Edilberto GopezThe Manila Megastack has long been a favourite among the die-hard poker regulars, and the Megastack 23 Main Event has now wrapped up inside the grand halls of Okada Manila. Local standout Edilberto Gopez emerged as the champion, lifting the coveted Spadie trophy and securing the top prize of PHP 5,750,000 (~USD 98,065) after navigating one of the toughest fields of the season.
Gopez is no stranger to big results in Manila. With more than 30 cashes across PokerStars LIVE, APL, APPT, and various local series, he has spent years proving how comfortable he is playing on home soil. His previous best score came at Manila Megastack 19 in 2024, where he finished runner-up for PHP 2,330,000 (~USD 41,000). This time, he didn’t just beat that number - he demolished it. By capturing the Megastack 23 Main Event title, Gopez locked up a career-best cash, more than doubling his prior top result and adding a defining moment to a resume built almost entirely in his home city.
Gopez entered yesterday’s final table with a commanding chip lead and used it wisely, applying pressure at the right times while showing the patience and control of a seasoned grinder. When the critical spots arrived, he leaned into his experience and closed out the tournament with confidence, defeating Eoghan MacGabhann in what was a relatively short heads-up battle. The win secured the biggest logged score of his career in front of a hometown crowd.
| Place | Player | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EG Edilberto Gopez ![Philippines [PHL]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/ph.svg "Philippines [PHL]"){kind=small} Philippines | 5,750,000 | $98,065 |
| 2 | EM Eoghan Macgabhann ![Ireland [IRL]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/ie.svg "Ireland [IRL]"){kind=small} Ireland | 3,600,000 | $61,400 |
| 3 | RT Raymond Tiu Philippines | 2,560,000 | $43,660 |
| 4 | JO Junele Oswa Philippines | 2,000,000 | $34,110 |
| 5 | RO Rikiya Ogura ![Japan [JPN]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/jp.svg "Japan [JPN]"){kind=small} Japan | 1,535,000 | $26,180 |
| 6 | MY Mc Yeldarb Mantos Philippines | 1,180,000 | $20,125 |
| 7 | JK Jinhyun Kim ![South Korea [KOR]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/kr.svg "South Korea [KOR]"){kind=small} South Korea | 900,000 | $15,350 |
| 8 | AO Alessandro Oppicini ![Italy [ITA]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/it.svg "Italy [ITA]"){kind=small} Italy | 700,000 | $11,940 |
| 9 | SL Siyuan Liu ![China [CHN]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/cn.svg "China [CHN]"){kind=small} China | 538,250 | $9,180 |
When asked how he was feeling after the win, Gopez said he was “very, very happy,” noting that before the end of 2025 he would finally be able to pay off all his debts. Reflecting on the significance of the Manila Megastack 23 title, he admitted it was a relief and a special moment, especially after falling just short in heads-up play to William Ysmael at Manila Megastack 19.
Gopez described his strategy at the final table as selective aggression, raising in spots where he felt confident opponents would fold or make mistakes, rather than every hand. Despite most of his cashes coming from local tournaments, he explained that international events have been out of reach due to bankroll constraints and the lack of a sponsor, though he is open to opportunities in the future.
On how he planned to celebrate his career-best payday, Gopez said he would first settle his debts and then continue playing, with his next stop likely being the Christmas Special at Metro Card Club. Overall, the victory was a landmark moment for the local pro, consolidating his reputation as one of Manila’s most consistent and formidable grinders.
Gopez and his railA total of 850 entries were recorded across the four starting flights, with all qualifiers automatically being in the money on what was meant to be the final day on Sunday. From those 850, 128 hopefuls returned to the felt, already guaranteed a min-cash of PHP 73,000 (~USD 1,245). But while some may be content with taking home the minimum, you could feel the hunger in others, all grinding for the lion's share of the PHP 33,392,250 (~USD 566,400) prize pool, one that had smashed it's PHP 20,000,000 guarantee by a country mile.
Across the four starting flights of the Manila Megastack 23 Main Event, each chip leader carried strong momentum into Day 2, though only one managed to reach the top 30.
From Flight A, Oleg Mordassov entered with one of the biggest stacks of the day after a steady climb through the later levels. The Swiss grinder, who has built much of his live resume in Manila, ultimately bowed out furthers of the flight chip leaders, finishing in 21st place. Flight B chip leader Seunghee Park bagged 611,000 and returned with 123 big blinds to work with. He was unable to convert the big stack into a deeper run, finishing in 45th place. Flight C saw Leo Kamiya lead the way with 440,000. Fresh off back-to-back APPT Open titles earlier this year, Kamiya came in as one of the players to watch but exited in 79th place. Turbo Flight D produced the overall chip leader, Jinkwan Kim, who advanced with 737,000. Kim was eliminated later, finishing in 38th place.
Seunghee Park (45th)After just an hour on the felt when Day 2 resumed on Sunday at 12:00 PM, the field had already been trimmed to 98 players, with short stacks moving in quickly. One of the early movers was eventual finalist Jinhyun Kim, who picked up momentum after knocking out Lavrentiy Ni in a cutoff-versus-big-blind clash. Ni three-bet and then called Kim’s four-bet shove with pocket jacks, only to see Kim’s pocket tens spike a ten on the flop. Ni still had a flush draw to stay alive, but the turn and river bricked out, sending him to the rail on a tough beat and giving Kim an early boost.
Start-of-day chip leader Kim pulled off one of the most memorable hands of the day when he eliminated Leon Steward with a runner-runner full house. Kim moved all in on a six-six-three flop, leaving Steward, who had flopped trips, nearly certain to win. The turn paired Kim, but it was the river that completed his full house, sending Steward to the rail in disbelief and giving Kim a stunning early knockout.
Oleg Mordassov (21st)Mordassov started the day as one of the chip leaders and had a rollercoaster run in the early stages. He lost a double against MacGabhann but quickly recovered with pocket jacks to double through Donghyun Kim. Later, he engaged in a huge clash with MacGabhann, holding ace-king against MacGabhann’s ace-queen; despite some early help on the flop, the board didn’t improve, and Mordassov was eventually eliminated.
John Cousins (10th)Following the elimination of Shawn Jie in 11th, attention turned to who would make the final table. John Cousins was all in for his last 50,000 after being blinded in, with Junele Oswa on the button and MacGabhann in the big blind. The hand played out cautiously, with Oswa and MacGabhann both checking through the board. When the cards were revealed, it was MacGabhann’s queen-eight that held up with a pair, eliminating Cousins as the final table bubble.
Final TableCousins' dispatch in 10th place set the final table and guaranteed all remaining players a minimum cash of PHP 538,250 (~USD 9,180), but with such steep jumps on every rung of the payout ladder, nobody wanted to bow out first. Gopez started the final table in the best position, leading with a commanding 8,485,000 in chips. Eventual runner-up MacGabhann, by contrast, came in with the biggest disadvantage, sitting on just 900,000 (9 big blinds). He bided his time, letting Siyuan Liu get his chips in first, doubling up Alessandro Oppicini when his queens held against Liu’s ace-jack.
Liu found himself all in again, and was called by covering stack Raymond Tiu. Liu was behind and needed an ace to stay alive, but the flop put Tiu firmly ahead, pairing his jack. The turn and river bricked, sending Liu to the rail as the first elimination of the final table.
Alessandro Oppicini (8th)Shortly after, MacGabhann went all in for his last 580,000 against Oswa. He hit middle pair on the flop while Oswa connected with bottom pair, but the turn gave Oswa trips, leaving MacGabhann with just two outs. The river came through, and MacGabhann spiked his two outer to double up. It was another example of a recurring theme at this final table: MacGabhann finding ways to stay alive.
Oppicini was next to bow out, when Gopez called his shove and hit a queen on the flop, leaving Oppicini with no help on the turn and river. His elimination in eighth added more chips to Gopez’s commanding stack.
Later after, MacGabhann called Oswa’s shove in a classic flip. MacGabhann hit top pair on the flop, leaving Oswa with just a few outs, and went on to secure the double, continuing his comeback at the final table. A couple of hands later, Oswa flopped a set against Kim, who had to find one of two outs to stay alive. The turn and river bricked, sending Kim out in seventh and setting the stage for the final six to return the following day.
The Final SixGopez returned to the final table with a commanding 12,500,000 in chips, holding more than a 3:1 advantage over the next best stack, Oswa, who had 3,500,000. The first elimination of the day came when Mc Yeldarb Mantos moved all in for 725,000 and was called by MacGabhann. MacGabhann’s pocket fives held over Mantos’ ace-eight on a dry board, sending Mantos out in sixth place.
Immediately after, Tiu shoved for 725,000 and was called by Gopez. Tiu’s pocket tens held against Gopez’s hand through the board, securing a crucial double up. Later, Rikiya Ogura moved all in for 2,300,000 and was called by Gopez. Ogura’s ace-four was dominated by Gopez’s ace-king, and the board offered no help, sending Ogura out in fifth place as the table began to narrow toward the final heads-up battle.
Rikiya Ogura (5th)MacGabhann continued his remarkable streak of staying alive when he open-shoved for 2,125,000 and was called by Oswa, who woke up with a monster hand. MacGabhann’s ace-king held up against Oswa’s pocket kings on a tense board, giving him a huge double and moving him into second in chips, while Oswa slipped to just 11 big blinds. MacGabhann’s resilience was a defining theme of the final table, as he continuously found ways to survive against the odds.
Shortly after, Gopez shoved Oswa called to put his tournament life at risk. Oswa's ace-five was dominated against the Big Slick of Gopez and needed to hit one of his outs to stay alive. The flop and turn brought no help, and the river sealed his fate, sending him to the rail in fourth place with a PHP 2 million payday. Having qualified through a PHP 5,900 satellite, Oswa’s run was a remarkable story of skill, luck, and unbeatable ROI.
A few hands later, it was Tiu’s luck that ran out. He lost the bulk of his stack when he went in agaist MacGabhann, dropping down to just 150,000 when MacGabhann paired his king-queen against his ace-nine. After doubling with jack-seven of hearts up to 300,000, he shoved with pocket threes against Gopez’s ten-four. Gopez took the lead on the flop with a four, and the turn and river did nothing to help Tiu, ending his tournament in third place and capping off an exceptional run for the local player.
Edilberto Gopez and Eoghan MacGabhannThe championship was decided in just two hands, with Gopez taking the first swing. On the final hand, MacGabhann called Gopez’s all-in with ace-queen against Gopez’s pocket fives. The flop brought a heart-heavy board, immediately putting MacGabhann on the ropes with only four outs to survive. The turn added another heart, extinguishing any hope of a comeback with Gopez's flush, and he claimed the title in front of the hometown crowd. In keeping with the theme of the tournament, the river paired MacGabhann’s queen, but it was too little, too late.
Speaking to Somuchpoker after the event, MacGabhann reflected on his rollercoaster run. “You have to run good to get here,” he said, noting the fluctuations and heavy dolloping of luck he had throughout the tournament. “It’s been a rollercoaster all tournament, up and down, up and down.” He admitted that at the final table he was often in survival mode, never holding more than seven or eight big blinds, and joked that he was just “cockroaching the whole thing” to stay alive. Despite falling short in heads-up play, MacGabhann was happy with his performance and his cash for such an impressive run.
That concludes Somuchpoker’s coverage of the Manila Megastack 23. Congratulations to all the winners, the players who battled through a tough field, and the tournament staff who made the event run smoothly. It was an exciting series, and we look forward to the next one.
Edilberto GopezAfter just one and a half hours of play, Edilberto Gopez emerged as the Manila Megastack 23 Main Event champion, taking home PHP 5,750,000 (~USD 98,065) and the glory, etching his name among the elite few to lift the big spade.
Gopez dominated the final six, eliminating Rikiya Ogura in fifth place, Junele Oswa in fourth, and Raymond Tiu in third, before defeating Eoghann Macgabhann in heads up in just two hands.
Stay tuned for a full recap and highlights of the Manila Megastack 23 Main Event.
Somuchpoker is live at PokerStars LIVE Manila inside the luxurious Okada Manila, bringing you the latest updates and action straight from the tournament floor.
| Player | Chips |
|---|
| Place | Player | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EG Edilberto Gopez Philippines | 5,750,000 | $98,065 |
Eoghan Macgabhann After just two hands of heads up play, an all-in and a call decided the championship.
On the first hand, Edilberto Gopez raised to two big blinds but folded after Eoghann Macgabhann three-bet shoved.
On the second hand, Macgabhann limped and then snap-called for his last 5,450,000 after Gopez three-bet shoved.
Eoghann Macgabhann: A♠ Q♣
Edilberto Gopez: 5♥ 5♠
It was a flip for Macgabhann’s tournament life. The flop J♥ 9♥ 3♥ brought a heart-heavy board, drastically limiting Macgabhann’s outs to just four. The turn T♥ delivered another heart, crushing Macgabhann's dream and securing the title for Gopez. The river Q♠ paired Macgabhann’s queen, but it was too late.
Gopez celebrated his victory, claiming the Manila Megastack 23 Main Event and the PHP 5,750,000 (~USD 98,065) top prize. Macgabhann still earned PHP 3,600,000 (~USD 61,400) for his runner-up finish.
Macgabhann shared that had he hit the double up, the game would have shifted and he could have staged a comeback. Nevertheless, he expressed his happiness with the result and promised to return to compete again at PokerStars LIVE Manila.
| Player | Chips |
|---|---|
EG Edilberto Gopez Philippines | 25,500,000(64 BB) |
EM Eoghan Macgabhann Ireland | busted |
| Place | Player | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | EM Eoghan Macgabhann Ireland | 3,600,000 | $61,400 |
Heads UpAfter just one hour of play, the Manila Megastack 23 Main Event was now down to heads up. Edilberto Gopez enters with a massive 20,450,000 stack while Eoghann Macgabhann sits with 5,050,000. Gopez unleashed absolute madness on the final table, eliminating Rikiya Ogura in 5th place, Junele Oswa in 4th place, and Raymond Tiu in 3rd place.
Gopez now holds a commanding four to one chip lead, but the job is not finished. The Main Event title and the PHP 5,750,000 (~USD 98,065) top prize still hang in the balance as he and Macgabhann prepare for the ultimate showdown.
Both players are on a short break and heads up action will resume shortly. Good luck to both contenders as they battle for glory.
| Player | Chips |
|---|---|
EG Edilberto Gopez Philippines | 20,450,000(51 BB) |
EM Eoghan Macgabhann Ireland | 5,050,000(13 BB) |
Raymond TiuAfter doubling up Eoghan MacGabhann a few hands earlier when MacGabhann paired his king-queen against his ace-nine, Raymond Tiu was left with just 150,000. He doubled again with jack-seven of hearts the next hand, then shoved once more, this time with pocket threes against Edilberto Gopez’s ten-four offsuit:
Raymond Tiu: 3♦ 3♠
Edilberto Gopez: T♠ 4♣
Tiu was in bad shape as the A♥ 4♥ 7♣ flop was fanned, vaulting Gopez ahead. The K♠ A♦ runout sealed Tiu’s elimination in third, wrapping up an exceptional run for the local.
| Player | Chips |
|---|---|
EG Edilberto Gopez Philippines | 20,450,000(51 BB) |
EM Eoghan Macgabhann Ireland | 5,005,000(13 BB) |
RT Raymond Tiu Philippines | busted |
| Place | Player | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | RT Raymond Tiu Philippines | 2,560,000 | $43,660 |
Raymond TiuButton Eoghann Macgabhann folded and small blind Raymond Tiu opened to 700,000. Edilberto Gopez responded with a three-bet shove and Tiu called for his last 2,200,000.
Raymond Tiu: Q♣ T♦
Edilberto Gopez: A♣ 6♦
Tiu was behind but holding live cards and found exactly what he needed when the flop Q♦ 8♣ 8♠ paired his queen to take the lead. The turn 3♦ changed nothing and all he had to do was fade an ace on the river 2♦ . He did just that, securing yet another clutch double up as his comeback tour continued.
| Player | Chips |
|---|---|
EG Edilberto Gopez Philippines | 17,800,000(59 BB) |
RT Raymond Tiu Philippines | 4,700,000(16 BB) |
Eoghan MacgabhannAfter doubling up Liu a hand prior, Eoghan MacGabhann got his 1,300,000 short stack in against Edilberto Gopez, who called looking to take play heads-up and add to his already dominating chip stack:
Eoghan MacGabhann: K♥ 2♦
Edilberto Gopez: 6♣ 6♥
Gopez was ahead with his pair of sixes, but MacGabhann, true to his form over the past two days, hit back against the odds and paired his king on the 8♥ K♣ 7♥ flop.
The 9♠ turn brought a straight draw, but the A♥ bricked out and secured the double for MacGabhann.
| Player | Chips |
|---|---|
EG Edilberto Gopez Philippines | 15,400,000(51 BB) |
EM Eoghan Macgabhann Ireland | 2,600,000(9 BB) |
Raymond Tiu was down to his last 1,925,000 and decided it was time to shove. Edilberto Gopez folded from the small blind and Eoghann Macgabhann snap called.
Raymond Tiu: Q♣ Q♠
Eoghann Macgabhann: A♠ 8♣
Macgabhann had just three outs on the flop 7♠ 6♥ 2♠ but picked up a few more after pairing his eight on the turn 8♥ . Tiu, however, remained ahead with his overpair. The river 5♣ came clean and Tiu secured a much needed double up to stay in the hunt.
| Player | Chips |
|---|---|
RT Raymond Tiu Philippines | 4,300,000(14 BB) |
EM Eoghan Macgabhann Ireland | 1,300,000(4 BB) |
Junele OswaEdilberto Gopez shoved from the small blind and big blind Junele Oswa called to put himself at risk:
Junele Oswa: A♠ 5♠
Edilberto Gopez: A♦ K♣
Oswa was dominated, needing to hit one of his drawing cards to keep his final table run going.
The dealer fanned the 9♣ T♦ 6♦ flop, which didn’t help his cause. The 6♣ paired the board but changed nothing overall, and the J♦ river sealed Oswa’s elimination in fourth place for PHP 2 million. Notably, Oswa qualified through a PHP 5,900 satellite, turning his run into a remarkable payday and an unbeatable ROI.
| Player | Chips |
|---|---|
EG Edilberto Gopez Philippines | 18,000,000(60 BB) |
JO Junele Oswa Philippines | busted |
| Place | Player | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | JO Junele Oswa Philippines | 2,000,000 | $34,110 |
Eoghan MacgabhannUnder the gun, Eoghann Macgabhann open shoved for 2,125,000 and big blind Junele Oswa woke up with a monster and snap called.
Eoghann Macgabhann: A♥ K♥
Junelle Oswa: K♣ K♠
Both players showed premium hands but Macgabhann was left with only three outs. The table was stunned when the flop A♣ J♣ 7♥ delivered one of them, flipping the script and leaving Oswa with just a single out to survive. The turn 2♠ and river Q♠ did not bring a king and Macgabhann scored a massive double up to jump into second in chips while Oswa slipped down to 11 big blinds.
| Player | Chips |
|---|---|
EM Eoghan Macgabhann Ireland | 4,625,000(19 BB) |
JO Junele Oswa Philippines | 2,700,000(11 BB) |
Rikiya OguraCutoff Rikiya Ogura moved all in for around 2,300,000 and was quickly called by button Edilberto Gopez.
Rikiya Ogura: A♣ 4♣
Edilberto Gopez: A♠ K♥
Ogura was dominated by Gopez's Big Slick, needing drawing cards to stay alive.
Unfortunately for Ogura, the T♥ 8♣ 2♥ flop brought little in the way of salvation, and the table was awash with “GGs” as the 8♥ 3♣ runout completed the board, sealing his elimination in fifth place.
| Player | Chips |
|---|---|
EG Edilberto Gopez Philippines | 15,500,000(78 BB) |
RO Rikiya Ogura Japan | busted |
| Place | Player | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | RO Rikiya Ogura Japan | 1,535,000 | $26,180 |
Raymond TiuOn the very next hand after Mc Yeldarb Mantos bowed out in sixth place, Raymond Tiu three-bet all in for 725,000 and initial raiser Edilberto Gopez snap-called.
Raymond Tiu: T♥ T♠
Edilberto Gopez: 7♥ 6♦
Tiu had the clear advantage and his tens held all the way through the board K♥ 3♣ 3♦ A♦ Q♣ , securing a much needed double up at the perfect time.
| Player | Chips |
|---|---|
EG Edilberto Gopez Philippines | 12,850,000(64 BB) |
RT Raymond Tiu Philippines | 1,950,000(10 BB) |
Mc Yeldarb MantosIn one of the first hands of the day, button Mc Yeldarb Mantos moved all in for around 725,000 and was called by small blind Eoghan MacGabhann.
Mc Yeldarb Mantos: A♠ 8♦
Eoghan MacGabhann: 5♠ 5♣
MacGabhann was marginally ahead, but Mantos only needed to pair either card to secure the double through him.
The dealer fanned the 3♥ 2♣ 9♣ flop, offering no help to either player. The 4♥ gave both a draw, but the 3♠ river sealed his elimination as the first of the day, taking play five-handed.
| Player | Chips |
|---|---|
EM Eoghan Macgabhann Ireland | 2,850,000(14 BB) |
MY Mc Yeldarb Mantos Philippines | busted |
| Place | Player | Prize (PHP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | MY Mc Yeldarb Mantos Philippines | 1,180,000 | $20,125 |
Edilberto Gopez - Chip LeaderAfter twelve days of intense action at PokerStars LIVE Manila inside the world class Okada Manila, the Manila Megastack 23 has reached its final day. The Main Event was supposed to finish yesterday, but after more than thirteen hours of play, the tournament director decided to stop the day once the field reached the final six.
The Main Event gathered a massive 850 entries across four starting flights, with only 128 players reaching the money and starting Day 2. Now only the final six contenders remain in the hunt for the title.
Today, December 8, 2025, the final six will return at 12 pm local time where a new champion will be crowned. Edilberto Gopez leads the pack with a massive advantage. After eliminating player after player and raising almost every hand at the final table, Gopez bagged 12,500,000 chips (63 big blinds), nearly triple the average stack of 4,250,000 (22 big blinds).
Every player is now guaranteed PHP 1,180,000 (~USD 20,125), but all eyes are on the top prize of PHP 5,750,000 (~USD 98,065) and the honor of becoming the new Manila Megastack champion.
Play will resume at Level 32 with blinds at 100,000/200,000 and will continue with 20 hands per level. Good luck to all the players.
Somuchpoker is live at PokerStars LIVE Manila inside the luxurious Okada Manila, bringing you the latest updates and action straight from the tournament floor.
| Place | Payout (PHP) | Payout (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5,750,000 | $98,065 |
| 2 | 3,600,000 | $61,400 |
| 3 | 2,560,000 | $43,660 |
| 4 | 2,000,000 | $34,110 |
| 5 | 1,535,000 | $26,180 |
| 6 | 1,180,000 | $20,125 |
Main Event Final 6| Player | Chips | Table | Seat |
|---|---|---|---|
EM Eoghan Macgabhann Ireland | 2,080,000 | 1 | 2 |
RT Raymond Tiu Philippines | 2,840,000 | 1 | 3 |
RO Rikiya Ogura Japan | 1,810,000 | 1 | 5 |
EG Edilberto Gopez Philippines | 12,500,000 | 1 | 6 |
JO Junele Oswa Philippines | 3,960,000 | 1 | 8 |
MY Mc Yeldarb Mantos Philippines | 1,740,000 | 1 | 9 |
![Canada [CAN]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/ca.svg "Canada [CAN]"){kind=small}
