Daily Updates

Keep updated on all of the results:

Manila Megastack 19 – 2024 – Festival Results

Megastack Turbo PHP 2 Million Guaranteed Flight A

Date: September 24, 2024

Buy-in: Php 12,000 (~USD 215)

Guarantee: PHP 2,000,000

Entries: 66

ITM: 10 players from Flight A to Day 2 Final

Norbertas Popa is a Lithunian poker pro based in Thailand, and traveling around Asia to participate in major poker events. Popa showed a consistent game leading to the top of the chip leader count. He bagged 407,000 chips to lead Flight A. Maruo Tasuku is at distant 2nd with 286,000, and Tai Weiliang half a world away with 214,000 at third.

Here are chip counts of the top ten from Flight A. All 10 are guaranteed ITM. They will be bringing those chips with them to the Day 2 Final to be played on Friday September 27 at the PokerStars room of Okada Manila.

Megastack PHP 1 Million Guaranteed

Blinds 30,000/60,000 Ante 60,000

On a flop of 7♣ 8♦ 9♣, Tiang Sheng check-raised all-in for his remaining stack and was called by Li Satoshi.

Tiang Sheng: 7♠ T♥

Li Satoshi: 6♣ 2♣

Sheng was a had with a bottom pair that could improve to a straight while Satoshi was looking at a 15-outer with 13 live outs. The A♣ on the turn gave Satoshi a flush, leaving Sheng drawing dead. The 5♦ river was of no consequence, crowning Li Satoshi as the champion of the Megastack PHP 1 Million Guaranteed.

192 entries bought in for PHP 12,000 (~USD 215) and built the prize pool to PHP 1,966,694 (~USD 35,600). Top 27 players made it in the money for their share of the prize pool, but of course the biggest share goes to the champion Li Satoshi, who takes home with him a PokerStars trophy and the lion's share of the prize pool, amounting to PHP 427,694 (~USD 7,600). Satoshi also bagged a seat to the Megastack Main Event that kicks off in a few days.

Tian Sheng earned a second place finish for PHP268,000 (~USD 4,700).

Patrick Wahlquist of Denmark took home PHP 191,000 (~USD 3,400)for a third place effort while Ashley Patterson got his share of PHP 147,000 (~USD 2,600), completing the top 4.

PLO TURBO

21 entries bought in for PHP 15,000 (~USD 265) to create a prize pool of PHP 268,884 (~USD 4,700) at the PLO Turbo event at the PokerStars room at Okada Manila. The top 4 players would get a share of the prize pool.

The biggest share, of course, goes to the PLO Turbo champion Terry Gonzaga, who takes home PHP 115,500 (~USD 2,055) along with a PokerStars spade trophy.

The other three players who made it in the money are:

2nd - Clifford Botigan - PHP 72,500 (~USD 1,300)

3rd - Keita Kitamura - PHP 48,500 (~USD 860)

4th - Guofeng Hoe - PHP 32,384 (~USD 570)

Megastack PHP 1 Million Guaranteed

Blinds 8,000/16,000 Ante 16,000

Tian Sheng takes his seat at the final table as the chip leader with 1,170,00 chips. Patrick Wahlquist of Denmark is nearby threat to the lead with 1,015,000. Alexis Lim is not yet in the millionaire club, but sits comfortably with a 765,000 stack.

Date: September 24, 2024

Buy-in: Php 12,000 (~USD 215)

Entries: 192

Prize Pool: PHP 1,966,694 (~USD 35,600)

ITM: 27

Starting Stack: 30,000

Chips In Play: 5,760,000

Average Stack:410,200

Remaining Players: 8

Here are the chip counts

PLO Turbo

Blinds 600/1,200 Ante 1,200

21 players entered for PHP 15,000 (~USD 265) to create a prize pool of PHP 268,884 (~USD 4,800). Only the top 4 would earn a payout. The remaining 9 players still competing are:

Keita Kitamura

Darryl Key

John Tech

Guofeng Hoe

Clifford Botigan

Ashby Rivera

Terry Gonzaga

Koji Kanazawa

Kanata Hongo

Date: September 24, 2024

Buy-in: Php 15,000 (~USD 265)

Prize Pool: PHP 268,884 (~USD 4,800)

Entries: 21

ITM: 4

Starting Stack: 20,000

Chips In Play: 420,000

Average Stack: 48,600

Remaining Players: 9

Megastack Turbo PHP 2 Million Guaranteed Flight A

Blinds 5,000/10,000 Ante 10,000

Date: September 24, 2024

Buy-in: Php 12,000 (~USD 215)

Guarantee: PHP 2,000,000 (~USD 36,000)

Entries: 66

ITM: 10 Players Advance To Day 2 Final

Tasuko Mano and Park Jeongho were all-in on the flop. Jeongho was leading with a wheel straight, and Mano had a flush draw. Mano missed the flush but instead went runner-runner to make a better 4-to-8 straight. 3-to-8 was technically how long it went.

Drawing for a flush and winning with a runner-runner one card straight versus a made straight on the flop. And going out in that fashion ON THE BUBBLE! Insert vomit emoji here.

Mano's lucky draw on the turn sent unfortunately makes Park Jeongho the bubble boy. All the remaining 10 players now bag their chips and bring that with them for the Megastack Turbo 2 Million Guaranteed Final to be played on Friday September 27. Two more qualifying flights - 1B and 1C - will be played with the top players of those joining today's survivors at the final day.

Megastack PHP 1 Million Guaranteed

Blinds 8,000/16,000 Ante 16,000

16 players remain out of the 192 who entered. Hiroyuki Matzusaki has the chip lead with 923,000 chips. Ashley Patterson is a next island over with 660,000 in chips. Alexis Lim is third in chips with 531,000.

Date: September 24, 2024

Buy-in: Php 12,000 (~USD 215)

Entries: 192

Prize Pool: PHP 1,966,694 (~USD 35,600)

ITM: 27

Starting Stack: 30,000

Chips In Play: 5,760,000

Average Stack: 360,200

Remaining Players: 16

Megastack Turbo PHP 2 Million Guarantee Flight A

Blinds 2,000/4,000 Ante 4,000

Date: September 24, 2024

Buy-in: Php 12,000 (~USD 215)

Guarantee: PHP 2,000,000 (~USD 36,000)

Entries: 66

Allin. Pre-flop. Showdown. Tai Weiliang's pocket nines find a set on the board and Peter John Steiner is drawing dead on the turn and becomes severely crippled in stack size.

Starting Stack: 30,000

Chips In Play: 1,980,000

Average Stack: 153,600

Remaining Players: 13

PLO Turbo

Blinds 100/300 Ante 300

Ten entries have built a prize pool PHP 128,040 so far. That number is expected to grow when more players sign up before the registrations period is over.

Date: September 24, 2024

Buy-in: Php 15,000 (~USD 265)

Prize Pool: PHP 128,040

Entries: 10

Starting Stack: 20,000

Chips In Play: 200,000

Average Stack: 25,000

Remaining Players: 8

Here are some of the PLO players.

Megastack Turbo PHP 2 Million Guaranteed Flight A

Blinds 2,000/5,000 Ante 5,000

Four more eliminations are needed before Flight A concludes and the top 10 advance to the Day 2 final.

Date: September 24, 2024

Buy-in: Php 12,000 (~USD 215)

Guarantee: PHP 2,000,000

Entries: 66

ITM: 10 players from Flight A to Day 2 Final

Starting Stack: 30,000

Chips In Play: 1,980,000

Average Stack: 142,600

Remaining Players: 14

NLH TURBO

8 entries of PHP 25,000 (~USD 445) built a prize pool of PHP 170,720 (~USD 3,040) that would be shared among the top 3 players. The biggest share of the prize pool went to NLH Turbo Champion Hata Shoma, who bagged PHP85,420 (~USD 1,520) and a PokerStars spadie. Second placer Junya Sakaguchi earned PHP 51,200 (~USD 910) and Fuji Kenta took home a third place payout of PHP 34,100 (~USD 605).

Megastack PHP 1 Million Guaranteed

Blinds: 4,000/8,000 Ante 8,000

With not much left, Choo Kai Ping pushed his last 10,000 chips all-in from the button with Yuta Kitazumi from the small blind and Terry Gonzaga from the big blind checking it down methodically to assure the bubble finally bursts.

Terry Gonzaga's hand assures the elimination of Choo Kai Ping at the bubble. All 27 players that remain are now in the money and playing for a payout upgrade.

Date: September 24, 2024

Buy-in: Php 12,000 (~USD 215)

Entries: 192

Prize Pool: PHP 1,966,694 (~USD 35,600)

ITM: 27

Starting Stack: 30,000

Chips In Play: 5,760,000

Average Stack: 66,200

Remaining Players: 27

Here are the top chip counts

Single Day High Roller

7 entries provided a PHP 100,000 (~USD 1,800) buy-in and built up the prize pool of PHP698,400 (~USD 12,400). Three players were given a payout. The top winner was none other than Chen Zhen, who received the prize pool's lion share of PHP 348,000 (~USD 6,100). The second place winner was Flo Campomanes who took home PHP 210,000 (~USD 3,750) for his efforts. John Tech earned a 3rd place payout of PHP 140,400 (~USD 2,500) for his efforts.

Megastack Turbo PHP 2 Million Guaranteed Flight A

Blinds 400/800 Ante 800

Date: September 24, 2024

Buy-in: Php 12,000 (~USD 215)

Guarantee: PHP 2,000,000 (~USD 36,000)

Entries: 58

Starting Stack: 30,000

Chips In Play: 1,740,000

Average Stack: 39,600

Remaining Players: 44

Players are pouring in just in time before registration closes within the hour. Some of the notable players joining this flight are Kim Taehwan, who has over 15 tournaments cashes and over USD

46,000 in live cash earnings.

Ying Pang won the NLHE - Knockout event at the Manila Super Series 20 earlier this year.

Inho Hwang has over USD 30,000 in live cash earnings. Hwang has had cashes in events in Korea and Taiwan. He has yet to cash in Filipino soil.

Megastack PHP 1 Million Guaranteed

Blinds 2,000/4,000 Ante 4,000

Date: September 24, 2024

Buy-in: Php 12,000 (~USD 215)

Entries: 192

Prize Pool: PHP 1,966,694 (~USD 35,600)

ITM: 27

Starting Stack: 30,000

Chips In Play: 5,760,000

Average Stack: 155,600

Remaining Players: 37

Megastack PHP 1 Million Guaranteed

Blinds 2,000/4,000 Ante 4,000

Date: September 24, 2024

Buy-in: Php 12,000 (~USD 215)

Entries: 192

Prize Pool: PHP 1,966,694 (~USD 35,600)

ITM: 27

Starting Stack: 30,000

Chips In Play: 5,760,000

Average Stack: 66,200

Remaining Players: 49

Megastack Turbo PHP 2M Guaranteed Flight 1A

Blinds 100/100 Ante 100

9 players opened the tournament with a lot more expected to register for this flight and the 2 other flights that will open in the next days. The Megastack Turbo (PHP 2M Guaranteed) is one of the major events for this Manila Megastack 19.

Date: September 24, 2024

Buy-in: Php 12,000 (~USD 215)

Guarantee: PHP 2,000,000

Total Entries: 9

Starting Stack: 30,000

Chips In Play: 270,000

Average Stack: 30,000

Remaining Players: 9

SIngle Day High Roller

Blinds 1,000/5,000 Ante 1,500

3 players have signed up to get the Single Day High Roller event in motion. Earlier today, the start was delayed due to a lack of participants, but there are 3 who are in it now. To be honest, they are just looking to win a PokerStars spadie.

The three players competing are Flo Campomanes, Chen Zhan and Shirase Ryuki. Registration is still open until the end of Level 8, so hopefully more will grab a seat.

Flo Campomanes has over USD 2 Million in live cash earnings and a long list of cashes from all over the world.

Ryuki Shirase recently placed third in the inaugural Superstack event of Manila Megastack 19.

Zhen Chen has over 30 ITM live cashes from all over the wo

Buy-in: Php 12,000 (~USD 215)

Entries: 3

Prize Pool: PHP 261,900 (~USD 4,700)

Starting Stack: 100,000

Chips In Play: 300,000

Average Stack: 100,000

Remaining Players: 3

Megastack PHP 1 Million Guaranteed

Blinds: 1,000/1,500 Ante 1,500

There were a total of 192 entries that pushed the prize pool to over PHP 1,900,000, surpassing the PHP 1,000,000 guarantee. That means - there's a bigger payout for those that will make it in the money. 86 players are still alive with Ko Kyungsuk of Korea leading all of them with 240,000 chips. Filipino Michael Brueza is just over the next town with 160,000. Jonaldo Auza from the USA wraps up the top three with 150,000.

Chip leader Ko Kyungsuk has a decent poker portfolio with 10 recorded live cashes. His most significant cash was a championship win at the NLHE - Power Button event at the Asia Poker Championship back in 2022.

Buy-in: Php 12,000 (~USD 215)

Entries: 192

Prize Pool: PHP 1,966,694 (~USD 35,600)

ITM: TBD After Registration Ends

Starting Stack: 30,000

Chips In Play: 5,760,000

Average Stack: 66,200

Remaining Players: 86

Super Deep PHP 1 Million Guaranteed

Bailey Fusco had a very big stack entering heads-up after he busted out Henry Hong at 3rd place. Sitting at the button, Fusco pushed all-in with Moon Kyung Ho making the call.

Bailey Fusco: A♠ 9♥

Moon Kyung Ho: J♦ 9♥

Board ran 5♥ T♥ 9♠ Q♣ 7♦

The ace kicker brings Fusco the victory and ends the run of Moon Kyung Ho at 2nd place.

Moon Kyung Ho gets to take home PHP 294,500 (~USD 5,200).

Meanwhile, Super Deep. PHP 1 Million Guaranteed champion Bailey Fusco wins a PokerStars spade trophy and the winner's prize of PHP 471,000 (~USD 8,400).

Super Deep PHP 1 Million Guaranteed

Blinds: 25,000/50,000 Ante 50,000

It was a very valiant effort.

In a battle of the blinds, Bailey Fusco paid the minimum fee from the small blind to see the flop

5♣ 5♠ 6♣

Both Henry Hong and Bailey Fusco checked the flop to open the turn 2♦

Fusco three-bet check-raised Hong's 180,000 bet to 570,000. Hong made the call to see a river 9♦. Fusco pushed all-in with Hong making the call for his last 1,700,000.

Bailey Fusco: 2♠ 2♣

Henry Hong: 9♣ 3♦

Fusco send Hong at 3rd place. Henry Hong earns PHP 210,000 (~USD 3,000)

Super Deep PHP 1 Million Guaranteed

Blinds: 25,000/50,000 Ante 50,000

Bailey Fusco, Moon Kyung Ho and Henry Hong are still going at it.

Buy-in: Php 12,000 (~USD 215)

Entries: 222

Prize Pool: PHP 2,273,990 (~USD 40,400)

ITM: 31

Remaining Payouts:

1st - PHP 471,000 (~USD 8,400)

2nd - PHP 294,500 (~USD 5,200)

3rd - PHP 210,000 (~USD 3,700)

Chips In Play: 6,660,000

Average Stack: 2,220,000

Remaining Players: 3

Super Deep PHP 1 Million Guaranteed

Blinds: 20,000/40,000 Ante 40,000

The Super Deep PHP 1 Million Guaranteed is on its 18th hour and counting. This supposed one-day tournament had to extend another unscheduled day to play the final table. Out of the 22 entries, the final three remain.

The latest elimination was Akihiro Kawamoto, who finished at 4th place to take home PHP 182,000 (~USD 3,200).

The chip counts of the last three:

Super Deep PHP 1 Million Guaranteed

Blinds 15,000/30,000 Ante 30,000

Multiple eliminations at the final table have brought down the field to the last four out of a total 222 entries.

Yoshihito Akasawa busted out at 7th, surrendering his desperate 8-blind stack to Moon Kyung Ho when his J♥ 2♣ couldn't beat the 3♦ 3♠ of Ho. Akasawa takes home a share of PHP 81,000 (~USD 1,400) from the prize pool

Choi Jong Hun was the next casualty. Hun's A♣ Q♠ didn't survive the K♣ K♦ of Akihiro Kawamoto.

Choi Jong Hun earns a payout of PHP 87,000 (~USD 1,550) for his sixth place finish.

Tai Wailiang soon followed. Tai called his remaining 20,000 change all-in on a board of 8♦ K♥ 9♦ . His T♠ T♥ could not improve on the turn J♠ and river 4♥ against the K♣ Q♠ of Henry Hong. Tai Wailiang earns PHP97,000 (~USD 1,740) for a fifth place effort.

Megastack PHP 1 Million Guaranteed

Blinds 400/800 Ante 800

112 players have signed in for PHP 12,000 (~USD 215) so far bringing the prize pool to PHP 1,147,238 (~USD 20,500) - already surpassing he guarantee. Still more are expected before registration ends. 86 players remain, and Jack Li-Yinding is the chip leader with 93,000.

The other top chip leaders area:

Super Deep PHP 1 Million Guaranteed

Blinds 10,000/25,000 Ante 25,000

Edwin Dela Cruz defended the big blind from the min-raise of Bailey Fusco at the cutoff.

Flop T♠ 9♠ 7♠ . Dela Cruz check-calls the 50,000 bet to see a 9♦ turn. Dela Cruz then check-raised all-in for 410,000. Fusco calls.

Edwin Dela Cruz: Q♦ T♣

Bailey Fusco: K♠ 3♠

The 3♣ on the river is no help and Edwin Dela Cruz has to leave his seat at 8th place.

Edwin Dela Cruz takes home PHP67,500 (~USD 1,200).

Ran into Mirko Stojkov at the PokerStars poker room at Okada Manila and asked him a quick question.

But before the question, he brought up about how he couldn't share in social media about what we wrote about him busting out at the bubble in one of the earlier events.

"Site problems. Bug fixes," I excused.

He appreciated what SMP wrote.

"I wanted to share the link, but it said - restricted access - so I took a screenshot instead and sent it out to my friends," Mirko explained in thick Australian.

Then, we chatted more about poker - that particular moment in the bubble.

Mirkov man-splained...

"What are you going to do with Kings at that stage? with the blinds and all?"

"If it didn't happen before the flop, it would've happened at the river."

"There was no ace on the board."

"It's a classic... aces vs kings."

"It could've been Ace-King and I still lose if the ace hits.. but yeah, aces vs kings"

Then, the quick question: "So, is this what you do now? All poker?"

He explained he was a retired veteran and uses the generous pension he gets as a veteran to travel and. play poker. Second time in the Philippines, but first time to play poker. He likes the affordability and the quality of play and the chance to get those experience minutes..

"... sitting on the felt, and facing down your opponent, and asking them 'Have you go it?"

He plans on playing in Paris. There's something happening there. Maybe earn enough of a bankroll to try Las Vegas in this lifetime.

"It's pretty expensive with the hotels and all the food. The $10,000 main event buy-in could be a lot of buy-ins in a lot of places."

I taught him a new concept: "Move committed."

Cheers, Mirko!

Super Deep (PHP 1 Million Guaranteed)

10,000/20,000

The Super Deep is on an extended run today as the final table commences to determine a champion. 222 players registered with 13 making it in the money.. What was scheduled to be a one-day tournament ended up being a marathon poker session that took over 15 hours down play to the final table. The remaining players were given a much-needed break and asked to resume at 2PM the following day (which, technically put, was already THAT day.)

Good news is - final table play has taken off and the Super Deep is up and running. And in just a few minutes of the restart, Korea's Jeon Changyun was eliminated at 9th place. Changyun takes home a payout of PHP 58,990 (~USD 1,060).

Buy-in: Php 12,000 (~USD 215)

Guarantee: PHP 1,000,000 (~USD 18,000)

Entries: 222

Prize Pool: PHP 2,273,990 (~USD 40,000)

ITM: 31

Chips In Play: 6,660,000

Average Stack: 223,000

Remaining Players: 8

Megastack PHP 1 Million Guaranteed

Blinds 200/500 Ante 500

Buy-in: Php 12,000 (~USD 215)

Guarantee: PHP 1,000,000 (~USD 18,000)

Entries: 75

ITM: TBD After Registration Ends

Chips In Play: 2,250,000

Average Stack: 34,600

Remaining Players: 66

Here are some of the players in attendance. Maybe on of them could be the next champion.

Today is Day 6 of the 19th Manila Megastack series. A total of 17 PokerStars trophies have been awarded and a prize pool of over PHP 20,000,000 has been shard so far to deserving players. More events are yet to come.

Meanwhile, happening today are:

Megastack PHP 1 Million Guaranteed

Start time: 12:00

Registration Closes: 17:20

Buy-In: PHP 12,000 (~USD 215)

Starting Stack: 30,000

Blind Level Durations: 30 minutes

Single Day High Roller

Start time: 14:00

Registration Closes: 18:20

Buy-In: PHP 100,000 (~USD 1,800)

Starting Stack: 100,000

Blind Level Durations: 30 minutes

PHP 25,000 NLH Turbo

Start time: 18:00

Registration Closes: 20:10

Buy-In: PHP 25,000 (~USD 450)

Starting Stack: 25,000

Blind Level Durations: 15 minutes

Megastack Turbo PHP 2 Million Guaranteed (Flight A)

Start time: 19:00

Registration Closes: 21:10

Buy-In: PHP 12,000 (~USD 215)

Starting Stack: 30,000

Blind Level Durations: 15 minutes

PLO Turbo

Start time: 21:00

Registration Closes: 23:10

Buy-In: PHP 15,000 (~USD 270)

Starting Stack: 20,000

Blind Level Durations: 15 minutes

Main Event Qualifier

(Win Your Seat at 80K Chips)

Start time: 22:00

Registration Closes: 00:00

Buy-In: PHP 6,700 (~USD 215)

Starting Stack: 10,000

Blind Level Durations: 15 minutes

The Megastack PHP 1 Million Guaranteed

Blinds: 100/200 Ante 200

13 players registered to get the ball rolling with more expected to follow before registration closes after Level 10. Among the notable names already at the felt are J Michael Shell, Lenart Ecarma, and. Andrej Nagy. In fact, they're all on the same table! Somebody set up some card cams and bring out the drone! This could be a featured table.

J Michael Shell already has two championships this Manila Megastack 19. Shell won the Super Knockout PHP 10,000 Bounty a few days ago, and he won Win The Button Turbo just last night! Now, he's back again searching for a third PokerStars spadie.

Andrej Nagy made an arduous poker journey during the multi-day Mystery Bounty PHP 2 Million Guaranteed. Nagy was the runner-up of that event - which is just a kinder way of saying that he lost the heads-up and failed to win the championship. Nevertheless, Nagy is a poker force to be reckoned with, and maybe this is the tournament he goes all the way for the win.

Lenart Ecarma won the inaugural Superstack PHP 1 Million Guaranteed and has made significant payous in 4 other events, including a runner-up (there's that word again) finish at the Showtime Hold'em side event.

Bring out the popcorn and watch this table. There are champions here.