PokerStars LIVE Manila Megastack 21 Highlights

PokerStars LIVE wrapped up its 21st edition of fan-favorite Manila Megastack at world-class Okada Manila in the Philippines. Held from January 20 to 27, 2025, the season opener delivered countless memorable moments, awarding 36 iconic PokerStars spadies across its eight-day run. Scroll down for the highlights.

Graham Cowan Wins Manila Megastack 21 Main Event

GC

Graham Cowan

Australia

Place

1st

Prize

$54,680

Prize (PHP)

₱3,200,000

The spotlight shined brightest on Australia’s Graham Cowan for his dominant victory at the Main Event. Cowan denied the local heavy final table, defeating Kim Enriquez at heads up in just four hands.

All the players at the final table were really good. Kim was excellent. He just knew how to read me and he just didn’t give up.

Starting the final table third in chips, Cowan immediately mounted his ascent, eliminating Mark Almusajin in 9th place. At five-handed, he delivered his second  elimination in Ju Won Chung. This gave Cowan the lead which widened further throughout the tournament. Cowan hoisted his first ever PokerStars spadie and the largest ICM deal payout of ₱3,200,000 (~$54,680).

I wanted to make my first tournament of the year here before I start traveling again. It’s awesome to win, a great way to start the year.

The Main Event featured a ₱20 Million (~$342,705) guarantee. 467 entered across four flights. Among the casualties was defending champion Richard Marquez in 57th place. A more impressive run by MM 3 champion Euryd Rivera with just 3 bb at the start of Day 2 and took it all the way to 28th place. 

#23 Main Event (45,000 PHP)

"I wanted to make my first tournament of the year here before I start traveling again. It's awesome to win, a great way to start the year."

Australia's Graham Cowan crushed the final table of the Manila Megastack 21 Main Event to clinch his first ever PokerStars LIVE title and an ICM deal payout of PHP 3,200,000 (~$54,680). After Cowan eliminated Ju Won Chung in 5th place, he went on a tear, to amass a sizable advantage by heads up against Kim Enriquez. It only took four hands for Cowan to close it out for his first win on Asian soil.

Total Prize USD

$342,705

Total Prize

₱20,000,000

Guaranteed

₱20,000,000

Entries

467

ITM

71

#	Payout	Player
1	₱3,200,000 $54,680	GC Graham Cowan Australia
2	₱2,373,500 $40,557	KE Kim Enriquez Philippines
3	₱2,502,500 $42,761	AL Alexis Lim Philippines
4	₱1,339,000 $23,035	JK Jon Kyte Norway
5	₱1,030,000 $17,720	JW Ju Won Chung Korea (Republic of)
6	₱792,000 $13,625	FC Florencio Campomanes Philippines
7	₱609,000 $10,475	JC John Carlo Sayo Philippines
8	₱469,000 $8,070	AI Alvir Inocentes Philippines
9	₱365,000 $6,280	MA Mark Almusajin Philippines

Check the 71 Payouts & Results ...

Naohiro Arita Claims Two Titles

Not ony did Japan’s Naohiro Arita capture his first ever PokerStars spadie at the Shotclock Freezeout event, he also became the only player to lift two trophies at the series. Hot off his initial triumph, Arita carried the winning vibe to the NLH 10/10/10 and reigned once again. Apart from these wins, Arita finished 2nd at the NLH 20/15/10 and 4th at the Mini High Roller.

Francis Garson Continues Hot Run

Frenchman / Vietnam resident Francis Garson has been on a rush since last year, capping it off with an APPT Mini Main Event title for his first win outside of Vietnam. Wasting no time in 2025, Garson picked up right where he left off, making his trip to the Manila Megastack a victorious one. Garson took down the High Roller event, outgunning the 12 entry field for a  payout of ₱500,880 (~$8,615).

The final hand was a lucky one with Garson’s 5♠4♥ improving to a full house, stunning Bernard Vu‘s Q♠5♦ trips. The all in was on the river board 9♦5♥5♣4♣J♦. 

#50 High Roller (100,000 PHP)

Frenchman / Vietnam resident Francis Garson has been on a rush since last year, capping it off with an APPT Mini Main Event title, his first win outside of Vietnam. Wasting no time in 2025, Garson picked up right where he left off, making his trip to the Manila Megastack in the Philippines a victorious one. Garson took down the High Roller event, outgunning the 12 entry field. He defeated fellow countryman Bernard Vu at heads up.

Total Prize USD

$18,420

Total Prize

₱1,070,880

Entries

12

ITM

4

#	Payout	Player
1	₱500,880 $8,615	FG Francis Garson France
2	₱286,000 $4,920	BV Bernard Vu France
3	₱179,000 $3,080	KJ Kyuhyung Jung Korea (Republic of)
4	₱105,000 $1,805	BH Beng Hong Ker Singapore

Renaldo Kris Tan Takes Down The Mini Main

One of the last events in the Manila Megastack 21 menu was the Mini Main Event, and like its past editions, it was a big hit with 176 entries contributing the ₱15,000 (~$260) buy in. This easily surpassed the ₱1M guarantee, and in its place, a much larger ₱2,253,504 (~$36,635) prize pool. Out of the 27 players that dipped in the pot, Filipino Renaldo Kris Tan emerged victorious after a commanding performance at the final table.

At four handed, Tan delivered a double knockout with K♥K♦ standing tall against two Ace-Jacks. Good fortune continued at heads up, calling all in with 8♠3♥ open-ended then connected on the river to dust Harish Asnani’s K♠10♦ top pair on a board 10♥7♠9♦Q♦6♠.

#53 Mini Main Event (15,000 PHP)

One of the last events in the Manila Megastack 21 menu was the Mini Main Event, and like its past editions, it was a big hit with 176 entries contributing the ₱15,000 (~$260) buy in. This easily surpassed the ₱1M guarantee, and in its place, a much larger ₱2,253,504 (~$36,635) prize pool. Out of the 27 players that dipped in the pot, Filipino Renaldo Kris Tan emerged victorious after a commanding performance at the final table.

At four handed, Tan delivered a double knockout with pocket Kings standing tall against two Ace-Jacks. Good fortune continued at heads up, calling all in with 8♠ 3♥ open-ended then connected on the river to dust Harish Asnani's K♠ T♦ top pair on a board T♥ 7♠ 9♦ Q♦ 6♠ .

Total Prize USD

$36,635

Total Prize

₱2,253,504

Guaranteed

₱1,000,000

Entries

176

ITM

27

#	Payout	Player
1	₱475,004 $8,170	RK Renaldo Kris Tan Philippines
2	₱296,500 $5,100	HK Harish Kumar Asnani India
3	₱212,000 $3,645	LL Lloyd Locsin Philippines
4	₱163,000 $2,805	AK Alari Kunnapuu Estonia
5	₱125,500 $2,160	AC Aj Cris Acdal Philippines
6	₱96,500 $1,660	LL Ludovic Lehaut France
7	₱80,500 $1,385	EA Edgar Asehan Philippines
8	₱67,000 $1,155	FF Fred Farboud, Feridoun
9	₱56,000 $965	JA Jaehyoun Ahn Korea (Republic of)

Check the 27 Payouts & Results ...

For the full festival results, head to Manila Megastack 21 – Event Results. The next edition of the MM seriesis scheduled for March 14-23 at Okada Manila.