WPT Philippines - Poker Madness Day 2 highlights and chip count

We really didn't know what to expect in Day 2, if the short stacked players were going to play loose or tight and the answer came right on the first hand of Day 2. Tight Player, Nok Atienza's nickname, was the shortest stack and moved all-in, at the dealer position. He was called by a player and Tight Player showed his Big Slick. In the end, AK held and he quickly gained some chips. But a few hands later he found himself in a similar situation, and went all-in preflop again, but the result was not the same and he busted out.

Play was at a steady pace with the short stacks busting out along the way as blinds increased, but when several of the medium stacks and a few of the larger stacks got busted out, the play seemed to tighten. Day 1 Chip Leader Ed Bautista seemed to be coasting along until some questionable calls in four hands made him go back Baguio empty-handed, after busting out.

Play grinded more tightly when the bubble for the final table was reached and even more so as the bubble for the money was reached. In the end, it was Aris Alipon who became everyones friend that day as he was the bubble boy in the tournament, busting on the other side of the money. It didnt take long for Chris Parker to end up in 8th place and the Php 12,000 prize. But then the play really got serious with only one player needing to bust out before we send the players to the televised final-FINAL table with the cameras and lights. It took over one and a half hours for the shortest stack in the table, being wielded by Alvin Tiu, to finally be eliminated when his AK got drawn out by Kim Tae Hyung's Q3, when a 3 came but came away with Php 18,000.

Final-FINAL chip counts are here:










Come watch the action of the Final table on Monday, October 16 at Airport Casino Filipino at 6pm and finally see who will be the first WPT Philippines Champion.