Main Event (45,000 PHP)

Kiwanont Sukhum opened utg and called James Dela Cruz' 1,910,000 all-in on the button.

Sukhum ahead, secured the win as his pocket pair held on board 8♦ 3♠ 6♣ K♣ 2♣ , eliminating Dela Cruz entirely.

Another limp pot blind vs blind saw Kiwanont Sukhum check call a 200,000 bet from James Dela Cruz on flop 4♦ Q♦ A♣ . Both checked turn J♦ through to river 3♦ , where Sukhum gunned for a final 350,000.

Dela Cruz put out a raise to 1,200,000 and left Sukhum in a tough spot. Sukhum tank called with a flush 7♦ 2♦ and picked up the win as Dela Cruz showed bluff K♠ 6♠ .

A limp pot blind vs blind led Kiwanont Sukhum to fire 160,000 on flop 4♥ 7♦ K♦ . James Dela Cruz made it 400,000 to go and saw Sukhum complete. Both checked turn 9♦ through to river K♠ , where Sukhum paid a final 700,000, only to muck as Dela Cruz revealed trip kings K♥ 5♦ .

Cheolmin Byeon defended his big blind against James Dela Cruz' 325,000 button open, and check called 250,000 on flop A♣ 6♣ 6♥ .

On turn 3♥ , Byeon faced another 560,000 from Dela Cruz and responded with a check raise to 1,200,000. Dela Cruz completed, yet surrendered on river Q♠ as Byeon finished with an all-in.

William Ysmael opened 250,000 utg, joined by Cheolmin Byeon on the button along with James Dela Cruz on the big blind.

Flop 8♦ 4♥ 5♥ was checked to Byeon, prompting him to bet 150,000. Both called to see turn 2♥ , but shortly surrendered as Byeon went for another 425,000.

James Dela Cruz kicked off the action with a 250,000 utg open and saw Cheolmin Byeon complete on the big blind.

On flop J♥ 2♦ J♦ , Byeon check called a 150,000 cbet from Dela Cruz, and arrived at showdown shortly after no more chips went in on either turn A♦ or river 3♣ . Byeon showed two pair A♣ 8♦ and Dela Cruz mucked.

James Dela Cruz opened 300,000 on the small blind and was called behind by William Ysmael.

Action checked to turn 9♥ K♥ J♠ 2♣ , where Dela Cruz bet 450,000. Ysmael made the call but was unable to get to showdown after Dela Cruz went for a final 625,000 on river 3♥ .

Kiwanont Sukhum opened 250,000 utg and was met with a 700,000 three bet from James Dela Cruz. Sukhum responded with an all-in, forcing Dela Cruz out of the action.

James Dela Cruz defended his big blind against Moosung Lee's 200,000 hijack open, and faced another 200,000 on flop 9♠ 5♠ A♠ . Dela Cruz responded with a check raise to 600,000, called by Lee.

Both checked turn 3♠ through to river 5♦ , where Dela Cruz gunned for a final 950,000. Lee snap called behind, only to muck as Dela Cruz tabled quad fives 5♥ 5♣ .

William Ysmael defended his big blind against James Dela Cruz' 200,000 button open, and check called three streets - 150,000, 350,000, and a final 550,000, on board Q♠ 5♥ A♣ 9♠ A♦ . Dela Cruz showed two pair K♦ 9♣ , crushed all the way by Ysmael's K♣ Q♥ .

James Dela Cruz open raised all-in on the button and saw Tamon Nakamura call off his remaining 915,000.

Nakamura slightly ahead, crashed out as the first final table casualty shortly after Dela Cruz outflopped him on board 9♦ 3♦ 5♠ 3♠ J♦ .

James Dela Cruz has scored three consecutive pots and picked up several blinds and antes to bounce back up the 3 million mark, quickly recovering from his recent damage.

Kiwanont Sukhum fired a 600,000 three bet against a hijack open, leaving himself with 80,000 behind. James Dela Cruz on the small blind, raised all-in, pushing the initial raiser off the pot while Sukhum flicked in his last big blind.

Sukhum a huge favorite, cruised to victory on board K♣ 3♠ 6♦ J♦ 2♠ , costing Dela Cruz yet another pot.

Cheolmin Byeon committed his last 690,000 in early position and was challenged by James Dela Cruz behind.

Dominated, Byeon was in luck to find two tens on board T♠ 9♠ 5♦ J♠ T♥ to spare him from elimination.

William Ysmael opened 160,000 utg and was called by James Dela Cruz on the cutoff.

On board 3♣ 7♣ J♥ 4♠ , Ysmael led both streets - 225,000 and 385,000, leaving Dela Cruz nowhere to go but out by the turn.

With action folded to the blinds, Suya Lee limp called a 180,000 raise from James Dela Cruz behind, and check called another 125,000 on flop 7♠ 3♠ J♦ . On turn 2♠ , Lee was left unable to continue as Dela Cruz followed with a heftier 275,000.

After a grueling ten hour grind, the 99-player field for today's Manila Megastack 22 Main Event Day 2 Final has dwindled down to its final nine players with James Dela Cruz leading the hunt. All those still in contention are already guaranteed a mincash of PHP 380,820 (~USD 6,640), with the PHP 4,820,000 (~USD 84,035) top prize just inches away.

In addition to the cash prizes, the full final table of nine players will lock in seats to upcoming PokerStars events, with this season’s Main Event champion receiving a PHP 125,000 APPT Manila 2025 Main Event package including seat and accommodation, while the rest of the top eight finishers will receive PHP 9,000 APPT Super Qualifier entries, all drawn from the prize pool.

Manila Megastack 22 Main Event

Date/s: March 20-23, 2024

Buy-in: PHP 45,000 (~USD 775)

Guarantee: PHP 20,000,000 (~USD 345,280)

Entries: 652

Prize pool: PHP 25,613,820 (~USD 446,695)

ITM: 99 places

With only one minute left on Level 27, here are the Final Table Chip Counts with big blinds according to the next level.

Moosung Lee defended his big blind against James Dela Cruz' 120,000 button open, and went on to lead 75,000 on flop A♥ 5♠ 2♣ . Dela Cruz bumped it up to 200,000, called by Lee.

On turn T♦ , Lee was convinced he was beat, open folding top pair A♠ against Dela Cruz' 350,000 second barrel.

William Ysmael defended his big blind against James Dela Cruz' 100,000 hijack open, and went for a 200,000 check raise on flop 3♥ 7♦ 9♠ . Dela Cruz completed and faced another 210,000 on turn K♦ . Dela Cruz this time, responded with a bigger 420,000 and called off the rest after Ysmael moved all-in for 1,340,000 total.

Ysmael 7♥ 7♣

Dela Cruz T♥ T♠

Ysmael ahead with a set, secured the victory on river A♣ , overtaking his opponent to land the lead.

Tamon Nakamura fired a 250,000 three bet against an utg open and was met with an all-in from James Dela Cruz on the big blind. While the initial raiser got out of the way, Nakamura was happy to risk his remaining 725,000.

Board J♦ 8♥ A♠ 3♣ 2♦ ran safe for Nakamura's pocket pair, earning him the full double up.

William Ysmael opened 100,000 on the hijack, called by Masataka Setoguchi right behind. James Dela Cruz on the button made it 350,000 to go and picked up the pot uncontested.

Jonald Garcia pushed his last 315,000 on the button and was looked up by chip leader James Dela Cruz right on the big blind.

Garcia attempting to hold on, spiked top pair on flop Q♠ 4♣ 8♥ , but ultimately succumbed to his fate as runout A♣ 9♣ landed Dela Cruz a higher two pair to bank the win.

Jonald Garcia on the cutoff, sent out a 290,000 three bet against a hijack open and was met with a 700,000 raise from James Dela Cruz on the small blind. Initial raiser folded, while Garcia tank jammed the rest. Dela Cruz snap called for his tournament life, committing a massive 2,050,000 in the middle.

Dela Cruz a favorite to win, shipped the biggest pot of the day as board 2♥ T♣ 6♥ T♥ 3♦ steered clear of any aces. Garcia survived the damage but was crippled down to three big blinds.

James Dela Cruz opened 80,000 on the cutoff and was joined by Jingxiang Ong a seat after.

On board J♣ 9♠ 9♣ 9♥ 6♦ , Dela Cruz led all the way - 55,000, 105,000, and a final 350,000, and left Ong unable to get to showdown after calling just the first two streets.

Up against an open and a call, James Dela Cruz shot out a raise to 370,000 on the small blind and saw initial raiser Renniel Galvez flick in his last 190,000.

Galvez dominated, found no hope on board 9♥ 9♣ Q♠ 9♠ 8♠ , ending his Main Event run entirely.

The fierce battle for the Manila Megastack 22 Main Event crown continues to be in play with its 652-entry field down to the final two tables. Each remaining contender is now guaranteed PHP 220,000 in winnings and a fighting chance to claim the PHP 4,820,000 top prize.

Chip Count Update

Up against an open and a call, Tamon Nakamura shot out a 200,000 raise on the button and saw only James Dela Cruz complete. On flop T♦ 3♣ 7♦ , Dela Cruz easily surrendered after Nakamura gunned for another 250,000.

Facing a late position open and a call, Christopher Pasion on the small blind squeezed to 400,000, leaving himself with 11,000 behind. James Dela Cruz took the spot, and Pasion flicked in the rest.

Board 8♦ 6♥ Q♠ T♣ 3♥ landed both top pairs with Dela Cruz' top kicker running in play to knock Pasion out of the race.

James Dela Cruz opened on the hijack and was called by Ashley Patterson on the button.

On flop 2♠ 9♣ 9♠ , Dela Cruz continued for 18,000, again called by his opponent onto turn 3♠ . Both checked it through to river 2♥ , where Dela Cruz led a final 50,000. Patterson responded with an all-in for 218,000 more, sending Dela Cruz deep in the tank.

Dela Cruz eventually found the call with a flush A♠ 8♠ and exposed Patterson's bluff with A♦ 8♦ to knock him out.

James Dela Cruz opened 20,000 on the cutoff and flicked in 52,000 more following an all-in from Topi Palenius right behind.

Dela Cruz ahead, scooped up the win as his pocket pair held on board 7♥ 8♥ 8♣ 3♣ 4♦ , eliminating Palenius from the running.

Minsoo Hwang opened early position, followed by a 70,000 three bet from James Dela Cruz a seat after. Ashley Patterson shoved on the button for 252,000, prompting Hwang to move all-in as well for a bigger 489,000. Dela Cruz put in the final call for a three way showdown.

Hwaang in rough shape against two pocket kings, bound for the exit just as board 9♥ 8♣ 2♣ 9♣ 2♦ landed on the felt. Dela Cruz and Patterson split the main pot while Dela Cruz shipped the rest.

Vying for a 310,000 pot in the middle across board 7♣ J♣ 4♦ K♥ 9♦ , Le Ngoc Khanh made a final attempt for it with a bet of 125,000 on the small blind. James Dela Cruz hero called with top pair K♠ 8♠ , and picked up the win as Khanh revealed bluff A♣ 8♣ .