Marlon Laxamana Stops A Champion To Win MSE Main Event

Just when it looked like the 2023 Metro Summer Event champion Moses Saquing was poised to seize his second title, Marlon Laxamana rewrote the ending. In dramatic fashion, Laxamana came from near elimination in 8th place by Saquing when a crucial reshuffle found a miracle two-outer to keep him in the game.

In a post-win interview with the champion, Laxamana shared with Metro:

Congratulations Marlon, how does it feel to win your first major Metro title?

Masarap sa pakiramdam, yung two years ago kasi na major event final table ako, pinanghinayangan ko kasi chipleader ako pero 5th lang ako. Ngayon sabi ko andun na ulit ako sa moment na yun kaya di ko na sasayangin yung chance, talagang tinibayan ko.

Throughout the final table, Moe dominated, but you had position over him. what was your strategy?

Hinayaan ko lang si Moe na igrind yung mga player sa kaliwa ko, meron akong mga spot o hands na pwede kong galawan pero di ko pinipilit kasi alam kong si Moe ang gumagrind sa ibang players, so naging magulang muna ako.

Early on you nearly busted with pocket queens until you spiked the queen on a somewhat dramatic situation. Can you tell us what you were feeling when you saw the first flop and then a reshuffle was done of the four cards that brought the queen on the second flop? 

First time nangyari sa akin yun, first time ako nakakita nun. tanggap ko na talo ako dun at the same time na na shocked ako nung lumabas yung pangalawang flop, so parang run it twice yung nangyari. Hindi ko inexpect yun.

When you moved up to second in chips, what was your plan especially that it was already short handed? 

Nung 4-5 left na kami, ramdam ko na, kami ni Moe heads up, kasi super short nung dalawa. Talagang di ako kumilos hanggang sa kailangan ko na kumilos which is yung tatlo nalang kami.

After you eliminated Renniel in 3rd place, you went heads up against Moe. You had the lead. What was your strategy then?

Sa button lang ako lagi nagiging aggressive sakanya, switch gear ako pag first to act ako, ayokong icheckraise siya pag out of position ako kasi capable siya sa mga 4bet plays.

You lost your lead when you had the lower two pair. During the hand you snap-called both check-raises, what did you put him on?

Nilagay ko siya sa mga 9 or at bottom two pairs.

You grinded back to the lead and finally closed it out. How did it feel knowing you defeated Mo?

Magaling si Moe, binigay nya yung best nya, binigay ko yung best ko, nagkataon lang na mas napaburan ng mga hands yung best ko sa best nya. Pero kung mapapansin nyo, post flop hindi ko kaya si Moe, minimum two pairs ang iginagalaw ko sakanya. Sobrang lawak ng range nya.

Nung natalo ko na sya, kaya ko din pala tumalo ng pro. Actually puro pro yung nasa final table, hindi ko inexpect na ako mananalo dun since pausbong palang ako.

Relive the final table action via Metro YouTube.

Buy-in: ₱11,000
Guarantee: ₱6,000,000
Entries: 759
Prize pool: ₱7,590,000
ITM 108 players

Final 18 payouts

*Three-way ICM deal; the top 9 players also received a seat to the Philippine Poker Millions (PPM) worth ₱55,000 and players from 10th-18th received a PPM Mega Satellite ticket worth ₱12,000.

Final Table Recap

The 2025 Metro Summer Event drew 759 entries across five entry flights to surpass the ₱6M guarantee for a prize pool of ₱7,590,000. A total of 108 players earned a piece of it with the bigger cuts seen on the final day.  Leading the last 18 players was Geoel Cantor who just missed the final table in 10th place.

The first bust of the final table was delivered on the opening deal with Laxamana cleaning out Edgar Asehan. Not long after, Laxamana nearly busted next when he shoved {qh}{qc} into Saquing’s {kd}{kc}. When the flop ran {4c}{8h}{6d}, there was a fourth card beneath one 0f the cards that all four were then reshuffled and a new flop came {8h}{4c}{qd} giving Laxamana the set. He went on to double up with the turn {jd} and river {js}.

As the field continued to thin, Laxamana quietly worked his way up the ranks until he landed just behind the frontrunner Saquing (pictured below). Momentum continued to sway his way when he took out Euryd Rivera in 4th place and Renniel Galvez in 3rd place. With those two knockouts, Laxamana became the only player at the final table to have stolen the chip lead from the past champion.

At heads up, a brutal cooler saw the lead switch back with Saquing’s two pair over two pair dominating. However it didn’t take long for Laxamana to claw back up top and finally close it out for his first Metro Main Event title. For his victory, Laxamana secured an ICM deal payout of ₱865,825 plus a seat to the Philippine Poker Millions worth ₱55,000. 

Congratulations to Marlon for his career first Metro takedown!