- Total Prize Pool
- $1,604,215
- Number of Events
- 114
- Number of Entries
- 1,940
66,000 PHP
16,500 PHP
19,800 PHP
132,000 PHP
22,000 PHP
26,400 PHP
220,000 PHP
55,000 PHP
13,200 PHP
16,500 PHP
19,800 PHP
33,000 PHP
33,000 PHP
82,500 PHP
13,200 PHP
16,500 PHP
99,000 PHP
19,800 PHP
198,000 PHP
33,000 PHPThe Arena of Champions - GOP Manila 2026 | August 21-30, 2026 | City of Dreams Manila
The prestigious The Arena of Champions – GOP Manila 2026 poker festival will take place from August 21 to August 30, 2026, in the vibrant city of Manila, hosted at the luxurious City of Dreams Manila integrated resort, home to one of the most premier card rooms in the Philippines. This exciting live poker event attracts top players from across Asia to test their skills in the arena.
The Arena of Champions – GOP Manila 2026 Highlights
The latest stop of the prestigious Asian tournament series, The Arena of Champions – GOP Manila 2026, promises unforgettable excitement and intense competition for high-stakes poker enthusiasts. Over ten action-packed days, players will compete for the most prestigious cups in the circuit.
The full tournament schedule has been officially released, offering a wide array of events and structures designed to accommodate players of all levels. To ensure player safety and fair play, the official tournament rules and general terms and conditions will apply throughout the festival. Check out the highlighted events and schedules below:
Previous Results and Champions
The series boasts a rich history in the region, with the previous stop delivering unforgettable moments for poker fans.
Summary of the Previous GOP Incheon
The previous stop, The Prophecy Unfolds – GOP Incheon 2026 , concluded with massive success and record-breaking participation in Incheon, South Korea. Held at the luxurious Paradise City Incheon, the Main Event attracted a total of 356 entries, creating a staggering total prize pool of KRW 700,000,000. After an intense battle, local star Kyung Min Lee emerged victorious on his birthday, claiming the glorious black-and-gold gauntlet trophy and the top prize of KRW 148,280,000 . Additionally, Filipino poker legend Lester Edoc made history by winning the KRW 10,500,000 Super High Roller event , lifting the coveted gold gauntlet trophy along with an impressive KRW 80,630,000 payday.
| Event | Buy-In | Winner | Country | 1st Prize | Entries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 GOP Olympians 2026.05.15 - 2026.05.16 | 660K KRW | ![Japan [JPN]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/jp.svg "Japan [JPN]"){kind=small} JPN | $13,645 20,442,000 KRW | 145 ITM: 22 | Finished | |
#3 Single Day High Roller 2026.05.15 | 3.3M KRW | JPN | $12,015 18,000,000 KRW | 10 ITM: 2 | Finished | |
#10 Pandora's Mystery Bounty 2026.05.16 - 2026.05.17 | 990K KRW | ![United States of America [USA]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/us.svg "United States of America [USA]"){kind=small} USA | $14,225 21,305,000 KRW | 77 ITM: 13 | Finished | |
#19 Titan Stack 2026.05.17 - 2026.05.18 | 660K KRW | JPN | $10,400 15,580,000 KRW | 101 ITM: 15 | Finished | |
#20 GOP Super High Roller 2026.05.17 - 2026.05.18 | 10.5M KRW | ![Philippines [PHL]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/ph.svg "Philippines [PHL]"){kind=small} PHL | $53,825 80,630,000 KRW | 19 ITM: 4 | Finished | |
#27 GOP Main Event 2026.05.18 - 2026.05.23 | 2.2M KRW | USA | $98,985 148,280,000 KRW | 356 ITM: 51 | Finished | |
#39 Titan Stack High Roller 2026.05.19 - 2026.05.20 | 5.5M KRW | PHL | $22,430 33,600,000 KRW | 16 ITM: 4 | Finished | |
#62 GOP Mini Main 2026.05.22 - 2026.05.23 | 770K KRW | ![Taiwan [TWN]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/tw.svg "Taiwan [TWN]"){kind=small} TWN | $22,615 33,876,000 KRW | 228 ITM: 33 | Finished | |
#70 Kraken Stack 2026.05.23 - 2026.05.24 | 1.1M KRW | JPN | $10,935 16,380,000 KRW | 53 ITM: 9 | Finished | |
#72 GOP High Roller 2026.05.23 - 2026.05.24 | 6.6M KRW | JPN | $28,840 43,200,000 KRW | 12 ITM: 2 | Finished | |
Past Champions
Here is the wall of fame and the proud owners of the championship trophies from the last event:
United States of America
Philippines
TaiwanPoker and Travel Guide
For players looking to explore local gaming options, our comprehensive Philippines poker guide serves as an excellent starting point. The favorable regulations and convenient travel options in Manila make it an ideal destination for the international poker community. Proximity to the airport and world-class hospitality ensure a seamless poker trip.
The Venue: City of Dreams Manila
The magnificent City of Dreams Manila integrated luxury resort is located in the heart of the Entertainment City in the capital of the Philippines. Known for its premium amenities, the casino’s high-stakes action is hosted at the Soul Poker Club, welcoming players in a highly professional environment. For more details on cash game structures and services, visit our official City of Dreams Manila venue guide .
![Philippines [PHL]](/assets/images/flags/1x1/ph.svg "Philippines [PHL]"){kind=small}
Metro ManilaCity of Dreams Manila is a world-class integrated resort that defines the skyline of Entertainment City, standing as a premier destination for luxury gaming in the Philippines . With its iconic gleaming gold exterior, the resort offers an electrified atmosphere where high-stakes action meets five-star sophistication. For poker players, City of Dreams is synonymous with elite competition, serving as the former long-term home of the PokerStars LIVE Manila room and continuing to host some of the most prestigious mid-to-high stakes games in the capital.
Why City of Dreams Manila?
- Ultra-Luxury Setting: A sprawling 6.2-hectare complex featuring three award-winning hotel towers and a massive gaming floor designed for premium comfort.
- Tournament Heritage: Historically a foundational venue for the APPT and Manila Megastack series.
- Dynamic Gaming Mix: Beyond its dedicated poker area, the casino features over 270 gaming tables and nearly 2,000 slot machines in a high-tech environment.
GAMES
NLHE & PLO
STAKES
Low to High Stakes
LOCATION
Near NAIA Airport
The City of Dreams Poker Experience
The poker action at City of Dreams is renowned for its 24/7 energy and professional oversight. While the PokerStars LIVE room has moved venues, City of Dreams remains a hub for serious cash game players, spreading consistent No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha action. The venue is famous for attracting a mix of affluent local players and international high-rollers, often resulting in some of the deepest and most action-heavy games in Entertainment City.
The property is a true “resort within a city,” allowing players to balance their time at the tables with world-class entertainment, including the DreamPlay theme park and a massive selection of luxury retail and fine dining. Whether you are grinding a session or visiting for a weekend series, the professional floor staff and premium amenities ensure an experience that is consistently “VIP” in nature.
Venue Logistics
📍 Location: Aseana Ave. cor. Roxas Blvd., Entertainment City, Parañaque. It is one of the closest integrated resorts to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
🏨 Accommodations: Home to the Nuwa, Nobu, and Hyatt Regency towers, providing over 900 rooms of varying luxury levels for international guests.
📝 Entry & Requirements: Guests must be at least 21 years old to enter the gaming areas. Valid government-issued ID or an original passport is required for registration and entry.
♠️ Official City of Dreams Updates
Connect with the venue for the latest events, promotions, and live cash game updates.
Jessy is SoMuchPoker's Technical Editor and Data Specialist, managing the live poker event database and publishing festival schedules for the site. A background in programming and data architecture shapes how he builds and maintains this database, with an emphasis on speed and accuracy.
The luxury resort, City of Dreams Manila, is located extremely close to the terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) serving Manila. By car or taxi, the trip takes only about 10-15 minutes depending on traffic, covering a distance of approximately 5 km.
The official currency used at the tables is the Philippine Peso (PHP). The cage at City of Dreams Manila also offers currency exchange services for foreign currencies, such as the US Dollar (USD), based on daily market rates.
Under the laws of the Philippines, the minimum age to enter the casino is 21 years old, which must be verified with a valid passport or photo ID during registration. The dress code at City of Dreams Manila is smart casual; sleeveless shirts, slippers, and shorts are strictly prohibited in the gaming area.
The newly released full schedule at City of Dreams Manila features numerous live satellites (qualifiers), offering tournament seats for a fraction of the regular buy-in. This allows players to secure their spot and compete for the prestigious championship titles and glorious trophies with a much smaller investment.
All players are required to familiarize themselves with the official ruleset, which outlines the gameplay mechanics and dispute resolution protocols in detail. These comprehensive guidelines can be found in the official Gods of Poker tournament rules document, ensuring ethical and professional play throughout The Arena of Champions – GOP Manila 2026.
Metro Manila
GOP Manila 2026 Debuts With $1.6M Total Prize Pool
GOP Manila 2026 awards $1.6M in payouts across 114 events at City of Dreams. Read full festival stats, prize pools, and winner breakdowns.
Gerrits Takes Player of Series Whilst Rivera and Edoc Close Out GOP Manila’s Final Events
Rivera wins Kraken Stack and Edoc claims his second gauntlet in the High Roller as GOP Manila wraps up, with Martijn Gerrits crowned PoS.
Dakota Anderson’s Main Event Win Headlines Penultimate Day at GOP Manila
Dakota Anderson wins the GOP Manila Main Event for PHP 6.3M ($102K) at City of Dreams as five side events crown champions.
Dakota Anderson Claims GOP Manila Main Event Title for a Career-Best PHP 6.3 Million (~$101,000)
Dakota Anderson completes a stunning comeback to win the GOP Manila Main Event, taking down PHP 6.3M & the black and gold gauntlet trophy.
Lester Edoc Leads Final 12 in GOP Manila Main Event
Edoc and Rivera lead the final 12 players into the final day of the GOP Manila Main Event alongside six side event winners at City of Dreams.
Lagatuz and Tech Bubble Main Event Closing Flights at GOP Manila
Tech and agatuz bust the GOP Manila Main Event Flight D & E bubbles as Day 2 qualifiers are set alongside eight side event title winners.
Team Strong Denies Dave Spade in GOP Manila’s Influencer Conquest
Dave Spade and Team Face Card fall just short as Team Strong wins GOP Manila's Influencer Conquest: Team Edition.
Verbruggen Claims Titan Stack High Roller as Main Event Continues at GOP Manila
Tom Verbruggen wins the GOP Manila Titan Stack High Roller for $45,100, while Viet An Nguyen commands the Main Event lead.
Park Dominates Main Event Flight B Alongside Seven Side Event Winners at GOP Manila
GOP Manila Day 5: Seunghee Lee leads Main Event Flight B while seven side event champions claim trophies, led by Todd Hansen.
GOP Manila Main Event Could Face Overlay Approaching PHP 10 Million
The GOP Manila Main Event is tracking well below its PHP 30M guarantee, with founder Lloyd Fontillas projecting an overlay near PHP 10M.
Derecho Wins Super High Roller, Thompson Takes Titan Stack as Main Event Kicks Off at GOP Manila
Emmanuel Derecho wins the SHR, Gary Thompson takes the Titan Stack, and John Costiniano leads as the GOP Manila Main Event begins.
The Cronus Structure Explained: Why Gods Of Poker Closes Registration So Early
Gods of Poker's Lloyd Fontillas explains the Cronus Structure, it's impact on the Main Event, and why GOP closes registration after just two levels.
Inocentes Wins Pandora’s Mystery Bounty as Derecho Leads Super High Roller at GOP Manila
Alvir Inocentes wins the PHP 690K Pandora's Mystery Bounty title at GOP Manila 2026, while Emmanuel Derecho leads the final four of the SHR.
Kosasih Claims First Gauntlet as Mondalo Takes Down Opening Event at GOP Manila
Bonifacio Mondalo wins the GOP Manila Opening Event, Fendy Kosasih claims Demigods Challenge gauntlet, plus Martijn Gerrits' third trophy.
A Homecoming for Fontillas: Founder Reflects as Gerrits Takes Two on GOP Manila Day 1
Gerrits claims two trophies as GOP Manila opens, plus Edenata's Single Day HR win and founder Lloyd Fontillas on bringing GOP home to Manila
The Wait is Almost Over: GOP Manila 2026 Kicks Off Soon
GOP Manila 2026 kicks off soon with 82 events, PHP 60M in guarantees, and a PHP 30M Main Event. Schedule, key highlights, and what to expect.
GOP Manila 2026: The Arena of Champions Comes to City of Dreams Next Month
Gods of Poker returns to Manila for GOP Manila: The Arena of Champions, running August 21 to 30 at City of Dreams Manila.
