PokerStars Manila Megastack 20: India’s Chirag Shah Strikes Gold in Event #39: ₱10K NLH 10/10/10; Richard Marquez Claims Main Event Crown

The PokerStars Manila Megastack 20, the third iteration of this exciting series in 2024, recently wrapped up its thrilling run at the luxurious Okada Manila. From November 29 to December 8, the series saw 35 champions rise to glory. While many Indian players were battling it out at the USOP Grand Finale in Hai Phong, Vietnam, a select few ventured to Manila and left their mark with six cashes, including a nail-biting runner-up finish and a remarkable title victory!

The standout performer from India was undoubtedly Chirag Shah (cover image – left). A seasoned player with a proven track record in Manila and Malaysia, Shah boasts a live tournament history stretching back to 2017. Riding high on his success at the APPT Manila Championship in October, he entered the Manila Megastack 20 with his eyes on the prize.

Shah, who had already tasted victory in Manila earlier this year in a ₱7,500 Win the Button Turbo event at the PokerStars Live Manila Special in March, came incredibly close to adding a second title to his 2024 resume in Event #5: ₱10,000 No Limit Hold’em – Turbo. He fought his way to the heads-up showdown, where the pressure was intense. In the end, he agreed to a deal with Japan’s Yuhei Ando, finishing as the runner-up and taking home a respectable ₱97,300 (~₹1.42 Lakhs). Ando also collected the same amount for his victory.

But Shah wasn’t about to let that near miss define his series. He came roaring back in Event #39: ₱10,000 NLH 10/10/10. This time, he outlasted a field of 35 entries, ultimately besting Indonesia’s Yusuf Ronald Cassidy (who would later face Richard Marquez at the Main Event final table) heads-up to capture his first Manila Megastack title and his second live victory of the year, netting ₱103,060 (~₹1.51 Lakhs).

And just to prove his consistency, Shah also notched a cash in Event #22: ₱12,000 Megastack Turbo, finishing 21st for an extra ₱24,000 (~₹35,000). His total winnings for the series reached a noteworthy ₱224,360 (~₹3.28 Lakhs).

Other Indian players who made a splash in the series included:

• Birangat Gambhir: 25th in Event #3: ₱16,500 No Limit Hold’em – Kickoff for ₱39,000 (~₹57,000)
• Harish Kumar Asnani: 12th in Event #22: ₱12,000 Megastack Turbo for ₱43,000 (~₹63,000)
• Harish Kumar Asnani: 19th in Event #40: ₱25,000 Survivor Knockout [₱50K Bounty] for ₱78,000 (~₹1.14 Lakhs)

Main Event Madness

But the highlight of the series was the Main Event. Local poker hero Richard Marquez (cover image – right) conquered a guarantee-crushing field of 512 entries, defeating fellow Filipino David Rene Mar heads-up to seize the title and a jaw-dropping ₱3.714 Million in prize money. Mar, despite falling short of victory, still walked away with a hefty ₱2.320 Million for his second-place finish.

A couple hands later and Marquez secured victory, claiming a whopping ₱3,713,920 and the final title of 2024.

Both Marquez and David will receive an APPT Main Event Package worth ₱120,000. Congratulations, Hot Sauce! 🥂✨ (2/2)#ManilaMegastack#PSManilaLive pic.twitter.com/SIbKTPcg1U

— PokerStarsLIVEManila (@PSLiveManila) December 8, 2024

PokerStars Manila Megastack 20 Winners

India’s Chirag Shah Champions Event #39: ₱10,000 NLH 10/10/10 (₹1.51 Lakhs)

The Manila Megastack 20 continued to blaze a trail with Event #39: ₱10,000 NLH 10/10/10 taking centre stage on December 6. A compact field of 35 entries generated a prize pool of ₱298,760. But amidst the determined contenders, India’s Chirag Shah ultimately seized victory, capturing his first Manila Megastack title and adding a second live poker win to his resume.

With limitless passion and effort to show up on PokerStars’ events, Shah Chirag of India 🇮🇳 popped off at the NLH, pocketing a total of ₱103,060. Congratulations, Shah!#ManilaMegastack#PSManilaLive pic.twitter.com/nVAB6Mr4CP

— PokerStarsLIVEManila (@PSLiveManila) December 8, 2024

The final table was a battleground, with each player determined to claim the crown. Shah, a seasoned tournament veteran, expertly navigated this minefield. As the tournament reached its climax, only one man stood between Shah and the trophy: Indonesia’s Yusuf Ronald Cassidy. Yusuf, a formidable player in his own right, matched Shah’s aggression blow for blow. Finally, in a dramatic showdown, Shah scooped up the last of Yusuf’s chips, snagging his first Manila Megastack title and his second career live poker victory!

This hard-fought win earned Shah ₱103,060 (₹1.51 Lakhs). Yusuf, despite falling short of the title, took home a respectable ₱67,200 for his second-place finish. USA’s Angel Medina rounded out the top three with a ₱46,300 payday.

Complete Payouts (PHP)

1. Chirag Shah – ₱103,060
2. Ronald Cassidy Yusuf – ₱67,200
3. Angel Medina – ₱46,300
4. Rin Nomura – ₱34,400
5. Xiaohui Tan – ₱26,900
6. Kenki Okumura – ₱20,900

Local Hero Richard Marquez Takes Down Manila Megastack 20 Main Event (₱3.714 Billion)

The Manila Megastack 20 Main Event, a high-stakes poker tournament, promised a massive ₱20 Million prize pool, but it delivered even more! After a fierce battle among 512 entries, local poker hero Richard Marquez came out on top, grabbing the ₱3.714 Million first-place prize and writing his name into poker history.

The Main Event, held from December 4 to 8, drew a crowd of players, all hungry for a piece of the ₱20.114 Million prize pool – slightly more than the advertised guarantee. With a ₱45,000 buy-in, the tournament guaranteed the top 78 finishers at least ₱75,000, but all eyes were on the title and that huge first-place prize.

Marquez, who entered the final table as the chip leader thanks to a killer performance on Day 2, still had his work cut out. He was up against some serious poker talent, including the defending champion, William Ysmael. The early action saw a tense duel between Marquez and Ysmael, a clash that went on for almost two hours. Ysmael’s aggressive play put Marquez on the defensive, his stack dwindling under the pressure of Ysmael’s aggressive play.

“Playing against Will was incredibly tough,” Marquez admitted after his win. “He was my biggest obstacle in the entire tournament. My strategy from the start was to eliminate him. I knew if I could get past Will, I had a good chance against the rest of the field.”

Things changed after Yohei Katsuragawa was knocked out in ninth place. With the field narrowing, Marquez switched up his game. He started building up his stack, picking his spots carefully and applying pressure at opportune moments This smart and aggressive play led to him knocking out Yusuf Ronald Cassidy, who was celebrating his birthday, in fifth place. Interestingly, Cassidy had come close to victory just days earlier, finishing as the runner-up to India’s Chirag Shah in Event #39: ₱10,000 NLH 10/10/10.

With Cassidy out, the final four players were locked in a stalemate, each fighting for the chip lead. This went on for a nail-biting 47 hands before Marquez landed a critical blow. In an all-in showdown against Alvir Inocentes, Marquez’s , sending Inocentes to the rail and giving Marquez a commanding lead.

With the momentum firmly on his side, Marquez turned his attention to the defending champ, William Ysmael. In a dramatic hand, Marquez’s held up against Ysmael’s , dashing Ysmael’s hopes of a repeat victory and setting up the final showdown between Marquez and David Rene Mar.

The heads-up match was over quickly, lasting only five hands. On the final hand, Mar went all-in with , and Marquez called with . The board came , crowning Marquez the Manila Megastack 20 Main Event champion!

After his victory, Marquez talked about his plans. “This win is incredible, but I’m not slowing down,” he said. “I’m definitely going to participate in more events. There’s a tournament in Taiwan I have my eye on, and I’ll be heading to Canada in January for the World Series Circuit.”

Final Table Results (PHP)

1. Richard Marquez – ₱3,713,920
2. David Rene Mar – ₱2,320,000
3. William Ysmael – ₱1,660,000
4. Alvir Inocenes – ₱1,275,000
5. Yusuf Ronald Cassidy – ₱980,000
6. Andy Chan – 7₱55,000
7. Sham Wing Sheuk – ₱580,000
8. Oliver Duran – ₱445,000
9. Yohei Katsuragawa – ₱370,000

Content & Images Courtesy: So Much Poker