PokerStars LIVE’s popular Manila Super Series 18 concluded its fantastic run on Sunday. Wrapping up the festivities was the PHP 3,000,000 guaranteed Main Event, which drew in an impressive 1,034 who ponied up a PHP 15,000 buy-in and built an incredible PHP 13,239,336 (USD 233,240) in prize money. In the end, the lion’s share of the prize pool went to Italy’s Paolo Boccaletti who began his final table journey with the fourth largest stack but played some top-notch poker, clinching the coveted title for a career best score of PHP 1,692,000. He eventually defeated China’s Xia Qi (2nd for PHP 1,415,000 in heads up, taking down the richest main event in the tour’s 18 installment history.
In addition to Boccaletti’s win following the four way deal, the Italian bagged an additional PHP 75,000 Manila Megastack Main Event package as well as the shiny trophy for his top spot finish. On the final hand of the historic tournament, both Boccaletti (Js 10c) and Xia Qi (Kc Qc) flicked it in. Unfortunately for Qi, the board ran out Ac 10h 5h 4d 6h, sealing the coveted victory for Boccaletti.
The event running from 20th to 24th September was quite significant from India’s point of view as Indian challenger Chirag Shah made it to the final table and did well, placing 6th for PHP 430,000.
Shah was doing well on the final table until he was coolered by John Clyde Tan who held pocket aces and was at risk against Shah who had pocket kings. With no kings on the board, he gave Tan a nice double-up. On the final hand, Shah (Jh 9h) flicked in his 2BB stack from UTG and was called by John Jay Magadan (10h 9c) and John Clyde Tan (Jc 4d). Action was checked down to the river. John Jay Magadan claimed the pot with a pair of tens, thus ending Shah’s main event journey in 6th place.
Final Table Payouts (PHP)
- Paolo Boccaletti – ₱1,692,000
- Xia Qi – ₱1,415,000
- John Jay Magadan – ₱1,215,000*
- John Clyde Tan – ₱1,203,000*
- Shin Hyeonho – ₱590,000
- Shah Chirag – ₱430,000
- Ho Tung Chun – ₱315,000
- Ivan Dela Cruz – ₱225,000
- Edilberto Gopez – ₱176,336
India’s Yagyavalk Bhatt Wins Event 8: ₱10K Win the Button For ₱68,276
Another Indian to shine was Yagyavalk Bhatt who clinched his maiden title by shipping Event 8: ₱10K Win the Button event for ₱68,276 and became the first Indian to claim a title in the series.
Yagyavalk Bhatt overcame a field of 16 competitors. He finally bested Canada’s William Evans who banked ₱41,000 as the runner-up. Russia’s Kirill Gladchenko’s run ended in third place for ₱27,300.
Complete Payouts (PHP)
- Yagyavalk Bhatt – ₱68,276
- William Evans – ₱41,000
- Kirill Gladchenko – ₱27,300
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