Matthew Wakeman - Superstar Challenge Champion

Matthew Wakeman from Australia has emerged victorious in the most expensive event in the series, the PHP 1.5M (~USD 25,775) Superstar Challenge, besting a field of 21 entries, comprised of the most illustrious names in the industry.

Wakeman prevailed over Singapre's Bao Qiang Ho in an intense heads-up battle to win the top prize of PHP 12,512,125 (~USD 214,985—his second largest career cash—with the coveted APT Black Silhouette Lion Trophy representing the Australian's first APT title win.

This tournament, boasting a total prize pool of PHP 29,791,125 (~USD 511,875), set a new tour country record for entries and prize pool, with Wakeman claiming the largest first place prize this event has ever awarded in Manila.

Final Table Action

The final six Day 1 survivors came into the day and action started slow with players being cautious as there were only four paying positions.

After losing a huge chunk of his stack to Serbia's Danilo Velasevic, Australian Victor Dai—who came in the day with the shortest stack—shoved all-in with queen-five suited and found himself up against Velasevic once again, with the Serbian calling with ace-jack offsuit. With no one hitting the board, Velasevic's ace-high was enough to send Dai to the rail empty-handed in sixth place.

Danilo Velasevic

Not long after Dai’s exit, Velasevic found himself crippled by Wakeman after missing a flush draw. Short-stacked and holding king-jack offsuit, he called an all-in jam from Thailand's Punnat Punsri whose ace-ten offsuit was enough to burst the money bubble and bring the field down to four.

Despite coming in third in chips at the start of the day, Punsri found himself short after the first break of the day. Hitting top pair on the flop Punsri jammed all-in, not expecting his opponent, Wakeman, to wake up with pocket aces. Punsri departed in fourth place taking home PHP 3,575,000 (~$61,426).

Tobias Schwecht

There was to be no second series title for APT Super High Roller champion Tobias Schwecht after the German player went all-in with ace-deuce off over the top of a Ho open raise, with the Singaporean making a speedy call with pocket kings. The kings held ushering Schwecht to the payout counter to claim his third place winnings of PHP5,362,000 (~$92,130)

Ho initially dominated heads-up play but that changed in a cooler hand against Wakeman.

While Ho battled back with a couple of double ups to get his stack back up to 50 percent of Wakeman’s, the end came shortly afterwards.

Ho open-jammed with queen-seven suited with Wakeman calling with ace-six suited. With the Australian pairing his six on the river, Ho was sent home in second place, with the PHP 8,342,000 (~$143,333) runner-up prize representing his biggest career cash to date.

Congratulations to all the players, especially to the new Superstar Challenge Champion, Matthew Wakeman!

Matthew Wakeman stood victorious in the Superstar Challenge Event winning PHP12,512,125 and the prestigious APT Black Silhouette Trophy.

Please stay tuned for the full recap of the day.

Bao Qiang Ho

After just doubling-up Ho was all-in once again, after open-jamming with around 1,500,000 chips. Wakeman made the call.

Bao Qiang Ho: Q 7

Matthew Wakeman: A 6

The board ran out K J T 3 6 , making Wakeman the new Superstar Challange Champion.

With his tournament life on the line, Bao Qiang Ho jammed all-in on the button and was immediately called by Matthew Wakeman for a showdown.

Bao Qiang Ho: K Q

Matthew Wakeman: A 8

The dealer flopped 4 7 Q giving Ho a pair on the flop and giving him some reprieve of a hopeful double up.

The 9 turn and 4 ensure his victory and double up for another shot at winning the tournament.

Bao Qiang Ho

Bao Qiang Ho who was down to 360,000 and moved all-in from the button. Wakeman made the call.

Bao Qiang Ho: 9 5

Matthew Wakeman: 5 5

The flop came out flying for Ho, who, on A 4 3 , had multiple draws and got there with the 2 turn. River was the Q .

The players are now on a 15 minute break. So far it has been a tight heads-up battle, where only one big cooler situation separating the two opponents.

From the button Ho limp-called Wakeman’s raise to 300,000. On the K K J flop Wakeman continued with a bet of 160,000.

Ho called and the turn came the 3 .

Wakeman did not slow down and continued his aggression with a bet of 650,000. Once again the Singaporean made the call.

The river came another 3 and Wakeman moved all-in for 1,050,000 chips.

Ho, who around 1,700,000 in his stack on the river thought about his decision for a little bit. But in the end decided that his hand is too strong to fold so he threw in the calling chips and the players tabled their cards.

Matthew Wakeman: K Q

Bao Qiang Ho: A 3

What an unfortunate runout for Ho. Though, he is still in contention for the title. One double-up and he is right back in it.

Matthew Wakeman and Bao Qiang Ho

Play has significantly slowed down, with both players within reach of the PHP 12,512,125 top prize.

With Matthew Wakeman on the button, Bao Qiang Ho completed the small blind, and Wakeman checked his option to see a flop of A 3 T .

Both players checked, and the dealer revealed the 7 on the turn.

Ho led out for 100,000, and Wakeman made the call. The river K saw both players check again, and Ho tabled A 3 for a flopped two-pair to take the pot.

Both players started the heads-up cautiously. Both opponents mainly use a limp-strategy from the button and rarely has a hand lasted longer than the turn.