Zodiac Classic - Final Day - Sponsored by Natural8 - PHP 15,000,000 GTD

Alexander Keating and Joseph Cheong in the bubble hand

On direct bubble, on a flop of 4♥ 2♣ 3♣ when there were around 55,000 chips in the middle, Yoon Koo Kang checked the action from the big blind to Alexander Keating from the cutoff, who then bet 45,000. Joseph Cheong put in a raise to 90,000 on the button. Kang folded, and Keating shoved all in. Cheong dropped in a call.

Alexander Keating: 4♦ 3♦

Joseph Cheong: 9♣ 5♣

Keating picked up the lead for two pair, while Cheong held a flush draw and open-ended straight draw. The bricky K♠ landed on the turn, but Cheong still had plenty of outs to win the hand.

Unfortunately for Keating, the river decided to go to Cheong’s way as it brought a 6♥ to the board, completing Cheong’s straight and sealing Keating’s fate as the bubble boy.