Hey, poker playas!
It is time to add the recaps and correct the mistakes and add some inside notes.
first let look at the numbers!
Buy-in PHP 6,000
₱1,000,000 Guarantee”
Players 456
Day 1A 195
Day1B 261
PrizePool ₱2,335,450

Recap
Elmo Celi won the Main Event. But let us admit that a lot. of the players who knew Elmo felt that he was a dark horse.
He entered the final day with only 82,000 in chips. But there were a lot of mid-level chips that went into the final table.
Even as Elmo reached the final table. He was considered a dark horse. He was not the most favorite to win, and yet he did.
But if we were to describe Elmo win. it would be heart. He wanted to win more than anybody in the felt. Partly became emotional on the final two tables as he thought.
He wanted to win more than any other players. Yes, someone had to fund the other half so he could play. Although he was turned down by others. he kept persisting until someone agreed to place his faith in him.
And it was even a great heads-up. he was against a true pro. He was against Lester Edoc whose experience on the final table on even different countries and bigger fields placed Lester on the favored to win.
Elmo maybe to some joke to some. but his game matured throughout the years on playing the felt. Lester had the lead at the start of the heads-up. but slowly Elmo fought back. His desire to be the champion was burning in his eyes. He really wanted to win.
In the end, the heart was at the right place and it was his time.
It took a while but Elmo is finally a true champion. The first champion of the first full live poker event in Manila this 2021.
Congratulation Elmo.
Main event action
The final table started with Lester being in the chip lead. However, slowly gain Elmo’s advantage until the final hand which was an all-in pre-flop.
Elmo who had the chip lead had A7 while Lester Edoc had AQ, However, 7 came out on the flop, and the board held for Elmo.

Champion – PHP 450,800

2nd place – PHP 284,000
Side Event


Main event update
Rommel Angeles or Mau to his friends. started the day with 82,500 in chips.
To give players an idea. The biggest stack was more than 300,000 while the blind for day 2 started with 2,500/5,000 with 5,000 ante.
In some ways, he could be considered a short stack. Although there have been no live tournaments since the lockdown started last year(March 15, 2020). But Mau is a veteran player who has won many events. Mau definitely had not lost his skills during the pandemic.

3rd place – PHP 203,500
Main event update

4th place – PHP 160,300
Jason Ambata is one of the few players who started playing live tournaments in Pokerstars back when he was in City of Dreams Manila.
In a short span of time, he was able to climb the top 10 of the GPI Philippines.
Jason started day 2 with only 61,500 in chips but his experience with PS structure paid off in the end.

5th place – PHP 125,900
Alexander “Boks” Ungria is a veteran of the game. Although this may be his deepest run so far in a poker main event. He is no stranger to winning tournaments.
He entered the final day as the chip leader and was able to maintain and add more chips along the way.
Definitely a great game for this verteran.
Main event update

6h place – PHP 98,400

7th place – PHP 74,100
21:20 Main event Final table
Final table
- Alexander Ungria
- Kenzo Mendoza
- Lester Edoc
- Rommel Angeles
- Elmo Celi
- jr villanueva
- Jason Ambata
Action happened before ft. will update soon

20:20 Main event – 10th and 11th place – 33,900


20:20 Main event – 10th and 11th place – 33,900


20:00 Main event – 12th and 13th place – 29,000
12th – David Kim Tiango
13th – Jose Tiangco

1900 Main event 14th-15th players – 25,300
14th – Harold Ruaya
15th – Justin Castro
18:30 Main event – down to 14 players
There are 14 players still left at the main event. Alexander Ungria, Lester Edoc, Jason Ambata, and Alvir Inosentes remain strong on their hunt to be the champion of the main event.
1830 side event update – NLH KO = Level 10 – 31/83
Side event actions are doing great. 83 players registered for the side event.
it is now down to 31 and the room is filled with players looking for player action.

Final day – 15-17 place – PHP 25,300
15. Justin Castro
16. Noel Regencia
17. Sun Jun Taek
Final day – 18-20 place – PHP 20,200
18. Angelou Ray
19. Ma Grace Pido
20. Ricky Gonzales
Final day – 21-23 place – PHP 17,900
21.
22. Jason Manalo
26. Jeffrey Pamplona
Final day – 24-27 place – PHP 15,600
24. Hernan Villa
25.
26. Joris Michl
Final day – 28-31 place – PHP 13,700
27 Alfred Boigur
28. Jaycee Lazo
29. Vamerdino Magsakay
30. Christian Fleroendo
31 Ronald Gorgonia
Final day – 32-39th place – PHP 11,800
32. Alexander Mathias
33. Chris Bigtime
34.Monsour Khomrash
36. Lee Kyunghu
35. Mark Harold
38 Juantio Ibarra
37. Edmil Marcelo
39. Mark Angelou Balo
1530 Final day – 40-55th place – PHP 10,200
40th. Osmar Morales
42. Christopher Passion
44. Ryan Dungca
46. Christian Fernando
48. Michael Segismundo
50. Antonio Mata
52. John Carlo Sayo
54. Cesario Corpuz
41st. Junnie Pamplona
43. Lee Kok Seng
45. Camacho Digno
47. Edgar ASEHAN
49. Jose Padila
51. Michael Bueza
53. Roxin Zhan
53. Jeorge Legatuz
1530 Final day – 56-70th place – PHP 9,000
56. Armando Napaton
58. Reynaldo Salonga
60. Jeffry Agravante
62. Wenpeng Dai
64. Ma. Cristina Argao
66. Gerald Ganab
68. Alejandro Cruz
57. Wen Huang
59. Nick Woodward
61. Flo Campomanes
63. Rembrandt Ng
65. Nicolo Velenton
67. Jeffry Calma
69. Leonito Mirande
1530 Final day – update
Flo has become part of the early casualties of the game on a blind vs blind action.
As the players all folded. it was a blind versus blind. Flo the small blind raise 3x only to be met by a shove by the big blind.
Flo Snap call revealing pocket Queens while opponent reveals A8 Offsuit.
Flop was safe for Flo. but The Turn come out an Ace. stopping Flo run of the main event.

1500 Final day – Game stars
1400 Final day – 1 hours before game start – top picks (names + chip count)
Alexander Ungria – 379,500
Florencio Campomanes – 164,500
Vamerdino Magsakay – 162,500
Chris “Big time” Mateo – 171,500
JC Sayo – 81,500
Lester Edoc – 144,000
Juanito Ibarra – 83,000
Alvir Inosentes – 142,000
Jason Ambata – 61,500
Christopher Passion – 71,000
Main event final day intro
Hey, Poker Playas!
69 People are left on the Main Event. They will come back today to compete to be the champion of the first full Live tournament of Manila for 2021.
Alexander Ungria is the overall chip leader with 379,000 chips. Followed by Noel Regencia with 189,000 chips.
Other notables

Florencio Campomanes( 5th in chips), A Red Dragon Manila, and APPT Manila champion. Vamerdino Magsakay, one of the most proficient online Players and the number 1 online player in the Philippines. Lester Edoc, a multi tournament champion who just came from Las Vegas. Jason Ambata, another top GPI player.
Do you have any favorite? Let us know.