Main Event (45,000 PHP)

This season's Manila Megastack Main Event is close to wrapping up its qualifying rounds with three of the four heats done and dusted. Today's action saw the biggest crowd yet, having drawn 206 entries alone, pushing the final count to 467. While the turnout was a few short of breaching its PHP 20,000,000 (~USD 342,705) guarantee, the stakes remain high for tomorrow's ultimate showdown. 59 runners have advanced so far, with the last flight geared to add 12 more to the list.

Norway's Jon Kyte topped today's field with an impressive 427,000 chip count onto Day 2. Kyte locked in the lead by the final break and extended his advantage all the way through the last three levels. South Korea's Woobeen Lee trails closely behind with a 415,000 stack, followed by Marco Espela with 385,000, to round up the top three spots.

Remaining at the summit of the leaderboard is Flight B chip leader Edilberto Gopez with 546,000, backed by Flight A's Mark Almusajin with 520,000. Other notables advancing through include Flo Campomanes (234,000), Czardy Rivera (165,000), and Dmitrii Belikov (156,000).

All Day 1 survivors are geared to return to the felt this Sunday, January 26, for the Day 2 battle, each guaranteed a payday. Stay tuned for updates as SMP brings you all the latest directly off the floor!

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)

Entries: 467

Prize pool: PHP 20,000,000 (~USD 342,705)

Flight A: 83 entries, 13 qualified

Flight B: 101 entries, 15 qualified

Flight C: 206 entries, 31 qualified

Flight D [20/15]: 77 entries, 12 ITM

Day 2: Sunday, January 26

Final Day: Monday, January 27

Francis Garson flicked in his last 6,000 and was up against three opponents onto flop K♠ J♣ 3♦ . Initial raiser Edgar Asehan continued for 10,000, called by Jon Kyte on the button. On turn A♦ , Asehan check called an 18,000 bet from Kyte, and went on to lead all-in for 33,000 on river K♣ .

Kyte made the final call with a boat, sending both opponents out in quick fashion.

A blind vs blind battle saw Francis Garson limp call a 6,500 raise from Jon Kyte behind. On flop T♠ 7♠ K♦ , Garson check called another 13,000, and arrived at showdown shortly after no more bets went in on either turn 9♠ or river Q♦ .

Garson showed 7♦ 6♠ , no good against Kyte's top pair A♣ K♣ .