Matthew Wakeman

Matthew Wakeman leads the final six players in the PHP 1,500,000 APT Manila Superstar Challenge. During day 1 he amassed a massive 1,945,000 chip stack, which accounts for almost 40% of chips in play. The Australian professional was especially running hot in the last couple of levels on day 1. He will be highly motivated going into day 2, as this title surely would mean his biggest live tournament achievement for him.

Tobias Schwecht

The day second in chips finished APT Super High Roller Champion Tobias Schwecht. He will start day 2 with 1,258,000 chips. Natural 8 ambassador Punnat Punsri completed day 1's podium with 992,000 chips.

The other survivors are Danilo Velasevic (633,000), Bao Qiang Ho (400,000), and Victor Dai (191,000). There will still be 2 unfortunate ones who will need to bust in order for the money to be reached. A total of 21 players had registered to the tournament, creating a prizepool of PHP 29,791,125 (~$514,500). A 4th place will guarantee PHP 3,575,000(~$61,745), with the eventual winner taking home PHP 12,512,125 (~$216,100).

Chip Counts

Pay Outs

The final table will resume on February 14th at noon with blind level starting at level 15 10,000/ 20,000 (20,000). Follow here for live updates throughout the final table.

In the last hand of the day, opened Danilo Velasevic on the button and got a call from Matthew Wakeman in the big-blind.

The flop came down A T T and Velasevic continued with a 20,000 continuation bet. Wakeman responded with a raise to 115,000. The button called.

The turn was the 2 and Wakeman continued his aggression with a hefty bet of 325,000. Velasevic did not go anywhere and made the call.

The river was the Q . Wakeman put Velasevic now fully to the test. He moved all-in, covering Velasevic's around 630,000.

The Serb thought about his decision for a bit, but in the end gave Wakeman enough credit and folded his hand.

This concludes Day 1 of the APT Superstar Challenge. Stay tuned, a full recap of day 1 will follow here shortly.

Shortly after Wakeman and Punsri clashed once again, Wakeman opened and was three-bet to 150,000 by Punsri in the big-blind.

Wakeman called and the players went to the K 7 6 flop.

Punsri continued his aggression with a bet of 81,000. Wakeman did not go anywhere and made the call.

The turn was the 4 and both players slowed down and checked.

The T river was checked once again and the players went to showdown.

Punnat Punsri: J 7

Matthew Wakeman: Q Q

Wakeman won the hand with his pair of pocket queen's.

Punnat Punsri opened from middle-position and got two callers. Matthew Wakeman in the small-blind and Bao Ho in the big-blind.

The flop came down 7 3 3 and Punsri continued with a bet of 27,000. Only Wakeman called.

Punsri also did not slow down on the 5 turn, as he bet 155,000. But once more Wakeman made the call.

The river was the 8 , and after using a couple time banks Punsri decided to check back on the river.

As it turned out was this a good decision, as Wakeman tabled J J for the winning hand.

Marius Gieser

Action was picked up with Punnat Punsri in an all-in showdown against Marius Gieser, who was at risk.

Marius Gieser: J J

Punnat Punsri: A Q

Gieser held the lead preflop with his pocket jacks, but the board ran out 6 2 Q 7 4 , pairing Punsri’s queen on the flop and leaving Gieser drawing thin.

With no help on the turn or river, Gieser’s tournament run came to an end as he made his way off the floor.

Matthew Wakeman

Matthew Wakeman opened from middle-position and big stack Danilo Velasevic defended his big-blind.

The flop came down J 8 6 and both players checked.

The Q was the turn and again both players checked.

The river was the T . Velasevic checked but Wakeman decided it was time for a bet, in this case for 65,000. After thinking about it for a little bit, Velasevic made the call.

Wakeman showed A K for runner, runner straight.

Marius Gieser

On a flop of A Q 5 , Marius Gieser checked over to Punnat Punsri, who fired a bet of 22,000.

Gieser made the call, and both players opted to check the 6 turn.

When the 8 river hit, Gieser seized the initiative, leading out for 18,000 and Punsri made the call.

Gieser confidently tabled Q J for a flopped queen. Punsri couldn't beat it and sent his hand into the muck.

Marius Gieser

Marius Gieser opened under the gun for 25,000 and got a shove all-in answer from Gystis Lazauninkas. Gieser snap called for a showdown.

Gystis Lazauninkas: Q Q

Marius Gieser: K K

The board unfurled 5 2 7 9 6 .

Gieser's lead was maintained throughout and Lazauninkas was eliminated from the tournament. As Gieser scooped the pot he jocundly said, "I don't get enough respect."

Superstar Challenge Final Table

Final Table Chip Counts

We picked the action up on the river where Nitsche had bet 264,000 into a pot of around 370,000, leaving himself just 1000 behind. It was in a blind versus blind situation against Danilo Velasevic and the board was K J 7 6 5 .

Velasevic thought about his decision for around 2 minutes, and eventually, he decided on a call.

Dominik Nitsche: T 8

Danilo Velasevic: A 7

Great call by Velasevic, who strengthened his position as a big stack in this tournament.