Main Event (45,000 PHP)

After nine levels of play, Day 2 of the Manila Megastack 21 Main Event wrapped up with the Final 9 players locked in. Throughout the day, numerous contenders tugged at the top spot. In the end, it was Norway's Jon Kyte who earned the title with a stack of 3,215,000 (80 bb). One of Kyte's final hands was the elimination of Mike Takayama in 12th place.

Hot on Kyte's heels was one of six locals in the lineup, Kim Enriquez with 3,025,000 (75 bb). Enriquez earned a large portion of his stack when his straight crushed Dong Woo Lee's set. Another notable Filipino finding a bag was multi-decorated PokerStars champion Florencio Campomanes. Campomanes sealed his spot by delivering the final able bubble, eliminating Marco Espela in 10th place.

The finalists have now secured a payout of PHP 365,000 (~$6,280). The biggest slice of PHP 3,900,000 (~$67,090) is up for grabs when action resumes at 1pm on Monday, January 27, 2025.

Not long after paying a flip against Mike Takayama, Florencio Campomanes lost another chunk of his stack. Opening 50,000, big blind Jon Kyte defended and both headed to the flop K♠ 5♣ J♣ . Campomanes c-bet 65,000, Kyte check-called. Both passed on the turn 3♦ to bring the river 4♠ . Kyte jumped out with a 120,000 bet, Campomanes called then mucked to Kyte's A♣ J♠ pair.

Mike Takayama is making his presence felt by taking down a couple of pots to join in the million range. The first hand was a double up off Florencio Campomanes with J♦ J♥ holding against A♠ K♥ on a board 6♥ 3♥ 5♦ 7♣ 9♣ .

Next win begans with Jon Kyte raising 55,000, called by cutoff Mark Almusajin and Takayama. All three checked the diamond flop J♦ 6♦ Q♦ . On the turn 8♠ , Kyte bet 90,000, Almusajin folded, Takayama check-raised 325,000. Kyte used up one time-bank then folded as well.

Though we missed the hand, Jon Kyte eliminated Martin Astorga to add another 20 bb to his arsenal. Kyte is currently the chip leader.

Heavy action opens with utg player raising 20,000, two spots over Jon Kyte re-raises 55,000, cutoff Ryan Tan four-bets 130,000, only Kyte calls. Tan continues the barrage with an 80,000 bet at the flop 4♠ 6♥ J♥ and 120,000 on the turn 2♦ . Kyte check-calls both then they check the river 3♠ . Kyte flips over Q♦ J♦ for the win.

Kyte is currently the chip leader.

Catching the action on a board Q♥ 8♣ A♥ T♣ 2♦ with 96,000 in the pot. Mark Almusajin takes a stab for 45,000, Jon Kyte folds, Teruhisa Aoyama check-raises all in for 202,000, Almusajin gives up the fight.

Masakazu Miyamoto looks down at 6♠ 6♥ and opens from the button, big blind Jon Kyte has K♠ 2♠ and defends. More chips fly at the flop J♦ 7♠ 5♠ .Miyamoto c-bets 9000, Kyte check-raises 25,000, Miyamoto calls. Both players check the turn J♣ to bring the river 8♥ . Kyte leads out 65,000, Miyamoto calls and rakes it in on Kyte's failed bluff.

After scoring a double up off Mark Almusajin, Teruhisa Aoyama zoomed to the top of the leaderboard while Almusajin was sent to the middle of the pack. On the next hand, Aoyama raised 8000 from utg+2 then called big blind Jon Kyte's 35,000 re-raise. Same action on the flop and turn 6♣ A♥ T♦ 5♣ with Aoyama calling Kyte's 19,000 and 55,000 bets. On the river K♦ , Kyte bangs out 105,000 and this time Aoyama opts not to continue.