Moises Esparagoza wins record-breaking RVS Cup Pre-Event

First big live tournament win for Moises Esparagoza at the RVS Cup Pre-Event! Esparagoza topped the 762 entry-field, defeating Jonald Garcia at heads up. He earned an ICM deal payout / career high score of ₱397,248 plus a seat to the RVS Cup Philippine Poker Championship worth ₱16,500. You can relive the final table race to victory via the livestream – RVS Cup Pre-Event – Livestream.

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Date: November 10-12, 2023
Buy in: ₱3,500
Guarantee: ₱1,000,000
Entries: 762 (213+275+274)
Prize pool: ₱2,438,400
ITM: 92 players (12% of the field)

Final 9 payouts

*Three way ICM deal

The RVS Cup Pre-Event attracted 762 entries across three entry heats for a record breaking prize pool of ₱2,438,400 for this event. With 12% of the field paid, 92 players dipped in the pot. In addition to the cash payout, the top 18 received a seat to the upcoming RVS Cup Philippine Poker Championship. More on that event down below.

Pre-Event brief Day 2 recap

Entering Day 2, Day 1C chip leader Carlo Cordero led the chase with Roberto Cruz just half a big blind behind. Moises Esparagoza was also among the top tier stacks ranked fifth in chips. By the time the final table was formed, only Cruz and Esparagoza maintained their top tier ranks and were joined by well known local pros Emmanuel Segismundo, Marciel Cerbito, and Jonald Garcia who carried in the chip lead.

Despite his consistent strong presence, Cruz fell in 7th place followed by Segismundo in 6th place. Two busts later, at four-handed, Garcia’s command was cracked by Esparagoza whose full house earned good pay against top pair. Garcia made up some of the lost chips by railing Cerbito in 4th place {10d}{9d} straight over {kd}{jc} top pair on a board {qh}{8h}{5c}{js}{ad}.

Down to the final three, an ICM deal was struck. Chip leader Esparagoza then went on swingy ride until he eliminated Jose Ruzzel in 3rd place with pocket Jacks over Ten-Nine offsuit. At heads up, Garcia survived the first showdown with {7h}{6s} completing a straight to best {8d}{8c} set on a board {9h}{qc}{10s}{ks}{8h}. However, the hope was short-lived. Esparagoza’s aggression kept the big chip gap intact.

On the ninth heads up hand, it was the clincher. Esparagoza’s {js}{9d} was ahead of Garcia’s {7c}{4h} at the flop {4c}{3d}{jd}. The turn was {3s} and river {kc}.

Congratulations to Moises Esparagoza for his first big victory! He now leads the RVS Cup Player of the Series leaderboard with 2,880 points.

In other RVS Cup news, the Czar Ian Marcos topped the Mixed Game NLH / PLO.

Buy in: ₱4,000
Entries: 69
Prize pool: ₱239,258
Winner: CZAR IAN MARCOS – Philippines – ₱84,258

RVS Cup ₱10 Million guarantee 

Coming up in a few days is the Philippine’s most popular annual homegrown event, RVS CUP Philippine Poker Championship. The event gets underway November 15 and will run through November 20.

This is the most highly awaited event by the locals and expectedly so as the prize pool balloons every year. The largest was in 2022 with the pot increasing to over ₱7.4 Million. Now in its 9th year, it will no doubt be the richest with the guarantee boosted to a generous ₱10 Million. Buy in is ₱16,500.

Among the players certain to attend is defending champion Vamerdino Magsakay who collected a ₱1.6 Million payout deal for his victory. Other winners to expect are past champions Lester Edoc, Richard Marquez, Anacleto Quijano, Marco Almerez, Jeffrey Calma, and Christopher Chua.