Lester Edoc crushes the final table of Batang Metro, ships Php 1,124,920

Filipino pro Lester Edoc entered the final day of Batang Metro ranked second in chips then eight hours later, he seized the title, trophy, and the Php 1,124,920 (~US$ 19,800) top prize. Edoc eliminated five players at the final table, including Renato Villanueva JR at heads up. You can read up on all the action via the Live Updates or watch the recorded broadcast on the Metro FB page.

Event info

Buy in: Php 6,600
Guarantee: Php 3,000,000
Entries: 702
Prize pool: Php 4,236,000
ITM: 85 places

Day 1A – 12 players advanced out 81 entries
Day 1B – 27 players advanced out of 160 entries
Day 1C – 25 players advanced out of 183 entries
Day 1D – 45 advanced out of 278 entries
Day 2 – 109 players, 18 advanced to the final day

Payouts 19th to 109th 

Final table payouts

*Final 8 players also won a seat worth Php 11,000 to the RVS Cup Main Event in November.

Winner story

The second edition of Batang Metro attracted a record 702 entries over four starting days and a record prize pool of Php 4,236,000 (~US$ 74,587) for this event. The final day saw 18 players return to the Metro Card Club in a race for the title and Php 1,124,920 first prize. At the helm was Michael Calunsod, an unknown player in the lineup. Like at Day 2, Calunsod arrived late, and by then, Lester Edoc had already overtaken after railing Rick Jason Ambata in 16th place. This was Edoc’s first of six knockouts. The final table was formed at the fall of Bernie Angeles to Calunsod with {as}{3h} missing against {4d}{4s}.

The final table set off with Edoc sitting on an 87 BB stack while his closest challenger, Calunsod, had 36 BB. On just the third hand, Calunsod and Edoc tangled leading to the stunning fall of Calunsod in 8th place. On a turn board of {10c}{10d}{ks}{8d}, a raise war ensued resulting in both all in. Calunsod had {10h}{9h} trips, Edoc {8s}{8h} full house, the river {3d} ended Calunsod’s run abruptly. In turn, Edoc amassed over half of the chips in play which no one was able to crack. Edoc went on to eliminate Jason Tan Jia Zhen in 6th place, cracked Pranz Sevilleno’s pocket Queens with King-Four full house, and finished off John Albert Calamiong in 3rd place. At heads up, Edoc was ahead 121 BB versus Villanueva’s 9 BB. The underdog was able to double up once but still not enough to be a threat. In just under 20 minutes, the final hand landed. Edoc {as}{kd}, Villanueva {ks}{8c}, the board ran {2c}{10d}{jh}{3s}{10s}.

Congratulations to Lester Edoc!! This was his second major Metro win. Back in 2014 he won the RVS Cup championship. Since then, his other milestone victories include a first title at the 2015 International Poker Open, and four Main Event titles in 2018. This year alone Edoc has already triumphed at two High Roller events on home soil.

Payouts 9th to 18th

*Bernie Angeles also won a seat to the RVS Cup Main Event worth Php 11,000

Side Events

Bounty Event winner – JOVEN HUERTO

Joven Huerto