PokerStars Live Manila Special 2026 | June 15-21, 2026 | PokerStars Live Manila

The prestigious micro-stakes festival made a spectacular stop from June 15 to June 21, 2026, at the world-class Okada Manila in the vibrant city of Manila, Philippines. Below, we look back at the record-breaking attendance, massive prize pools, and prominent winners who claimed titles during this milestone stop.

Recap of PokerStars LIVE Manila Special 2026

The thrilling live poker festival delivered intense competitive action from June 15 to June 21, 2026, drawing an enthusiastic international crowd to the premium tournament floor of Okada Manila in Manila, Philippines. The action-packed series established heavy engagement throughout its multi-day run, recording a massive total attendance of 2,879 entries across all events to generate an impressive cumulative festival prize pool of PHP 14,595,281 (approx. $241,990) against its initial PHP 7,750,000 series guarantee. The absolute showcase of the entire schedule was the premier Manila Special Main Event, which carried a PHP 3,000,000 guarantee with an accessible PHP 7,500 buy-in. Outlasting the fierce field in a memorable final table performance, local talent Jeorge Lagatuz captured the coveted championship title. For his historic victory, he walked away with the magnificent marquee trophy and a monumental top prize payout of PHP 1,000,000 (approx. $16,580) after defeating his final opponents. Another major highlight of the stop belonged to the highly competitive Warm-Up, which carried a PHP 2,000,000 guarantee with a PHP 4,500 buy-in. The event drew an enormous field of 853 entries to build a final prize pool of PHP 3,276,544, ending with another spectacular victory for the home crowd as the Philippines' own Marco Espela took down the top spot to secure a first-place payout of PHP 254,000.

For the complete payout structures and full player standings of all events, visit the official PokerStars LIVE Manila Special 2026 full results page.

Champions

Here are the prominent champions from the recently concluded festival who conquered the competition and claimed the prestigious trophies at Okada Manila:

Poker and Travel Guide

The Philippines is one of Asia's most dynamically growing poker hubs, where the game is fully legal and widely available in designated casinos. To learn more about local regulations and the most popular rooms, read our detailed Philippines poker guide.

For players arriving in Manila, it is important to note that a valid photo ID or passport is required for registration at all times. PokerStars Live events are conducted according to the official TDA (Poker Tournament Directors Association) rules. Sportsmanship and proper personal hygiene are strictly enforced, as tournament staff reserves the right to sanction players whose behavior or health becomes disruptive to others.

The Venue: Okada Manila

Okada Manila is a stunning 5-star integrated resort located in the heart of Entertainment City. The poker room features 14 permanent tables, but for major festivals like the Manila Special 2026, capacity is significantly expanded. For further information, visit our official venue guide.