The Okada Manila Millions festival, currently taking place at PokerStars LIVE Manila inside Okada Manila, has officially reached the midway point — and turnout has far exceeded expectations.
Running from April 29 to May 10, the series has once again proven why it remains one of the most popular low buy-in poker festivals in the Philippines, attracting players with its accessible structure and energetic tournament atmosphere.
With more than PHP 15 million (~USD 243,000) in total series guarantees announced, several featured events have already surpassed their original guarantees during the opening days, highlighting the festival’s impressive momentum and strong player participation.
As the second half of the schedule approaches, the atmosphere at PokerStars LIVE Manila continues to intensify, with multiple headline events expected to generate even larger fields and potentially set new prize pool records throughout the remainder of the series.
Shinho Choi Dominates Massive Okada Micro Millions Field
One of the biggest early highlights of the Okada Manila Millions was the hugely popular Okada Micro Millions.
The event originally carried a PHP 1 million guarantee, but after attracting a massive 1,033 entries, the final prize pool exploded to PHP 3,967,960 (~USD 64,395), far surpassing the original guarantee.
South Korea’s Shinho Choi successfully outlasted the enormous field to capture the title and a top prize worth PHP 700,000 (~USD 11,360).
In addition to the cash prize, Choi also secured an APPT Manila 2026 package, earning a return trip to Manila this July for the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT).
Takumi Iwanade Wins Warm-up PKO As Japan Opens Its Account
Japan picked up its first trophy of the series thanks to Takumi Iwanade, who emerged victorious in the Warm-up PKO.
The event attracted 330 entries and generated a total prize pool of PHP 2,112,660 (~USD 34,285), comfortably crushing the original PHP 1 million guarantee.
Following a deal at the final table, Iwanade officially locked up the title along with PHP 147,000 (~USD 2,385), giving Team Japan its first victory of the Okada Manila Millions series.
Ryo Takeuchi Captures Saturday Superstack Title As Japan Continues Strong Run
Japanese players continued their impressive momentum at the Okada Manila Millions, with Ryo Takeuchi adding another trophy to the country’s growing tally.
Takeuchi conquered the Saturday Superstack after battling through a field of 374 entries.
The tournament generated a total prize pool of PHP 3,990,580 (~USD 64,765), nearly doubling the original PHP 2 million guarantee.
After an intense final table battle, Takeuchi emerged as the last player standing, earning PHP 820,000 (~USD 13,310) and continuing Japan’s dominant early-series performance.
Rick Jason Ambata Keeps Sunday Million Trophy on Home Soil
After a strong run from Japanese players early in the series, the Filipino contingent finally struck back in the Sunday Million.
Backed by a passionate local crowd, Rick Jason Ambata successfully captured the title and ensured the trophy stayed in the Philippines.
The Sunday Million attracted 229 entries and generated a total prize pool of PHP 2,434,430 (~USD 39,510).
Ambata ultimately walked away with PHP 509,430 (~USD 8,265) for the victory, delivering one of the biggest moments so far for the home fans at this year’s Okada Manila Millions.
Okada Manila Millions Main Event Kicks Off This Wednesday With PHP 6 Million Guarantee
The highly anticipated Okada Manila Millions Main Event officially gets underway this Wednesday, May 6.
The tournament features a massive PHP 6,000,000 (~USD 97,270) guaranteed prize pool for an affordable PHP 8,000 (~USD 130) buy-in, making it the headline attraction of the entire festival.
With several early events already smashing their guarantees and drawing huge crowds, expectations are extremely high for the Main Event to post another massive turnout.
To accommodate the expected numbers, organizers have scheduled seven starting flights, beginning with Day 1A on Wednesday afternoon.
Importantly, all Day 1 flights will play down until the money is reached (ITM), meaning every surviving player returning for Day 2 will already be guaranteed a payout.
Main Event Schedule
Date | Time | Event | Registration Closes | Level Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
May 6 (Wed) | 12:00 | Day 1A | 16:30 | 25 min |
17:00 | Day 1B | 20:40 | 20 min | |
May 7 (Thu) | 12:00 | Day 1C | 16:30 | 25 min |
17:00 | Day 1D | 20:40 | 20 min | |
May 8 (Fri) | 12:00 | Day 1E | 16:30 | 25 min |
17:00 | Day 1F | 20:40 | 20 min | |
21:00 | Day 1G Turbo | 23:50 | 15 min | |
May 9 (Sat) | 13:00 | Day 2 | Play Down to Final Table | 30 min |
May 10 (Sun) | 13:00 | Final 9 | Play Down to Champion | 30 min |
As the Main Event approaches, the atmosphere at PokerStars LIVE Manila continues to intensify. With its low buy-in and high-value guarantee, the tournament is expected to attract a huge field from across Asia once again.
Skip The Queues — Register Early Through the PokerStars LIVE App
As turnout continues to surge at the Okada Manila Millions, registration lines at the venue have also been getting longer.
To save time and head straight to the tables, players can now complete their tournament registration directly through the PokerStars LIVE App.
By handling registration in advance, players can avoid long queues and spend more time focusing on the action.
For the full schedule and real-time updates, players can continue following us throughout the series. The festival also offers plenty of affordable qualification opportunities, giving players a chance to enter major events at a fraction of the regular buy-in.
Other Key Events This Week
Daily Qualifiers
Running nightly at 20:00.
For just PHP 1,900 (~USD 30), players can win a seat into the PHP 8,000 Okada Millions Main Event.
Mystery Bounty (May 8–10)
One of the most popular events of the series, featuring a PHP 2,000,000 (~USD 32,400) guaranteed prize pool.
The event kicks off on Friday, May 8, with a PHP 15,000 buy-in.
High Roller (May 9–10)
A key attraction for high-stakes players.
The High Roller begins on Saturday with a PHP 50,000 buy-in.
Deepstack & Turbo Events
For players who enjoy faster-paced action, Super Stack Turbo and Knockout events will be running nightly between 19:00 and 21:00 throughout the week.
Information and images courtesy of PokerStars LIVE Manila.
Red Dragon Poker APP Officially Launched
The long-established tournament brand Red Dragon Cup has now released its own app — “Red Dragon Poker.”
The Red Dragon Cup is a well-known Asian poker brand with a strong reputation across the region. Originating in Macau, it quickly became one of the most influential poker events in Asia. Red Dragon Poker tournaments regularly attract players from all over the world, offering massive fields and impressive prize pools.
For those interested, we highly recommend downloading the “Red Dragon Poker” app to join more exciting tournaments.