Road to PSPC Manila: India’s J Raju & Dhanesh Chainani Win Trophies, Germany’s Max Menzel Wins Main Event For ₱2,579,000 & PSPC Pass

Road to PSPC Manila: India’s J Raju & Dhanesh Chainani Win Trophies
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  • Namita Ghosh September 26, 2022
  • 5 Minutes Read

The first-ever Road to PSPC Manila running at the PokerStars LIVE Manila poker room in Okada Manila got done and dusted on Sunday. A host of side events played down to a winner over the weekend, even as Event #5: ₱22K Main Event came to a close.

The series brought in 1,116 unique players from 30 countries, collecting a total ₱27,989,234 (~$476,350) prize pool.

As the side events ran full throttle, the final 15 players reconvened one last time in Event #5: ₱22K Main Event. Germany’s Max Menzel was the last player standing and delivered a dominating performance to topple the 863-player field and walk away as the champion.

Menzel, originally from Berlin but currently residing in Singapore, struck an ICM-based heads-up deal with local player Alexis Lim before claiming his first-ever PokerStars LIVE title and ₱2,579,000 (~$43,890). Lim picked a runner-up payday of ₱2,334,000 (~$39,594).

In addition to the prestigious title, Menzel also clinched the coveted Platinum Pass to the 2023 PokerStars’ Players NLHE Championship (PSPC) scheduled to take place at the Atlantis Resort, Nassau in the Bahamas, from January 22 – February 3. He also won a package worth ₱80,000 to the 2023 APPT Open Manila Main Event!

Menzel, who was fervently gunning for the Platinum Pass, admitted post-victory – “It wasn’t so much about the money it was really about the Pass. It’s still a bit unreal…I had an experience earlier in Macau [during the 2018 Macau Millions] when I was trying to get the Platinum Pass, and I finished fourth, so I always wanted to have a second chance and actually win the thing. Again, it still feels unreal, but in my head, I’m already preparing for travel and actually taking leave from the office to be able to be there, but you will certainly see me there.”

The 37-year-old logistician added, “Initially, I was a bit surprised about how narrow the gap was between the payouts, but we checked, and it was all fine, but I think it [the Platinum Pass] is just good enough value added to actually go for it – it was like 70% of the prize money for first, so I think for it’s… for heads-up comparatively shallow stacked it’s a good deal.”

He said about his run in the event, “My plan was to go for it. Actually, it sounds weird, but I didn’t really look at the money. I wanted to go for it – I took spots. I had a plan, and I’m pretty well prepared. I studied this morning – heads-up play – because it shows a little bit of confidence, but yeah, it worked out.”

The Indian contingent made a strong finish in the series, booking an impressive two title victories and another three scores! The standout Indian performer was J Raju, who returned on Day 2 of Event #14: ₱55K High Roller as the seventh-biggest stack among 19 survivors from the 42-entry field. While another 11 players joined the action on Day 2, Raju prevailed over the competition to claim the ₱860,000 (~₹11.89 Lakhs) top prize and his first-ever PokerStars LIVE trophy. Singapore’s Xin Hua Lai finished runner-up for ₱621,000.

J Raju
J Raju

 

The victory was Raju’s third cash in the series. He had narrowly missed a final table finish in Event #6: ₱10,000 NLH Re-entry (10th for ₱16,300 – ₹22,578) last week and cashed the Main Event (124th for ₱33,000 – ₹45,606).

Singapore-based Dhanesh Chainani was the second Indian to score a victory over the weekend. Having already opened his scorecard in Event #12: ₱10K NLH (Hyper Turbo), where he placed fifth, Chainani found success in Event #15: ₱30K NLH (Turbo), where he outlasted a 34-player field to clinch his sixth PokerStars LIVE title for ₱302,460 (~₹4.18 Lakhs). Chainani beat local hero Christopher Mateo (2nd for ₱209,300) heads-up!

Dhanesh Chainani
Dhanesh Chainani

 

Chirag Shah (10th for ₱26,700 – ₹36,943) & Raja Puttamsetty (17th for ₱19,000 – ₹26,289) made ITM finishes in Event #16: ₱15K Mystery Bounty. South Korea’s Kim Hak Do eventually shipped the event for ₱310,000.

Singapore’s Jereld Sam (Won Event #17: ₱20K Turbo Re-entry for ₱124,420) took down the last event on the schedule.

 

Germany’s Max Menzel Wins Event #5: ₱22K Main Event For ₱2,579,000

The biggest draw of the series, Event #5: ₱22K Main Event, drew 863 entries (including 419 unique players), bringing the prize pool to a hefty ₱16,574,778 (~$282,320).

Day 2 began with 130 survivors (two double stacks were removed), and only 15 of them returned on the third and final day. It took just two 60-minute levels of play yesterday for the nine-handed final table to be formed.

Platinum Pass winner Lester Edoc could not rally his chips to the final table and fell out in 12th place for ₱172,000.

Eventual runner-up Alexis Lim (6,195,000) led the nine finalists, followed by Jerson Quiras and Max Menzel.

 

Final Table Recap

The chips flew from the go, and early on, Alexis Lim lost a big chunk of chips to Noel Regencia.

Regencia collected another big pot off Max Menzel to climb up to fourth in chips.

Start of the day, chip leader Shingo Horikoshi dispatched Kitson Kho in ninth place with his pocket treys busting the latter’s ace-jack offsuit.

Japan’s Yuta Murakami fell in eighth place after his king-ten suited lost the race to Menzel’s pocket fives.

The second Japanese on the FT, Shingo Horikoshi, was booted by Quiras in seventh place.

The final table lost another player towards the end of Level 32, with Ireland’s Dino Sabatini falling in sixth place.

Menzel eliminated Singapore’s Jun Lee in fifth place after his shove with ace-deuce suited found a caller in Menzel who held nine-six suited. Menzel flopped a pair of nines, ending Lee’s run.

Menzel was at the top of the stacks at four-handed play, but the play slowed down/ It took another level-and-half before Jerson Quiras crashed in fourth place. Quiras was down to crumbs after losing a big pot to Lim. Menzel finished the job by winning over the remainder of Quiras`s stack.

Menzel claimed his next victim in Noel Regencia, outdrawing the latter’s pocket jacks with his ace—four that clipped the top pair.

Once down to the heads-up stage, Menzel and Alexis Lim quickly agreed on an ICM deal locking their payouts. Menzel, who held a stack of 1.55 Million to Lim’s 1.02 Million, ensured himself ₱2,579,000 (~$43,890), while Lim was assured ₱2,334,000.

The duo continued playing for the trophy and the Platinum Pass valued at $30,000.

Menzel had two hands to seal the victory, winning both with queen-ten offsuit. The final hand saw Lim moving all-in with nine-four offsuit, and Menzel made the call with queen-high. Both of them missed the board, but Menzel held the superior hand, and he stayed ahead, closing the tournament by realizing his dream of winning the Platinum Pass!

Max Menzel
Max Menzel

 

Final Table Results (PHP)

  1. Max Menzel – ₱2,579,000
  2. Alexis Lim – ₱2,334,000
  3. Noel Regencia – ₱1,305,000
  4. Jerson Quiras – ₱980,000
  5. Jun Lee – ₱763,000
  6. Dino Sabatini – ₱565,000
  7. Shingo Horikoshi – ₱404,000
  8. Yuta Murakami – ₱288,000
  9. Kitson Kho – ₱228,778

 

India’s J Raju Wins Maiden PokerStars LIVE Title in ₱55K High Roller For ₱860,000 (₹11.89 Lakhs)

Event #14: ₱55K High Roller recorded 42 entries (36 unique players) on Day 1, and only 19 of them advanced to Day 2. Another 11 players signed up on Day 2, bringing the total field size to 61 entries (46 unique players).

India’s J Raju had advanced to Day 2 with the seventh-biggest stack and spun up in contention, eventually taking down the event to win his first-ever PokerStars LIVE trophy and the ₱860,000 (~₹11.89 Lakhs) cash prize that accompanied it.

Raju fended off Singapore’s Xin Hua Lai heads-up. The latter pocketed ₱621,000 for his runner-up finish, while the Philippines’ Lester Edoc completed the podium, netting ₱400,000 in third place.

Another four Indians, Dhanesh Chainani, Raja Puttamsetty, Chirag Shah, and Othugadi Yesudas Nav, had signed up on Day 1, and Puttamsetty was the only Indian who progressed further. Shah and Yesudas Nav re-entered on Day 2, but neither of them could convert their run into a payday.

Only the top eight spots earned a share from the ₱2,863,828 (~$48,7940) prize pool.

Final Table Results (PHP)

  1. J Raju – ₱860,000
  2. Xin Hua Lai – ₱621,000
  3. Lester Edoc – ₱400,000
  4. Oliver Biles – ₱304,000
  5. Chia Wei Chang – ₱235,000
  6. Kento Chogo – ₱183,000
  7. Joel Singam – ₱146,000
  8. Stephen Nathan – ₱114,828

 

India’s Dhanesh Chainani Wins Event #15: ₱30K NLH Turbo Freezeout For ₱302,460 & Sixth PokerStars LIVE Title!

A total of 34 players signed up for Event #15: ₱30,000 NLH (Turbo) Freezeout, and only the top six crossed the money line to take a bite from the ₱890,460 (~$15,155) prize pool.

Singapore-based Indian pro Dhanesh Chainani was the last player standing and walked away with the and ₱302,460 (₹4.18 Lakhs) in prize money. Chainani defeated local pro Christopher Mateo heads-up to claim his sixth PokerStars LIVE title. Mateo collected ₱209,300 for his second-place finish.

Final Table Results (PHP)

  1. Dhanesh Chainani – ₱302,460
  2. Christopher Mateo – ₱209,300
  3. Emmanuel Segismundo – ₱133,600
  4. Masaya Hatano – ₱102,500
  5. Chew Xing Jie – ₱80,200
  6. Teck Heng Chua – ₱62,400

 

South Korea’s Kim Hak Do Wins Event #16: 15,000 Mystery Bounty For ₱310,000

Grabbing one of the last few PokerStars LIVE trophies at the series was South Korea’s Kim Hak Do – who overcame a 180-player field (includes 124 unique players) in Event #16: ₱15,000 Mystery Bounty. Along with ten bounties, Do banked ₱310,000 (~$5,270) for the win. France’s Frederic Faucheraeu placed runner-up for ₱210,100.

The ₱500,000 GTD event was the first one to get underway on the final day, taking off at 1 PM (local time). A ₱2,304,720 prize pool was generated, including the ₱900,000 awarded in bounties, and the top 27 places got paid.

A group of four Indians entered the tourney, and two of them, Chirag Shah (10th for ₱26,700 – ₹36,943) and Raja Puttamsetty (17th for ₱19,000 – ₹26,289) sailed past the money bubble.

The other two Indians, Event #15: ₱30,000 NLH (Turbo) Freezeout champion Dhanesh Chainani and Othugadi Yesudas Nav, fell out empty-handed.

Singapore’s Teck Heng Chua (22nd for ₱15,500) and the Philippines’ Kim Enriquez (24th for ₱14,100) were the other notables who finished in the money.

Kim Hak Do
Kim Hak Do

 

Final Table Results (PHP)

  1. Kim Hak Do – ₱310,000
  2. Frederic Faucheraeu – ₱210,100
  3. Lester Wee – ₱144,600
  4. Yong Kwee Chua – ₱117,900
  5. Annie To – ₱94,000
  6. Royly Oracion – ₱72,300
  7. Chua Feng Ji – ₱52,600
  8. Hyeonseung Joo – ₱38,100
  9. Wilbert Agbuya – ₱31,520

 

Singapore’s Jereld Sam Wins Event #17: ₱20K Turbo Re-entry For ₱124,420

Event #17: ₱20K NLH (Turbo) Re-entry brought in 17 entries (13 unique players) generating a ₱296,820 (~$5,045) prize pool. Players from Singapore dominated the show, with the top three finishers hailing from the country.

Event #10: ₱15K NLH Knockout champion, Jereld Sam, pulled in his second victory at the series after besting compatriot Shi Huiqi Corine heads-up to claim the ₱124,420 (~$2,115) top prize.

Corine pocketed ₱83,200 for placing runner-up, with another player from the country, Teck Heng Chua rounding the podium with a third-place finish worth ₱53,500.

Only the top four finishers got paid, and Brazil’s Marcelo Tamura was the last payout earner, netting ₱35,700 for coming fourth.

Jereld Sam
Jereld Sam

 

Final Table Results (PHP)

  1. Jereld Sam – ₱124,420
  2. Shi Huiqi Corine – ₱83,200
  3. Teck Heng Chua – ₱53,500
  4. Marcelo Tamura – ₱35,700

 

Content & Images Courtesy: PokerStars

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