13 Apr Metro Summer Event All Fired Up As Main Event Approaches; Mark Pagsuyuin Wins Record Breaking Pre-Event
The heat is on! The 2026 Metro Summer Event is underway and all signs point to a blockbuster series ahead.
Kicking off on April 10 and running through April 20, the Pre-Event made a powerful statement as it obliterated its 500K GTD for a seven-figure record prize pool. This was followed by the MSE 100K GTD and NLH 200K GTD, both events also surpassing its targets. If those are signs of what’s coming, then suit up as the Main Event is going to be massive.
If you are just getting wind of this annual series, it’s time to step out of the scorching summer sun and into the Metro Card Club. As the country’s premier home of poker, the hunt for the 2026 MSE Main Event champion is about to blast off.
Suit Up For the 2026 MSE Main Event
Now in its 9th year, the 2026 edition of this homegrown series continues to keep the stakes high featuring a ₱6 Million guaranteed Main Event.
Cards start flying on April 15 with five entry flights scheduled across the first four days. Buy-in is ₱11,000. It pays to get there early as the starting stack is a very deep 25,000, which is 250 times the opening blinds of 100-100.
Players that reach ITM at each flight advance to Day 2 then onwards to the Final Day for the last 18 players. A new champion will be crowned on April 20, joining several past winners that include Jae Chang, Moses Saquing, Bonifacio Mondalo, Kai Paulsen, and the newest Metro Team Pro Marlon Laxamana.
Mark Pagsuyuin Wins Record Breaking Pre-Event
To get players warmed up, the 2026 MSE opened its doors with the Pre-Event 500K guaranteed and whoah! The response was nothing short of explosive.
At ₱2,200 apiece, a total of 509 signed up across four starting flights, catapulting the prize pool to a record-breaking ₱1,018,000. This was the first time in the event’s history that the pot cracked seven digits.
Photo: Mark Pagsuyuin
In an action-packed final table, veteran player Mark Pagsuyuin eliminated Nikolas Rivera in 3rd place to enter heads up with 46 bb against Edmon Rebadulla’s 17 bb. Closing it out fairly quick, Pagsuyuin maintained course for the title.
The final hand saw Pagsuyuin’s {ad}{jc} stay ahead of Rebadulla’s {kc}{qd} to become the festival’s first champion and earn a payout of ₱166,280. For runner-up Rebadulla, a good finish as well, walking away with ₱111,000.
Watch how it all unfolded via:
MSE Pre-Event Live Stream Part 1
MSE Pre-Event Live Stream Part 2
Payouts
| Place | Player | Prize in PHP |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marquez Pagsuyuin | 166,280 |
| 2 | Edmon Rebadulla | 111,000 |
| 3 | Nikolas Riki Rivera | 77,000 |
| 4 | Froilando Bibit-Chee | 53,000 |
| 5 | Jun Talosig | 39,000 |
| 6 | Cezar Quiambao II | 29,000 |
| 7 | Jeoffrey Nyl S. Ordoñez | 19,000 |
| 8 | Sultan Mipanga Cairoden | 19,000 |
| 9 | Robert Daniel Tolentino | 11,500 |
| 10 | Adam Ford | 11,500 |
| 11 | Emmanuel Gonzales | 10,000 |
| 12 | Josie M. Bagunu | 9,000 |
| 13 | Mariano Siy | 9,000 |
| 14 | Benjamin Cortez Mangaliman | 9,000 |
| 15 | Don Juan Dela Serna | 8,000 |
| 16 | Christopher Chua | 8,000 |
| 17 | Kevin D. Flores | 8,000 |
| 18 | Michael T. Cerbito | 8,000 |
| 19 | Samey T. Cabauatan | 7,000 |
| 20 | Federico Jr Peralta | 7,000 |
| 21 | Rafael Gabriel | 7,000 |
| 22 | Joyce Ann Magpantay | 7,000 |
| 23 | Frederick Cruz | 7,000 |
| 24 | Bernard Chua | 7,000 |
| 25 | Lemuel James P. Magallon | 7,000 |
| 26 | Marvin T. Cerbito | 7,000 |
| 27 | John Nico Isip | 7,000 |
| 28 | Chuck L. Peregrino | 6,000 |
| 29 | Alexis Reyes Lim | 6,000 |
| 30 | Jun G. Amsic | 6,000 |
| 31 | Alan Tanco Reyes | 6,000 |
| 32 | Bryan Berber | 6,000 |
| 33 | Joven Ingente Huerto | 6,000 |
| 34 | Kenta Fukuyama | 6,000 |
| 35 | Kier M. Canale | 6,000 |
| 36 | Terje Bratberg | 6,000 |
| 37 | Jester Reyes Intia | 5,500 |
| 38 | Marciel Cerbito | 5,500 |
| 39 | Ernesto Sarmiento | 5,500 |
| 40 | Alvin Jeff Sembrano | 5,500 |
| 41 | Jan Stephen Castillo | 5,500 |
| 42 | Lemmor Patulot | 5,500 |
| 43 | Sonny Ortiz | 5,500 |
| 44 | Euryd Rivera | 5,500 |
| 45 | Dave Reynold F. Dimabayao | 5,500 |
| 46 | Hernan Jaybee Villa | 5,000 |
| 47 | Sabino A. Tullay | 5,000 |
| 48 | Muhammad Darmawan | 5,000 |
| 49 | Kristofer Masangkay | 5,000 |
| 50 | Joseroy S. Jeremias | 5,000 |
| 51 | David T. Chan | 5,000 |
| 52 | Romel Calderon | 5,000 |
| 53 | Jude Thaddeus Prejido | 5,000 |
| 54 | Albert Castillo | 5,000 |
| 55 | Randolph Acacio | 4,500 |
| 56 | Clark Barry R. Pallaya | 4,500 |
| 57 | Ellezer J. Castillo | 4,500 |
| 58 | Raphael B. Bulaong | 4,500 |
| 59 | Edwin A. Dela Cruz | 4,500 |
| 60 | Naveen Tiruvalluri | 4,500 |
| 61 | Sonny Kajudoy Montecer | 4,500 |
| 62 | Resty Pacio | 4,500 |
| 63 | Royly Emir E. Oracion | 4,500 |
| 64 | Christian Bactad | 4,000 |
| 65 | Jhun G. Aballa | 4,000 |
| 66 | Santino Carlos Torres | 4,000 |
| 67 | Julia Bongayan | 4,000 |
| 68 | Mark Ericson Chua | 4,000 |
| 69 | Mark Andrew Ragudo | 4,000 |
| 70 | Dean Geryl J. Caing | 4,000 |
John Philip Baider Wins 100K GTD Special
Photo: John Philip Baider
While the Pre-Event was ongoing, the cheapest event in the menu got rolling, the MSE 100K GTD Special Tournament. With buy-in of just ₱1,500, 137 signed up, boosting the prize pool to a guarantee crushing ₱173,853.
Already backed with the chip lead at heads up, John Philip Baider defeated Mark Andrew Ragudo to clinch his first Metro Summer Event side event trophy and an ICM payout deal of ₱42,402. Runner-up Ragudo also claimed a healthy payout of ₱30,650.
Big Payday For Kevin Flores At NLH 200K GTD
Photo: Kevin Flores
The MSE NLH 200K GTD also drew a strong turnout with 116 putting up the larger ₱3,000 buy-in. This ballooned the pot to ₱294,408 with 17 players earning a piece. The largest cut went to Kevin Flores, walking away ₱64,908 richer along with a trophy to commemorate his first ever Metro win.
Watch how it all unfolded via:
Upcoming Side Events
Throughout the series, the MSE offers a lineup of 11 side events with buy-ins ranging from ₱2,200 to ₱4,000. With three of the trophies already captured, eight more are up for grabs:
- Survivor Knockout 200K – April 14 @3PM
- NLH Turbo – April 15 @8PM
- Power Button – April 16 @8PM
- NLH After Dark Turbo – April 17 @9PM
- Deep Stack 200K GTD – April 19 @5PM
- The Closer 300K GTD – April 20 @3PM
Ladies Showdown 50K GTD
Among the numerous side events, only one is exclusive for the women in poker. Ladies, it’s your time to shine at the Ladies Showdown with registration totally FREE! And on top of that, the event guarantees ₱50,000.
In the event that you bust while registration is still open, you don’t have to get up from your seat. Just rebuy for ₱1,000 and voila! A fresh stack instantly. If you need to cool off from a bad beat, you can re-enter at anytime before the start of Level 11 for ₱1,100. Once reg closes, there is also an Add-On option for ₱1,000.
Already expressing her attendance on social media is Bea Garcia who won her first trophy during the Ladies Showdown at the RVS Cup last November.
Mini High Roller 500K GTD
Over the years, Metro has become a hub for players to develop into some of the most competitive in Asia. For the heavyweights, there’s one event that truly puts skills to the test, the Mini High Roller, featuring a ₱500,000 guarantee.
With a ₱16,500 buy-in, players start with 100,000 in chips, equivalent to a deep 200 big blinds at the opening level. For those that max late reg, you enter with a decent 20 bb.
2026 Metro Tournament Leaderboard
Once again, the race for Metro Player of the Year takes center stage. Last season, Marlon Laxamana topped the leaderboard to claim the Metro Tourney Most Valuable Player title, earning himself a one-year contract as a Metro Team Pro.
This year’s Metro MVP race kicked off on March 25 and runs through December 20, 2026. Players can continue to earn points at the MSE 2026 festival.
2026 Metro Summer Event – Schedule
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