Kickoff (16,500 PHP)

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

With 45,000 in the middle across flop 5♠ Q♣ 4♥ , action was caught on Jonald Garcia with a bet of 13,000. Seungjun Na check raised from the big blind for 33,000, and went to lead another 60,000 on river 7♠ . Garcia let it go by the final bet, shipping Na the win.

Renato Villanueva stuffed his last 68,000 in and was looked up by chip leader Jonald Garcia.

At risk, Villanueva continued on as board J♠ 8♠ K♦ 7♦ 9♦ ran a straight for his pocket pair to take the win.

With 29 players left holding on to their seats, that means the day is about to close with 9 more eliminations to go before is reached. 20 players are set to advance to Day 2, joining yesterday's 10-survivor qualifier list.

Chip Counts

With 27,000 already in the middle on flop 2♣ T♣ A♥ , Jonald Garcia sent out a 10,000 bet on the button and saw Renato Villanueva put in the call. Both checked turn K♦ through to river K♠ , where Garcia went for a final 15,000. Villanueva gave it up, shipping Garcia another boost to his already healthy stack.

A blind vs blind battle brewed a pot of 23,500 preflop. Seungjun Na led 6,500 on flop J♥ Q♦ 5♥ , called behind by Jonald Garcia. On turn A♠ , Na checked to Garcia this time, pushing the latter to bet 8,500. Na made the call, but was left unable to get to showdown after Garcia barreled a final 43,000 on river 7♥ .

Following an open and two calls, Matthias Frost squeezed on the big blind for 30,000 and saw Jonald Garcia reshove. Waki Yasuhiro called off for his entire 115,100, making it a three way showdown.

With the worst hand, Garcia was in luck to find his two outer on board 2♣ 6♥ 9♦ 2♠ 7♠ , running him a boat to scoop it all.