Welcome to the Philippine Poker Tournament Main Event!

Time’s up! Ready or not the Philippine Poker Tournament Main Event opens today!

As the Metro Card Club‘s first series this year, the stakes have been raised to ₱5,000,000 (~US$ 84,500) which is one million more than last year’s offering. However, that figure is certain to be a mere suggestion as this popular event has consistently smashed its guarantee with a record ₱6,518,016 (~$116,500) in 2024. That year, the event crossed the six-figure USD mark for the first time in the event’s history.

Come on out and let’s break that record this year! Cards in the air at 3PM.

PPT Main Event Champions

Photo: Rene Mar David – 2024 PPT Main Event champion

Looking back, the PPT broke ground in 2019 with Gideon Galpo as the first-ever champion. In the years that followed, the PPT crowned  Rasid Paitao (2020), Maxwell Rosete(2022), Jharome Pena (2023), Alexander Lai (2024), and Rene Mar David (2025).

In 2024,  Lai  turned his lowly four-figure buy-in into a massive seven-figure peso payout while the other champions pocketed hefty six-figures. Players can expect another juicy top prize for this edition and the winner will also walk away with bragging rights as the first Metro champion of 2026.

PPT MAIN EVENT STUCTURE

Like all Metro festivals, at the PPT, players get value for their buck. Buy-in is just ₱6,000 (~US$ 100) with six flights to choose from. Players are given a 25,000 starting stack which is 250 times the opening blinds. Each flight plays down to ITM of 14% of the field. Flight A begins today at 3pm.

• For players that enter Flights A, B, C, and E, blinds increase every 30 minutes.
• For players that enter Flights D and F, blinds increase every 20 minutes.
• Registration closes at the end of Level 10.
• Multiple stacks are allowed but only the largest stack advances to Day 2.
• Day 2 and Final Day blinds increase every 40 minutes.
• PPT structure is Big Blind Ante then changes to Regular Ante at the final table.

Anthony Castro Wins PPT Pre-Event

The PPT Pre-Event opened as a guarantee smasher with 367 entries across four flights at ₱3,000 buy-in each for a ₱1,009,250 prize pool. Only 51 players shaved down the pot with Anthony Castro claiming the title and the lion’s share worth ₱155,095.50 after a swingy heads up battle against Chuck Peregrino. Also running deep was defending champion Eugenio Bestil Jr. finishing in 6th place.

You can relive the exciting race via the recorded livestream on the Metro FB page. With over 6,000 viewers during the final table, see how Peregrino clawed his way up to take the lead and held court until two showdowns sent him nosediving to award Castro the title.

Guian Carlo Cordero Claims PPT 100K GTD Special

Photo: Guian Carlo Cordero

Three additional PPT side events wrapped up with new champions crowned. At the ₱1,500 buy-in PPT 100K GTD Special, the guarantee also turned to dust with 159 entries building a ₱214,650 prize pool. Out of that field, 22 players carved it up with Guian Carlo Cordero crossing the finish line. Cordero secured the largest payout after an ICM three-way deal.

Final Table Payouts

Don Juan Dela Serna Unscalped at Survivor KO 200K GTD

Photo: Don Juan Dela Serna

The Survivor Knockout 200K concluded with Don Juan Dela Serna keeping his head above water to claim the fourth side event trophy of the series.

The evening prior to Serna’s victory, the NLH 200K GTD event ended with Romel Calderon claiming the win.

PPT 2026 Schedule