PokerStars LIVE Manila Megastack 18 is getting close to the end with nine out of 11 days already completed at Okada Manila in the Philippines.
PS Manila Megastack 18 – Coverage
PS Manila Megastack 18 – Festival Results
PS Manila Megastack 18 – Player Guide
PS Manila Megastack 18 – Photos
For the past few days, everyone’s attention was on the Main Event and its enticing PHP 20 Million guarantee. If you haven’t been following the news, that figure was shattered by the 917 entries, closing at record PHP 36,034,345 (~USD 644,500) prize pool. You can catch up on the action via the Main Event live updates.
Running simultaneously to the main were several side events that crowned new champions. Highlighted below are the Day 8 and Day 9 winners.
Julian Hasse wins the Mixed NLH/PLO
The Mixed NLH- PLO drew 25 entries with big names among the attendees including Filipino player Christopher Mateo. Mateo delivered the bubble and seemed to be on his way to a second trophy with his big stack, however, by three-handed, German player Julian Hasse overtook, then shipped the whole shebang on a double knockout. Hasse earned PHP 249,750 (~USD 4,460) for his win.
Date: February 22, 2024
Buy in: PHP 30,000 (~USD 540)
Entries: 34
ITM: 6 places
Prize pool: PHP 890,460 (~USD 15,900)
| Place | Player | Flag | Payout in PH₱ |
| 1 | Julian Hasse | Germany | ₱ 249,750 |
| 2 | Christopher Mateo | Philippines | ₱ 160,000 |
| 3 | Min Ho Cho | Korea | ₱ 106,000 |
| 4 | Keita Kitamura | Japan | ₱ 77,000 |
| 5 | John Tech | Philippines | ₱ 62,000 |
First ever cash and title for Jun Osagahara at Freezeout Turbo
One very happy player was Japan’s Jun Osagahara who not only earned his first ever live tournament cash, it was also his career first win. Osagahara outlasted the 21 player field of the Freezeout Turbo, defeating the highly decorated local Mike Takayama at heads up. The last hand was 
crushing 
on an ace-high board.
Date: February 23, 2024
Buy in: PHP 25,000 (~USD 450)
Entries: 21
Prize pool: PHP 448,140 (~USD 8,000)
ITM: 4 places
| Place | Player |
Payouts in PHP
|
| 1 | Osagahara Jun | ₱ 192,140 |
| 2 | Takayama Mike | ₱ 121,000 |
| 3 | Shimojo Keijiro | ₱ 81,000 |
Cheong Yun Rong wins Super Knockout Turbo [PHP 10K Bounty]
The Super Knockout Turbo which featured at PHP 10K Bounty was fairly popular with 83 head hunters out in the field. Third time was the charm for Singapore’s Cheong Yun Rong who finally broke the two-time runner up curse, for his first ever PS spade and a payout of PHP 163,976. Cheong also walked away with six bounties for an additional PHP 60,000 for a grand total PHP 223,976 (~USD 4,000) payday. Hong Kong’s Wallac Chan Wai finished 7th but not before eliminated 6 players.
Date: February 23, 2024
Buy in: PHP 20,000 (~USD 360)
Entries: 83
Prize pool: PHP 1,409,904 (~USD 25,200)
ITM: 11 places
*Bounties not included in the payouts
| Place | Player | Flag | Payout in PH₱ |
| 1 | Cheong Yun Rong | Singapore | ₱ 163,976 |
| 2 | Shigyo Kentaro | Japan | ₱ 107,000 |
| 3 | Benor Daniel | Israel | ₱ 76,000 |
| 4 | Oda Koji | Japan | ₱ 59,000 |
| 5 | Chien Wen Chen | Taiwan | ₱ 45,000 |
| 6 | Tan Ronald Carlton | Philippines | ₱ 36,000 |
| 7 | Wallac Chan Wai | Hong Kong | ₱ 29,000 |
| 8 | Hazan Jeraint | England | ₱ 23,000 |
| 9 | Shibusawa Junichi | Japan | ₱ 18,000 |
| 10 | Ng Kwan Tung Karen | Hong Kong | ₱ 15,000 |
| 11 | Lesmana Charles | Singapore | ₱ 15,000 |
*Most bounties: Cheong Yun Rong (6), Wallac Chan Wai (6)
Kenichi Nomoto wins Hyper Turbo
Another newbie takes down a PS spade with Japan’s Kenichi Nomoto besting the Hyper Turbo. Nomoto topped the 19 entry field to claim the PHP 177,675 (~USD 3,175) champion’s purse.
Date: February 23, 2024
Buy in: PHP 25,000 (~USD 450)
Entries: 19
Prize pool: PHP 414,675 (~USD 7,410)
ITM: 4 places
| Place | Player | Payout in PH₱ |
| 1 | Nomoto Kenichi | ₱ 177,675 |
| 2 | Shuichi Miyasaka | ₱ 112,000 |
| 3 | Henrieto Acain | ₱ 75,000 |
| 4 | Karlsson Magnus | ₱ 50,000 |
