The highly anticipated Manila Megastack 22 Main Event kicked off with a thrilling opening flight, attracting 115 entries. After intense competition, the field narrowed down to just 18 survivors by the end of the night. Japanese player Fumiyoshi Makino emerged as the standout, displaying skill and aggression to lead Flight A with 320,000 chips (80 BB).
Fumiyoshi Makino’s Dominance and Key Moments
Fumiyoshi Makino’s journey to the top began during the final three levels of play, where a pivotal moment with pocket kings allowed him to scoop a massive three-way pot. This moment propelled him into the lead, and from that point, he never looked back, eliminating several players and maintaining his momentum throughout the night.
“I’m more of a cash game player, so I adjusted my strategy to be more aggressive since I had a large stack. While I used that to my advantage, I think I was also just lucky today,” commented Makino after bagging his chips.
Close Competitors: Hwang and Endo Steal the Spotlight
While Makino claimed the top spot, the competition remained fierce. South Korea’s Minsoo Hwang made an impressive last-minute surge, eliminating local pro Lester Edoc on the bubble and finishing the night with 302,000 chips (76 BB). Japan’s Yuma Endo also had a strong finish, bagging 275,000 chips (69 BB) after chipping up in the final level.
“It’s a bit different for me because in Las Vegas, where I mostly play cash games, many of the players are amateurs. Here, though, most players are skilled, and things get tough, especially when they have chips,” said Fumiyoshi Makino, reflecting on the level of play.
Looking Ahead: Three More Flights to Go
With three more flights scheduled in the coming days, all survivors will return on Sunday, March 23rd, for Day 2 and the Final games. The Manila Megastack 22 Main Event continues to heat up as players battle for a share of the PHP 20,000,000 (~USD 345,280) prize pool.
Manila Megastack 22 Main Event – Key Details
- Dates: March 20-23, 2024
- Buy-in: PHP 45,000 (~USD 775)
- Prize Pool Guarantee: PHP 20,000,000 (~USD 345,280)
- Flight A: 115 entries, 18 qualified
- Flight B: Friday, March 21
- Flight C: Saturday, March 22
- Flight D [20/15]: Saturday, March 22
- Day 2/Final: Sunday, March 23
The action is just heating up, so stay tuned for more updates as the event progresses! Follow Pokerbol for more updates.
Source: Somuchpoker
