7:55pm: Sam Razavi eliminated in 2nd place for ₱3,466,000; Linh Tran is our champion! (₱6,135,000)

It's in every single place after only QUARTER-HOUR of heads up play here. Sam Razavi started shortstacked and couldn't overcome the percentages with Linh Tran sealing the deal to raise the APPT trophy and pocket ₱6,135,000.

APPT Manila champion Linh Tran (pictured left)

The final hand saw Razavi move all in from the button with A♣2♣ only to be snapped off by Tran who picked up the most productive hand in poker with the A♠A♦.

"Three four nine, one club!" Razavi called out with a laugh.

The flop landed 8♣2♠8♠ to pair Razavi and provides him two outs to stick alive.

"Deuce of diamonds!" Razavi called for however the 4♠ turn and 6♠ river wouldn't oblige, eliminating Razavi and signalling the tip of the tournament with Tran our new APPT Manila Main Event champion.

What every week it has been here in Manila. Congratulations to Tran! We'll have an entire wrap of today's proceedings coming shortly at the PokerStars Blog. Stay tuned! - BK

Runner up - Sam Razavi

7:50pm: Razavi slippingLevel 29: Blinds - 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

Sam Razavi has folded five hands in a row showing rags each time. He only started heads up play with 17 big blinds and has now slipped all the way down to 13. -- BK

7:40pm: Heads up chip countsLevel 29: Blinds - 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

Linh Tran - 9,770,000Sam Razavi - 1,770,000--MC

Chipping up for charity

We interrupt this Main Event coverage momentarily before heads up begins to inform you in regards to the APPT Manila Saturday Superstack Charity Event. The tournament boasted a ₱500,000 guarantee and 392 players took part to enjoy themselves on the tables and feature a shot at taking home a prize themselves while donating to a perfect cause.

Including the 237 add-ons, with ₱500 of each ₱4,000 buy-in going to charity altogether the development raised ₱ 484,500 for foundations just like the Bahay Aruga orphanage and Alawin aged care facility.

These proceeds might be donated by PokerStars LIVE for the town of Dreams table games department CSR activity (Corporate Social Responsibility) who're big supporters of those charity organizations. -- BK

7:35pm: Jesse Leonarez eliminated in third place (₱2,139,000)Level 29: Blinds - 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

Another crazy hand just came about here in Manila where the 2 big stacks went to war, and when the dust settled, start of day chip leader Jesse Leonarez was eliminated in third place for the second one year in a row.

Linh Tran raised to 200,000 from the button and called after Leonarez three-bet to 600,000 from the large blind. Both players checked the 5♣6♥9♠ flop before Leonarez led for 700,000 at the 3♥ turn. Tran took his time, counted out a min raise and slid the towers forward. Impulsively Leonarez moved all-in for over four million and Tran called, having him covered by a couple of hundred thousand.

Jessie Leonarez (right) - 3rd place

Tran opened 6♣6♠ for a suite that was crushing Leonarez's T♠9♥ for high pair. The river was a jack and a rather shocked looking Leonarez was led away. He wasn't half as shocked as Sam Razavi though, who couldn't believe he'd just laddered up another spot. --MC

7:25pm: Slow and steadyLevel 29: Blinds - 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

Limps and checks. That just about sums up the action for on the moment.

It's three-handed and with all three players relatively deep we've not seen any fireworks for some time. That may change any minute now. Stick with us! -- BK

7:10pm: Razavi at the doubleLevel 29: Blinds - 50,000/100,000 (10,000 ante)

Sam Razavi's back in with a fighting chance of taking over his two big-stacked opponent after he doubled through Jesse Leonarez.

The latter raised from the button and called after Razavi three-bet all-in for 900,000 from the massive blind.

Razavi: K♦Q♠Leonarez: Q♥J♠

The board ran a British-flavoured J♣K♥6♦7♥3♣. Razavi shook his opponent's hand who couldn't help smiling. Leonarez dropped to 3.9 million. --MC

7pm: Mike Takayama eliminated in fourth place for ₱1,622,000Level 28: Blinds - 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

It was a case of 1 double up try too many for Mike Takayama and the tournament has finally been reduced to 3 players.

He called all-in for 770,000 after Linh Tran set him in from the small blind.

Tran: A♥7♣Takayama: K♠8♣

The board ran A♦7♥8♠4♣7♠ to make Tran a whole house. Despite busting, Takayama was all smiles as he really must've enjoyed his antics over the past hour or so. Tran's stack grew to nearly 6 million. --MC

Mike Takayama - 4th place

6:45pm: Tran takes the chip lead after an enormous flipLevel 28: Blinds - 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

Surprisingly we just had a monster pot between the 2 biggest stacks on the table - and it led to Jessie Leonarez losing the chip lead that he'd held since early into play yesterday.

It was a raising war preflop that saw the momentum shift with Linh Tran initially opening to 160,000 from the cutoff. Leonarez reraised to 580,000 from the cutoff but Tran played back at him for a complete of 1,550,000. Leonarez didn't hesitate to transport all in for around another million on top and with a choice from Tran they were flipping for the most important pot of the tournament.

Leonarez: A♦K♦Tran: J♥J♣

The railbirds shuffled in as everyone sweated the Q♥5♠4♣ flop. Tran had faded danger up to now and continued to take action at the T♥ turn and 9♣ river.

Tran's supporters let loose an enormous cheer and applause as he moved into the chip lead with approximately 5.5 million. -- BK

6:35pm: Takayama doubles again, in dramatic fashionLevel 28: Blinds - 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

You won't see many crazier double ups that Mike Takayama's latest one.

He'd been whittled all the way down to 360,000 when it looked as though he'd raised all-in from the button. Jesse Leonarez had thought the similar thing, called, and unfolded black aces. Commotion then erupted as Takayama claimed he'd only raised to 350,000, so still had 10,000 back to play with.

The floor ruled he could keep them back and play out the hand from there, so a 5♣6♥2♣ was spread. Takayama whooped really loudly, said he was all-in and opened 3♥4♥ for a flopped straight! Because the cockneys would say, "ARE YOU ABLE TO Adam and Eve it?" The entire of the rail erupted in laughter and the board ran out 7♠T♥. While you think you've seen it all........--MC

6:18pm: Takayama survives againLevel 28: Blinds - 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

Apparent short stack master Mike Takayama continues to be alive and kicking.

He got it in preflop with the most efficient of it for his last 285,000 against Linh Tran and managed to live to fight another hand. Takayama held A♦7♥ versus T♣6♠ and avoided trouble at the 7♣5♠2♦8♦8♠ runout.

Despite the double up he's still sat with around 10 big blinds, but that hasn't looked as if it would faze him yet. -- BK

6pm: Second break of the day

No exits in that session of poker. The players are taking ten minutes. --MC

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5:55pm: Tran closing in on 3 millionLevel 27: Blinds - 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)

Linh Tran has taken another pot off Jesse Leonarez to transport as much as 2.9 million.

The later raised from first to behave and Tran called from the button. The 2 players went heads as much as an 8♠7♦Q♠ flop where Tran bet 135,000 when the action was checked to him. Leonarez called and both players checked the 5♥ turn to move to the J♠ river where Tran called a 200,000 bet with K♦Q♥. Leonarez opened black ten that were no good. --MC

5:40pm: Takayama holding onLevel 27: Blinds - 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)

Mike Takayama has finally broken clear of the chance zone after amazingly hovering across the five big blind mark for a couple of orbits now. One hand saw Takayama get a walk within the big blind before he flashed the A♣ and another saw him move all in under the gun for 390,000 and get it through.

Shortly after losing a couple of more blinds and antes Takayama found a lucky double up through Same Razavi to maintain his tournament alive. It folded to Takayama within the small blind and he moved all in for 310,000 only to be called by Razavi within the big blind.

Takayama: K♦J♥Razavi: A♥9♣

Takayama needed help and he found it right on the very end at the 2♣T♣2♥6♦J♣ runout. He stacked his newly acquired chips while Razavi fell to 1.6 million. -- BK

5:25pm: Small dent for Jesse; Linh into secondLevel 27: Blinds - 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)

Jesse Leonarez's three opponents aren't messing with him too much, and you can remember the fact that. If you have got trips though, mess away.

Leonarez limped in from the small blind and Linh Tran checked his option within the big blind. The board rolled out 5♦K♦A♠K♥6♦ and Leonarez waited until the river before leading for 100,000. Tran installed a surprise raise to 265,000 and Leonarez called after which mucked when Tran opened K♠8♣. He moved as much as 2.35 million. --MC

5pm: Updated chip countsLevel 27: Blinds - 30,000/60,000 (10,000 ante)

Level 27 has just begun with Jessie Leonarez still the commanding chip leader. Here's how the table stacks up.

Jessie Leonarez - 6,800,000Sam Razavi - 2,050,000Linh Tran - 2,000,000Mike Takayama - 700,000

-- BK

4:50pm: Tran takes one downLevel 26: Blinds - 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

It was an unorthodox move to begin things off with Mike Takayama limping from under the gun. Sam Razavi quickly limped behind at the button and Jessie Leonarez completed from the small blind.

With the action on Linh Tran within the big blind he checked out the tournament board and reached into his stack. Tran selected making it an extra 200,000 to play and his three tablemates all threw their hands away.

Tran moves on as much as 1.8 million in chips. -- BK

4:37pm: Takayama slippingLevel 26: Blinds - 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

Mike Takayama's stack has slipped to 700,000 after a few small pot losses.

The latest came when he raised to 125,000 from first position and was called by Linh Tran within the big blind. The board ran out 6♠5♠8♦2♠Q♦ without a bets entering into until the river where Tran led for 85,000. Takayama flicked within the call but mucked upon seeing Tran's Q♣T♣ for rivered top pair. --MC

4:25pm: Action slowing four-handedLevel 26: Blinds - 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

We're now four handed and after the flurry of early eliminations the typical stack is over 50 big blinds. It's good for the remainder players however it means the action has slowed dramatically with chips just being pushed back and forward. -- BK

4pm: Play resumesLevel 26: Blinds - 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

Chip update of the four remaining players:

Jeese Leonarez - 5,250,000Linh Tran - 2,450,000Sam Razavi - 1,985,000Mike Takayama - 950,000--MC

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3:50pm: Break time

The players are taking their first ten-minute break of the day. --MC

3:45pm: Sangyong Lee eliminated in 5th place for ₱1,180,000Level 25: Blinds - 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

"Send me to Havana, baby!" said a joyous Sam Razavi after he eliminated Sanyong Lee in fifth place.

Razavi has trouble showing his emotions at times

The Brit opened to 100,000 from the button and was called by Jeese Leonarez within the small blind before Lee squeezed all-in for 855,000 from the massive blind. Razavi snap called all-in for 965,000 and that was enough to scare off Leonarez.

Lee: A♣T♣Razavi: J♣J♦

The board ran 2♣2♦8♣5♥3♦

Razavi's face showed his lived every second of the sweat and added after showdown, "Now now we have a chance!"

Sangyong Lee - fifth place

3:23pm: Alan Lau eliminated in 6th place for ₱934,000Level 25: Blinds - 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

The 2015 Asia Player of the Year Alan quickly followed Joven Huer to the rail, and it occurred after a nasty beat to chip leader Jesse Leonarez.

Mike Takayama limped in from the cutoff before Lau tank-shoved for 600,000 from the small blind. Leonarez went into an excellent longer tank after which made the decision. Takayama folded.

Lau: K♦J♥Leonarez: K♣8♣

Lau was in great shape until the board ran Q♠3♣6♣4♣3♥ to make his opponent a flush. Ouch. --MC

Alan Lau - 6th place

3:10pm: Joven Huer eliminated in 7th place for ₱738,000Level 25: Blinds - 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

Joven Huer was right down to just 285,000 when he decided to make his move from under the gun. The action folded around to Linh Tran at the button who made the decision. The blinds folded.

Huer: 7♠5♠Tran: 9♣9♥

The board ran 7♦T♠8♥6♦K♣. Huer was drawing dead to a chop by the turn. Tran moved as much as 2.7 million. --MC

Joven Huer - 7th place

3:00pm: Razavi risingLevel 24: Blinds - 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)

Jessie Leonarez raised to 70,000 from under the gun and when it folded around to Sam Razavi at the button he moved all in for about 400,000. Leonarez beat him into the pot they usually were off to the races.

Leonarez: A♦K♥Razavi: T♠T♣

Razavi's wife Menchu was letting out a wild warrior call because the flop came down 2♠5♣4♣. The 6♥ turn and 6♣ river were also safe and Razavi fist pumped before the pot was pushed his way. -- BK

2:55pm: Seongsu Kong eliminated in 8th place for ₱614,000Level 24: Blinds - 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)

We've already lost another her with Seongsu Kong the following to seek out the rail. Again it was pocket kings sending a player packing, this time they belonged to Linh Tran.

Tran opened to 60,000 from the cutoff before it folded to Kong within the big blind and he pushed for under 400,000. Tran didn't hesitate to name and the 2 tabled their cards.

Kong: A♣2♣Tran: K♥K♣

Kong was chasing an ace of a few clubs and he set free a roar when he saw the ace within the window at the K♦4♠A♠. The celebration was premature, however, as Tran had improved to set and had a strangleold at the hand.

The 6♦ turn meant Kong was drawing dead and he was out of his seat before the 4♥ river arrived. - BK

2:50pm: Bruno Tzu Chieh Lo eliminated in 9th place for ₱492,450Level 24: Blinds - 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)

Bruno Tzu Chieh Lo was our first final table casualty. He was eliminated after a preflop confrontation with Sangyong Lee.

Chip leader Jessie Leonarez opened the action with a raise to 70,000 before Lo next-to-act moved in for his last 455,000 at the button. Lee awoke within the small blind and moved all in excessive for around 900,000. With the verdict back on Leonarez he gave it some thought but decided to offer it up.

Lo: T♦9♦Lee: K♥K♦

Lo had numerous catching as much as do and while the 7♥6♠5♦ improved him to a gut shot straight draw, it could never be completed with the 5♠ turn and A♥ ending his tournament run. - BK

2:45pm: Lau wins some, then loses it backLevel 24: Blinds - 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)

Alan Lau took from the left in a single hand, after which gave it back to the precise the very next hand.

He limped from his button and Jessie Leonarez completed from the small blind and Bruno Tzu Chieh Lo checked his option. The board ran out K♦9♦J♠3♠6♥ with Lau betting 70,000, 155,000 and all-in for 700,000 on each street. Leonarez bailed at the flop but Chieh stuck around until the river where he swivelled in his chair and the sight of the shove. He folded to depart himself with 475,000.

The next hand, Lau hadn't seen an early position raise (to 75,000) from Mike Takayama and tried to lift to 70,000 from the cutoff. He tried to style it out when the dealer mentioned the raise but Takayama gave the impression to pick up on it.

Both players checked the 3♦9♠2♥ flop before Takayama check-called 90,000 at the turn and led for 275,000 at the 2♣ river. Lau called and mucked upon seeing his opponent's A♦2♠. Lau dropped to 750,000, whereas Takayama's rise continued - he's as much as 1.4 million. --MC

2:25pm: Takayama doubles through KongLevel 24: Blinds - 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)

Mike Takayama just eclipsed the 1 million chip mark after setting the trap against Seongsu Kong.

Takayama raised to 75,000 from the hijack seat before Kong played back at him from the button for 225,000. Takayama called to go away himself only 300,000 behind they usually went to a flop of 4♦3♦8♦.

After a snap-check from Takayama, Kong paused after which moved all in to hide. Takayama snapped it off with A♥A♦, an enormous favourite against the J♠9♣ of Kong.

The T♥ turn did bring a sweat to a straight however the T♣ river was safe and Takayama doubled through. Kong dropped all the way down to 450,000 in chips. -- BK

2:15pm: Second hand squeeze from LeeLevel 24: Blinds - 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)

Linh Tran raised from under the gun at the first hand of play and took the blinds and antes.

On the second one hand, there has been another under the gun raise, this time from Mike Takayama. It was to 65,000 and was called in two spots before Sangyong Lee paused for thought within the small blind. He counted out 195,000 after which slid them forward in a single tall tower. The intimidating bet was enough to scare off all three opponents. --MC

2:05pm: Shuffle up and dealLevel 24: Blinds - 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)

PokerStars LIVE Manila's Fred Leung just introduced our players and play is now underway.

Let's go! -- BK

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It's final table time!Level 24: Blinds - 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)

The APPT Manila Main Event final table is finally here. Only nine players remain and today will see one among them lift the coveted trophy and take home ₱6,135,000!

Way out in front is Jessie Leonarez who bagged up 4,595,000 in chips on the conclusion of play last night. He has greater than double his closest opponent Linh Tran who starts the day with 1,870,000.

Here's how they stack up:

Seat Name Chips

1	Linh Tran	1,870,000
2	Mike Takayama	670,000
3	Sam Razavi	500,000
4	Seongsu Kong	970,000
5	Joven Huer	355,000
6	Alan King Lun Lau	1,015,000
7	Jessie Leonarez	4,595,000
8	Bruno Tzu Chieh Lo	860,000
9	Sangyong Lee	795,000

All that's left now's to get the cards within the air. Stick with us! -- BK

PokerStars Blog reporting team in Manila: Brad Kain and Marc Convey. Photos by Kenneth Lim Photography.

The APPT Manila festival at PokerStars LIVE on the City of Dreams runs until Monday, August 8. Full details can be found at the official APPT website or via the PokerStars Manila page.

Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: Asia Pacific Poker Tour]