20 Aug Mark Jerick Almusajin Returns To Batang Metro And Wins Maiden Title
Last year, Mark Jerick Almusajin finished 8th at the Batang Metro Poker Challenge. Today, he overcame a star studded final day to become the event’s newest champion. At heads up, Almusajin defeated 2022 RVS Cup champion Vamerdino Magsakay to clinch his first ever live poker title and seize the ₱1,530,000 (~$27,600) top prize. With this victory, Almusajin truly lived up to the title of “Batang Metro.”
“It feels great to finally win one live event and take a little bit of rest from grinding live and online. This has given me the confidence to play more tournaments as I was planning to focus on cash games.”
To reach heads up, Almusajin shared his challenged and strategy,
“At the final table, I tried to maintain an average chip stack and wait for better spots. It was tough when I was down to around 5-6 big blinds and Vam was winning a lot of chips. When I reached heads up, I planned to play aggressive against Vam from the start and hopefully even out his 2:1 chip lead.”
Almusajin plans to celebrate his victory by spending time with family before heading back to the grind.
The 2024 Batang Metro Poker Challenge ran from August 14 to 19 at the Metro Card Club with 647 entries building a record prize pool of ₱8,831,550 (~$154,360). Portions of the pot were claimed starting at Day 2 with the biggest cuts awarded on the final day. The final table race was streamed live in the Metro Card Club Facebook page and on Metro Card Club’s YouTube channel. Make sure to check that out or you can also read up on the action via the brief recap down below.
Dates: August 14 to 19, 2024
Buy in: ₱15,000 (~$260)
Guarantee: ₱8,000,000 (~$140,000)
Entries: 647
Prize pool: ₱8,831,550 (~$154,360)
ITM: 94 players
Final 9 Payouts
| Place | Player | Payout |
| 1 | Mark Jerick Almusajin | ₱1,530,000 |
| 2 | Vamerdino Magsakay | ₱805,000 |
| 3 | Ashley De Guzman | ₱429,288 |
| 4 | Sam Zhiqiang Liu | ₱285,000 |
| 5 | Moses Saquing | ₱225,000 |
| 6 | Mandeep Singh | ₱180,000 |
| 7 | Marco Espela | ₱150,000 |
| 8 | Michael Calunsod | ₱120,000 |
| 9 | Junnie Pamplona | ₱105,000 |
The fourth annual Batang Metro Poker Challenge saw 18 players return on the final day led by China’s Sam Zhiqiang Liu who first topped Day 1C. Liu’s strong performance continued to earn his spot at the final table. Also navigating past some of the country’s most decorated players were Ashley De Guzman, Michael Calunsod, and Mark Jerick Almusajin.
For a large majority of the final table, Metro Team Pro Vamerdino Magsakay ruled despite getting coolered several times by Almusajin. One of the first hands between them saw both players land trips on a board {qd}{jh}{qh}{6d}{8d}. Almusajin had {ad}{qc} and Magsakay with {qs}{9d}.
Unable to clean out Almusajin, Magsakay recovered the lost chips by railing 2023 Metro Summer Event champion Moses Saquing in 5th place with {ac}{ks} pairing the king to dust {jh}{js}. Magsakay also finished off Liu in 4th place with {jd}{8c} outdrawing {ac}{6c} on a board {qh}{3c}{9h}{8d}{jh}. Magsakay attempted to do the same again to Almusajin but his pocket pair {5c}{5d} was behind the whole way against {6h}{6c}. Heads up was reached on the fall of Ashley De Guzman (pictured below) to Almusajin in 3rd place. Almusajin’s {kc}{7c} flopped the king to beat {ac}{9c}.
Heads up kicked off with Magsakay backed by 50 bb and Almusajin sitting on a decent 26 bb. It didn’t take long for Almusajin to even up after winning a big pot on a board {kc}{qs}{qc}{4h}{kd}. Almusajin opened, Magsakay bet pot on the flop, the turn was checked, then Magasakay tried to steal on the river however his bet was called. Magsakay had {jd}{3d}, Almusajin {ac}{5c} Ace-high kicker scored the pot.
From this point, the momentum shifted. Almusajin slowly chipped away at Magsakay’s stack. The final hand was Almusajin {ad}{jd}, Magsakay {kc}{qc}. The board {5h}{jc}{7h}{3c}{10d}.
Payouts 10th – 16th
| 10 | Dexter Santos | ₱90,000 |
| 11 | Rodrigo Sequite | ₱90,000 |
| 12 | Mike Takayama | ₱81,000 |
| 13 | Ivan Dela Cruz | ₱81,000 |
| 14 | Jesse Solidum | ₱81,000 |
| 15 | Maggy Cenon | ₱72,000 |
| 16 | Alvir Inocentes | ₱72000 |
| 17 | Richard Marquez | ₱72,000 |
| 18 | Rene David | ₱72,000 |
Alexis Lim Wins Bounty For Second Side Event Trophy
Aside from the big winner, at the side events Alexis Lim (pictured above) captured a second trophy at the Bounty Event. His first win was days prior at the Power Button.
To cap off the series, Winifred Obedoza (pictured above)struck an ICM deal at The Closer then went on to win for his first ever Metro title. Obedoza topped a field of 92 entries and earned a payout of ₱89,078.
That wraps up the record breaking Batang Metro Poker Challenge, congratulations to the winner!
Links:
No Comments