Okada Millions (8,000 PHP)

Big day at the PokerStars LIVE Okada Manila Millions flagship tournanemt, Okada Millions, with 263 storming in for the third entry flight. This boosted the prize pool past its PHP 5M guarantee, and with four more flights to complete, it is headed for a record breaker!

The bubble burst before the ninth hour with Junghyun Lee knocking out Gilson Chan on a flip. This determined the final 31 survivors advancing to the money round. Commanding the counts was the lone Saudi Arabian player in the field, Fahad Alanazi, with a massive 598,000 (59 bb) in chips. Alanazi was already the leader when he exploited the bubble round to send him surging well over half a mil.

Though not close but bagging a commendable second in chips was Singapore's Norbert Koh with 498,000 and local player Arnel Caquejo rounding out the top three with 352,000. Another qualifier was Warm Up champion Richard Marquez, though it cost him a second bullet. And Singapore's Ajay Abrol became the first double qualifier having also bagged at Flight B. Abrol amassed a larger stack today of 286,000 which means his other 92,000 stack will be removed from play at Day 2.

Among the fallen was two-time champion Jose Colada however he still has time to make the grade at the remaining flights.

The survivors have a day's rest before returning on April 13 for the final race to glory. They join the 45 qualifiers from the first two flights with Christian Lortie Cloutier still the player to catch with 700,000 in chips.

Flight A: 202 entries / 24 ITM

Flight B: 171 entries / 21 ITM

Flight C: 263 entries / 31 ITM

Four players have built a pot of 72,000 before the flop runs 8♣ 6♣ 6♠ . Chip leader Fahad Alanazi continues for 38,000 and only finds one customer in Junghyun Lee. On the turn 4♣ , Alanazi barrels another 87,000, and Lee lets him have the pot.

After eight and a half hours of play, the bubble round has been reached with 32 players remaining. Currently sporting the big stacks are Norbert Koh with 454,000 and Fahad Alanazi with 480,000.

Juhyung Lee goes all in after Cheng Wen Huang shoves and opens up the Gus Hansen T♠ 2♣ . He is up against K♥ 9♦ . No help comes for Lee instead Huang lands a fast pair as the board completes 9♥ 6♥ 8♠ A♣ 3♣ .

With 32 remaining, it is now bubble time. One bust needed before they bag up Flight C.

Ajay Abrol is alreay backed by a fortress of chips and added a bit more up against AJ Cris Acdal. The hand started off as a three-way limped pot then Abrol bet 10,000 at the flop 5♠ 8♠ 3♣ . Only Acdal called then both checked the turn 9♣ .On the river 3♥ , Abrol came out firing 15,000 but didn't get action this time with Acdal folding.

John Dela Cruz raises 12,000 from under the gun then continues for 17,000 on the flop A♣ 6♣ 7♥ . Chip leader Fahad Alanzi calls both then they check the turn K♦ . Cruz returns to betting on the river Q♥ sliding out 45,000 and it's enough to get Alanazi to fold.

Action checks around to Si Wai Choi on the button and with K♣ K♠ on hand, a 12,000 raise is sent out. Both blinds call then they all check it to the turn 4♠ 6♦ 4♦ 7♥ . Small blind Junghyun Lee takes a chance for 25,000, only Choi continues to the river T♣ where they both go back to checking. Choi quickly shows cowboys and Lee mucks.

With two flights running today, the 5M guarantee has been breached! The pot is currently over PHP 5.6M and will continue tor rise with Flight D still open for late registration and three more flights tomorrow.

After losing a large chunk of his chips to Ajay Abrol to drop to 2 bb, Marlon Laxamana managed to triple up to 46,000. Hoping to bring it up again, he found the moment when dealt K♦ K♠ . However, Aj Cris Acdal made the call and showed A♦ 9♣ . The lone overcard paired on the board 2♠ T♠ 2♣ A♥ 3♠ to end Laxamana's flight just before the money round.

With action folding around to the button, Marlon Laxamana has 5♣ 6♠ and raises 11,000. Big blind Ajay Abrol likes his 6♥ 7♥ and defends. They both check it to the turn A♥ 2♥ 3♣ 4♣ . Laxamana lands a super straight and calles Abrol's 11,000 bet. On the river K♥ , Abrol completes his flush and bets 60,000. Laxamana tanks then calls losing a big chunk of his stack.

With 25,000 in the pot, Yan Hongyan and Marlon Laxamana take the battle to the flop 4♥ A♦ K♥ where Laxamana fires 11,000. Hongyan calls and the turn comes 8♣ . Laxamana moves all in for 53,000, and it's enough to claim the pot uncontested.

Down to just 6 bb, Peter Forner goes all in with A♦ 3♦ and gets called by Ernesto Sarmiento with K♠ J♦ . The board favors Sarmiento running Q♣ 8♣ 9♦ K♥ 4♠ .

Yire Choi initiates the action with a raise of 3000 that find four players to join to the flop A♠ 8♣ 9♣ . Choi is given the go-ahead to bet which he does for 7000, only Micheal Colby calls. Both players check the turn J♥ to reach the river A♥ . Choi resumes for 20,000 and this time Colby lets go of his hand.

Noel Araniel was down to just 33,000 (11 bb) when he went all in holding T♠ 7♥ . Seki Yuto had A♣ A♥ and called. When the flop ran T♦ T♣ A♦ , both got a piece with Yuto still ahead with the full house. The turn J♦ and river 2♠ was not the one-outer to help Araniel to get the boot well before the money round.

Clyde Morales gets deals A♥ A♣ and raises to 5500 from under the gun. Two players join him to the flop 3♠ K♣ T♣ where Morales continues for another 5500. This time only John David calls as more chips go in on the turn 5♠ with Morales check-raising 20,500 that's called by David. On the river 8♠ , Morales checks again, David checks back then mucks to the aces.

Unfortunate turn for big blind Christopher Pasion who looked down at 9♥ 8♣ and joined two others to the flop 9♦ 9♠ 5♦ . Small blind Arnel Casquejo leads out 10,000, Pasion shoves 40,000, initial raiser folds, Casquejo snap-calls and shows K♦ T♦ flush draw.

The turn quickly grants the flush Q♦ , and with the river K♥ , Pasion is burned out of the flight.

Ingeol Lim three-bet 12,000 from hijack and initial raiser Mark Solsona tosses in the difference. When the board runs Q♠ 8♠ 8♦ J♣ , Liim bets 15,000 and 25,000 both of which are called by Solsona. They then slow down to checking on the river 2♥ .

Solsona shows K♠ Q♥ top pair, Lim has A♦ Q♣ for top pair higher kicker.

Following a shove of 25,000 from Ruzzel Jose, big blind Gilson Chan has yet to look at his cards, He says to Chan, "If I see one ace, I'm calling it. If I see a picture, I'm gonna call it."

A quick peek is all it took. Chan snap-calls and shows A♥ A♣ . Jose has J♥ T♥ . The board runs out 4♠ 8♥ K♠ 2♠ K♦ . Chan ships it and boots Jose in the process.

David Deltreuilh takes charge of the hand with a 4000 raise that's called by the big blind Christopher Pasion. Deltreuilh continues for 3500 on the flop 8♣ 4♠ Q♣ and Pasion check-calls. They proceed to check down the turn 2♦ then it's back to firing on the river for Deltreuilh who bets 8500. Again Pasion calls.

Deltreuilh shows A♣ 6♣ that connects on the river to claim the pot as Pasion mucks.

This time Halim is slightly ahead and with the board running a low 4♥ 8♣ 5♣ T♦ 5♦ , he takes this round and doubles up.

Small blind Shigehiro Saito and the big blind call John David's 3000 raise and see a flop of 3♣ A♥ Q♠ . First to act Saito bets 5000 and only David calls. Another 5000 from Saito on the turn 4♠ is again called by David but on with a larger 10,000 bet on the river A♠ , David lets go of his hand.

Lance De Vera gets dealt A♦ J♦ from under the gun and raises to 3500. He gets called by cutoff then small blind Richard Marquez three-bets 16,000 with Q♦ Q♠ in the hole. Back Vera, he shoves his last 17,500, cutoff folds while Marquez makes the easy call.

Seeing Marquez's hand, Vera needs help on the board. When the flop lands K♣ 9♣ J♥ , he is given hope with a pair but is still behind until the turn J♣ sends him ahead with trips. The river 0c seals the win with a full house to sit back down and arrange his bigger stack.

By the time the flop was dealt 2♥ 4♥ 5♣ , the pot had grown to 21,000 with two players left in the hand. Both checked to the turn 8♥ where all the chips went in starting with a 6000 bet from Ying Chan Chen that was raised by Ingeol Lim to 20,000. Chen three-bet all in for 42,500 and Lim called.

At showdown, Liim was ahead J♥ 9♥ flush against Chen's A♥ K♦ . With the river 6♦ , no improvement from Chen meant the end as Lim shipped a big one.

Ajay Abrol bumps it up from under the gun and nearly steals the blinds and ante when the big blind Kenneth Isip defends. When the board runs 2♥ Q♦ Q♥ 3♦ , Abrol barrels 6000 and another 6000, Isip check-calls both to complete the board J♦ . Abrol quickly folds to award Isip the pot without a fight.

Mark Solsona is on his second bullet and opens 2500 that finds two callers. When the flop comes 9♦ 4♦ 3♣ , Solsona continues for 3000 and only Manabu Takeuchi tosses in the call then both pass on the K♠ turn for a free look at the river J♠ . Solsona leads out again, laying out 6600. This time Takeuchi believes and surrenders his hand.

Three players build a pot of around 12,000 preflop and continue the betting on the flop T♥ J♠ J♦ . It is first checked to Noel Araniel who bets 6000 that's called byt both Fahad Alanazi and Jaeil Lee. They opt to check the turn 3♥ leading to the river 2♦ . Alanazi leads out 15,000, Lee drops out while Araniel jams for 42,000. Alanazi gives it a thought then lets Araniel have the pot unchallenged.

Minsuk Kim looks down at A♥ 2♦ and raises to 2400 from cutoff. Jerick Dela Cruz defends on the big blind then they both check the flop 9♣ A♠ 3♦ . The turn then comes 2♣ giving Kim two pair which he bets out 3500. Cruz answers with check-raise of 8000 and Kim makes the call to head to the river J♦ . Cruz checks once more,Kim fires 26,500, Cruz calls then mucks.

After ten levels of late registration, Flight C of Okada Millions closed at 263 entries with 115 players remaining. They will play down to ITM of 31 players.

Gary Guerrero has been railroading the table and has just claimed another head. Following a limp from small blind James Dela Cruz, Guerrero raises 4000 from the big blind. Cruz answers with a shove for 32,300 that still doesn't scare away Guerrero.

At showdown, Cruz has 7♣ 7♦ and Guerrero is flipping with J♠ 9♠ . The money card comes at the flop and holds throughout 9♣ 6♦ 5♦ Q♥ Q♠ .

Another clash between Gilson Chan and Jaewook Ji begins with a raise from Ji for 2500. Chan calls from the big blind then check-raises 4800 on the flop A♥ 8♠ 7♠ . Ji lets go of his hand and the additional 1600 bet.

Two-time champion Jose Colada has returned after a fallout at Flight A. Catching him in a hand, he opens then calls Jack Li's 5500 three-bet. However, at the flop 2♥ A♣ K♠ ,L Li's 4500 continuation bet is turned down by Colada.

During the previous round, Jaewook Ji doubled up off Gilson Chan and the pair clashed again. Chan kicks off the hand with a raise from under the gun that Ji called from hijack. With the pot at 5000, Ji takes control with a bet of 3500 on the flop 7♦ J♦ A♥ and Chan check-calls. The turn A♠ is then checked by both then Ji fires 6600 on the river 9♥ . Chan folds and Ji shows him 7♥ .

A♠ more players sign up, more are also dropping fast. Registration has grown to 226 entries with 124 in seats. Still this level and the next to sign up.

Jaeil Lee and cutoff limp in then button Robert Miller drives it up to 5000. Only Lee continues to the flop K♣ 3♠ 9♣ where he check-calls Miller's 6000 continuation bet. On the turn 8♣ , with three clubs showing, Miller fires 7100 and it's enough to induce a fold from Lee who says "I had flush draw" but didn't show.

Jesus Rivera has A♥ K♦ and raises 1700 from early position. Several spots over at hijack, Shunsuke Takata jams 13,100 with Q♥ 9♥ on hand. After the rest fold, action goes back to Rivera who makes the instant call.

With Takata at risk, the board offers no help as it runs 2♥ K♣ 2♦ 5♦ 9♠ further improving Rivera to deliver the bust.

Jesus Rivera has A♥ K♦ and raises 1700 from early position. Several spots over at hijack, Shunsuke Takata jams 13,100 with Q♥ 9♥ on hand. After the rest fold, action goes back to Rivera who makes the instant call.

With Takata at risk, the board offers no help as it runs 2♥ K♣ 2♦ 5♦ 9♠ further improving Rivera to deliver the bust.

Jun Amsic decides it's time to double up or re-enter with 6300 remaining he three-bet shoves from cutoff. Initial raiser Kai Ping Choo can easily afford it and calls with K♣ T♣ .

Choo's lead is brief with a queen on the flop as the board completes Q♠ 7♠ 4♠ 5♣ 5♥ for Amsic to claim a double up.

The new level has begun and on register are 212 entries and 137 players in the field. The target is to surpass last year's record of 1,491 entries and with this turnout, it is well on its way.

Emil Dela Paz is dealt A♥ T♦ and raises to 2000, big blind Cheng Wen Huang has A♣ Q♠ and just flats. Both players connect on the flop A♠ 5♠ 8♠ but check the all spade board. On the turn J♣ , Paz test-bets 3000 and Huang check-calls. They return to checking on the river 6♦ and Huang wins with a higher kicker.

There are currently 192 entries and with registration still open until the start of Level 11, this flight will soon surpass Flight A's 202 count. Both sides of the room are now in full swing.

Ramon Roces and John Dela Cruz enter a preflop betting war that ends with Roces going all in for 48,200 and Cruz risking with 36,700 in total.

Roces has A♠ K♠ , Cruz shows Q♥ Q♣ , the board runs out 3♣ 2♠ 8♦ 9♦ 3♦ for the ladies to hold and double up Cruz.

Eldee Lim has 9♠ 9♦ and opens from under the gun for 1600, next to act Emmanuel Segismundo has A♦ A♥ and three-bets 3500. Two players call and Lim joins in for a four-way to the flop 9♥ J♥ Q♦ . Everyone checks to the turn 7♠ where Lim shoves 15,400. Only Segismundo calls and sees the bad news.

With the river Q♣ , Segismundo pays for Lim's full house.

You can bet on Richard Marquez to put pressure on his tablemates as he does here to his end. Following a utg+1 raise of 1600, Marquez looks down at 6♠ 7♣ and calls from the small blind. David Deltreuilh also likes his T♥ 8♠ and calls.

At the flop 4♦ 6♣ T♦ , utg+1 makes it 2000 to continue, Marquez answers with a check-raise all in for 7200. Deltreuilh has top pair and isn't going anywhere while utg+1 gets out of the way.

Marquez is at risk and with the turn 5♦ and river K♥ , he is down a bullet and will have to re-enter if he wants to have another shot at the title.

Jessie Trance limps in then calls the 8700 shove by Eldee Lim. When the hole cards turn up, it's a flip with Lim ahead holding a pair 6♣ 6♠ and Trance K♦ Q♣ . No bad beat comes to ship Lee a double up though still needs more to get back to starting.

Three players call Kento Nakamura's 1000 raise preflop to build a decent 4500 pot. Action continues on the flop K♠ 9♦ 4♦ with a bet of 1000 from Nakamura. Two players fold while Micheal Colby check-raises 4000. Nakamura calls and they head to the turn 6♠ where Colby announces all in for 15,300. Nakamura lets go of his hand.

Francis Ancheta calls 1000 from the small blind then leads out 1400 on the flop 7♣ T♦ 7♦ . Ricardo Singapan charges back with a 3000 raise and Ancheta calls. On the turn K♣ , Ancheta drops another 1400 out front and this time Singapan just calls to take them to the river K♠ . Another bet fired by Ancheta this time doesn't get called. Ancheta shows his K♦ Q♠ full house.

Jaeheung Ju makes it 800 from under the gun and cutoff Gary Guerrero with his big stack calls for a flop Q♣ 3♥ T♥ . Ju sends out 1100 and Guerrero calls. When the turn Q♦ pairs the board, both players check until the river 8♣ where Ju slides out 2500. Guerrero gives up his hand.

Short stacked Mark Solsona is down to 9 bb and goes all in with A♠ T♦ . He is called by Ajay Abrol with 9♣ 9♠ for a flip, The board runs low 5♥ 4♠ 8♦ 5♣ 2♥ to send Solsona out of the field.

Button player John David and the big blind both call Jung Gi Hong's 800 raise for a flop 5♠ 2♠ 9♥ . Action is checked to David who slides out 1800 and only Hong tosses it in to buy the turn K♥ . David dips in again and bets 2500 and Hong sticks around to see the river Q♣ . Hong again can't resist and calls David's larger 5000 bet then mucks when David shows 5♦ 2♦ two pair at the flop.

Kim Enriquez takes control again for 600 and finds one caller until the big blind Gary Guerrero challenges with a three-bet of 1600. The two in the hand make the call then they all check the flop 5♠ K♦ K♣ . On the turn 7♠ , Guerrero comes out for 2000 and only Enriquez gives him action however on the river 9♠ , Enriquez decides to fold to Guerrero's 6000 bet.

Catching the action with 2♦ K♥ 8♠ showing and hefty pot in the middle. The betting war continues with Robert Miller eventually finding himself all in and Marlon Laxamana risking with less behind.

At the showdown, Miller has J♠ 2♠ two pair, Laxamana has K♦ K♥ , the turn A♠ and river T♠ don't improve Laxamana for Miller to ship it,

Kim Enriquez raises to 600 from under the gun with two players down the orbit making the call. When the flop comes 7♠ 8♠ A♥ , action is checked to last to act Kento Nakamura who takes a chance for 500. This is met with a check-raise of 1500 from Benhur Ybarsabal that is good to rake in the pot.

Cheng Wen Huang raises 600 from under the gun and gets called by the button John David and the big blind. Huang slides out 1100 at the flop 3♦ 7♥ 9♥ and only David continues. Both players keep it light on the turn T♠ and river 2♠ with no bets on the table to show their hole cards.

Huang is first and has K♦ 7♦ pair and wins the pot as David mucks.

Action heavy preflop starts with a raise from cutoff that gets re-raised to 1600 by Fahad Alanazi on the button. Small blind Kenneth Isip calls then big blind Roxanne Victorino adds more in with a four-bet of 3500. Only Alanazi and Isip call to take the bout to the flop 2♠ 8♣ 7♣ . Victorino remains unrelenting and continues for 6000 which is good enough to take down the pot.

Four limipers nearly get to see a cheap flop until big blind Toshiya Tamaru puts them to the test with a 1000 raise. This gets two players to fold and two to call as the cards land 3♦ J♦ 2♥ .

Tamaru continues for 1100 and only Alexis Maloloc calls for heads up to the turn 8♥ . Tamaru backs down and checks, Maloloc makes it cost 2100 for the river which Tamaru tosses in and the final card lands 4♣ . Again Tamaru checks, Maloloc bets 5000, and that's enough to get Tamaru to surrender his hand.