Dakota Anderson staged a heads-up comeback to win the 2026 Gods of Poker Manila Main Event and collect PHP 6,304,500, approximately $101,000.
The American defeated Manila-based Dutch player Joris Michl heads-up at City of Dreams after more than ten hours of final-day poker.
Anderson had started the final day fourth in chips among the remaining 12 players, trailing a group headed by Filipino professionals Lester Edoc and Marc Rivera.
Neither of the home favorites would ultimately get their hands on the trophy.
Instead, Anderson worked his way through a 383-entry field before overcoming Michl in the final battle to become the latest Gods of Poker Main Event champion.
17-Entry Overlay Adds Value in Manila
There was an unusual subplot surrounding the PHP 30 million guaranteed Main Event.
Organizers needed 400 entries to cover the guarantee but finished with 383, leaving the tournament 17 entries short and creating an overlay for the players.
All 12 players returning for the final day had already secured at least PHP 433,200.
Edoc started with a commanding 10,885,000 chips, followed by Rivera with 9,020,000 and Michl on 7,140,000.
Anderson returned with 5,620,000.
The American steadily improved his position as the final table unfolded, while some of the strongest Filipino challengers fell away.
Edoc eventually finished fourth for PHP 1,886,100 despite beginning the day as chip leader.
Rivera went one place further, taking PHP 2,600,100 for third and leaving Anderson and Michl to play for the title.
Anderson Comes From Behind Heads-Up
Michl began heads-up play with the advantage and at one point appeared well positioned to close out the tournament on home soil.
Anderson instead turned the contest around.
After more than 200 hands had been played on the livestream table during the final day, the American completed his comeback and denied Michl the Main Event trophy.
Michl received PHP 3,840,600 for second place.
Anderson’s PHP 6,304,500 top prize was the largest payout of a festival featuring PHP 60 million in overall guarantees and 82 scheduled events.
The Main Event was the centerpiece of the fifth Gods of Poker festival in Manila, held in cooperation with Soul Poker Club at City of Dreams.
It also produced an international final table. Players from the Philippines, United States, Netherlands, Russia, South Korea, India and Vietnam all reached the final 12.
For the home contingent, Rivera’s third-place finish proved the closest anyone came to keeping the Main Event title in the Philippines.
Instead, it was Anderson who survived more than ten hours on the final day, recovered from a heads-up deficit and left Manila with the trophy and a six-million-peso payday.
The Dakota Winning Pose
Congrats to Dakota, we love you, but that winning photo pose looks like a man who has just won the tournament and is now demanding to speak to the manager of poker.
