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

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.

William Ysmael limped in on the small blind and called a 500,000 raise from Cheolmin Byeon behind.

Action on board J♣ 4♣ 2♦ 7♣ A♣ was checked down to the river, where Ysmael went for a final 580,000. Byeon paid the price and mucked as Ysmael tabled the nut flush K♣ 9♣ .

William Ysmael opened utg and called Cheolmin Byeon's button jam for 2,465,000.

Ysmael ahead, slipped back a chunk to his opponent as board T♥ J♦ 9♦ 5♣ J♣ landed Byeon two pair to hold on to his seat.

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.

A limp pot blind vs blind led William Ysmael to bet 135,000 on flop J♠ 9♦ T♣ . Cheolmin Byeon called behind, and faced another 380,000 on turn 6♦ . Byeon padded it further to 800,000 and completed against Ysmael's raise to 1,400,000.

On river 7♠ , Ysmael checked to Byeon, pushing the latter to apply maximum pressure and barrel all-in. Ysmael burnt through three time banks and eventually found the call with Q♦ Q♠ , taking the win as Byeon revealed bottom pair K♥ 6♥ .

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.

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 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♥ .

Cheolmin Byeon opened utg and called a 730,000 three bet from William Ysmael on the big blind.

On flop 4♦ T♠ Q♦ , Ysmael barreled all-in and saw Byeon call off his remaining 1,745,000 with top pair K♥ T♥ . Ysmael was behind with K♦ 4♠ and took the hit as turn 8♠ and river 3♣ sealed his loss.

A limp pot blind vs blind between William Ysmael and Cheolmin Byeon saw action on flop Q♠ 3♠ 3♦ check round to turn 7♠ , where Ysmael led 130,000. Byeon bumped it up to 300,000, and decided to slow down on river A♥ after Ysmael completed. Ysmael showed trip threes 5♠ 3♣ and picked up another boost.

On the next hand, Ysmael opened 240,000 on the button and was met with a 1,000,000 three bet from Byeon. Ysmael clapped back with an all-in, and left Byeon to burn through his last time bank before throwing in the fold.

Running chip leader William Ysmael initially got a walk on the big blind and remained unchallenged. The next hand, Ysmael raised all-in on the small blind and picked up the pot yet again. Another raise on the button followed, with both players on the blinds giving it up.

Ysmael previously took down the Manila Megastack Main Event crown last season 19 and stands in prime position for another crushing victory.

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♥ .

Cheolmin Byeon has shoved preflop against William Ysmael twice already and remained unchallenged. In another pot, Byeon instead called Ysmael's 200,000 open, and took it down on flop J♠ 5♥ 9♠ with a small bet of 150,000.

Uday Duggal pushed his 290,000 micro stack on the cutoff and saw William Ysmael right beside, reshove to isolate. All else folded, leaving the two to run board A♦ Q♦ 2♣ 7♣ A♣ . Both spiked trip aces with Ysmael's better kicker running in play to deliver the bust.

William Ysmael defended his big blind against Suya Lee's mid position open, and read a flop of 6♠ T♥ 9♥ . Action checked round to turn 5♣ , where Ysmael led 225,000. Lee called behind and paid a final 260,000 on river 8♣ , only to muck as Ysmael revealed two pair T♦ 8♦ .

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.

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.

William Ysmael min opened on the button and snap called Masataka Setoguchi's 870,000 jam from the small blind.

Ysmael with the best hand in the deck, zoomed to victory on board 6♠ J♣ 8♦ 8♥ 9♥ , cutting the counts by one.

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.

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.

Masataka Setoguchi opened 100,000 utg and William Ysmael completed on the big blind.

Action on flop T♦ 8♠ 9♣ checked to turn 8♦ , where Ysmael check jammed his remaining 645,000. Setoguchi called off with top pair Q♦ T♣ , putting his opponent at risk with a pair flush draw 9♦ 4♦ .

River 7♦ filled up Ysmael's flush, earning him a full double up back to 30 big blinds.

William Ysmael opened on the hijack and called a 225,000 three bet from Masataka Setoguchi a seat after.

On flop 4♥ 5♦ T♦ , Ysmael pulled a 350,000 check raise against Setoguchi's 175,000 bet, yet tank folded after his opponent came back for the rest.

William Ysmael opened 60,000 on the hijack and was joined by Yohei Kosuga on the small blind.

On flop K♥ 3♥ 4♣ , Kosuga check called a 55,000 cbet from Ysmael and headed to turn A♠ . Both checked it through to river J♦ , where Kosuga checked a third time around. Ysmael gunned for a final 180,000, and showed top pair A♣ 7♥ for the win after Kosuga paid the price.

William Ysmael sent out a 180,000 three bet against an utg open and was met with another raise from Jonald Garcia behind. Ysmael came back with an all-in, leaving Garcia to call off his entire 1,040,000.

A classic flip, Garcia shipped the win this time around, as board 3♣ 4♠ 2♠ J♠ 5♠ ran him a wheel straight to land the massive pot.

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 opened on the hijack and went to four bet his entire 435,000 against William Ysmael's big blind raise. Ysmael gladly obliged and smooth sailed to victory as board A♠ 5♠ K♣ T♦ 4♦ delivered no bad beats.

William Ysmael opened on the cutoff and called an 80,000 three bet from Christopher Pasion on the big blind.

On flop Jx Tx 9x , Pasion led all-in, leaving Ysmael to put his tournament life at risk with two pair for his remaining 271,000.

Pasion J♦ 9♣

Ysmael J♥ T♥

Runout Ax Jx gave both a full house with Ysmael's jacks over tens keeping the lead.

Christopher Pasion opened mid position and saw William Ysmael on the small blind join in on the action.

Pasion continued for 24,000 on flop 3♥ 3♠ K♠ , check called by Ysmael onto turn T♦ . Both checked it through to river 7♠ , where Ysmael led for 43,000. Pasion found no reason to continue and moved on to the next deal.

Following the loss, Ysmael pushed his remaining 83,000 a few hands later and was challenged by Christian Lortie on the small blind.

In for another race, Ysmael won it this time with his ace-high good for the take down across board 5♣ 2♦ 5♠ 4♥ 5♥ .

William Ysmael opened 20,000 on the cutoff and tank called 54,000 more following an all-in from Adam Shriki on the small blind.

Up for a race, Shriki bulldozed to victory on board 4♠ Q♠ A♣ 6♠ J♦ , leaving Ysmael short.