APT Manila, Philippines 2024Philippines [PHL]Philippines, City of Dreams ManilaEVENT

Philippines National Cup

2024.10.28 - 2024.10.29
Place
1st
Prize
$20,065
Prize (PHP)
₱1,170,050
Blind level
Level 37: 150,000 / 300,000 ante: 300,000
Entries
1/726
Total Chips
10,890,000
Average
10,890,000

Final Day

Janette BeeJanette Bee
10/29/2024, 2:36:49 PM

Maggy Cenon Has Been Eliminated in 2nd Place for PHP 1,079,513 (~$18,513)

Level 37: 150,000 / 300,000 ante: 300,000
Maggy Cenon finsihed at 2nd Place

Maggy Cenon moved all-in for her remaining 2,285,000 from the button, putting her tournament life on the line. Marco Espela, after requesting a count, made the call, setting up a dramatic showdown.

Maggy Cenon: J 8

Marco Espela: K T

The dealer fanned out a flop of K 6 2 , giving Espela top pair and sending a wave of anticipation through the room. Cenon and her railbirds began packing up, exchanging handshakes with Espela as they braced for the end.

The turn brought the A , followed by the 8 on the river, sealing Cenon’s fate. She made her way to the payout counter to claim her prize as Espela celebrated his victory!

PlayerChips
ME
Marco EspelaPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
10,875,000(36 BB)
MC
Maggy CenonPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
busted
Janette BeeJanette Bee
10/29/2024, 2:23:30 PM

Bluff Play

Level 36: 125,000 / 250,000 ante: 250,000

Marco Espela limped in on the button, and Maggy Cenon raised to 750,000 from the big blind. Espela called.

On the flop of 8 2 2 , the action went check-check. A 6 rolled off on the turn, where Cenon bet 500,000 and Espela called.

The river brought a board-pairing 8 , and both players checked to showdown. Cenon tabled J T for ten-high, but it was no match for Espela's queen-high with Q 9 .

PlayerChips
ME
Marco EspelaPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
7,735,000(31 BB)
MC
Maggy CenonPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
2,680,000(11 BB)
Janette BeeJanette Bee
10/29/2024, 2:14:25 PM

Cenon Folds River

Level 35: 100,000 / 200,000 ante: 200,000

Maggy Cenon limped in from the button and Marco Espela checked to take it into the streets.

Both saw a flop of J T K and checked through to see the 4 turn, where Espela bet 300,000 and Cenon called.

The river brought a J which paired with the board, and Espela fired 500,000, forcing Cenon to fold.

PlayerChips
ME
Marco EspelaPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
6,685,000(33 BB)
MC
Maggy CenonPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
3,800,000(19 BB)
Janette BeeJanette Bee
10/29/2024, 2:01:24 PM

Deal Finalized

Level 35: 100,000 / 200,000 ante: 200,000

After intense deliberation, Marco Espela and Maggy Cenon reached an agreement to battle it out for the Php 52,550 prize and the coveted trophy. With the remaining prize pool secured through ICM calculations, the stakes were set, and the final showdown was ready to unfold.

Janette BeeJanette Bee
10/29/2024, 1:38:36 PM

Cenon Making a Charge, Evens Out the Counts

Level 34: 80,000 / 160,000 ante: 160,000

Maggy Cenon just took down a few crucial pots, which almost evened out the counts!

First, Marco Espela raised to 410,000 from the button and Maggy Cenon made it 1,200,000 out of the big blind. Espela called.

They went to a flop of 4 3 K where Espela check-folded to Cenon's shove of around 2,000,000.

A few moments later, Espela raised to 320,000 and Cenon called.

On the J A 3 flop, Cenon checked and Espela bet 275,000. Cenon then put in a check-raise to 1,000,000, which got Espela to fold.

PlayerChips
ME
Marco EspelaPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
5,700,000(36 BB)
MC
Maggy CenonPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
5,200,000(33 BB)
Janette BeeJanette Bee
10/29/2024, 1:35:24 PM

Cenon Gambles and Doubles Up

Level 34: 80,000 / 160,000 ante: 160,000
Maggy Cenon

Maggy Cenon opened from the button for 400,000, a bold move against massive chip leader Marco Espela, who held a staggering 9:1 lead and called without hesitation. The dealer laid down a flop of 4 A 7 , and Espela checked, giving Cenon the green light. She seized the moment, shoving all-in, and Espela snap-called.

Maggy Cenon: J 9

Marco Espela: 6 5

Cenon was ahead, but Espela had an open-ended straight draw, one card away from ending her tournament run. The tension spiked as the turn came 2 , followed by the T on the river, leaving Espela’s draw incomplete. Cenon’s bold play paid off as she scooped the pot, doubling up and keeping her tournament hopes alive!

PlayerChips
ME
Marco EspelaPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
8,200,000(51 BB)
MC
Maggy CenonPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
2,650,000(17 BB)
Janette BeeJanette Bee
10/29/2024, 1:24:25 PM

Mack Lee Has Been Eliminated in 3rd Place For PHP 616,000 (~$10,470)

Level 34: 80,000 / 160,000 ante: 160,000
Mack Lee

Mack Lee opened the button to 320,000 and only Marco Espela called from the small blind.

Both read a flop of J 5 3 , and Espela checked the action to Lee, who then fired 250,000. Espela made the call after a short time.

They saw a Q land on the turn, where Espela checked again, and Lee fired out 650,000. Espela then shoved all in for around 5,575,000, which Lee called off his remaining chips, roughly 2,000,000.

Marco Espela: K Q

Mack Lee: Q T

Lee still got many outs to win the hand, but the dealer slammed a helpless A on the river to complete the board, meaning Lee was sent to the rail and bagged up PHP 616,000 (~$10,470) payout.

PlayerChips
ME
Marco EspelaPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
9,250,000(58 BB)
ML
Mack LeeSingapore [SGP]Singapore
busted
Janette BeeJanette Bee
10/29/2024, 1:12:38 PM

Ashley Patterson Has Been Eliminated in 4th Place For PHP 466,000 (~$7,920)

Level 33: 60,000 / 120,000 ante: 120,000
Ashley Patterson

Ashley Patterson shipped for around 1,350,000 from the cutoff four-handed, and Marco Espela called from the button.

Ashley Patterson: Q J

Marco Espela: Q Q

Patterson started to stand up after the 8 4 4 flop left him drawing extremely thin. A T on the turn did give him some outs, but the 7 river wasn't what he needed, and he was out in fourth, just shy of the podium places.

PlayerChips
ME
Marco EspelaPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
6,000,000(50 BB)
AP
Ashley PattersonUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [GBR]United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
busted
Janette BeeJanette Bee
10/29/2024, 11:58:39 AM

Lee Continues to Accumulate

Level 32: 50,000 / 100,000 ante: 100,000

Ashley Patterson limped in from under the gun and Marco Espela followed suit from the next seat. When the action got to Mack Lee in the small blind, he made it 350,000 to go. Both Patterson and Espela called.

The three players went to a flop of 6 8 2 where Lee requested the all-in triangle and shoved for around 800,000. Patterson rechecked his cards and folded, and Espela also got out of the way.

PlayerChips
ME
Marco EspelaPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
2,800,000(28 BB)
ML
Mack LeeSingapore [SGP]Singapore
2,000,000(20 BB)
AP
Ashley PattersonUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [GBR]United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1,300,000(13 BB)
Janette BeeJanette Bee
10/29/2024, 11:47:19 AM

Final Table Chip Counts

Level 31: 40,000 / 80,000 ante: 80,000

The chip counts are in for the final table, and it's Marco Espela who surged up the leaderboard and holds a commanding lead over the field.


Espela is one of three local players who reached the final table, along with Maggy Cenon and Alvir Inocentes.


The average stack is 1,210,000, which is just fifteen big blinds, so expect the action to be fast-paced.

PlayerChips
ME
Marco EspelaPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
3,150,000(39 BB)
AP
Ashley PattersonUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [GBR]United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1,670,000(21 BB)
MC
Maggy CenonPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
1,495,000(19 BB)
1,070,000(13 BB)
AI
Alvir InocentesPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
930,000(12 BB)
KS
850,000(11 BB)
LL
Lun LuoChina [CHN]China
700,000(9 BB)
ML
Mack LeeSingapore [SGP]Singapore
585,000(7 BB)
PC
Poyu ChenTaiwan [TWN]Taiwan
500,000(6 BB)
Janette BeeJanette Bee
10/29/2024, 11:43:28 AM

Chen Gets a Much-Needed Up

Level 31: 40,000 / 80,000 ante: 80,000

Po Yu Chen moved all-in from the button for 170,000, risking his tournament life, and Marco Espela made the call from the small blind.

Po Yu Chen: A K

Marco Espela: J 9

The flop came down T 2 Q , giving Espela an open-ended straight draw and a shot at eliminating Chen. Tension mounted as the turn brought the 5 , followed by the river T , leaving Chen’s ace-high as the winning hand. Chen survived, holding his breath as he doubled up and stayed in the tournament!

PlayerChips
ME
Marco EspelaPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
3,100,000(39 BB)
PC
Poyu ChenTaiwan [TWN]Taiwan
490,000(6 BB)
Janette BeeJanette Bee
10/29/2024, 10:58:40 AM

Espela Cripples Luo

Level 30: 30,000 / 60,000 ante: 60,000
Lun Luo Crippled

Lun Luo opened from late position with a raise to 120,000, drawing a call from Marco Espela in the small blind after a few minutes of contemplation. Maggy Cenon in the big blind stepped aside, setting the stage for a tense heads-up showdown.


On a flop of 7 K 6 , Espela checked, and Luo continued with a 110,000 bet. Espela called once more, keeping the pot brewing.

The turn brought the A , and with action back on Luo, he jammed all-in. Espela, at risk, snap-called, setting up a dramatic reveal.

Marco Espela: A T

Lun Luo: 9 8

With his tournament life on the line, Espela had top pair, while Luo was hoping to hit his open-ended straight draw. The river card, J, dashed Luo’s hopes, failing to complete his draw and forcing him to surrender a huge chunk of his stack to Espela, who doubled up in thrilling fashion.

PlayerChips
ME
Marco EspelaPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
2,270,000(38 BB)
LL
Lun LuoChina [CHN]China
1,100,000(18 BB)
Janette BeeJanette Bee
10/29/2024, 10:44:10 AM

Chip Counts With Ten Remaining

Level 30: 30,000 / 60,000 ante: 60,000

Here are the current counts with ten remaining. Lun Luo's lead has been eaten into a little, but he still remains the chip leader with a stack of 2,000,000.

PlayerChips
LL
Lun LuoChina [CHN]China
2,000,000(33 BB)
MC
Maggy CenonPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
1,400,000(23 BB)
ME
Marco EspelaPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
1,150,000(19 BB)
AP
Ashley PattersonUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [GBR]United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1,100,000(18 BB)
900,000(15 BB)
AI
Alvir InocentesPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
850,000(14 BB)
ML
Mack LeeSingapore [SGP]Singapore
850,000(14 BB)
KS
800,000(13 BB)
SL
Suya LeeKorea (Republic of) [KOR]Korea (Republic of)
700,000(12 BB)
PC
Poyu ChenTaiwan [TWN]Taiwan
600,000(10 BB)
Janette BeeJanette Bee
10/29/2024, 10:04:32 AM

Luo Puts Espela in a Tough Spot

Level 29: 25,000 / 50,000 ante: 50,000

Marco Espela raised from the hijack to 110,000 and Lun Luo defended from the big blind.

They went to a flop of 3 A 6 where Luo check-called a bet of 100,000 from Espela.

Both then checked the 4 turn to the 7 river, where Luo led out with a bet of 290,000. Espela went deep into th tank and was thinking for around two minutes before he eventually laid it down.

PlayerChips
LL
Lun LuoChina [CHN]China
2,700,000(54 BB)
ME
Marco EspelaPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
1,000,000(20 BB)
Janette BeeJanette Bee
10/29/2024, 9:51:59 AM

Mitchell Tsang Has Been Eliminated in 14th Place for PHP 71,000 (~$1,210)

Level 28: 20,000 / 40,000 ante: 40,000
Mitchell Tsang finished at 14th place

Mitchell Tsang opened to 235,000, leaving himself with a single 1,000 chip behind, and was called by Marco Espela directly to his left.

Tsang tossed in his last chip on the 9 T 8 flop, and Espela quickly called.

Mitchell Tsang: A T

Marco Espela: Q Q

Although Tsang paired his ten, it wasn’t enough to overcome Espela’s pocket queens. The 5 on the turn and K on the river didn’t improve Tsang’s hand, and he was eliminated in 14th place, heading to collect his payout.

PlayerChips
ME
Marco EspelaPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
600,000(15 BB)
MT
Mitchell TsangUnited States of America [USA]United States of America
busted
Janette BeeJanette Bee
10/29/2024, 9:49:46 AM

Big Slick Helps Lee to a Double-Up

Level 28: 20,000 / 40,000 ante: 40,000

Marco Espela made it 85,000 from middle position and Mack Lee shoved from the hijack for 360,000. Once the action got back to Espela, he made a quick call.

Mack Lee: A K

Marco Espela: A Q

In a tale as old as time, ace-queen was all-in against ace-king, with the expected result as the 4 4 8 3 9 runout kept Lee in the lead, and earned him a double-up.

PlayerChips
ME
Marco EspelaPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
850,000(21 BB)
ML
Mack LeeSingapore [SGP]Singapore
820,000(21 BB)
Janette BeeJanette Bee
10/29/2024, 9:44:39 AM

Park Eliminated, Sixteen Remain

Level 27: 15,000 / 30,000 ante: 30,000

Jeongmin Park was all in from the button for around 375,000 and Marco Espela called from the small blind.

Marco Espela: K A

Jeongmin Park: K 8

The board filled out 7 5 A 5 3 , eliminating Park out of the field, and left just two tables of eight remaining.

PlayerChips
ME
Marco EspelaPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
1,175,000(39 BB)
JP
Jeongmin ParkKorea (Republic of) [KOR]Korea (Republic of)
busted
Janette BeeJanette Bee
10/29/2024, 7:22:53 AM

Ace High Wins

Level 24: 8,000 / 16,000 ante: 16,000
Marco Espela

In a tense heads-up clash, Federico Peralta went all-in for his tournament life, risking 140,000 against Marco Espela, who had him covered.

Federico Peralta: K Q

Marco Espela: A J

The board revealed 7 7 6 3 T , which left both players unimproved, and sent Peralta to the rail with four tables remaining.

PlayerChips
ME
Marco EspelaPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
560,000(35 BB)
busted
Janette BeeJanette Bee
10/29/2024, 6:40:30 AM

Sebatini Applies Pressure on the River

Level 22: 5,000 / 10,000 ante: 10,000

Marco Espela opened to 22,000 from under the gun, and Dino Sabatini called from the small blind.

The action went check-check on the flop of A J T . A K fell on the turn, and both players kept the pace and checked through.

The river brought a board-pairing K , and Sebatini shoved all in for 97,000, sending Espela into the tank. After a long time, Espela checked his cards again before he tossed them in the muck.

PlayerChips
ME
Marco EspelaPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
335,000(34 BB)
DS
165,000(17 BB)
Janette BeeJanette Bee
10/29/2024, 6:37:27 AM

A Few Chip Counts

Level 22: 5,000 / 10,000 ante: 10,000
PlayerChips
AP
Ashley PattersonUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [GBR]United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
600,000(60 BB)
BG
Ben GurIsrael [ISR]Israel
540,000(54 BB)
FL
500,000(50 BB)
LL
Lun LuoChina [CHN]China
460,000(46 BB)
ME
Marco EspelaPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
400,000(40 BB)
375,000(38 BB)
YT
370,000(37 BB)
170,000(17 BB)
Janette BeeJanette Bee
10/29/2024, 5:49:51 AM

Espela Puts on His Cape, Correctly Hero Calls With Ace-High

Level 21: 4,000 / 8,000 ante: 8,000
Marco Espela

Marco Espela raised from the cutoff and Jeorge Lagatuz defended his big blind.

They went to a flop of K 4 5 where Lagatuz check-called a bet of 15,000 from Espela, then they both checked the K turn.

A 9 dropped on the river and Lagatuz reached for chips and fired out 35,000. Espela went into the tank and was trying to piece together the puzzle, and after some time, he called.

Lagatuz showed Q J for a missed flush draw, and Espela tabled A 8 for just ace-high to claim the pot.

PlayerChips
ME
Marco EspelaPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
350,000(44 BB)
JL
Jeorge LagatuzPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
170,000(21 BB)
Janette BeeJanette Bee
10/29/2024, 5:13:19 AM

Espela Stays in the Tournament

Level 20: 3,000 / 6,000 ante: 6,000

The action picked up with two players all-in, with Marco Espela at risk against Antonio Abesamis, and their hands tabled.

Marco Espela: K J

Antonio Abesamis: K 9

The board ran out 3 A T 7 A , securing Espela the win and boosting his stack for another shot in the tournament.

PlayerChips
AA
Antonio AbesamisPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
160,000(27 BB)
ME
Marco EspelaPhilippines [PHL]Philippines
50,000(8 BB)