- Total Prize Pool
- $1,604,215
- Number of Events
- 114
- Number of Entries
- 1,940
66,000 PHP
16,500 PHP
19,800 PHP
132,000 PHP
22,000 PHP
26,400 PHP
220,000 PHP
55,000 PHP
13,200 PHP
16,500 PHP
19,800 PHP
33,000 PHP
33,000 PHP
82,500 PHP
13,200 PHP
16,500 PHP
99,000 PHP
19,800 PHP
198,000 PHP
33,000 PHPThe Arena of Champions GOP Manila 2026: Results & Winner
The Arena of Champions – GOP Manila 2026 concluded its run from August 21 to August 30, 2026 at the City of Dreams Manila in Manila, Philippines.
| Festival: | The Arena of Champions – GOP Manila 2026 |
|---|---|
| Dates: | August 21 to August 30, 2026 |
| Venue: | City of Dreams Manila, Manila, Philippines |
| Main Event Winner: | Dakota Anderson – $102,125 |
The Arena of Champions – GOP Manila 2026 Results & Highlights
The marquee 82,500 PHP buy-in Main Event attracted 383 entries, contributing to a massive festival-wide prize pool of $1,604,215 across 114 scheduled events. American player Dakota Anderson captured the title, overcoming a three-to-one heads-up deficit against local standout Lester Edoc to claim the black and gold Gauntlet trophy along with a career-best payday of $102,125. Edoc earned $71,460 for his runner-up finish, while Filipino pro Marc Rivera rounded out the top three with $46,280. Throughout the ten-day series, 1,940 entries representing 32 different countries battled at the tables. Lester Edoc achieved a remarkable run by winning his second trophy of the festival in the High Roller event for a PHP 2,400,000 payout, Bonifacio Mondalo Jr. took down the Opening Event , and Martijn Gerrits claimed the Player of the Series title after securing multiple final tables. The schedule featured prominent No Limit Hold’em flights alongside Pot Limit Omaha and Open-Face Chinese tournaments.
| Event | Buy-In | Winner | Country | 1st Prize | Entries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 GOP Manila Opening Event 2026.08.21 - 2026.08.22 | 22K PHP | ![Philippines [PHL]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/ph.svg "Philippines [PHL]"){kind=small} PHL | $12,330 761,100 PHP | 224 ITM: 32 | Finished | |
#9 Pandora's Mystery Bounty 2026.08.22 - 2026.08.23 | 33K PHP | PHL | $11,180 690,100 PHP | 116 ITM: 17 | Finished | |
#18 Titan Stack 2026.08.23 - 2026.08.24 | 38.5K PHP | ![Ireland [IRL]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/ie.svg "Ireland [IRL]"){kind=small} IRL | $16,810 1,037,700 PHP | 115 ITM: 17 | Finished | |
#20 GOP Super High Roller 2026.08.23 - 2026.08.24 | 428K PHP | ![Australia [AUS]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/au.svg "Australia [AUS]"){kind=small} AUS | $57,745 3,564,700 PHP | 21 ITM: 4 | Finished | |
82.5K PHP | ![United States of America [USA]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/us.svg "United States of America [USA]"){kind=small} USA | $102,125 6,304,500 PHP | 383 ITM: 54 | Finished | ||
#40 Titan Stack High Roller 2026.08.25 - 2026.08.26 | 275K PHP | ![Netherlands [NLD]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/nl.svg "Netherlands [NLD]"){kind=small} NLD | $45,100 2,784,000 PHP | 29 ITM: 5 | Finished | |
#62 GOP Mini Main Event 2026.08.28 - 2026.08.29 | 33K PHP | PHL | $14,685 906,600 PHP | 128 ITM: 19 | Finished | |
#70 Kraken Stack 2026.08.29 - 2026.08.30 | 55K PHP | PHL | $22,595 1,394,700 PHP | 80 ITM: 13 | Finished | |
Champions
Here are the trophy winners and champions from the festival:
Australia
United States of America
NetherlandsPoker & Travel Guide: Philippines
For players planning future trips to explore local gaming options, our comprehensive Philippines poker guide serves as an essential starting point. Convenient travel connections, favorable gaming regulations, and proximity to Ninoy Aquino International Airport make Manila an ideal destination for international players.
The Venue: City of Dreams Manila
The City of Dreams Manila integrated luxury resort is located in the heart of Entertainment City in Manila, Philippines. Known for its world-class hospitality and amenities, the festival cash games and tournament action were hosted inside the Soul Poker Club. For cash game stakes, rake structures, and resort accommodation details, visit our official City of Dreams Manila venue guide .
![Philippines [PHL]](/assets/images/flags/1x1/ph.svg "Philippines [PHL]"){kind=small}
Metro ManilaCity of Dreams Manila is a world-class integrated resort that defines the skyline of Entertainment City, standing as a premier destination for luxury gaming in the Philippines . With its iconic gleaming gold exterior, the resort offers an electrified atmosphere where high-stakes action meets five-star sophistication. For poker players, City of Dreams is synonymous with elite competition, serving as the former long-term home of the PokerStars LIVE Manila room and continuing to host some of the most prestigious mid-to-high stakes games in the capital.
Why City of Dreams Manila?
- Ultra-Luxury Setting: A sprawling 6.2-hectare complex featuring three award-winning hotel towers and a massive gaming floor designed for premium comfort.
- Tournament Heritage: Historically a foundational venue for the APPT and Manila Megastack series.
- Dynamic Gaming Mix: Beyond its dedicated poker area, the casino features over 270 gaming tables and nearly 2,000 slot machines in a high-tech environment.
GAMES
NLHE & PLO
STAKES
Low to High Stakes
LOCATION
Near NAIA Airport
The City of Dreams Poker Experience
The poker action at City of Dreams is renowned for its 24/7 energy and professional oversight. While the PokerStars LIVE room has moved venues, City of Dreams remains a hub for serious cash game players, spreading consistent No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha action. The venue is famous for attracting a mix of affluent local players and international high-rollers, often resulting in some of the deepest and most action-heavy games in Entertainment City.
The property is a true “resort within a city,” allowing players to balance their time at the tables with world-class entertainment, including the DreamPlay theme park and a massive selection of luxury retail and fine dining. Whether you are grinding a session or visiting for a weekend series, the professional floor staff and premium amenities ensure an experience that is consistently “VIP” in nature.
Venue Logistics
📍 Location: Aseana Ave. cor. Roxas Blvd., Entertainment City, Parañaque. It is one of the closest integrated resorts to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
🏨 Accommodations: Home to the Nuwa, Nobu, and Hyatt Regency towers, providing over 900 rooms of varying luxury levels for international guests.
📝 Entry & Requirements: Guests must be at least 21 years old to enter the gaming areas. Valid government-issued ID or an original passport is required for registration and entry.
♠️ Official City of Dreams Updates
Connect with the venue for the latest events, promotions, and live cash game updates.
Jessy is SoMuchPoker's Technical Editor and Data Specialist, managing the live poker event database and publishing festival schedules for the site. A background in programming and data architecture shapes how he builds and maintains this database, with an emphasis on speed and accuracy.
Dakota Anderson claimed the championship title and the top prize of $102,125.
The ten-day festival generated a massive total prize pool of $1,604,215 across 114 scheduled events.
The flagship Main Event attracted a total of 383 entries during the festival.
Metro Manila
GOP Manila 2026 Debuts With $1.6M Total Prize Pool
GOP Manila 2026 awards $1.6M in payouts across 114 events at City of Dreams. Read full festival stats, prize pools, and winner breakdowns.
Gerrits Takes Player of Series Whilst Rivera and Edoc Close Out GOP Manila’s Final Events
Rivera wins Kraken Stack and Edoc claims his second gauntlet in the High Roller as GOP Manila wraps up, with Martijn Gerrits crowned PoS.
Dakota Anderson’s Main Event Win Headlines Penultimate Day at GOP Manila
Dakota Anderson wins the GOP Manila Main Event for PHP 6.3M ($102K) at City of Dreams as five side events crown champions.
Dakota Anderson Claims GOP Manila Main Event Title for a Career-Best PHP 6.3 Million (~$101,000)
Dakota Anderson completes a stunning comeback to win the GOP Manila Main Event, taking down PHP 6.3M & the black and gold gauntlet trophy.
Lester Edoc Leads Final 12 in GOP Manila Main Event
Edoc and Rivera lead the final 12 players into the final day of the GOP Manila Main Event alongside six side event winners at City of Dreams.
Lagatuz and Tech Bubble Main Event Closing Flights at GOP Manila
Tech and agatuz bust the GOP Manila Main Event Flight D & E bubbles as Day 2 qualifiers are set alongside eight side event title winners.
Team Strong Denies Dave Spade in GOP Manila’s Influencer Conquest
Dave Spade and Team Face Card fall just short as Team Strong wins GOP Manila's Influencer Conquest: Team Edition.
Verbruggen Claims Titan Stack High Roller as Main Event Continues at GOP Manila
Tom Verbruggen wins the GOP Manila Titan Stack High Roller for $45,100, while Viet An Nguyen commands the Main Event lead.
Park Dominates Main Event Flight B Alongside Seven Side Event Winners at GOP Manila
GOP Manila Day 5: Seunghee Lee leads Main Event Flight B while seven side event champions claim trophies, led by Todd Hansen.
GOP Manila Main Event Could Face Overlay Approaching PHP 10 Million
The GOP Manila Main Event is tracking well below its PHP 30M guarantee, with founder Lloyd Fontillas projecting an overlay near PHP 10M.
Derecho Wins Super High Roller, Thompson Takes Titan Stack as Main Event Kicks Off at GOP Manila
Emmanuel Derecho wins the SHR, Gary Thompson takes the Titan Stack, and John Costiniano leads as the GOP Manila Main Event begins.
The Cronus Structure Explained: Why Gods Of Poker Closes Registration So Early
Gods of Poker's Lloyd Fontillas explains the Cronus Structure, it's impact on the Main Event, and why GOP closes registration after just two levels.
Inocentes Wins Pandora’s Mystery Bounty as Derecho Leads Super High Roller at GOP Manila
Alvir Inocentes wins the PHP 690K Pandora's Mystery Bounty title at GOP Manila 2026, while Emmanuel Derecho leads the final four of the SHR.
Kosasih Claims First Gauntlet as Mondalo Takes Down Opening Event at GOP Manila
Bonifacio Mondalo wins the GOP Manila Opening Event, Fendy Kosasih claims Demigods Challenge gauntlet, plus Martijn Gerrits' third trophy.
A Homecoming for Fontillas: Founder Reflects as Gerrits Takes Two on GOP Manila Day 1
Gerrits claims two trophies as GOP Manila opens, plus Edenata's Single Day HR win and founder Lloyd Fontillas on bringing GOP home to Manila
The Wait is Almost Over: GOP Manila 2026 Kicks Off Soon
GOP Manila 2026 kicks off soon with 82 events, PHP 60M in guarantees, and a PHP 30M Main Event. Schedule, key highlights, and what to expect.
GOP Manila 2026: The Arena of Champions Comes to City of Dreams Next Month
Gods of Poker returns to Manila for GOP Manila: The Arena of Champions, running August 21 to 30 at City of Dreams Manila.
