Manila Megastack 24: Early Winners Crowned as Main Event Approaches

Originally from the UK’s Lake District, Callum Jury has carved out a niche as a premier live reporter across the Southeast Asian poker circuit. Since 2025, he has delivered high-level coverage for major brands like the APT, PokerStars, and the WSOP, blending a background in business with a deep-rooted passion for storytelling. As a key member of the Somuchpoker team, Callum uses his sharp eye for photography and media to bridge the gap between technical hand histories and the raw human drama of a high-stakes deep run.

Updated: 2026.03.02

Manila Megastack 23

The Manila Megastack 24 is well underway at the PokerStars LIVE Manila room at Okada Manila . Since the series opened on February 25, the tournament floor has been busy, with players from across the region competing for early trophies and building momentum for the upcoming Main Event.

Featured Winners

The opening days have showcased a mix of experienced regional regulars and emerging players. Here is a closer look at some of the early champions:

Royly Oracion (PHL): Winner of Event #1: Knockout [₱1K Bounty], Oracion is a familiar face on the Manila circuit. He has been a consistent participant in local festivals, with multiple cashes in Manila Megastack and Manila Super Series events over the past three years. This win adds to a steady record of consistent finishes in the region.

#1 Knockout [₱1K Bounty] (6,500 PHP)

Total Prize USD

$27,810

Total Prize

₱1,601,037

Guaranteed

₱1,000,000

Entries

352

ITM

#	Payout	Player	SPI
1	₱262,537 $4,560	RO Royly Oracion Philippines	805.05
2	₱170,000 $2,955	RV Renato Villanueva Jr Philippines	569.26
3	₱120,000 $2,085	SJ Seonghun Jeong South Korea	464.80
4	₱94,000 $1,635	RA Rommel Angeles Philippines	402.53
5	₱72,000 $1,250	JV Jimmy Valle Philippines	360.03
6	₱55,000 $955	WT Willie Thompson United Kingdom	328.66
7	₱42,000 $730	RJ Rachel Joy Bellard United States of America	304.28
8	₱35,000 $610	RB Raphael Bulaong Philippines	284.63
9	₱29,000 $505	SY Sunjong Yoo South Korea	268.35

Check the 53 Payouts & Results ...

Renniel Galvez (PHL): After capturing the title in Event #6: Kick-off, Galvez continues to demonstrate his strength in the Philippine poker scene. With over $470k in live earnings, he is one of the more accomplished players in the field. He has a long history with the Manila Megastack, having logged numerous cashes in previous editions, including deep runs in the Main Event and various side events.

#6 Kick-off (16,500 PHP)

Total Prize USD

$125,750

Total Prize

₱7,239,382

Guaranteed

₱3,000,000

Entries

514

ITM

#	Payout	Player	SPI
1	₱1,030,382 $17,900	RG Renniel Galvez Philippines	1,417.96
2	₱1,005,000 $17,455	JJ John Jay Magadan Philippines	1,002.65
3	₱555,000 $9,640	WL Woojun Lim South Korea	818.66
4	₱425,000 $7,380	IG Insuk Go South Korea	708.98
5	₱325,000 $5,645	JY Jiaxian Ye China	634.13
6	₱260,000 $4,515	AC Alex Chong Hong Kong	578.88
7	₱200,000 $3,475	MR Marc Rivera Philippines	535.94
8	₱160,000 $2,780	MB Michael Bagdasarov United States of America	501.32
9	₱130,000 $2,260	IH Isaac Hechanova Philippines	472.65

Check the 76 Payouts & Results ...

Emmanuel Derecho (AUS): Taking down Event #23: ₱50K PLO, Derecho brings an international perspective to the series. Based in Sydney, he has built a significant poker resume, traveling for major festivals including the WSOP in Las Vegas and various stops across Asia. He has competed at previous Manila Megastack festivals and consistently places in high-roller and high-stakes events.

#23 ₱50K PLO (50,000 PHP)

Total Prize USD

$2,275

Total Prize

₱130,950

Entries

ITM

#	Payout	Player	SPI
1	₱130,950 $2,275	ED Emmanuel Derecho Australia	157.95

Kazuha Ikeda (JPN): Winner of Event #24: Knockout [₱5K Bounty] Turbo, Ikeda is part of the strong contingent of Japanese players that frequently travels to Manila for major tournament series. This result highlights a quick start to the series for him, building on his previous experience competing in regional mid-stakes tournaments.

#24 Knockout [₱5K Bounty] Turbo (15,000 PHP)

Total Prize USD

$14,525

Total Prize

₱836,064

Entries

ITM

#	Payout	Player	SPI
1	₱152,064 $2,640	KI Kazuha Ikeda Japan	490.49
2	₱98,000 $1,700	HN Hadinoto Nyo Indonesia	346.83
3	₱70,000 $1,215	NO Nanami Okawa Japan	283.18
4	₱54,000 $940	JR Jatin Rangras Singapore	245.24
5	₱41,500 $720	JP Jukka Pellinen Finland	219.35
6	₱32,000 $555	DH David Howard United Kingdom	200.24
7	₱24,500 $425	YC Yufong Chen Taiwan	185.39
8	₱19,000 $330	YM Yukinari Mera Japan	173.41
9	₱15,000 $260	WL Woojun Lim South Korea	163.50

Remaining Schedule and Live Coverage – Follow the Action

As we head toward the business end of the festival and into the Main Event , there are two ways to keep up with everything happening inside Okada Manila. We are adding an additional channel of coverage to ensure you stay connected to all the action.

- The Live Reporting Page: As always, this is your home for the technical side of the game, with our live updates page . We’ll be posting live hand highlights, ongoing chip counts, and recaps.
- Our Instagram Stories: For a more casual, behind-the-scenes look at the Main Event, check out our Instagram. We’ll be sharing live clips of the big moments; including bust-outs, bubble tension, quick video interviews from the tournament floor, and the final table eliminations as they happen.

The schedule remains busy through the week as the action ramps up for the Main Event. For the full list of remaining tournaments, you can check the official schedule here.