Metrocard Club is probably the oldest poker club in Manila right now. Due to the pandemic, a lot of the poker rooms and poker houses will not re-open.
Currently, its door remains closed to the public. But it is one of the more stable corporations that it is only a matter of time before its doors re-open again in one form or another.
Here is a little History.
A little history
The Metrocard Club started in what was a small house in Ortigas. A 2-floor building in the Metrowalk.
Cash games were being held upstairs, and tournaments were held downstairs. Poker was still in its infant stage, and Metrocard club was one of the pioneers of opening poker houses.
After a few years, it shifted to a nearby location that was also in Metrowalk. This time it was bigger and could accommodate more people. There was plenty of parking space at the back, and it grew bigger starting from the relocation.
The home of a lot of Filipino poker Pros
A lot of the most recognized poker pros in Manila started or made their home at the Metro.
A few of the well-known players that call Metro their home are the following.
Marc Rivera
One of the most respected poker players in Manila and is known as one great cash game player.
Marc biggest win on the tournament scene was finishing 3rd place at the PSPC. Winning more than 2 Million USD. ($2,168,000).
The “Kuya”(Elder brother) of a lot the Filipino Poker pro, He is one of the biggest assets of Metro.
Mike Takayama
Mike Takayama is the first Filipino-born poker player to win a WSOP bracelet. Takayama is one of those people who you could consider has an instinct for the game.
Takayama won Event #59 back in 2018 at the WSOP in Las Vegas. The $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em Super Turbo Bounty was a single-day event.
Lester Edoc
Lester Edoc is one of the most recognized active poker tournament players in Manila, having won multiple tournaments both international and local.
He even bagged the first-ever Red Dragon Manila – Super Highroller event Last January 2020 before the Philippines went it MGCQ in March.
Before the Lockdown
Before the lockdown, the Metrocard club held one of their quarterly major tournament
Last March 2020, The Metrocard Club held its Philippine Poker Tour (PPT) event before the lockdown.
A 2 Million Pesos guaranteed event which was won by Rasid Paitao.
It attracted quite a good number of poker players but sadly, after a few more days Metrocard Club had to close its doors due to the growing pandemic.
Looking forward to 2021
The Metrocard Club will be back in one way or another. With the re-opening of Pokerstars Live Manila in Okada. It may be only a matter of time before we can see that the poker room in Ortigas comes back to life again.
Stay safe poker playas!
