Filipino bet bundled out of WPT in sixth place

MANILA, Philippines - Andrew Gaw of the Philippines wasn’t given the cards he wanted in the final table last night and ended up in sixth place in the World Poker Tour National Philippines at the Solaire Resort and Casino.

Gaw, who competes in the Asian circuit, came under the gun from Japan’s Tetsuya Tsuchikawa and Yuichi Sumida in hand 31, and called all in for 130,000 with an ace high.

After the flop, turn and river the Filipino had two pairs, aces and threes, while Tetsuya had similar pairs but with a higher king kicker against Gaw’s five of clubs.

Gaw stood up, shook hands with Tsuchikawa and walked away in sixth place worth P1.38 million.

“That’s how it goes,” said the 35-year-old Filipino, the reigning head-up champion in the Asian Poker Tour.

Douglas Olsson of Sweden followed Gaw to the exit in fifth place worth P1.72 million. As of presstime, four players remained in the hunt for the P6.9 million top prize.

They are Tsuchikawa and Sumida against Malaysia’s Min Fei Chow and Kevin Ang.

Mike Kim, who heads the poker group of the world-class Solaire Resort and Casino, said Gaw did an “amazing job” making it to the final table of the main event that drew 385 international players.

“He did great. I was rooting for Andrew because if he won it would have been a bigger boost to Philippine poker. Still, we were lucky to see his face on the screen on the final day,” said Kim.