Pinoy Briefs: Mark Amparo wins the Metro WALK TO A MILLION; Manila Super Series and APPT Manila in July
We’ve entered the last half of the year and with that comes plenty of exciting poker all over the Asian region. Focusing our attention on the Philippines, this July will see plenty of cards flying and chips shuffling at Okada Manila. Two events will bookend the month, the Manila Super Series 11 and APPT Manila.
These events come right after the conclusion of the Metro WALK TO A MILLION.
Metro WALK TO A MILLION
Each year, the country’s most popular card room – Metro Card Club aka Metro – hosts a number of homegrown festivals. Players, though mostly locals, flock in drooling at the generous prize pools offered at very affordable costs. From June 26 to July 1, the poker room was buzzing with one of these annual events, the Metro WALK TO A MILLION with a Php 1.5 Million guaranteed Main Event.
Over the course of the four starting days, 616 entered at a buy-in of just Php 3,500 (~US $70). The guarantee was exceeded and replaced with a larger Php 1,971,200 (~US$ 38,500) prize pool. Bringing home the trophy and the Php 535,000 (~US$ 10,200) first place purse was Metro Team Pro Mark Amparo. This was Amparo’s second Metro title of his career having won the room’s 2M Main Event back in 2016.
Final Table payouts
Prize pool: Php 1,971,200 – Buyin: Php 3,500 – Entries: 616 – ITM: 61
1st Mark Amparo – Php 535,000
2nd Bonifacio Mondalo – Php 294,064
3rd Reiner Magbutay – Php 180,000
4th Bryan Pelandas – Php 111,600
5th Jessie Bulatao – Php 80,000
6th Tyrone Lim – Php 60,800
7th Jimmie Javier – Php 48,000
8th Randy Cirineo – Php 38,400
9th Joseph Sia – Php 28,800
10th Royly Oracion – Php 22,400
Up next at the Metro is a new festival, the Batang Metro Poker Challenge (BMPC), taking place from August 21 to 26. The term “Batang Metro” translates to “Bred at the Metro”, in recognition of all the Filipino poker professionals that got their start at the room. One of those of course is local poker idol Mike Takayama who went on to win the country a first WSOP gold in 2018.Sup
Manila Super Series 11 and APPT Manila
No breaks for players in the country. PokerStars LIVE Manila picks up immediately after the Metro WALK TO A MILLION. From July 2 to 7, the place to be is the Manila Super Series 11 at Okada Manila. The six day series offers Php 4.5 Million (~US$ 88,000) in guaranteed prizes with 13 events lined up. The Main Event is the star with Php 3,000,000 (~US$ 58,600) guaranteed for a buy-in of Php 12,000 (~US$ 240). See schedule below.
More: Manila Super Series 11 – Schedule
At the close of the month, the Asia Pacific Poker Tour rolls in the country. The annual APPT Manila has grown to become one of the most sought after events in the region bringing in players from all across the globe. Last year the event paid out over Php 175,000,000 in prizes, roughly US$ 3.4 Million.
This upcoming installment runs from July 26 to August 5 with 24 games filling up the schedule. The Main Event comes with a Php 20,000,000 (~US$ 390,000) guarantee. Buy-in is Php 65,000 (~US$ 1,300). In total, the festival boasts of Php 28,000,000 (~US$ 545,000) in guarantees.
Other key events are: APPT National – Php 5,000,000 (~US$ 97,000) guaranteed and APPT Kickoff – Php 3,000,000 (~US$ 59,000) guaranteed.
See schedule below.
More: APPT Manila 2019 Schedule
Article by Tricia David
