Who Can Stop Lester Edoc? Final Battle For 2025 Batang Metro Title Starts At 2PM

Philippine poker pro / Metro Team Pro Lester Edoc is the center of attention once again at the Metro Card Club! After a grueling Day 2 of eliminations at the 2025 Batang Metro Poker Challenge Main Event, Edoc enters the final day as massive chip leader sitting on 100 big blinds with only 18 players remaining. In a brief chat with the leader, he shared,

“As the chip leader, the biggest threat I see today are players who are willing to take risks and make bold moves to try and catch up. When I’m in position, other players should be cautious about my ability to control the flow of the game and potentially put pressure on them.” 

Three years after lifting the Batang Metro trophy in 2022, Edoc now stands on the brink of becoming the event’s first two-time champion – a feat that would surprise no one. After all, he already holds the distinction of being the only two-time winner of the RVS Cup. The only question is…. who can stop him?

Let’s check out today’s lineup.

Final 18 Players of 2025 Batang Metro Main Event

Opening blinds: 15,000-30,000 ante 30,000
Average stack: 900,000 (30 bb)
Blinds: increases every 40 minutes
Time Banks: 5 time-banks to be given to the final 9

Event Update

The 2025 BMPC attracted 648 entries across five flights to bring the prize pool up to ₱6,480,000. At yesterday’s Day 2, 92 players returned, all on the hunt for a spot at today’s final 18. By the time the last two tables was formed, Edoc was the only flight leader remaining. He bagged up a towering 100 bb stack which was double his closest challenger Benhur Ybarsabal with 50 bb. Bagging third rank was another Metro podium finisher Richard Marquez who won the 2015 RVS Cup. Marquez closed with 42 bb.

Aspiring players Milbert Bautista and Jedo Docto also ran very well. For Bautista, he entered Day 2 near bottom with just 12 bb and survived to earn his seat today with 17 bb to start. As for Docto, he too came from the lower end of the rung and held on to bring in 20 bb. To see where the fallouts finished at Day 2, we will have the payout list up once it has been made available.

Main Event – Final 18 Payouts

When the final 18 players return, they are all guaranteed ₱40,000 but of course, all eyes will be on the champion’s purse set as the only seven-figure payout of ₱1,043,300. With big payjumps at the final table, pressure will be high throughout. Be sure to catch the thrilling action via the Metro YouTube channel of via the Metro Facebook page. Cards start flying at 2pm.

1st ₱1,043,300
2nd ₱630,000
3rd ₱400,000
4th ₱280,000
5th ₱220,000
6th ₱185,000
7th ₱150,000
8th ₱125,000
9th ₱100,000
10th-11th ₱75,000
12th-14th ₱60,000
15th-18th ₱40,000

Main Event – Numbers

Date: October 1-6, 2025
Buy-in: ₱11,000
Guarantee: ₱6,000,000
Entries: 648
Prize pool: ₱6,480,000
ITM: 92 players

Day 1A: 144 entries / 21 advanced to ITM
Day 1B: 55 entries / 8 advanced to ITM
Day 1C: 128 entries / 18 advanced to ITM
Day 1D: 213 entries / 30 advanced to ITM
Day 1E: 108 entries / 16 advanced to ITM
Day 2: 92 players
Final Day: 18 players

Main Event – Structure

John Niko Costiniano Wins High Roller

After missing the mark at the Main Event, John Niko Costiniano jumped in the Single Day High Roller 1M Guaranteed. He was one of 34 runners that ponied up the ₱33,000 buy-in. Also in the lineup was Lester Edoc who nearly shipped it, falling short in 2nd place. Costiniano came out on top for ₱369,200.

Buy-in: ₱33,000
Entries: 34
Prize pool: ₱1,000,000
ITM: 5 places

1st John Niko Costiniano – ₱369,200
2nd Lester Edoc – ₱240,000
3rd Edwin Dela Cruz – ₱170,000
4th John Tech – ₱120,000
5th Czardy Rivera – ₱80,000

2o25 Batang Metro – Festival Schedule