Manila Super Series 18: Main Event Day 1B sees Philippines’ Mark Dela Cruz bag the biggest stack, Last chance to qualify Day 1C runs today

09/22/2023

main event

Six years in the running, PokerStars LIVE’s Manila Super Series has gained a steady following throughout its past seventeen installments, with the current edition on the right track to booking another success. The weeklong festival has so far played through two of three Main Event starting flights on schedule with the PHP 3,000,000 (~USD 52,842) guarantee breached earlier in Day 1B. A total of 509 entries have been recorded, building the prize pool up to double in value at a massive PHP 6,517,236 (~USD 114,683) with one flight left to go. Day 1C runs today in Okada Manila Resort & Casino, Philippines at 13:00, with late registration open until the end of Level 10@ 18:20.

Main Event Day 1B Recap

Yesterday’s games at the PokerStars hub created an outstanding buzz from early afternoon until late night, with the Day 1B festivities welcoming a great turnout of 311 entries in total. The local force saw many of its decorated pros turn up on the felt including Vamerdino Magsakay, Richard Marquez, Archie Mariano, and Conrad Lumaban, all of which qualified into Day 2. International representation on the other hand, showed up in confidence with over a dozen flags represented in the 47 qualifier list. Defending champion William Ysmael and Manila Super Series 15 Main Event winner Jason Kyle Magbanua likewise took a stab in yesterday’s flight yet failed to secure a spot into Saturday’s games.

After eight hours of play, Day 1B wrapped up with Philippines’ Mark Dela Cruz topping the ranks with a huge 593,000 stack. Dela Cruz soared above the field after scooping up over a hundred big blind pot against Japan’s Hachimine Munehiro with against the latter’s , late in the game.

Next in line is local runner Michael De Leon who capped the flight with a close 522,000 chip count after delivering the money bubble at the seventeenth level of the day. De Leon began his ascend after locking in a crucial flip against Rio Shinohara with against the Japanese’ ace-jack. Just a couple minutes later, De Leon cracked Oleg Alex Kaminski’s after his flopped midpair turned two pair by the river. In a painful badbeat, Kaminski exited the Main Event arena just one spot short into Day 2 with nonetheless, the best hand in poker.

The last flight on schedule Day 1C runs this afternoon with again 15% of the field (ITM) moving forward to Day 2. Today’s qualifiers will join the 77 player list returning to the felt on Saturday, September 23rd