Philippines, Okada ManilaEVENT #23

2025.01.27Add to Calendar

PokerStars Live

Edilberto Gopez

Philippines

Blind level

Level 16: 2,000 / 5,000 ante: 5,000

Entries

15/101

Total Chips

3,030,000

Average

202,000

Flight B

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/24/2025, 6:03:16 PM

Edilberto Gopez Dominates Main Event Flight B

Level 16: 2,000 / 5,000 ante: 5,000

Edilberto Gopez

Today's Manila Megastack 21 Main Event action has officially wrapped up with another 101 entries added to the tally. Only 15 players survived the day's battle, with local runner Edilberto Gopez bagging a show-stopping 546,000 chip count, enough to surpass Flight A chip leader Mark Almusajin's 520,000 record and set the benchmark for the rest of the tournament.

Gopez’ rise to the top came at the perfect moment, just as the bubble time drew near. The Filipino contender's reign kicked off at the final level of play after a pocket pair clash against Brenton Buttigieg, shipped Gopez a hefty boost. With newfound chips, Gopez pumped up the aggression, applying maximum pressure on his opponents just as the field tightened up and shifted into survival mode.

Right behind Gopez sees South Korea’s Ju Won Chung hold strong with 398,000 in chips, followed closely by Japan’s Michihiko Matsuda with 334,000. Also advancing through is defending champion Richard Marquez with a short, yet playable stack of 86,000.

All Flight B survivors have a day to rest before they return back to the scene on Sunday, January 26, each guaranteed a payday. Two more flights are set to heat up later this afternoon, giving players a last chance to enter and claim a share of the PHP 20,000,000 (~USD 342,705) pot.

Manila Megastack 21 Main Event

Date/s: January 23-27, 2025

Buy-in: PHP 45,000 (~USD 770)

Guarantee: PHP 20,000,000 (~USD 342,705)

Starting stack: 30,000

Flight A: 83 entries, 13 qualified

Flight B: 101 entries, 15 qualified

Flight C: Saturday, January 25

Flight D [20/15]: Saturday, January 25

Day 2: Sunday, January 26

Final Day: Monday, January 27

SMPSMP

1/24/2025, 5:20:18 PM

End of Flight B - 15 Survivors

Level 16: 2,000 / 5,000 ante: 5,000

Player	Chips
EG Edilberto GopezPhilippines	546,000(109 BB)
JW Ju Won ChungSouth Korea	398,000(80 BB)
MM Michihiko MatsudaJapan	334,000(67 BB)
KY Kunlong YuChina	303,000(61 BB)
JG Jonald GarciaPhilippines	301,000(60 BB)
GC Graham CowanAustralia	231,000(46 BB)
MC Michael Concepcion (2)Philippines	171,000(34 BB)
JI Jester IntiaPhilippines	167,000(33 BB)
KE Kim EnriquezPhilippines	149,000(30 BB)
KJ Kyuhyung Jung	113,000(23 BB)
RM Richard MarquezPhilippines	86,000(17 BB)
JD John Dela CruzPhilippines	73,000(15 BB)
HT Hachiya Takahiko	73,000(15 BB)
JM Joseph MagnottiUnited States of America	46,000(9 BB)
ER Euryd RiveraPhilippines	3,000(1 BB)

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/24/2025, 5:17:19 PM

Edilberto Gopez Piles It High

Level 16: 2,000 / 5,000 ante: 5,000

Takahiko Hachiya opened 10,000 on the hijack and was called behind by Edilberto Gopez. On flop 4♥ Q♦ 9♦ , Hachiya check called a bet of 15,000, revealing turn Q♣ . Both checked it through to river A♥ , where Gopez gunned for a final 75,000. Hachiya paid the price, only to muck as Gopez tabled trip queens K♠ Q♠ .

Player	Chips
EG Edilberto GopezPhilippines	546,000(109 BB)
HT Hachiya Takahiko	73,000(15 BB)

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/24/2025, 5:04:30 PM

Aggression Pays Off for Edilberto Gopez

Level 16: 2,000 / 5,000 ante: 5,000

Edilberto Gopez

Action folded to Kunlong Yu on the small blind, leading him to open for 12,000. Edilberto Gopez right behind, raised to 45,000 and saw Yu complete. On board 9♣ 7♦ 8♠ 2♥ Q♣ , Gopez triple barreled - 15,000, 55,000, and a final 140,000. Yu called down two streets yet surrendered by the river, shipping Gopez the win with no showdown.

Player	Chips
EG Edilberto GopezPhilippines	415,000(83 BB)
KY Kunlong YuChina	265,000(53 BB)

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/24/2025, 4:52:09 PM

Quick Double for Takahiko Hachiya

Level 16: 2,000 / 5,000 ante: 5,000

Takahiro Hachiya

Edilberto Gopez sent out a 32,000 three bet against an utg open, and saw Takahiko Hachiya push all-in on the big blind for 75,000. Initial raiser folded, leaving Gopez priced in to call.

Hachiya a huge favorite, cruised to victory on board 8♣ T♦ 5♣ K♦ J♣ , easily bagging the win with top set.

Player	Hand	Chips
HT Hachiya Takahiko	K♠K♣ BB	169,000(34 BB)
EG Edilberto GopezPhilippines	K♥J♠ UTG+1	316,000(63 BB)

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/24/2025, 4:40:26 PM

Brenton Buttigieg Runs Into the Cowboys

Level 16: 2,000 / 5,000 ante: 5,000

Brenton Buttigieg

A blind vs blind battle saw Brenton Buttigieg limp call a 13,000 raise from Edilberto Gopez, revealing flop J♦ 5♦ 2♠ . Buttigieg check raised to 75,000, and called for his remaining 33,000 after Gopez moved all-in.

Edilberto Gopez K♦ K♥

Brenton Buttigieg T♠ T♣

Crushed against pocket kings, Buttigieg headed out shortly after runout K♠ 6♣ left him behind on all streets.

Player	Chips
EG Edilberto GopezPhilippines	420,000(84 BB)
BB Brenton ButtigiegAustralia	busted

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/24/2025, 3:43:26 PM

Edilberto Gopez Takes Out Won Il Bae

Level 14: 1,500 / 3,000 ante: 3,000

Won Il Bae

With a pot of 57,000 spread out across board K♥ 4♣ Q♠ 7♣ 9♥ , Edilberto Gopez fired an overbet of 60,000 from the big blind, sending Won Il Bae deep in the tank. Bae eventually called off with top pair K♦ T♦ , costing him his run as Gopez revealed straight J♠ T♥ .

Player	Chips
EG Edilberto GopezPhilippines	277,000(92 BB)
WI Won Il BaeSouth Korea	busted

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/24/2025, 3:08:44 PM

Chip Count Update

Level 14: 1,500 / 3,000 ante: 3,000

Jester Intia

Today's Main Event Flight B action is set to close once the field is down to 15 players. That means only six more eliminations are due before bagging time. Stacking atop is local runner Jester Intia, trailed closely behind by Kunlong Yu.

Chip Counts

Player	Chips
JI Jester IntiaPhilippines	293,000(98 BB)
KY Kunlong YuChina	260,000(87 BB)
RM Richard MarquezPhilippines	238,000(79 BB)
BB Brenton ButtigiegAustralia	208,000(69 BB)
HT Hachiya Takahiko	206,000(69 BB)
MC Michael Concepcion (2)Philippines	192,500(64 BB)
JC John ConstinianoPhilippines	170,000(57 BB)
HT Ho-Tai TsaiTaiwan	164,000(55 BB)
MM Michihiko MatsudaJapan	157,000(52 BB)
EG Edilberto GopezPhilippines	151,000(50 BB)
JG Jonald GarciaPhilippines	129,000(43 BB)
JW Ju Won ChungSouth Korea	126,000(42 BB)
KE Kim EnriquezPhilippines	121,000(40 BB)
GC Graham CowanAustralia	110,000(37 BB)
JD John Dela CruzPhilippines	105,500(35 BB)
JM Joseph MagnottiUnited States of America	99,000(33 BB)
WI Won Il BaeSouth Korea	85,000(28 BB)
MR Marc RiveraPhilippines	57,000(19 BB)
KJ Kyuhyung Jung	50,000(17 BB)
ER Euryd RiveraPhilippines	38,000(13 BB)

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/24/2025, 2:31:02 PM

Edilberto Gopez Knocks Out Luqman Alghanim

Level 12: 1,000 / 2,000 ante: 2,000

Edilberto Gopez

Edilberto Gopez completed his big blind vs a utg open from Luqman Alghanim, and proceeded with a check raise to 15,000 on flop T♣ 8♠ T♠ . Alghanim called to see turn A♠ , and committed his last 48,500 after Gopez barreled all-in.

Edilberto Gopez 6♠ 5♠

Luqman Alghanim A♥ J♣

Alghanim drawing slim, headed for the exit as river J♦ failed to save him from his demise.

Player	Chips
EG Edilberto GopezPhilippines	255,000(128 BB)
LA Luqman AlghanimSaudi Arabia	busted

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/24/2025, 2:16:31 PM

Edilberto Gopez in No Sweat

Level 12: 1,000 / 2,000 ante: 2,000

Edilberto Gopez

Facing an open and a three bet, Nazariy Fedyk squeezed all-in on the big blind for his last 29,500, and saw initial raiser Edilberto Gopez push likewise.

Fedyk in rough shape, was left with no hope as Gopez dominated all throughout board Q♣ K♥ T♥ 2♥ 6♠ .

Player	Hand	Chips
EG Edilberto GopezPhilippines	K♦K♣ UTG	147,000(74 BB)
NF Nazariy FedykUnited Kingdom	T♠T♣ BB	busted

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/24/2025, 12:58:52 PM

Takahiko Hachiya Does It Again

Level 10: 600 / 1,200 ante: 1,200

Takahiko Hachiya

A blind vs blind battle saw a pot of 65,000 in the middle across board J♠ 3♠ 6♠ 7♦ Q♠ . Takahiko Hachiya took the initiative and led all-in for 46,800. Edilberto Gopez behind, gave it up once more and slipped the fold.

Player	Chips
HT Hachiya Takahiko	111,800(93 BB)
EG Edilberto GopezPhilippines	107,000(89 BB)

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/24/2025, 12:45:02 PM

Takahiko Hachiya Risks It All

Level 10: 600 / 1,200 ante: 1,200

Takahiko Hachiya

With 30,000 in the middle across board 3♠ T♣ J♣ 5♠ , action was caught on utg raiser Edilberto Gopez with a bet of 19,000. Takahiko Hachiya on the small blind, check raised all-in, and pushed Gopez out of the action successfully.

Player	Chips
EG Edilberto GopezPhilippines	147,000(123 BB)
HT Hachiya Takahiko	103,000(86 BB)

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/24/2025, 11:47:35 AM

Dinner Break

Level 10: 600 / 1,200 ante: 1,200

Manila Megastack Main Event Flight B players are off for a 40 minute dinner break, with action set to resume at 8:20 p.m. Registration will close by the end of Level 10.

Top Chip Counts

Graham Cowan

Player	Chips
GC Graham CowanAustralia	182,000(152 BB)
EG Edilberto GopezPhilippines	169,000(141 BB)
JG Jonald GarciaPhilippines	151,000(126 BB)
HT Ho-Tai TsaiTaiwan	143,000(119 BB)
KE Kim EnriquezPhilippines	131,000(109 BB)
RM Richard MarquezPhilippines	125,000(104 BB)
JI Jester IntiaPhilippines	118,000(98 BB)
JC John ConstinianoPhilippines	115,000(96 BB)
MM Michihiko MatsudaJapan	104,000(87 BB)
ER Euryd RiveraPhilippines	103,000(86 BB)
JT Johnson TanPhilippines	102,000(85 BB)
JW Ju Won ChungSouth Korea	90,400(75 BB)
LL Lloyd LocsinAustralia	89,000(74 BB)
HT Hachiya Takahiko	80,000(67 BB)
JM Joseph MagnottiUnited States of America	77,000(64 BB)
AK Akihiro KawaguchiJapan	71,000(59 BB)
KY Kunlong YuChina	62,300(52 BB)
JJ Jung Jinwoo	61,000(51 BB)
RV Roxanne Victorino	58,600(49 BB)
LA Luqman AlghanimSaudi Arabia	57,000(48 BB)
WI Won Il BaeSouth Korea	54,000(45 BB)
HM Ha Mai Anh	50,500(42 BB)
EA Edgar AsehanPhilippines	46,700(39 BB)
BV Bernard VuFrance	46,000(38 BB)
PE Paul ElliottUnited Kingdom	43,500(36 BB)
NG Nathan GathercoleAustralia	38,000(32 BB)
CQ Cezar QuiambaoPhilippines	37,000(31 BB)
JM Joris MichlNetherlands	34,000(28 BB)
MR Marc RiveraPhilippines	30,000(25 BB)
BB Brenton ButtigiegAustralia	30,000(25 BB)
LE Lester EdocPhilippines	30,000(25 BB)
JD Jess DalipePhilippines	29,000(24 BB)
BE Benjamin EbarlePhilippines	28,000(23 BB)
CK Carsten KlugGermany	26,400(22 BB)
EJ Eom Joonghoon	22,600(19 BB)
JS Jonghoon SeonSouth Korea	18,300(15 BB)
HK Hogyun KangSouth Korea	16,800(14 BB)
NF Nazariy FedykUnited Kingdom	14,600(12 BB)
RM Rene Mar DavidPhilippines	12,800(11 BB)

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/24/2025, 11:42:24 AM

William Ysmael Off to the Rails

Level 9: 600 / 1,200 ante: 1,200

William Ysmael

Edilberto Gopez opened 2,300 utg, called behind by the button along with William Ysmael on the big blind. On flop T♦ 2♠ 2♦ , Ysmael went for a check raise to 9,000, and saw both continue to turn 9♣ . Checked to Gopez, he bet 20,000, and called for the rest after Ysmael jammed for 3,000 more.

William Ysmael T♥ 9♠

Edilberto Gopez A♠ T♠

Ysmael ahead, instead bowed out shortly after river A♥ landed Gopez a better two pair to steal the win.

Player	Chips
EG Edilberto GopezPhilippines	169,000(141 BB)
WY William YsmaelPhilippines	busted

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/24/2025, 10:48:11 AM

Edilberto Gopez Surrenders

Level 8: 500 / 1,000 ante: 1,000

Edilberto Gopez

Edilberto Gopez opened 2,200 on the cutoff and called 8,000 more following a raise from John Constiniano on the big blind. On board 5♦ J♣ 3♥ 8♦ , Constiniano double barreled - 5,500 and 16,200, leaving Gopez unable to continue by the turn.

Player	Chips
JC John ConstinianoPhilippines	68,700(69 BB)
EG Edilberto GopezPhilippines	62,000(62 BB)

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/24/2025, 10:19:51 AM

Top Chip Counts

Level 8: 500 / 1,000 ante: 1,000

Kyuhyung Jung

Player	Chips
KJ Kyuhyung Jung	101,000(101 BB)
JT Johnson TanPhilippines	91,000(91 BB)
JM Joseph MagnottiUnited States of America	89,000(89 BB)
LL Lloyd LocsinAustralia	83,500(84 BB)
JM Joris MichlNetherlands	83,000(83 BB)
BB Brenton ButtigiegAustralia	76,300(76 BB)
JJ Jung Jinwoo	69,500(70 BB)
RV Roxanne Victorino	67,200(67 BB)
EA Edgar AsehanPhilippines	66,000(66 BB)
HT Ho-Tai TsaiTaiwan	65,000(65 BB)
BV Bernard VuFrance	63,000(63 BB)
JC John ConstinianoPhilippines	62,000(62 BB)
FK Fathi Kamyar	61,000(61 BB)
JK Jaewon KimSouth Korea	60,800(61 BB)
EG Edilberto GopezPhilippines	51,000(51 BB)
MM Michihiko MatsudaJapan	50,000(50 BB)
ZL Zhiqiang Liu	45,000(45 BB)
PE Paul ElliottUnited Kingdom	45,000(45 BB)
JD Jess DalipePhilippines	44,000(44 BB)
SK Seungmin Kang	43,000(43 BB)