Kickoff (16,500 PHP)

Manila Megastack 21's opening highlight, Kickoff, has officially come to a close with local runner Terry Gonzaga claiming the accolades. The Filipino pro banked the biggest share of the PHP 3,985,885 (~USD 68,195) prize pool after a six-way ICM deal awarded him PHP 411,200 (~USD 7,045) in total winnings. On top of his payout, Gonzaga also takes with him the coveted PokerStars Spadie and a 2025 APPT Manila Main Event Package for next season's games.

"First win of the year, hopefully this would be the start of a lucky streak. I'm looking forward to this coming Main Event and mostly other tournaments here in Manila.", commented Gonzaga following his triumph.

Only 43 runners returned for the Final Day battle and saw nearly half the field dusted by the first break. Once the final table was set, Gonzaga was stacking amongst the top ranks, and managed to lock in several more small pots to come out with the lead once ICM deal was in discussion. International contenders Ho Tai Tsai and Masakazu Miyamoto took the first two final table eliminations, narrowing the field down to only local runners. Following Jonald Garcia's exit in 7th place, play was immediately put to a halt, capping the action entirely once the adjusted payouts were in. Each of the six walked away with at least a PHP 300,000 (~USD 5,000) score, kicking off a great start to their 2025 run.

Next on the agenda is the awaited PHP 20,000,000 (~USD 342,705) guaranteed Main Event, which kicks tomorrow, January 23rd at 13:00 local time. Stay tuned for updates as SMP brings you all the latest directly off the floor!

Kickoff

Date/s: January 20-22, 2025

Buy-in: PHP 16,500 (~USD 285)

Guarantee: PHP 3,000,000 (~USD 51,290)

Entries: 283

Prize pool: PHP 3,985,885 (~USD 68,195)

ITM: 43 places

Flight A: 66 entries, 10 qualified

Flight B: 128 entries, 20 qualified

Flight C: 89 entries, 13 qualified

Final Table Results

An ICM deal has been set in place with the final six players splitting up the remaining payouts. Terry Gonzaga is awarded the biggest share, along with the 2025 APPT Manila Main Event Package, valued at PHP 125,000 (~USD 2,140) and the coveted PokerStars spadie.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Adjusted Payouts

The tournament clock has been paused to make way for a possible ICM deal six-way.

Remaining Payouts

Jonald Garcia stuffed his last 225,000 on the cutoff and was called by initial raiser Czar Ian Marcos.

Garcia at risk, headed out shortly after board T♥ 6♠ Q♥ 7♣ Q♣ ran Marcos a full house to knock him out.

Rene Mar David defended his big blind against Edgar Asehan's 110,000 hijack open, and went to check call two streets on board 6♥ 8♥ 9♦ 2♣ . On river 9♥ , David led all-in for 530,000, tank called by Asehan with two pair 8♣ 7♥ . David showed the same hand 8♠ 7♦ for a split pot.

Mike Takayama opened utg and called off Edgar Asehan's all-in right behind for 635,000.

In for a flip, Asehan dodged a potential elimination, having landed top pair on board 8♠ 9♦ 3♦ 6♠ K♦ to survive through.

Terry Gonzaga opened 110,000 utg+1 and called 145,000 more following an all-in from Masakazu Miyamoto.

Miyamoto ahead, was instantly crushed as the board 8♣ A♥ 5♥ K♥ A♠ rolled trip aces for Gonzaga to take him out.

Ho Tai Tsai opened on the cutoff and snap called for his entire 490,000 after Czar Ian Marcos moved all-in from the big blind.

Tsai dominated, headed for the rails as the first casualty of the final table after board K♠ 8♦ 4♦ 7♣ 9♠ sealed the win for Macos.

Czar Ian Marcos opened 100,000 utg+1 and was joined behind by Terry Gonzaga. On flop A♣ T♠ T♦ , Marcos check folded after Gonzaga fired a bet of 80,000.

Following a five hour grind, Manila Megastack 21's opening highlight - Kickoff, is officially down to its final nine players with local runner Renato Villanueva leading the charge. Each contender is now guaranteed PHP 87,885 (~USD 1,510) in winnings, with the PHP 765,000 (~USD 13,160) top prize only a few places away. Today's winner will also take home a 2025 APPT Manila Main Event Package, valued at PHP 125,000 (~USD 2,140), along with the prestigious PokerStars spade trophy to commemorate their triumph.

Final Table Chip Counts

Remaining Payouts

Rene Mar David opened 100,000 on the cutoff, and called 120,000 more following an all-in from Paul Coles behind.

In for a flip, board 2♥ 6♦ 3♦ A♦ 2♣ felted none of Coles's overcards, knocking him out as the final table bubble.

Terry Gonzaga open shoved on the hijack and saw John Jay Magadan flick in his last 145,000.

Magadan at risk, exited the arena shortly after Gonzaga spiked a boat on board A♠ Q♣ 2♣ Q♥ 6♠ .

Paul Coles opened on the cutoff and called Rene Mar David's 430,000 all-in from the big blind.

Dominated, Coles booked the loss as board A♦ Q♦ T♣ 5♣ 7♠ turned up on the felt.

Renato Villanueva raised all-in on the small blind and saw Hochung Song call off for his 440,000 stack right behind.

Villanueva slightly behind, caught up immediately on board K♥ T♣ 5♠ 2♦ T♥ , locking in a full house to deliver the bust.

Renato Villanueva opened 60,000 utg and was met with a 190,000 three bet from Paul Coles on the cutoff. Villanueva answered with an all-in, leaving Coles to take a minute before throwing in the fold.

Mike Takayama opened 65,000 on the hijack and called 400,000 more following an all-in from Brenton Buttigieg right behind.

Takayama in search of an ace, found one on board 8♦ 6♠ 3♥ A♠ 7♥ , enough to send Buttigieg's ladies flying towards the muck.

Ho Tai Tsai limped in on the button and saw both blinds come along on flop Q♥ K♥ 8♠ . All three checked round to turn A♣ , where Tsai bet 30,000. Rene Mar David check called, and arrived at showdown shortly after no bets went in on river K♣ .

David showed a busted flush draw J♥ 9♥ , leaving Tsai's pair of queens Q♠ 6♣ good for the pot.

Ho Tai Tsai limp called a 75,000 raise utg against Rene Mar David, and went on to lead all-in for 430,000 on flop 3♦ 2♥ 9♥ . David threw in the fold, giving up the pot.

Paul Coles defended his big blind against Renato Villanueva's 65,000 button open, and faced another 55,000 bet on flop 8♠ 9♣ 7♥ . Coles responded with an all-in for 570,000, enough to get Villanueva to let it go.

Hochung Song pushed for his last 245,000 on the hijack and saw Rene Mar David on the big blind, rise to the challenge.

Song at risk, outran his opponent on board 9♠ 2♥ Q♥ J♣ 9♠ , shipping a full double up his way.

Jeoffrey Sibal stuffed 140,000 on the big blind and was called by initial raiser Renato Villanueva.

Sibal behind, failed to catch up on board K♣ 3♥ 3♠ 3♦ 6♦ , sending him out the door.

Rene Mar David opened 55,000 on the cutoff and was met with a 175,000 three bet from Renato Villanueva a seat after. David gave it some thought but eventually opted out, shipping Villanueva the boost.

Rene Mar David opened 55,000 utg+1 and was joined by Jeoffrey Sibal on the small blind. Action on flop 8♦ 5♠ 8♠ was checked round to turn 2♥ , where Sibal led 75,000. David called behind, and went to bet a final 150,000 on river Q♦ . Sibal paid the price, only to muck as David showed a boat 5♦ 5♣ .

Terry Gonzaga raised all-in on the small blind for 460,000 and was snap called by Edgar Asehan right behind.

Crushed against the cowboys, Gonzaga was in luck to find two aces on board 9♠ A♣ A♦ 2♠ 9♠ , keeping him in the Kickoff games.

Rey Roca flicked in his last 45,000 on the button, and was called by both players on the blinds - Edgar Asehan and Czar Ian Marcos. Board J♠ 7♦ 6♥ 3♥ 4♠ was checked to showdown, revealing Marcos' two pair for the win.

Facing an open and a call, Christopher Richards squeezed all-in on the button for 190,000, and was tank called by Ho Tai Tsai.

Tsai ahead, secured the pot with top pair as board ran J♥ 7♦ 4♦ 2♠ 9♥ , busting Richards in the process.

Alvir Inocentes pushed all-in on the button for his last 155,000 and was challenged by Renato Villanueva on the big blind.

Dominated, Inocentes exited the arena shortly after board 4♠ T♠ T♥ 3♠ 6♦ rolled on the felt.

Alvir Inocentes raised all-in on the small blind and saw Jeoffrey Sibal call off for his 230,000 stack.

In for a race, Sibal kept ahead all the way through board T♠ 4♥ 2♣ 7♣ 3♣ , earning him a full double up.

Alvir Inocentes pushed all-in utg for his last 185,000 and was looked up by Jonald Garcia on the button.

Inocentes in rough shape, dodged elimination just as board 4♣ 5♦ 7♠ 6♠ Q♣ ran him a straight to steal the win.

Rey Roca flicked in his last 72,000 utg, called behind by player on the button. Terry Gonzaga on the big blind, reshoved and successfully isolated the short stack to showdown.

Roca drawing slim, turned the tables, having ran a backdoor flush on board 8♠ A♠ 5♣ K♣ Q♣ to survive through.

Joris Michl pushed all-in utg for 211,000 and was happily called by Czar Ian Marcos behind.

Crushed against the rockets, no help for Michl arrived on board 7♣ J♠ 8♣ 9♠ Q♦ , ending his run entirely.

Edgar Asehan open jammed on the button and saw Lloyd Locsin tank call off for his entire 365,000.

A crucial race, Asehan managed to outflop his opponent on board 9♣ J♥ K♠ 3♥ 7♣ , shipping the 47 big blind pot his way.

Peter Chung raised all-in on the small blind for his last 138,000 and was looked up by Czar Ian Marcos right behind.

Board Q♥ 8♠ 4♥ Q♦ 8♦ ran dry for both, leaving Marcos' ace-high good for the bust.

Ho Tai Tsai open shoved 186,000 on the hijack and saw Kiril Gelev call off for his lesser 119,000 stack on the button.

Gelev in trouble, headed out shortly after board 7♦ 2♠ 2♦ 4♣ 4♥ failed to save him from his demise.

Renato Villanueva opened on the hijack and called Liam Schreiter's all-in from the big blind for 205,000.

In for a flip, board J♠ 5♦ 2♣ 2♥ A♠ landed Villanueva's way, sending Schreiter to the rails.

Mike Takayama defended his big blind against Peter Chung's 35,000 open, and headed to flop 7♣ 8♣ T♦ . Action checked round to turn Q♣ , where Takayama led 60,000. Chung called, and paid another 160,000 on river J♦ , only to muck as Takayama revealed flush 4♣ 3♣ .

A four way raised pot led by Masakazu Miyamoto read a flop of 3♥ T♠ 2♦ . Miyamoto continued for 75,000 and was met with a check jam from Roland Ferrer for 111,000 total. Miyamoto made the call with top pair J♣ T♦ , ahead of Ferrer's A♠ 8♠. No help for Ferrer arrived on either turn 3♣ or river 4♣ , knocking him out of the running completely.

John Jay Magadan opened utg and used up two time banks before making the call against Nikolai Babushkin's 147,000 all-in from the big blind.

Babushkin at risk, crashed out shortly after board A♥ T♥ 3♣ Q♥ 6♦ ran ace-high, giving his opponent top pair to take the win.

Fresh off a win, Renato Villanueva booked another after calling Jhun Aballa's 60,000 all-in preflop.

Slightly behind, Villanueva quickly caught up on board 4♠ 9♦ Q♦ 2♥ 5♦ , sending his opponent out of the running.

Alvir Inocentes opened utg and called off for his entire 141,000 after John Jay Magadan on the big blind, demanded for the rest.

A pocket pair battle, Magadan's nines were no match against Inocentes' ladies all the way through board 2♠ 2♦ 6♠ T♦ 5♥ .

Rene Mar David has had a good start to his day, from a starting stack of 95,000, has since quadrupled up his count to over 40 big blinds. David's first double came by the hands of Czar Ian Marcos, and has carried on this momentum to now sit comfortably amongst the big stacks.

With two limps ahead, Christopher Richards squeezed to 62,000 and called for the rest following an all-in from Rey Roca for 116,000 total.

Roca ahead, was left with no worries, having spiked two pair on board Q♥ 5♠ J♥ 5♥ 4♦ to bag the win.

A three way raised pot saw the aggressor continue for 25,000 on flop 4♥ A♠ 9♦ . Both Roland Ferrer and Paul Coles made the call, revealing turn Q♦ . Action checked to Ferrer, who bet 25,000. Only Coles stuck around to river 6♣ , where he led a final 50,000. Ferrer paid the price with top pair A♣ T♠ , no good against Coles's two pair A♦ 4♦ .

Joris Michl defended his big blind against Peter Chung's 20,000 utg open, and check called another 20,000 on flop Q♠ 2♣ 9♦ . No bets went in on either turn 3♦ or river 3♥ , revealing Mich's 8♦ 8♥ good for the pot.

Jonald Garcia opened utg+1 and called a 63,000 three bet from Nikolai Babushkin behind. On flop 8♠ A♦ 4♣ , Garcia check called another 41,000, revealing turn 2♦ . Both checked it through to river 3♠ , where Garcia led 44,000. Babushkin used up two time banks and eventually laid it down.

Czar Ian Marcos limped on the small blind, and went on to jam 140,000 vs Akihiro Kawaguchi's raise right behind. Kawaguchi called off and was in for a flip for a 29 big blind pot.

Board Q♣ 2♠ J♣ T♥ 4♥ instantly favored Marcos' pocket pair, with his set of jacks more than enough to secure the win.

Anthony Castro flicked in his last 27,000 on the cutoff, followed by another all-in from Rey Roca for 90,000. Masakazu Miyamoto put in the final call on the big blind, making it a three way showdown.

Castro ahead, instead booked the loss as board 9♠ 5♥ 6♥ 9♥ 2♣ rolled trip nines for Roca.

A blind vs blind battle saw Anthony Castro limp call Paul Coles's 111,000 all-in, putting the latter at risk.

Coles in search of an ace, immediately found one on board 6♠ A♠ Q♦ 3♥ 7♣ , keeping him in the Kickoff games.

Edgar Asehan defended his big blind against Alvir Inocentes' hijack open, and check called another 17,000 on flop A♦ 7♣ 4♦ . Both turn 3♣ and river 7♠ collected no more bets, revealing Asehan's 8♥ 8♣ good for the pot.

With a pot of 117,000 centered around board 6♦ 7♥ K♥ 8♠ 7♦ , Ho Tai Tsai made an attempt for it with a bet of 75,000. Masakazu Miyamoto on the big blind, found the call with two K♣ 8♦ , and shipped the pot as Tsai revealed busted flush draw A♥ 2♥ .

Lloyd Locsin pushed his last 129,000 in on the button and was looked up by Alvir Inocentes on the small blind.

Locsin dominated, was in luck to find four hearts on board 2♥ 6♥ Q♥ 4♣ 9♥ , giving him the nut flush to take the win.

Hogyun Kang defended his big blind vs Mike Takayama's 20,000 button open, and went on to battle on board T♠ 3♥ A♥ 9♠ K♦ . Takayama triple barreled - 18,000, 37,000, 80,000, and saw Kang check call all the way to showdown, only to muck as Takayama revealed top pair A♠ J♠ .

Ilia Timofeev defended his big blind against Jess Dalipe's 21,000 utg open, and check called 30,000 on flop 9♦ 3♣ K♠ . Turn 4♣ saw Dalipe barrel another 60,000, and call off for his remaining 150,000 after Timofeev moved all-in.

Ilia Timofeev K♦ 4♦

Jess Dalipe A♦ A♣

Timofeev with two pair, sent Dalipe's rockets flying towards the muck just as river 6♣ completed the board.

A pot of 84,000 brewed preflop beteween Jonald Garcia on the button vs Lloyd Locsin on the big blind. On flop 7♠ 8♣ 5♦ , Locsin led all-in and was called by Garcia for his entire 194,000.

Lloyd Locsin A♠ Q♦

Jonald Garcia 9♥ 8♠

Garcia ahead, kept his advantage through turn K♣ and river 9♦ , scooping it all with two pair.

Facing an open and a call, Michihiko Matsuda on the big blind, sent out a 50,000 three bet, and called 46,000 more after initial raiser Jhun Aballa moved all-in.

Aballa in no sweat, shipped the win quickly on board A♦ 8♥ K♠ 9♣ 6♥ , leaving Matsuda down short.

Joris Michl opened utg+1 and went on to four bet jam his entire 102,000 against Ilia Timofeev's raise behind. Timofeeve made the call, and found himself in rough shape for a chunk of his stack.

Michl a huge favorite, easily secured the double up right on board 6♠ 4♣ 2♠ 7♣ K♠ .

Ho Tai Tsai opened 14,000 utg, called by Paul Coles on the button. Masakazu Miyamoto on the big blind, raised to 65,000 and was met back with an all-in from Tsai. Both opponents opted out, shipping Tsai the dead money in the middle.

Daito Kamei pushed all-in utg for 69,000 and was called by Hernan Villa behind.

Kamei dominated, found no luck on board 2♣ K♠ 5♦ A♥ J♥ , knocking him out entirely.

Jester Intia opened on the button and called a 28,000 three bet from Brenton Buttigieg on the small blind. On board 2♦ J♣ J♠ T♠ A♦ , Buttigieg triple barreled - 22,000, 75,000 and a final all-in, with Intia calling him all the way down with two pair T♣ 2♣ . Buttigieg spiked the river and showed a better A♠ K♠ for the win.

Kiril Gelev opened 18,000 utg, called behind by Rey Roca and Jundy Walker on the big blind. On flop 2♣ 8♦ 2♦ , Gelev bet all-in for 95,000 and met no takers.

Shuffle up & deal, good luck to all the players!

The excitement continues at Okada, Manila, with PokerStars LIVE's Manila Megastack 21, headlining the local action. Currently on spotlight is the festival's opening highlight, Kickoff, which drew in a total of 283 entries across three flights, building up the prize pool to an eye-catching PHP 3,985,885 (~USD 68,195). Each heat played down to the top 15% of the field (ITM), leaving only 43 players standing after the intense action.

All players returning today are already guaranteed a minimum payout of PHP 26,500 (~USD 455), and stands one step closer to clinching the PHP 765,000 (~USD 13,110) top prize. In addition to the six-figure payout, the winner will also take home a 2025 APPT Manila Main Event Package, valued at PHP 125,000 (~USD 2,140), along with the prestigious PokerStars spade trophy to commemorate their triumph.

Leading the charge is USA's Christopher Richards, who came out on top of the final heat to bring in an impressive 494,000 chip count onto today's battle. Local runner Roland Ferrer trails closely behind with a 431,000 stack, followed by Flight A chip leader Peter Chung with 395,000, to round up the top three spots.

Action resumes right at 12 noon, with a champion deemed to be crowned by night's end. Stay tuned for updates as SMP brings you all the latest directly off the floor!

Kickoff

Date/s: January 20-22, 2025

Buy-in: PHP 16,500 (~USD 285)

Guarantee: PHP 3,000,000 (~USD 51,290)

Entries: 283

Prize pool: PHP 3,985,885 (~USD 68,195)

ITM: 43 places

Flight A: 66 entries, 10 qualified

Flight B: 128 entries, 20 qualified

Flight C: 89 entries, 13 qualified

Day 2/ Final: Wednesday, January 22