Local Grinder Richard Marquez Crowned Manila Megastack 20 Main Event Champion

In a final table stacked with player stories, it was Day 2 chip leader Richard Marquez who prevailed and hoisted the trophy at the end, becoming Manila Megastack 20th edition Main Event Champion. Taking place at the PokerStars LIVE hub in Okada Manila in the Philippines from December 4 to 8, 2024, Marquez pocketed the largest cash prize of PHP 3,713,920 (~US$ 64,141).

Manila Megastack 20 Main Event

With 512 total entries across four flights resulting in a prize pool of PHP 20,113,920 (~US$ 342,500), the Manila Megastack 20 Main Event has found its new champion after 3 days of play lasting 30 levels.

Main Event Review

• Date: December 4 to 8, 2024
• Buy in: PHP 45,000 (~US$ 770)
• Guarantee: PHP 20,000,000 (~US$ 340,000)
• Entries: 512
• Prize pool: PHP 20,113,920 (~US$ 342,500)
• ITM: 78 players

Richard Marquez’s Road To Victory

Leading the pack into the final table, it was hard work for Richard Marquez. He started steady, maintaining his lead, but got into some skirmishes with defending champion William Ysmael around the two-hour-mark that saw him fall back to under half the leader’s stack size.

“I had a really hard time against Will, that was the main problem for this tournament. My main focus was to eliminate William. I felt i had a good chance versus the other players.”

The tide turned after the first elimination of Yohei Katsuragawa in 9th place, from this point onwards, Marquez recalibrated his strategy. He chipped back up and eventually sent birthday boy Yusuf Cassidy in 5th place leaving the final four players in a dead heat. This lasted 47 hands until Marquez won a pivotal all in showdown, cleaning out Alvir Inocentes with pocket Nines over Ace-Four. Down to three players, Marquez went on to eliminated Ysmael with pocket Nines over Ace-Two, denying him a chance of back-to-back titles.

“I used my pocket Nines as a trap on a three-way. It worked with Alvir at first so I felt my pocket Nines were lucky so I had to gamble it on the next hand against Will”

The heads up against Rene Mar David only lasted another 5 hands before our new champion was crowned.

Following this win, Marquez intends to participate in more events. “I will be joining other events definitely. There will be an event in Taiwan. I will also be flying to Canada on January to join the World Series Circuit.”

Read up on the Main Event action via the SMP Live Updates.

Final 9 Payouts

MM 20 Main Event – Full Payouts

Links:

MM 20 – Photo Gallery
MM20 – Festival Results
MM 20 – Schedule