Ruiko Mamaiya

Ruiko Mamiya, who had recently won the National Cup Championship on November 16 for TWD 3,087,700 (~USD 101,900), had just lost a pre-flop all-in flip with T T against Yan Lin Li’s A K , as Li hit his king on the flop.

She was left with a miserable 200 chips after posting both her big blind and big blind ante.

Seated in middle position, Gyeongseok Jeon opened to 5,000 and received a call from Michihiko Matsudo in the hijack. Mamiya, of course, pushed her last two black chips forward, which went into a side pot.

The two active players checked the flop of 8 3 4 .

On the Q turn, Matsudo took the lead and fired 4,500, a bet Jeon decided not to call.

It was then time for the two Japanese players to reveal their hands.

Ruiko Mamiya: K K

Michihiko Matsuda: Q T

The J on the river changed nothing. Despite hitting top pair, Matsuda did not have the winning hand. He had to settle for the side pot, while Mamiya claimed the main pot with her pair of kings and stayed alive—although only barely.