Philippines, Okada ManilaEVENT #23

2025.01.27Add to Calendar

PokerStars Live

Blind level

Level 21: 8,000 / 16,000 ante: 16,000

Entries

12/77

Total Chips

2,310,000

Average

192,500

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 7:42:27 PM

Joshua Cuevas Caps Main Event Flight D with the Lead

Level 21: 8,000 / 16,000 ante: 16,000

Joshua Cuevas - Main Event Flight D Chipleader

The 21st edition of the Manila Megastack Main Event drew a total of 467 entries, holding its PHP 20,000,000 (~USD 342,705) guarantee up high. Tonight’s final flight brought in 77 additional entries, with only 12 players managing to survive and secure a spot into Day 2. Each returning contender is now guaranteed a min cash of PHP 73,000 (~USD 1,250), backed with a fighting chance to claim this season's PHP 3,900,000 (~USD 66,830) top prize.

Running on lightning speed, Joshua Cuevas capped Flight D with the lead, bringing in a smashing 432,000 chip count onto the next round. Cuevas inched over the top spot by the last few levels of play, and stands to be in third position across the overall Day 2 order. Joining him on the list is Netherlands' Joris Michl who finished with 254,000, after sending Renato Villanueva to the rail as the flight’s bubble.

Other local crushers advancing through include Edgar Asehan (240,000), Eman Segismundo (179,000), and Edwin Dela Cruz (152,000).

Play resumes at 13:00 on Sunday, January 26, with 40-minute blind levels running throughout, as the field plays down to the final table. 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)

ITM: 71 places

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 qualified

Day 2: Sunday, January 26

Final Day: Monday, January 27

SMPSMP

1/25/2025, 7:14:41 PM

End of Flight D - 12 Survivors

Level 21: 8,000 / 16,000 ante: 16,000

Player	Chips
JC Joshua CuevasUnited States of America	432,000(27 BB)
JM Joris MichlNetherlands	254,000(16 BB)
EA Edgar AsehanPhilippines	240,000(15 BB)
HM Ha Mai Anh	207,000(13 BB)
RT Ryan TanPhilippines	198,000(12 BB)
ES Emmanuel SegismundoPhilippines	179,000(11 BB)
MG Martin GonzalesPhilippines	160,000(10 BB)
ED Edwin Dela CruzPhilippines	152,000(10 BB)
DW Dong Woo LeeSouth Korea	145,000(9 BB)
JC Jose ColadaPhilippines	138,000(9 BB)
CR Christopher RichardsUnited Kingdom	116,000(7 BB)
EJ Eom Joonghoon	90,000(6 BB)

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 7:13:04 PM

Renato Villanueva Bubbles Main Event Flight D

Level 21: 8,000 / 16,000 ante: 16,000

Renato Villanueva Jr

Renato Villanueva committed 75,000 on the cutoff, leaving himself with 1,000 behind. Joris Michl on the big blind, stepped up to the challenge, and called the rest on flop A♠ 3♠ Q♥ .

Renato Villanueva K♠ Q♦

Joris Michl A♣ 7♣

Michl ahead with top pair, delivered the final blow as runout 2♠ 3♥ completed the board, eliminating Villanueva as the flight's stone cold bubble.

Player	Chips
JM Joris MichlNetherlands	254,000(16 BB)
RV Renato Villanueva JrPhilippines	busted

Level 21: 8,000 / 16,000 ante: 16,000

15 minutes

Remaining Players: 13/77

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 7:00:49 PM

Eom Joonghoon Continues to Hang On

Level 20: 6,000 / 12,000 ante: 12,000

Eom Joonghoon

Eom Joonghoon pushed his last 43,000 in the middle utg+1 and was looked up by Edwin Dela Cruz right on the big blind.

Board 5♥ 9♦ 9♥ 3♣ 6♦ missed to pair either player, leaving Eom's ace-high good for the takedown.

Player	Hand	Chips
EJ Eom Joonghoon	A♠2♥ UTG+1	104,000(9 BB)
ED Edwin Dela CruzPhilippines	K♠Q♣ BB	168,000(14 BB)

Level 20: 6,000 / 12,000 ante: 12,000

15 minutes

Remaining Players: 13/77

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 6:51:44 PM

Joshua Cuevas on Police Duty

Level 19: 5,000 / 10,000 ante: 10,000

Joshua Cuevas

Edwin Dela Cruz defended his big blind against Joshua Cuevas' 23,000 cutoff open, and battled on board 6♦ 7♦ Q♠ 4♥ 5♣ . Action checked all the way down to the river, pushing Dela Cruz to lead 35,000.

Cuevas made the call with 2♥ 2♠ , and found it good against Dela Cruz's bluff J♣ 9♣ .

Player	Chips
JC Joshua CuevasUnited States of America	402,000(40 BB)
ED Edwin Dela CruzPhilippines	225,000(23 BB)

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 6:47:53 PM

Eman Segismundo Doubles Through Ryan Tan

Level 19: 5,000 / 10,000 ante: 10,000

Eman Segismundo

Ryan Tan opened on the button and called Eman Segismundo's all-in for 87,000.

Segismundo at risk right on bubble time, dodged a bullet as board 6♣ 9♦ 5♦ 3♣ K♣ ran safe for his pocket pair.

Player	Hand	Chips
ES Emmanuel SegismundoPhilippines	4♠4♣ BB	189,000(19 BB)
RT Ryan TanPhilippines	A♣4♦ D	173,000(17 BB)

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 6:46:52 PM

Bubble Time!

Level 19: 5,000 / 10,000 ante: 10,000

Action is right on bubble time with one more elimination to go before the flight comes to a close. 12 players are set to advance to Day 2 and join the 59 players already in the hunt.

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 6:44:09 PM

Jean Paul Berdejo Runs Into Cowboys

Level 19: 5,000 / 10,000 ante: 10,000

Jean Paul Berdejo sent out a 90,000 three bet against an early open, and saw Joshua Cuevas push behind. Initial raiser folded, leaving Berdejo to call for his last 3,000.

Berdejo in trouble, exited the arena shortly after board 3♥ 8♣ 5♥ 7♣ T♣ delivered no bad beats.

Player	Hand	Chips
JC Joshua CuevasUnited States of America	K♥K♠ SB	302,000(30 BB)
JP Jean Paul BerdejoPeru	A♣K♦ D	busted

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 6:41:24 PM

Pocket Pair Holds for Christopher Richards

Level 19: 5,000 / 10,000 ante: 10,000

Christopher Richards

Eman Segismundo opened 20,000 on the hijack, and called 38,000 more following an all-in from Christopher Richards behind.

In for a flip, Richards survived the showdown as his pocket pair held on board 5♥ 7♦ 2♥ 3♦ 8♣ .

Player	Hand	Chips
CR Christopher RichardsUnited Kingdom	4♦4♣ CO	141,000(14 BB)
ES Emmanuel SegismundoPhilippines	K♣9♦ HJ	97,000(10 BB)

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 6:31:53 PM

Ryan Tan Crushes with Kings

Level 19: 5,000 / 10,000 ante: 10,000

Ryan Tan

William Ysmael opened 40,000 utg+1, called behind by Ryan Tan behind. On flop 7x 7x 9x, Ysmael led all-in for 57,000, and was called by Tan with a premium pair.

William Ysmael J♥ T♥

Ryan Tan K♥ K♣

Drawing slim, Ysmael headed for the rails shortly after missing runout 6x 3x .

Player	Chips
RT Ryan TanPhilippines	281,000(28 BB)
WY William YsmaelPhilippines	busted

Level 19: 5,000 / 10,000 ante: 10,000

15 minutes

Remaining Players: 15/77

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 6:26:46 PM

Chip Count Update

Level 19: 5,000 / 10,000 ante: 10,000

The day is close to wrapping up with only 15 players out of the 77-entry field left standing. Three more eliminations are due before the runners reach for bags with 12 players advancing through to Day 2.

Chip Counts

Player	Chips
ED Edwin Dela CruzPhilippines	271,000(27 BB)
EA Edgar AsehanPhilippines	245,000(25 BB)
HM Ha Mai Anh	218,000(22 BB)
JC Joshua CuevasUnited States of America	210,000(21 BB)
DW Dong Woo LeeSouth Korea	180,000(18 BB)
RT Ryan TanPhilippines	164,000(16 BB)
JC Jose ColadaPhilippines	140,000(14 BB)
RV Renato Villanueva JrPhilippines	127,000(13 BB)
ES Emmanuel SegismundoPhilippines	126,000(13 BB)
JM Joris MichlNetherlands	124,000(12 BB)
JP Jean Paul BerdejoPeru	118,000(12 BB)
EJ Eom Joonghoon	99,000(10 BB)
MG Martin GonzalesPhilippines	97,000(10 BB)
WY William YsmaelPhilippines	97,000(10 BB)
CR Christopher RichardsUnited Kingdom	87,000(9 BB)

Break

Remaining Players: 15/77

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 6:23:30 PM

Jose Colada Survives Flip

Level 18: 4,000 / 8,000 ante: 8,000

Eman Segismundo opened utg and called Jose Colada's 60,000 all-in from the button.

Up for a flip, Segismundo failed to pair up on board Q♠ 9♥ 3♦ 3♣ K♠ , keeping Colada in the Main Event games.

Player	Hand	Chips
JC Jose ColadaPhilippines	6♦6♥ D	140,000(18 BB)
ES Eman SegismundoPhilippines	A♣T♣ UTG	121,000(15 BB)

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 6:18:06 PM

Edwin Dela Cruz Pumps Up the Aggression

Level 18: 4,000 / 8,000 ante: 8,000

Edwin Dela Cruz

Edwin Dela Cruz is putting maximum pressure on his opponents as bubble time approaches. Two back to back steals went Dela Cruz's way, earning him a boost up to 32 big blinds.

Player	Chips
ED Edwin Dela CruzPhilippines	260,000(33 BB)

Level 18: 4,000 / 8,000 ante: 8,000

15 minutes

Remaining Players: 15/77

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 6:06:41 PM

Slam Dunk Win for Dong Woo Lee

Level 17: 3,000 / 6,000 ante: 6,000

Dong Woo Lee

Dong Woo Lee opened on the cutoff and called Lenart Ecarma's all-in behind for 37,000.

In for a flip, Ecarma was instantly left in pieces as board 8♣ K♣ A♠ A♦ 7♥ landed Lee a full house to bust him out.

Player	Hand	Chips
DW Dong Woo LeeSouth Korea	A♣K♠ CO	223,000(37 BB)
LE Lenart EcarmaPhilippines	6♦6♣ D	busted

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 6:00:40 PM

Edgar Asehan Gets Lucky, Cripples Lester Edoc

Level 17: 3,000 / 6,000 ante: 6,000

Edgar Asehan

Lester Edoc opened 12,000 utg and was joined by three other players onto flop Q♦ 7♥ 6♥ . Edoc continued for 20,000, and snap called Edgar Asehan's check jam for 92,000 more.

Edgar Asehan K♠ Q♠

Lester Edoc K♦ K♣

Edoc ahead, suffered a massive blow as runout came Q♣ 3♠ , landing Asehan trip queens to survive through.

Player	Chips
EA Edgar AsehanPhilippines	278,000(46 BB)
LE Lester EdocPhilippines	39,000(7 BB)

Level 17: 3,000 / 6,000 ante: 6,000

20 minutes

Remaining Players: 17/77

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 5:57:41 PM

William Ysmael Shoves for the Win

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

William Ysmael

Edgar Asehan defended his big blind vs William Ysmael's utg open, and faced a 9,000 continuation bet on flop J♦ 4♣ 9♣ . Asehan check raised to 30,000, and went on to lead 12,000 on turn 4♠ . Ysmael responded with an all-in, leaving Asehan unable to continue entirely.

Player	Chips
WY William YsmaelPhilippines	148,000(30 BB)
EA Edgar AsehanPhilippines	125,000(25 BB)

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 5:50:04 PM

Joshua Cuevas Cracks Kings, Busts Anthony Castro

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

Joshua Cuevas

Joshua Cuevas opened 12,000 on the hijack and saw Anthony Castro on the small blind, come along on flop 3♣ 8♥ Q♥ . Cuevas continued for 17,000, and called 27,000 more following a check jam from his opponent.

Anthony Castro K♦ K♣

Joshua Cuevas A♥ 9♥

Runout 6♣ A♦ tabled no hearts, but offered Cuevas a pair of aces, just enough to crack Castro's kings by the river.

Player	Chips
JC Joshua CuevasUnited States of America	259,000(52 BB)
AC Anthony CastroPhilippines	busted

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 5:47:50 PM

Dong Woo Lee Sends Marc Rivera Packing

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

Dong Woo Lee opened utg+1 and called a 25,000 three bet from Marc Rivera on the button. Action on flop 9♥ 4♦ Q♠ was checked round to turn 4♣ , where Lee gunned for 22,500. Rivera made the call, and committed his last 9,000 on river 5♥ after Lee moved all-in.

Lee showed two pair K♥ Q♥ , enough to crush Rivera's 8♥ 8♠ on all streets.

Player	Chips
DW Dong Woo LeeSouth Korea	145,000(29 BB)
MR Marc RiveraPhilippines	busted

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 5:46:26 PM

Pocket Pair Holds for Anthony Castro

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

Anthony Castro pushed all-in for his last 28,000 on the hijack and was looked up by Joshua Cuevas on the small blind.

Castro ahead, locked in the win after board 8♣ 8♦ 6♥ J♣ K♠ felted no aces.

Player	Hand	Chips
AC Anthony CastroPhilippines	7♦7♣ HJ	66,000(13 BB)
JC Joshua CuevasUnited States of America	A♣4♥ SB	186,000(37 BB)

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

20 minutes

Remaining Players: 21/77

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 5:37:44 PM

Chip Count Update

Level 15: 2,000 / 4,000 ante: 4,000

Player	Chips
EA Edgar AsehanPhilippines	194,000(49 BB)
LE Lester EdocPhilippines	192,000(48 BB)
ED Edwin Dela CruzPhilippines	174,000(44 BB)
JC Joshua CuevasUnited States of America	171,000(43 BB)
ES Emmanuel SegismundoPhilippines	152,000(38 BB)
EJ Eom Joonghoon	131,000(33 BB)
JM Joris MichlNetherlands	128,000(32 BB)
RV Renato Villanueva JrPhilippines	124,000(31 BB)
DW Dong Woo LeeSouth Korea	112,000(28 BB)
HT Hazel TimoneraPhilippines	84,000(21 BB)
CR Christopher RichardsUnited Kingdom	80,000(20 BB)
WY William YsmaelPhilippines	79,000(20 BB)
JP Jean Paul BerdejoPeru	75,000(19 BB)
HM Ha Mai Anh	68,000(17 BB)
RT Ryan TanPhilippines	68,000(17 BB)
MR Marc RiveraPhilippines	67,500(17 BB)
LE Lenart EcarmaPhilippines	58,000(15 BB)
JC Jose ColadaPhilippines	53,000(13 BB)
MG Martin GonzalesPhilippines	43,000(11 BB)
JN Jason Ng Tze WeiSingapore	40,900(10 BB)
RM Rene Mar DavidPhilippines	37,000(9 BB)

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 5:35:44 PM

Jason Ng Tze Wei Dodges Elimination

Level 15: 2,000 / 4,000 ante: 4,000

Jason Ng Tze Wei flicked in his last 13,500 against an open, and saw initial raiser Renato Villianueva and Anthony Castro on the big blind, come along on flop 9♥ 6♠ 9♣ . Action checked round to turn 3♣ , where Villanueva bet 10,000. Castro called, building up a side pot, and went on to lead 22,500 on river J♠ .

Villanueva made the call with A♠ Q♦ high, good against Castro's busted straight draw 8♦ 7♦ for the side pot. Wei however, locked in the main pot with two pair A♦ 3♦ , earning him a triple up.

Player	Chips
RV Renato Villanueva JrPhilippines	146,000(37 BB)
JN Jason Ng Tze WeiSingapore	40,900(10 BB)
AC Anthony CastroPhilippines	28,000(7 BB)

Level 15: 2,000 / 4,000 ante: 4,000

20 minutes

Remaining Players: 27/77

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 4:24:20 PM

Main Event Flight D Registration Closes at 77 Entries

Level 11: 1,000 / 1,500 ante: 1,500

That's it for this season's Manila Megastack Main Event! Registration for the final heat is officially closed with final numbers stacking up to 467 entries, holding up its PHP 20,000,000 (~USD 342,705) guarantee also as its prize pool. 59 runners have advanced so far, with Flight D geared to add 12 more to the list.

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

Level 11: 1,000 / 1,500 ante: 1,500

20 minutes

Remaining Players: 45/77

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/24/2025, 2:43:23 PM

Last Chance to Enter!

The pressure is teeming at Okada Manila, Philippines with today's Flight D marking the last chance to qualify for the Manila Megastack Main Event. A PHP 20,000,000 (~USD 342,705) guaranteed prize pool is at stake, ready to tear up the action as players gun for a spot into the Day 2 battle.

Tonight's excitement runs faster paced 20 minute blind levels, with even quicker gameplay picking up as registration closes. Positioned at the summit of the leaderboard is local grinder Edilberto Gopez, who topped yesterday's flight with a towering stack of 546,000. Gopez has set the bar high for today’s field, leading the charge ahead of the 28 survivors already in the hunt.

Flight D [20/15] action begins at 20:00, with registration remaining open through Level 10 @23:40. 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)

Starting stack: 30,000

Flight A: 83 entries, 13 qualified

Flight B: 101 entries, 15 qualified

Flight C: 206 entries, 31 qualified

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

Day 2: Sunday, January 26

Final Day: Monday, January 27