Main Event (45,000 PHP)

Kiwanont Sukhum raised all-in on the button and saw William Ysmael call off his last 1,725,000.

Sukhum slightly ahead, booked the final victory, with his ace-high keeping the advantage all the way through board 5♦ 5♥ 2♠ 8♦ 4♥ .

Kiwanont Sukhum opened on the button and called off his last 8,425,000 after William Ysmael moved all-in.

An ace-high race, no chops arrived on board 2♥ J♦ 5♣ 3♣ A♣ , shipping Sukhum the full double up with his higher kicker.

Two small pots went William Ysmael's way, just enough to overtake Kiwanont Sukhum and reclaim the lead.

Sukhum initially opened 850,000 on the button, but folded against Ysmael's 2,650,0000 three bet. On the next hand, Ysmael opened on the button, and again picked up the pot uncontested.

William Ysmael limped on the button and was met with an all-in from final opponnent Kiwanont Sukhum. Ysmael called off his remaining 4,550,000, putting his tournament life on the line with pocket tens.

Ysmael ahead, easily secured the double up as board 3♠ Q♣ 6♦ T♦ A♥ rolled him a set to take the win.

Today's Main Event action is down to its final two players with Kiwanont Sukhum stacking a 3:1 advantage over past season champion William Ysmael. An ICM deal has already been set in place with only the trophy and the APPT package left for play.

Chip Counts

Head to head a third time around, Cheolmin Byeon faced Kiwanont Sukhum at showdown once more after his button shove for 2,700,000 was called by the Thai chip leader.

Running a flip, Byeon missed to improve on board 7♠ J♠ Q♣ J♥ J♣ , leaving Sukhum to bag the win with a full house and move on to heads up play.

Kiwanont Sukhum open raised all-in on the button and saw Cheolmin Byeon call off his 2,925,000 stack.

In for a race, neither connected with board 6♦ 2♣ 7♣ 9♥ 9♣ , leaving Byeon's king-high good for the takedown.

Cheolmin Byeon defended his big blind against Kiwanont Sukhum's 600,000 button open, and check called another 400,000 on flop 4♦ 4♣ T♦ . Both checked turn J♥ through to river 8♦ , where Byeon checked a third time around. Sukhum went for a final bet of 1,000,000, and revealed a full house J♠ 4♠ after Byeon paid the price.

Kiwanont Sukhum opened on the button, called by William Ysmael. Cheolmin Byeon on the big blind, squeezed all-in for 2,625,000 and was challenged by the raiser.

Running a flip, Byeon's pocket pair held on board 6♣ 3♥ 5♠ 2♦ 5♥ , keeping the action still at three-handed.

William Ysmael opened on the button, called by Cheolmin Byeon on the small blind. Kiwanont Sukhum on the big blind, shot out a raise to 1,300,000 and saw only Ysmael complete.

On flop 7♣ Q♣ Q♥ , Sukhum check called a 950,000 bet from Ysmael and arrived at showdown shortly after no more bets went in on either turn 3♣ or river 9♣ . Sukhum revealed A♦ A♠ and picked up the boost to stack over half the chips in play.

Only three players remain in the running, with Kiwanont Sukhum holding a slight advantage over the field. Next level will see only 30 minutes on the clock, paving the way for faster-paced action.

Chip Count Update

Kiwanont Sukhum opened 400,000 on the small blind and saw William Ysmael behind complete.

On flop J♦ K♠ 6♣ , Sukhum continued for 350,000, called by Ysmael onto turn 5♠ . Sukhum this time checked to Ysmael, and folded after the latter pulled a hefty 880,000.

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♦ .

Kiwanont Sukhum defended his big blind against William Ysmael's 325,000 button open, and faced a 250,000 cbet on flop A♥ 9♥ 8♣ . Sukhum pulled a check raise to 1,000,000 and shipped the win straight away.

William Ysmael defended his big blind vs Kiwanont Sukhum's 250,000 button open, and check called another 250,000 on flop 6♥ 7♥ T♠ . On turn 4♣ , Ysmael went ahead and led 335,000, enough to convince Sukhum to lay it down.

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.

With action folded to the blinds, Kiwanont Sukhum made it 360,000 to go and risked 1,000,000 more following an all-in from Suya Lee behind.

A pocket pair clash, Lee had some hopes of a straight on flop 8♠ T♠ J♣ , but ultimately bricked runout 5♥ 6♣ , sealing his elimination in 5th place. Lee walked away with the first million PHP payout of the day, marking a huge return on his investment.

Down short, Wanhee Kang chucked in his last 470,000 utg and was looked up by Kiwanont Sukhum on the button.

Dominated, Kang bowed out shortly after missing to connect with board J♥ K♦ 7♣ K♠ J♦ .

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.

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.

Jaegeol Cho opened on the hijack and was met with a 400,000 three bet from Kiwanont Sukhum on the button. Cho was up to the challenge, leaving Sukhum to get his remaining 40,000 in the middle.

Sukhum at risk, secured the double up as his pocket pair held on board T♥ 5♠ T♦ 5♥ T♠ , costing Cho a quarter of his stack.

A blind vs blind battle between Cheolmin Byeon and Kiwanont Sukhum brewed a pot of 325,000 alongside a completed board of K♣ 9♥ T♦ A♦ T♥ . Sukhum gunned for a final 125,000 on the river and was check called by Byeon, only to muck as Sukhum revealed two pair A♥ 6♣ .

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

Kiwanont Sukhum open raised all-in utg and saw Jerico Padilla two seats after call off his entire 317,000 stack.

Padilla with a monster hand, sealed the win on board J♠ J♦ T♣ 6♠ 4♥ , swiftly picking up the double.

Kiwanont Sukhum opened on the hijack and called Uday Duggal's 168,000 all-in from the small blind.

Duggal a favorite to win, easily did so on board 8♥ 8♠ 9♥ K♣ Q♣ , earning him more cushion moving forward.

Kiwanont Sukhum defended his big blind against Fumiyoshi Makino's 18,000 hijack open, reading a flop of 2♥ 3♥ 7♣ .

Action checked round to turn A♣ , where Sukhum led for 12,000. Makino raised to 32,000 and followed with another 76,000 on river A♠ . Sukhum let it go by the final bet, shipping his opponent the win.

Alvir Inocentes open shoved his last 48,000 utg and was looked up by Kiwanont Sukhum behind.

Inocentes at risk, failed to catch up on board 3♦ 7♥ 4♦ 6♣ 7♠ , sealing his elimination with a PHP 94,000 payday.

Vying for a pot of 186,000 across board Q♣ 2♦ 9♣ A♣ 6♦ , Chanhwi Kim made a final attempt on the button with a bet of 100,000. Kiwanont Sukhum snap called with top set A♦ A♠ , exposing Kim's busted draw J♥ T♣ .

Kiwanont Sukhum opened mid position and called Michael Calunsod's 25,000 three bet on the hijack.

Calunsod continued for 6,000 on flop 4♠ A♦ 2♦ , to which Sukhum check called. Both checked turn 8♥ through to river T♥ , where Sukhum went ahead and led all-in for 72,000. Calunsod snap called with J♥ J♠ , only to take the loss as Sukhum revealed a pair of aces A♣ J♦ .

Kiwanont Sukhum opened on the cutoff and was met with a 16,000 three bet from Michael Calunsod right behind. Sukhum came back with an even bigger 40,000, and Calunsod completed.

On flop 9♥ 5♣ 6♥ , Sukhum relinquished the pot with no hesitation as Calunsod barreled all-in for his last 85,000.