Okada Micro (4,500 PHP)

Flight C of the Okada Micro is a wrap! At the top of the counts was Nikolas Rivera who steadily climbed the ranks throughout the day, trailing behind young gun Maxwell Rosete as the bubble round approached.

Rivera eventually surged ahead after bursting the bubble, eliminating Bumyeol Lee to overtake and finish as flight leader with 532,000 in chips. This not only put him at the top of the Day 2 qualifiers list but also set the benchmark for the ongoing final flight. Rosete was very close behind, bagging an equally strong 524,000 for second in chips.

Flight C drew the largest turnout of 158 entries, and when combined with the two earlier flights, it easily surpassed the PHP 1M guarantee. From this flight, 19 players advanced to the ITM round.

Flight A: 115 entries / 14 qualifiers

Flight B: 121 entries / 15 qualifiers

Flight C: 158 entries / 19 qualifiers

Buy-in: PHP 4500 (~$80)

Guarantee: PHP 1,000,000 (~$17,500)

Entries: ongoing

Prize pool: TBA

Scroll below for the flight's action.

With the bubble at hand, action has been tight. At Maxwell Rosete's table, Rolf Lopez limps from the small blind and big blind Rosete checks. At the flop 5♣ 4♣ 2♥ , Lopez leads for 10,000 and Rosete calls. The turn T♥ sees slow down and check then calls Rosete's 35,000 bet. The 7♥ river completes the board. Another check from Lopez prompts a bet of 130,000 from Rosete, Lopez surrenders his hand.

After eight hours of play, the bubble round has been reached with 20 players remaining. Currently in the lead are Maxwell Rosete with 470,000 and Nikolas Rivera with 440,000.

Hsun Sun Chi has climbed up significantly since the previous hand we reported. One of his winning hands was in a battle of the blinds against Yuki Miyakura.

From the small blind, Chi opened 20,000 and Miyakura defended. On the flop 6♣ 3♦ Q♦ , Miyakura test-bet 16,000 and Chi check-called. Both players then checked the turn A♥ . On the river 8♦ , Chi jumped out with a 50,000 bet and won the pot uncontested.

Rolf Lopez pumps up the pot with a 12,000 raise that's called by the small blind Hsun Sun Chi. At the flop 9♠ 7♥ K♠ , Lopez continues for 7000 and a larger 25,000 on the turn 4♣ . Chi calls the flop bet but opts out on the turn.

With the turn 5♠ and river K♠ , Takata misses completely to get eliminated.

Yuki Miyakura takes the reins from cutoff with a raise of 12,000, Shunsuke Takata on the big blind defends to bring the action to the next stage. At the flop T♠ 9♣ 2♥ , Miyakura barrels 8000 and Takata check-calls. On the turn 6♠ comes another 19,000 from Miyakura and this time Takata surrenders his hand.

A small group of players from Fiji made the journey to the Philippines, and according to Romit Raj Banfai, they were inspired to come on the recommendation of fellow Fijian and PokerStars Live regular Vijay Singh.

Is this your first time in the Philippines? And how has your experience been so far?

"Yes it is my first time to visit and the experience has been great so far. This is also my first ever tournament so I'm really excited. I usually just play poker with a bunch of friends."

What do you think of the players here, the game, and will you continue to play here?

"The players are good and very friendly. There are also a lot of players from different countries. I like it. I will definitely play more here and try to be consistent."

Banfai had to rush off to the action and was the last remaining player representing Fiji in this flight.

Nikolas Rivera has won several blinds and ante to chip up to 337,000, that's nearly 100K more since our last report on him.

One of his most recent hands was up against Norbert Koh. Both players built a pot of 42,000 by by the turn 2♣ 2♥ 7♣ A♥ . Koh took a stab for 20,000 and Rivera check-called. Both players then checked the river 5♠ .

Koh mucked to Rivera's 5♣ 6♣ two pair.

Wout Sanders doubles up with pocket Kings against caller Terry Gonzaga with pocket Queens. The board further ensured the victory with a king on the flop.

The flop gives Cruz some hope with a pair but quickly takes it back on the turn and with the river no help, Cruz is in the dust.

Sitting at under the gun, Nikolas Rivera has K♠ Q♥ and raises to 8000. Everyone folds down the orbit to the big blind Cheng Wen Huang who has Q♠ 9♠ and defends. When the flop runs 7♣ T♠ Q♣ , both players landed top pair. Rivera bets 7000, Huang check-raises to 17,000, Rivera calls.

On the turn 2♣ , Huang continues to attack for 25,000, and again Rivera flats to complete the board 6♦ . Huang decides to slow down and check, Rivera checks back. After revealing, Rivera's kicker plays to rake in the pot.

Big stacks Fred Farboud and Hernan Villa went head-to-head in a hand and though we missed it, the result was a double up for Farboud to send his stack catapulting. In turn, Villa plunges to 8 bb.

The board however does not grant Han the outs, instead, further improves Taroma to a full house to ensure the double up.

On a board that completed 8♦ 8♥ T♣ T♠ 7♠ with Seki Yuto raising preflop that was called by Hsun Sun Chi, Yuto check-called 10,000 at the flop then the rest of the board was checked down by both. When Yuto showed 9♣ 9♥ , one player asks "only check-call?" Yuto does not answer.

Following a raise of 4500, Michael Manlapaz and Daichi Tanaka call and all three check down the flop Q♥ T♣ 7♠ . Action picks up on the turn 9♦ initiated by Manlapaz for a bet of 6000. Tanaka answers with a min-raise of 12,000, one player folds while Manlapaz three-bets all in for 55,000. Tanaka has less behind and opts to save it.

Initially behind, shortest stacked Pamplona improves for top pair at the flop which holds to the finish to survive and triple up.

Upon showing, it's a cooler with Banfai's aces way ahead and holds at the runout to secure a full reload.

Christian Lortie Cloutier raises from hijack and gets some action from the button player Ernesto Sarmiento. Cloutier continues for 4000 at the flop 8♣ 7♣ K♠ and again Sarmiento mimics. Change up on the turn though with Cloutier checking the J♣ , Sarmiento slides out 10,000 and with that, he wins the pot.

That's it for Flight C registration with ten levels in the bag. A total of 158 entered with 72 players remaining. Only 19 of them will be secured a seat in the money round. Action continues until the bubble bursts.

Daichi Tanaka raises 2500 from under the gun and nearly wins the blinds and ante if not for the big blind Edwin Dela Cruz who defends. Tanaka continues for 2000 at the flop 5♦ Q♠ T♣ and Cruz check-calls. Tanaka decides to check the turn 2♠ and again Cruz does the same. On the river 6♦ , Cruz leads out 3500, Tanaka gives it a thought then surrenders his hand.

Yohn Paredes is already sitting on one of the biggest stacks and added more in a hand against Jeffrey Calonge. Catching the action on the river 3♣ T♠ 8♣ Q♦ 5♣ , Paredes bets 15,000 onto a pot of 20,000, Calonge calls then mucks to A♣ 9♣ flush.

Fahad Alanzi is dealt K♣ T♥ and defends his big blind then against early position raiser Jean Paul Berdejo. He proceeds to cehck-call 2200 and 3500 on the flop and turn 4♣ A♣ J♣ 8♣ . When the river comes A♠ , Alanzi checks once more hoping for a bet however, this time it doesn't come with Berdejo checking back. Alanzi wins the pot with the nut flush.

Manlapaz's hopes quickly go bleak on the turn T♥ for a higher flush to Kim and with the river not producing the straight flush , Manlapaz pays up and plunges to 1 bb.

Yohn Paredes is sitting on a very big stack and raises to 2500 from cutoff. Small blind Carlos Bihis defends then both players check the flop 5♥ 2♣ Q♦ . Action changes on the turn A♠ with Paredes attempting to steal with a 10,000 bet but Carlos Bihis puts a stop to it saying to Paredes "you're very lucky" then check-raises all in for a total of 25,000. To everyone's surprise, Paredes folds.

With the river 5♥ , Ong runs dry as Yuto ships in the pot.

From the button, Rick Ambata opens 1800 and is denied the steal with the blinds both calling. At the flop 7♦ 5♠ J♠ , small blind Jessie Trance leads oout 2300, big blind Maxwell Rosete flats, then Ambata raises to 8000. Trance and Rosete opt out losing a handful of big blinds each.

Looking down at A♣ 9♣ , Fahad Alanazi opens 2000 from mid-position and is called by hijack Rogel Del Rosario. Alanazi continues for 1500 on the flop 7♠ J♠ 5♠ and another 3600 on the turn 6♥ . Del Rosario calls both to complete the board 8♣ . Once more, Alanazi sends out 3000 and Del Rosario calls then quickly mucks to the straight.

The turn T♥ offers no help but with the river J♥ , Perreau connects for a straight to double through.

Perpetua's mid-pair at the flop is no good against Colby's pair of queens to get the boot.

Farboud is ahead with his ace and it holds when the board completes 7♥ Q♦ for a double up.

Following a raise from under the gun for 1200, button player Patrick Connolly three-bets 3600. Two spots over Yohn Paredes calls and utg gives up to lose the initial raise. Both players check the flop 4♠ 9♣ 3♥ then Paredes leads out 10,000 on the turn 6♦ . Connolly let's him have the pot.

Following a limper, small blind Seki Yuto raises to 2000, big blind Benhur Ybarsabal has 2♥ 2♣ and defends as the limper makes it a three-way.

When the flop runs Q♥ 2♦ 2♠ , Ybarsabal lands quads and is the lone caller to Yuto's 2200 continuation bet. Both players then check the turn 4♥ but on the river T♠ , Ybarsabal is done checking and slides out 7000. Yuto doesn't take the bait and Ybarsabal can't resist showing the quads.

From early position Fahad Alanazi raises to 1000 and three players toss it in for a look at the flop T♠ 2♦ 6♦ . Alanazi continues for 1200 which loses one player as they go to the turn Q♦ . Switching up, big blind Michael Bueza shoves 6800 and with that, he earns the pot.

No bets land before the small blind David Perreau, he raises to 800. Big blind Alan Reyes defends to take the bout to the next round. When the board runs 6♣ 6♠ 2♠ A♣ , Perreau continues the aggression with a 1200 bet on both streets, and Reyes calls them both. On the river 4♣ , Perreau steps on the brakes and checks, Reyes jumps out for 5000, Perreau tank-folds.

Catching the action at the flop 2♣ 7♥ 5♠ with a sizable pot worth 11,800 in the middle, the blinds check to under the gun Fahad Alanazi who bets a light 2000. Action back to small blind Michael Bueza who check-raises to 4000 which gets one to fold but not Alanazi who calls.

On the turn Q♦ , Bueza checks again, Alanazi continues to control and bets 3000, Bueza flats this time. The same betting pattern on the river A♠ with Alanazi sending out 6200 and Bueza paying to see.

Alanazi flips over A♦ Q♣ and wins the pot with Bueza mucking.

A bunch of players from Fiji have taken to the felt here in Okada Manila. One of them is Anand Lal who just picked up a pot against Makoto Miyatake. Hand opens a raise of 900 from Miyatake that's called by the blinds.

The dealer spreads a wet flop A♣ K♠ Q♦ and small blind Lal tosses in 2000 that only Miyatake takes interest. On the turn though with T♥ on the board , Miyatake gives up his hand after Lal's 3000 continuation bet.

When action folds to cutoff player Peter Ferrie, he limps in with 5♣ 3♦ , small blind Benhur Ybarsabal joins with 5♥ T♥ , and they get to see the flop after the big blind checks.

The cards land 2♦ Q♥ T♠ and the blinds immediately check to Ferrie who uses position to bet 1100. Ybarsabal spiked a pair and makes the calls while losing the big blind. Both players check the turn 2♠ then more chips land on the river 7♦ with Ferrie bluff-betting 2000. Ybarsabal wants to see and calls.

Ferrie shows the bluff and Ybarsabal scoops up the pot.

Following a raise from the button Riki Miyamoto of 900, small blind Patrick Connolly three-bets 3000, and Miyamoto gives him some action. At the flop and turn A♣ K♠ 8♦ 5♦ , Connolly fires 2100 and 5400, Miyamoto matches up. When the river comes 8♠ , Connolly backs down and checks. Miyamoto takes the chance to shoves for 10,500, Connolly has just a bit more and decides to not put it to the test.

With a hefty 5,300 pot already brewing in the middle and two players left staring at the flop 7♦ 7♥ 5♣ , Alexander Goh bets 2100 and Inho Yang check-calls. Both players pass on the turn 4♠ then Yang jumps out for 4000 on the river 9♦ . Goh makes the call and quickly shows J♥ J♦ , Yang mucks.

From hijack, Seiya Kawada makes it 700 to go and two players find reason to join to the next round. At the flop J♣ 4♥ T♦ , action is checked to the button Michael Capinpuyan, he bets 1100. Both players call and Capinpuyan bets again on the turn J♠ for 2700. This time, both players let go of their hands.

Fred Farboud defends from the small blind with a three-bet of 2100, initial raiser Ying Chan Chen from cutoff makes the call. At the flop 4♥ 8♥ J♠ , Farboud continues to fire with a just over pot bet of 5000 and Chen doesn't go away. Farboud and Chen then proceed to check down the turn 5♥ and river Q♣ . Farboud flips over 6♣ 6♦ and it's a winner as Chen mucks.

Heavy preflop action builds a pot of 4500 with two players remaining by the time the flop comes T♥ Q♦ Q♥ . Both check to the turn J♥ where Seiya Kawada shoves 8000 that still doesn't shake off Cheng Wen Huang.

Kawada shows A♥ Q♣ trips, Huang has A♦ J♣ two pair, the river 3♥ seals the win for Kawada with the nut flush.

Three players in for 500 each with button Peter Ferrie initiating the action. He continues for 500 on the flop 4♦ A♣ A♠ and finds one caller in small blind Seki Yuto to the turn 7♥ . Both players keep it friendly and head to the river 8♦ . No more checking for Yuto who slides out a small 400 bet that Ferrie opts not to challenge.

Button player Micheal Colby and small blind Seiya Kawada limp in to see the flop cheap but big blind Inho Yang raises it up to 700 which both players call to get there. The flop comes Q♥ 7♣ J♥ , blinds check to Colby who tosses in a bet of 800 that's called by both players. The turn 6♦ and river A♣ is then checked by all. Yang shows J♣ 8♥ and wins the pot.

Flight C of the Okada Micro is underway with the traditional "shuffle up and deal" just announced. Registration stays open until the start of Level 11 so plenty of time for players to make their way.

The 6th annual PokerStars LIVE Okada Manila Millions continues today, April 8, 2025 with the inaugural Okada Micro P1M Guaranteed under the spotlight. The last two entry flights run at 12pm and at 5pm. Flight C will see blinds increase at a gradual 25 minute pace while Flight D runs 20 minute blinds and 15 minutes once registration closes.

To enter, buy-in is at a very affordable PHP 4500 (~US$ 80). Players begin with a 25,000 stack which is 125 times the opening blinds. Registration closes at the start of Level 11.

Yesterday, the first two flights concluded with 236 entries and 29 players advancing to Day 2 / ITM round. Flight A leader Azamat Shafiev set the bar at 489,000 which was not surpassed at Flight B with Li Ming Liu coming close with 442,000 collected.

More action up ahead! Stay tuned to Somuchpoker as we bring you all the exciting stories from start to finish.