PokerStars LIVE Manila Megastack 22 PHP 20 Million (~USD 345K) Guaranteed Main Event Fast Approaching

Excitement is building up at PokerStars LIVE, Okada Manila, Philippines, as the 22nd edition of the fan-favorite Manila Megastack continues to unfold. The 11-day festivities, running through March 23rd, is right at its halfway point, with fourteen players already having claimed trophy wins over the past five days. While several thrilling highlights have since taken place, the most coveted victory on schedule remains on the table.

The highly anticipated Main Event is just one day away, with a PHP 20,000,000 (~USD 345,280) guaranteed prize pool sure to rock the boat and elevate the excitement all around. To join the action, players will need to shell out a buy-in of PHP 45,000 (~USD 775), with four flight options available through Saturday, March 22nd. For those looking to secure their spot at a lower cost, daily Main Event milestone qualifiers are being held up until the weekend, with a more affordable entry of just PHP 5,500 (~USD 95).

To give everyone an idea, previous Manila Megastack season winner, Graham Cowan made an impressive debut on Asian soil, clinching a PHP 3,200,000 (~USD 54,680) payday after outlasting the 467-entry field. Past series champions Terry Gonzaga, Richard Marquez, and William Ysmael, are likewise expected to be on board in the coming days, ready to gun for another Main Event title.

In addition to their prizes, the full final table of nine players will lock in seats to upcoming PokerStars events, with this season’s Main Event champion receiving a PHP 125,000 APPT Manila 2025 Main Event package including seat and accommodation, while the rest of the top eight finishers will receive PHP 9,000 APPT Super Qualifier entries, all taken from the prize pool.

Manila Megastack 22 Main Event Schedule

• Date/s: March 20-23, 2024
• Buy-in: PHP 45,000 (~USD 775)
• Guarantee: PHP 20,000,000 (~USD 345,280)
• Flight A: Thursday, March 20
• Flight B: Friday, March 21
• Flight C: Saturday, March 22
• Flight D [20/15]: Saturday, March 22
• Day 2/ Final: Sunday, March 23

Manila Megastack 22 – Schedule

Upcoming Events

Other guaranteed events remain on schedule for those up for a full grind. Today begins the thrilling Mystery Bounty festivities with a PHP 2,000,000 (~USD 34,940) prize pool on the line. Two more bounty highlights will follow suit, closing the action with another PHP 2 million guarantee at the Survivor Knockout right on the festival’s concluding day. 

Recent Winners

Hoisting the biggest guarantee next to the Main Event, the Kickoff easily smashed its PHP 3,000,000 (~USD 52,410) with the series’ largest turnout yet of 338 entries filling up the venue’s pink halls. Romania’s Ionut Dragomir rose to be the last man standing, taking with him PHP 843,527 (~USD 14,705) in winnings and an APPT Manila Main Event Package worth PHP 125,000 (~USD 2,180) for his latest feat.

I’m really happy to win my first trophy and I’m really excited to play here in Manila, it’s my first time in Asia. I just came here 2 months ago and I had a feeling that I can take a trophy home to my family in Romania. I started very bad in the other events but this one was one shot, one opportunity and I hit it.

#10 Kickoff (16,500 PHP)

After two days, 34 levels and beating a field of 338 players Romania's Ionut Dragomir emerged on top of this PHP 4,760,527 prize pool tournament, taking home PHP 843,527 and an APPT Manila Main Event Package worth PHP 125,000.

"I'm really happy to win my first trophy and I'm really excited to play here in manila. It's my first time here in Asia. I just came here two months ago and I had a feeling that I could bring a trophy back to my family in Romania. I started very bad in the other events but this one was one shot, one opportunity and I hit it."

Dragomir entered heads up behind John Costiniano until one hand flipped the script. Costiniano struggled to regain control but Dragomir faded his attacks. The final hand was A♣ 8♦ staying ahead of K♦ Q♣ to crown Dragomir the Kickoff Champion.

Read up on the final table action via the live updates.

Total Prize

$82,995

Guaranteed

3,000,000

Entries

338

ITM

51

#	Payout	Player
1	$14,705 843,527 PHP	ID Ionut Dragomir Romania
2	$9,675 555,000 PHP	JN John Niko Costiniano Philippines
3	$7,495 430,000 PHP	EK Elmer Kalaquian Philippines
4	$5,930 340,000 PHP	LP Lemmor Patulot Philippines
5	$4,620 265,000 PHP	KS Keijiro Shimojo Japan
6	$3,575 205,000 PHP	JR Jannodin Riga Philippines
7	$2,615 150,000 PHP	CZ Chong Zi Heng Singapore
8	$1,920 110,000 PHP	MM Masakazu Miyamoto Japan
9	$1,570 90,000 PHP	IU Ichiro Uesugi Japan

Check the 51 Payouts & Results ...

Joining Dragomir in the winner’s circle is local grinder Edgar Asehan, who emerged to become one of the series’ first champions after besting the opening highlight, Warm Up. Asehan banked a seventh career spadie for his most recent triumph, earning a PHP 299,390 (~US$ 5,220) payday to jumpstart his festival run.

#2 Warm-up (12,500 PHP)

The Manila Megastack once again proved its strong following as the Warm-Up event kicked off with an eager field of 117 entries. With a PHP 12,500 (~US$ 220) buy-in, the event generated a PHP 1,248,390 prize pool, setting the stage for an exciting opening day.

With seven Filipinos in the final lineup, it was no surprise to see a homegrown champion rise to the occasion. Edgar Asehan made his presence felt early, knocking out Alvir Inocentes in 8th place before taking a more patient approach as the field thinned. Edilberto Gopez, Michael Bueza, and Kawai Katsuhito took charge, eliminating several contenders. Katsuhito’s deep run ended in 4th place after his 5♣ 5♥ fell to Bueza’s 6♥ 6♣.

At three-handed, Asehan seized control by raising all in on a board A♦ K♦ J♦ 7♠ to claim a crucial three-way pot. This gave him the edge which he kept intact to the finish line. Asehan eliminated Bueza with K♣ Q♠ over A♣ 2♥ on a board K♠ 8♥ 2♠ 8♦ Q♠ , then finished off Gopez with Q♥ 6♠ top pair over J♥ 9♠ with the shoves on the turn that completed 2♠ T♥ Q♦ J♣ 5♥ .

Asehan cleared a cool PHP 299,390 (~US$ 5,220) along with his career seventh PokerStars spadie.

Total Prize

$21,800

Guaranteed

1,000,000

Entries

117

ITM

17

#	Payout	Player
1	$5,220 299,390 PHP	EA Edgar Asehan Philippines
2	$3,260 187,000 PHP	EG Edilberto Gopez Philippines
3	$2,325 133,500 PHP	MB Michael Bueza Philippines
4	$1,795 103,000 PHP	KK Katsuhito Kawai Japan
5	$1,375 79,000 PHP	WW William Wright United States of America
6	$1,065 61,000 PHP	NM Nichols Manalo Philippines
7	$835 48,000 PHP	RM Rene Mar David Philippines
8	$695 40,000 PHP	AI Alvir Inocentes Philippines
9	$585 33,500 PHP	JR Jun Rodolfo Philippines

Check the 18 Payouts & Results ...

Two bounty highlight winners have also risen to the occasion with USA’s Nick Blackburn and Japan’s Ryo Oikawa, taking down seven-figure (PHP) prize pools for their impressive displays. Off to a great start, these international runners have already set themselves up for a profit with their first place winnings undeniably putting them well into the green.

#8 Knockout [P2K Bounty] (12,500 PHP)

For every head delivered, the Knockout earned the hunter a bounty worth PHP 2000 each. The event registered 78 runners with each paying up the PHP 12,500 (~US$ 220) buy in. By the end of the night, the PHP 1,000,000 prize pool was all claimed with USA's Nick Blackburn earning the largest cut for his victory. He overcame the local-heavy final table to secure a payout of PHP 190,000 (~US$ 3,315) plus a slew of bounty rewards.

Total Prize

$17,435

Guaranteed

1,000,000

Entries

78

ITM

11

#	Payout	Player
1	$3,315 190,000 PHP	NB Nick Blackburn United States of America
2	$2,850 163,500 PHP	MC Marciel Cerbito Philippines
3	$1,725 99,000 PHP	JR Jun Rodolfo Philippines
4	$1,325 76,000 PHP	KE Kim Enriquez Philippines
5	$1,020 58,500 PHP	LE Lenart Ecarma Philippines
6	$810 46,500 PHP	EG Edilberto Gopez Philippines
7	$655 37,500 PHP	AX Andrew Xu Australia
8	$525 30,000 PHP	MK Masashi Kanta Japan
9	$420 24,000 PHP	LP Lemmor Patulot Philippines

Check the 11 Payouts & Results ...

#21 Survivor Knockout [30K Bounty] (15,000 PHP)

With 92 runners contributing the PHP 15,000 buy-in, the Survivor Knockout [30K Bounty] breached its guarantee for a prize pool of PHP 1,177,968 (~US$ 20,500). Out of the top 13 that shaved a share, Japan's Ryo Oikawa emerged undefeated to claim his first ever live poker title. Along with a payout of PHP 307,000 (~US$ 5,350), Oikawa earned several bounties worth PHP 30,000 each.

Total Prize

$20,530

Guaranteed

1,000,000

Entries

92

ITM

13

#	Payout	Player
1	$5,350 307,000 PHP	RO Ryo Oikawa Japan
2	$4,045 232,000 PHP	AA Alma Aguila Philippines
3	$1,865 107,000 PHP	MS Masato Shimizu United States of America
4	$1,080 62,000 PHP	FF Fred Farboud Feridoun United States of America
5	$1,430 82,000 PHP	MR Maxwell Rosete Philippines
6	$1,265 72,500 PHP	BM Benjamin Mangaliman Philippines
7	$2,190 125,500 PHP	BL Benedict Lim Philippines
8	$1,560 89,500 PHP	MB Milbert Bautista Philippines
9	$425 24,468 PHP	AA Antonio Abesamis Philippines

Check the 13 Payouts & Results ...

One of the standout highlights of the series includes Filipino pro Joseph Sia, who has claimed yet another PokerStars victory in yesterday’s Bubble Rush side event, adding an unbeatable 12th career spadie to his mantle. His continued success on the felt is definitely a testament to his skill and consistency, with his well decorated trophy collection truly a sight to see.

#29 Bubble Rush (10,000 PHP)

Adding another layer of thrill, Bubble Rush welcomed 50 entries across the felt, building up a prize pool of PHP 426,800. Only 7 players reached ITM following the exit of local grinder Rene Mar David after his 8 BB shove with A♦ 8♥ was looked up by Joon Han Lee with A♣ Q♦ .

Once the bubble burst, bottom of the ranks Joseph Sia set his sights on the trophy, and made a complete turnaround, stepping into the lead just by five-handed. Japan's Koki Udagawa, who was down to a single big blind at one point, likewise booked a remarkable recovery, eventually making his way to the final duel against Sia at a minor disadvantage after eliminating both Alvir Inocentes and Lee one after the other.

The heads-up duel was short but intense, entirely culminating in a decisive flip. Udagawa risked his last 22 BBs with pocket threes and saw his opponent, Sia take a stand with A♥ T♠ . An ace-high board sealed the deal for the Filipino, earning him an impressive career 12th spadie along with the PHP 137,800 top prize.

Total Prize

$7,435

Entries

50

ITM

7

#	Payout	Player
1	$2,400 137,800 PHP	JS Joseph Sia Philippines
2	$1,605 92,000 PHP	KU Koki Udagawa Japan
3	$1,080 62,000 PHP	LJ Lee Joon Han Korea (Republic of)
4	$820 47,000 PHP	AI Alvir Inocentes Philippines
5	$635 36,500 PHP	AJ Anthony James Alway United States of America
6	$505 29,000 PHP	LE Lenart Ecarma Philippines
7	$390 22,500 PHP	MG Martin Gerico Belsa