PS LIVE Manila Megastack 18: Day 4 and Day 5 winners
The past two days in the Philippine metropolis have been sizzling with nonstop poker excitement as players battle for PokerStars spadies at the 18th edition of the Manila Megastack. Taking place at the luxurious Okada Manila, the festival opened on February 15 and will run through February 25, 2024. On Day 4 and Day 5, a total of nine players were minted with Japan’s Keijiro Shimojo and France’s Anthony Cierco becoming the first players to win two festival trophies.
PS Manila Megastack 18 – Festival Results
PS Manila Megastack 18 – Player Guide
PS Manila Megastack 18 – Photos
Check out the highlights here:
Japan’s Keijiro Shimojo wins a second spadie
On opening day, Japan’s Keijiro Shimojo beamed in joy after securing his first ever live victory at the Knockout [2K Bounty] Turbo. Unbeknownst to Shimojo, it was the start of a hot run. On Day 4 of games, he outlasted the 48-entry field of the PLO event to capture a second PS spade to become the first player to win two events.
Date: February 18, 2024
Buy in: PHP 15,000 (~USD 270)
Entries: 48 (28 unique)
Prize pool: PHP 614,592 (~USD 10,980)
ITM: 7 places
| Place | Player | Flag |
Payout in PH₱
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keijiro Shimojo | Japan | ₱ 199,792 |
| 2 | Po Yi Wu | Taiwan | ₱ 132,100 |
| 3 | Marius Zalpys | Lithuania | ₱ 89,100 |
| 4 | Johnson Tan | Philippines | ₱ 67,600 |
| 5 | Boon Seng Ang | Singapore | ₱ 52,200 |
| 6 | Sheridan Cracknell | Australia | ₱ 41,500 |
| 7 | Keita Kitamura | Japan | ₱ 32,300 |
Anthony Cierco wins second title at Mini High Roller
Come from behind second win for France’s Anthony Cierco! At four-handed, the Frenchman zoomed from just 4 bb to chip leader and carried the momentum to the end defeating Florencio Campomanes at heads up with flush over trips. Cierco outlasted the 28 entry field to secure a payout of PHP 697,300 (~USD 12,460). Two days prior, Cierco won the Super Deep Freezeout. He has now earned over PHP 1.1 Million in winnings and two PS spadies.
Date: February 19, 2024
Buy in: PHP 75,000 (~USD 1,340)
Entries: 28 (24 unique)
Prize pool: PHP 1,833,300 (~USD 32,760)
ITM: 5 places
| Place | Player | Flag |
Payout in PH₱
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anthony Cierco | France | ₱ 697,300 |
| 2 | Florencio Campomanes | Philippines | ₱ 449,000 |
| 3 | Kelvin Hyu-Ki Jung | Canada | ₱ 298,000 |
| 4 | Hyeonho Shin | Korea, South | ₱ 215,000 |
| 5 | Edgar Asehan | Philippines | ₱ 174,000 |
Woojin Kang comes from behind to win Deepstack Challenge
The Deepstack Challenge wasn’t as popular as expected with only 41 runners taking interest. However, this meant a healthy prize for the eventual champion. After two days of play, Woojin Kang emerged victorious, though not before a rollercoaster ride to heads up. He entered the final table as chip leader, then dropped to 6 bb, doubled up, then survived to reach heads up against the bulldoziing Ionut Stochita. The momentum shifted back to Kang’s favor and was able to overcome the chip deficit to nail down the win. This was Kang’s first ever live title.
Date: February 17 to 18, 2024
Buy in: PHP 55,000 (~USD 980)
Guarantee: PHP 2,000,000 (~USD 35,740)
Entries: 41 (35 unique)
Prize pool: PHP 2,000,000 (~USD 35,740)
ITM: 6 places
| Place | Player | Flag |
Payout in PH₱
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Woojin Kang | Korea, South |
₱ 690,000
|
| 2 | Ionut Stochita | Romania |
₱ 450,000
|
| 3 | Ryuhei Nakagawa | Japan |
₱ 310,000
|
| 4 | Akito Mori | Japan |
₱ 230,000
|
| 5 | John Niko Costiniano | Philippines |
₱ 180,000
|
| 6 | Yun Rong Cheong | Singapore |
₱ 140,000
|
Li Ming Liu unwavers at the Freezeout Turbo
Taiwan’s Li Ming Liu stepped out of his comfort zone and took on the Manila felt for his first poker trip outside of home soil. It was a good decision. Liu topped the24 player field of the Freezeout Turbo to rein in his first ever live title, PS spade, and a career high PHP 116,796 (~USD 2,086) payout.
Date: February 18, 2024
Buy in: PHP 25,000 (~USD 450)
Players: 24
Prize pool: PHP 307,296 (~USD 5,490)
ITM: 5 places
| Place | Player | Flag |
Payout in PH₱
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Li Ming Liu | Taiwan | ₱ 116,796 |
| 2 | Kenki Okumura | Japan | ₱ 75,300 |
| 3 | Kin Meng Ng | Malaysia | ₱ 49,900 |
| 4 | Satoshi Ii | Japan | ₱ 36,100 |
| 5 | Sandro Bruni | Italy | ₱ 29,200 |
David Erquiaga snags career 9th PS spade
Another light turnout event with only 12 jumping in the 25K NLH Turbo. In the end, the glory went to highly decorated Filipino pro David Erquiaga for his career 9th PS spade. Erquiaga is having a strong year with a big win at The Wynn Las Vegas in January for six figures.
Date: February 18, 2024
Buy in: PHP 25,000 (~USD 450)
Entries: 12 (9 unique)
Prize pool: PHP 261,900 (~USD 4,680)
ITM: 3 places
| Place | Player | Flag |
Payout in PH₱
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Jansen Erquiaga | Philippines |
₱ 130,900
|
| 2 | Aivaras Bardauskas | Lithuania | ₱ 79,000 |
| 3 | Wai Fung Tang | Hong Kong | ₱ 52,000 |
Hwanho Choe wins Mystery Bounty, Christopher Mateo draws the biggest
The Mystery Bounty event attracted 250 across three flights with 33 advancing to the final day, each secured a piece of the prize pool. The tight race witnessed Hwanho Choe surge at the final table, eliminating three players to secure a heads up spot against WSOP bracelet holder Henrieto Acain.
After an ICM deal, Choe went on to win it. He earned PHP 476,000 plus six bounties amounting to PHP 110,000 for a combined PHP 586,000 (~USD 10,470) payday. Despite falling 2nd,Acain pocketed the highest payout of PHP 492,000 plus bounties amounting to PHP 249,000 for a combined PHP 741,000 (~USD 13,240).
Fourth placer Christopher Mateo also did extremely well. He drew the coveted top bounty prize of PHP 280,000 plus the third largest of PHP 134,000. In total, Mateo collected PHP 670,000 (~USD 11,970), making him the second earner.
Date: February 18 to 19, 2024
Buy in: PHP 20,000 (~USD 360)
Guarantee: PHP 2,000,000 (~USD 35,740)
Entries: 250 (159 unique)
Prize pool: PHP 4,268,000(~USD 76,270)
ITM: 33 places
*Heads up ICM deal, play for trophy and bounties
| Place | Player | Flag | Payout in PH₱ |
Bounties in PH₱
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hwanho Choe | Korea, South | ₱ 476,000* |
₱ 110,000
|
| 2 | Henrieto Acain | United States | ₱ 492,000* |
₱ 249,000
|
| 3 | Joris Michl | Netherlands | ₱ 271,000 |
₱ 133,000
|
| 4 | Christopher Mateo | Philippines | ₱ 220,000 |
₱ 450,000
|
| 5 | Thomas Young | Indonesia | ₱ 173,000 |
₱ 43,000
|
| 6 | Kento Chogo | Japan | ₱ 130,000 |
₱ 29,000
|
| 7 | Adones Carmona | Philippines | ₱ 93,000 |
₱ 20,000
|
| 8 | Ronald Gorgonia | Philippines | ₱ 67,000 | |
| 9 | John Paul Flores | Philippines | ₱ 57,000 |
₱ 108,000
|
Full payouts in the Festival Results page
Christopher Mateo wins 25K NLH Turbo
Soon after finishing 4th at the Mystery Bounty, Christopher Mateo jumped in the 25K NLH and topped the 7 entry field to add PHP 99,775 to his day’s winnings. He lifted his career 8th PS spade.
Date: February 19, 2024
Buy in: PHP 25,000 (~USD 450)
Entries: 7 (6 unique)
Prize pool: PHP 152,775 (~USD 2,730)
ITM: 2 places
| Place | Player | Flag |
Payout in PH₱
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christopher Mateo | Philippines | ₱ 99,775 |
| 2 | Akito Mori | Japan | ₱ 53,000 |
Hyodo Kazuya wins the Megastack
Plenty of action at the Megastack with 119 on register for a prize pool of PHP 1,489,047 (~USD 26,610). Japan dominated the final table in numbers with four in the round. One of their own, Hyodo Kazuya, navigated to victory for his maiden title and career high payout of PHP 390,776 (~USD 6,980).
Date: February 19, 2024
Buy in: PHP 15,000 (~USD 270)
Entries: 119 (89 unique)
Prize pool: PHP 1,489,047 (~USD 26,610)
ITM: 17 places
| Place | Player | Flag |
Payout in PH₱
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kazuya Hyodo | Japan | ₱ 390,776 |
| 2 | Jeong (Peen) Seonghun | Korea, South | ₱ 244,300 |
| 3 | Katsuki Ohnishi | Japan | ₱ 174,500 |
| 4 | Keita Kitamura | Japan | ₱ 134,200 |
| 5 | Toshihiko Hokodate | Japan | ₱ 103,200 |
| 6 | John Niko Costiniano | Philippines | ₱ 79,400 |
| 7 | Dmitrii Opekunov | Russia | ₱ 62,800 |
| 8 | Richard Marquez | Philippines | ₱ 52,300 |
| 9 | Sangjin An | Korea, South | ₱ 43,600 |
Full payouts in the Festival Results page
Edwin Dela Cruz wins Win The Button
After numerous attempts, the highly decorated Filipino player Edwin Dela Cruz finally secured his first PS spade at the Win The Button event. Dela Cruz had been hunting this coveted trophy since 2019, falling in second place four times. The curse has now been broken. Dela Cruz overcame the charging Anthony Thomas Lewis at heads up to earn the PHP 189,972 (~USD 3,400) top prize.
Date: February 19, 2024
Buy in: PHP 15,000 (~USD 270)
Entries: 43 (35 unique)
Prize pool: PHP 550,572 (~USD 9,840)
ITM: 6 places
| Place | Player | Flag |
Payout in PH₱
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edwin Dela Cruz | Philippines | ₱ 189,972 |
| 2 | Anthony Thomas Lewis | United States | ₱ 123,900 |
| 3 | Stephen Nathan | United Kingdom | ₱ 85,300 |
| 4 | Lenart Ecarma | Philippines | ₱ 63,300 |
| 5 | Kang Feng Lien | Taiwan | ₱ 49,600 |
| 6 | Leon Alf Marlon Anderhofstadt | Germany | ₱ 38,500 |
