bounty for a total haul thus far of PhP1,076,700 (US$18,731) and be the first to attain a seven-figure earning in these proceedings.
Kim for his part, collected PhP157,100 (US$2,7,33) for his second place finish.
Takayama now becomes a clear favorite in the current POS race as his closest pursuer Flo Campomanes fell short in his competition bid today.
The “Ladies of Poker” event celebrated a triumphant return as 26 entries were tallied for this event that made its reemergence for the first time in over five years.
Hazel Timonera (PHI) keeps the “Ladies of Poker” title in Philippine turf
Timonera was engaged in a three-way battle that lasted over three hours against eventual runner-up Zhang Li Jun of China and fellow Filipina Karen Talamayan.
In the end, Timonera’s stack held and she claimed her fourth APT cash and first ever championship to go along with the first prize of PhP107,700 (US$1,874). The title also stayed in the Philippines as Filipina Vilma Goldman last hoisted the trophy here in 2017.
Zhang received PhP62,500 (US$1,087) for placing second and Talamayan got PhP38,700 (US$673) for ending up in third.
The scheduled 2-day (Event #7) Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) tiff was continued to its conclusion after a field of 59 brought the prize pool PhP858,400 (US$14,934).
Claiming victory was Singapore’s Jordan Ek for his first triumph abroad. Ek outlasted Anthony Abraham of Australia to also get PhP254,000 (US$4,419). Abraham pocketed PhP169,400 (US$2,947) while Japan’s Tomoharu Furuya settled for third and PhP117,800 (US$2,050).
Jordan Ek (SGP) wins his first title outside of his home country in the PLO event
Closing the side event action was the intriguing (Event #9) PhP43,000 (US$748) High-Roller 6-Max Hyper Turbo that had Jung Seungmook walk away with the title against local bet Christopher Mateo.
The bemedaled Korean-American international campaigner also took down the PhP190,100 (US$3,308) champion’s purse while Mateo received PhP81,500 (US$1,418) for his runner-up performance.
Jung Seungmook (KOR) once again proves to be a High-Rollers specialist by triumphing in the High-Rollers 6-Max Hyper Turbo
Day 1A of the Main Event saw 75 entries and an Indonesian chip-leader as Alfie Poetra led the charge 114,900 followed by Brent Shaw of Canada with 105,700. Ryan Hong of Australia ended the opening session in third with 101,400.
Alfie Poetra (INA) is the Main Event Day 1A chip-leader
However, the colorful story of today’s proceedings happened when reigning APT Championships titlist and POS Dave “Spade” Erquiaga jumped into the competition but eventually opted to “take a nap” with his stack left to be blinded out as he rested.
Dave “Spade” Erquiaga (PHI) took a “siesta” and still ended up fifth overall in chips at the end of the Main Event’s Day 1A
The Filipino pro eventually arose from his short slumber and even managed to end up in fifth overall with holdings of 86,700.
Day 1B commences later (November 18) at 1:00PM (UCT+8) accompanied by (Event #10) the Super Deep Stack Turbo (S-DST) at 2:00PM as well as (Event #11) the second PhP65,000 (US$1,131) Single-Day High-Rollers at 3:00PM.
The “Last Chance” Super-Satellite for the Main Event’s Day 1C at 6:00PM precedes (Event #12) the third staging of the Hyper Deep Stack Turbo at 10:00PM.