Jason Kyle Magbanua wins the Metro 2M GTD for Php 800K

Jason Kyle Magbanua has done it! He entered the final day running fourth in chips then entered the final 8 as chip leader, and persevered to capture his first ever Metro title and a cool Php 800,000. Along with the cash, Magbanua also won a seat to the upcoming Asia Poker Championship taking place in August.

The Metro 2M GTD ran from June 28 to July 4 with the first four days attracting 634 entries. At Php 5,500 each, it obliterated the advertised guarantee for a bloated Php 3,074,900 prize pool. The top 63 places earned a share with the biggest cuts claimed on the final day. You can read up on the action via the Live Updates.

Buy in: Php 5,500
Guarantee: Php 2,000,000
Entries: 634
Prize pool: Php 3,074,900
ITM: 63 places

Final table payouts

Eliminations 9th – 16th 

Final Day review

The final day began with 16 players returning led by Audrey Anthony Ozaeta and Jessie Trance. Trance made headlines several days prior, amassing the biggest stack at the end of Day 1B. The day opened with average stack at just 35 BB, and as it progressed, Trance used this to pressure his tablemates. Within the first ten minutes, he delivered the first bust out in Lester Timonera (16th) with pocket Nines holding firm against overcards.

At the other table, Ozaeta had a tougher time chipping up, first losing a pot on a failed bluff against Ginbert De Villa then another big chunk to Jason Kyle Magbanua. He dropped out in 12th place with his {ah}{6h} dominated throughout by Wilfredo Ablola‘s {ad}{kc}. Short stacks continued to be vulnerable leading to the fall of Federick Cruz (11th) who was down to just 2 BB and Marvin Cerbito (10th) who pushed with 10 BB left. Cerbito’s {5h}{5s} were outdrawn by Magbanua’s {ac}{qc} with an ace on the flop.

Just before the final table was formed, Jester Intia was on a downswing and dropped to just 6 BB in a hand against Trance. He managed to triple up but was still in push or fold mode. The final 8 emerged at the fall of De Villa whose {ah}{kh} was outdrawn by Ablola’s {as}{jh} on a board that ran a nutty {10d}{js}{3s}{ks}{2s} four card flush.

While it only took two hours to reach the final 8, the race to glory ran a lengthy six hours. Eventual champion Magbanua carried in the largest stack and stayed within the top two ranks throughout. On the opposite end was Intia who entered with just 5 BB and staged an impressive run to settle in 4th place. You can watch the Final 8 race via the recorded stream in the Metro FB page. Read on for the highlights.

Jason Kyle Magbanua

Action opened with short stacks Intia and John Tech going at it with the former Intia getting fully paid with {ah}{ad}. The drop in chips saw Tech looking for spots to double up, instead met his end against Chris Pasion with {as}{9c} dominating {qc}{jc}. It took nearly an hour for the next casualty. Marco Espela watched as his chips drained and was emptied out by Intia in a full house over trips hand. With the shoves  seen on the river {9c}{2s}{9h}{ah}{qh}, Intia had {ac}{ad}, Espela with {9d}{6d}.

Jester Intia

Following out was Pasion who looked good before the board came with {kc}{qc} dominating Magbanua’s {kh}{6h}, but with a Six spiking the flop and the turn, it was the end for Pasion in 6th place. At this time, the final five players discussed a possible ICM deal but negotiations failed and play resumed.

Ablola burned out in 5th place with {ah}{10h} getting no help from the board, instead improving Trance’s already leading {7h}{7c} to a full house. Down to four players, Intia and Darwin Santelices were lagging way behind the leaders Trance and Magbanua. Intia sent it all in with {ah}{jc} and ran smack into Magbanua’s {ad}{kh} that held. Following his departure, Intia went straight to the commentators booth to join Ron Regis for the final three race.

For nearly the entire three-handed, short stacked Santelices was hanging by a thread looking for a spot to get it all in. Down to just 2 BB, he managed to triple up and bring it to 8 BB but never posed a threat to the big stacks. After an hour or so of holding on, he succumbed in 3rd place for a Php 270,000 payout and a ticket to the APC worth Php 44K.

Heads up kicked off with Trance leading 63 BB to 29 BB, and with average still deep, it took over two hours for the champion to emerge. Within the first hour, Magbanua reversed the counts while Trance battled to recover. At the close, the blinds had climbed to 100K-200K, with average stack at 20 BB. Trance’s {8d}{7d} gamble missed against Magbanua’s {kh}{2c} two pair on a final board {qs}{10s}{qd}{kd}{6d}.

For his incredible performance throughout, Trance pocketed the second largest payout of Php 434,400 and a seat to the APC worth Php 44K. As for Magbanua, it was his first known live title and career high takedown.

Congratulations to the newest Metro champion Jason Kyle Magbanua!!