Main Event (45,000 PHP)

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♦ .

Tamon Nakamura opened utg and was priced in to call Uday Duggal's 430,000 all-in two seats after.

Nakamura dominated, forked over a third of his stack as board 9♦ 4♥ 4♣ 8♠ Q♣ kept Duggal's better ace ahead.

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.

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.

Ultra short, Jonald Garcia chucked in his remaining 130,000 hijack, and saw both Tamon Nakamura and Jingxiang Ong on the blinds complete.

Action on board 2♠ 8♣ J♦ T♥ 4♣ checked to showdown, revealing Garcia's two pair, more than good to keep him in contention.

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

Barry Wong open shoved 300,000 utg and was called by Tamon Nakamura behind.

Wong a huge favorite, had no issues scooping up the win on board 6♣ 6♠ 5♣ A♥ 7♣ .

Barry Wong open shoved 225,000 utg and saw Tamon Nakamura right beside take the spot.

A 50-50 situation, Wong's overcards took it this time, having spiked a pair of aces on board 3♠ K♠ A♥ 5♥ 7♥ to earn the double up.

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.

Masakazu Miyamoto pushed his last 95,000 on the button and was looked up by Tamon Nakamura on the big blind.

Slightly behind, Miyamoto stepped off the tournament floor, having found no salvation on board A♠ A♦ 3♣ 9♣ 8♦ .

Tamon Nakamura opened 32,000 early position, joined by Patrick Wahlquist on the cutoff.

Action was checked to turn T♦ 7♠ 3♦ 2♠ , where Nakamura led for 65,000. Wahlquist answered with an all-in for 326,000 and saw his opponent gladly oblige with an overpair.

Wahlquist K♣ T♥

Nakamura Q♦ Q♥

Crushed against Nakamura's ladies, Wahlquist bowed out shortly just as river 8♠ completed the board.

Renniel Galvez kicked off the action with an early open to 32,000, called by Tamon Nakamura on the button.

Action checked to turn J♠ 9♣ A♦ 7♠ , where Galvez led 42,000. Nakamura called behind and got a free pass to showdown after Galvez checked river K♣ . Nakamura instead, gunned 150,000, and took a bigger loss with 9♠ 8♠ as Galvez made the call with top pair A♥ Q♦ .

Jongju Park open shoved 127,000 mid position and was called by Tamon Nakamura on the cutoff.

Park poised for a double up, instead bowed out as board 2♦ 3♠ T♣ J♥ 4♥ landed Nakamura top pair to steal the win.

Minsoo Hwang opened on the cutoff and saw both Tamon Nakamura and Chang Gi Choi call on the blinds.

Hwang continued for 12,000 on flop 2♥ 9♦ 3♦ , check called by both onto turn K♦ . Nakamura this time, led for 20,000, leaving only Hwang continuing down to river 9♥ . Nakamura gunned for another 25,000, and snap called an 80,000 raise from Hwang for a showdown.

Hwang revealed bluff A♣ 4♥ , shipping the win to Nakamura for his flush T♦ 8♦ .