We are back at PokerStars Live Manila today for Day 1b! This is the final flight to get into the Manila Megastack 5 Main Event which starts promptly at 2pm. Buyin to the Main Event is P25,000 with unlimited re-entries. Players begin with a very deep starting stack of 30,000, which is 600x the starting blinds. What this means is, lots of playing time to rake in those chips. Blinds escalate every 30 mins and late registration / re-entry will be open for four hours, a total of eight rounds.

At yesterday's day 1a flight, the Grand Ballroom of City of Dreams Manila was bustling with tables filled with hungry poker players early in the day, while a long line of latecomers were also eagerly awaiting to get in the action. Throughout the day, chips were shuffling all around the room and by the end of late registration, a massive turnout of 220 entries was in the books. This is the largest field ever recorded for a Day 1a of the Manila Megastack series. Players also couldn't help drooling at the total prize pool generated, just over P4.8M, and with today's flight, the general consensus is, there is a strong likelihood that the P6M guarantee will be surpassed.

There were a total of 49 players who survived the intense heat of day 1a, and coming out on top was Chinese Taipei's Hao-Cha Luo who accumulated 345,500 chips; one of Singapore's top pros, Alex Lee bagged the second largest with 272,500 chips, and trailing just a little behind him was the 2015 Asia Player of the Year champion, Hong Kong's Alan "Kinglune" Lau with 249,500 chips. For a read on the action of Day 1a, head to the Manila Megastack 5 Day 1a Updates post.

Just before the start of the Main Event, there will be a Last Chance Satellite to the Main Event at 12PM. Buyin is P6,000. So if you haven't got your ticket in and are looking to get one at a lower cost, this could be the way for you. With such a lucrative Main Event prize pool, you definitely don't want to miss out.

In addition to the Main Event, there will be a Saturday Superstack side event on deck at 9pm. This is a two-day event with an entry fee of P15,000.

We will be posting updates on the action at Day 1b so be on the lookout for that. Day 1a chip counts will also be posted so you can check out who survived and where they stand.

LIVE COVERAGE | CHIP COUNTS | PAYOUTS

It's the final table of the EPT Grand Final main event. Follow cards up coverage with the EPT Live crew.

* CLICK TO REFRESH FOR LATEST UPDATES
* Day 3: Play to a winner
* Players remaining: 10 of 231 entries
* CHIP COUNTS | PAYOUTS | EPT LIVE | MAIN EVENT

3:04pm: Zinno gets aggressive
Level 24 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

Eddy Maksoud opened to 90,000 on the button and it folded to Anthony Zinno in the big blind. He thought for about half a minute before announcing "all-in." Maksoud quickly let his hand go, and when Alexandru Papazian asked Zinno how much he was playing the answer was 1.25 million. --JS

3pm: Silver doubles through Moraes
Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 5,000)

On the first hand back from the break, Max Silver opened for 90,000 from the button, and it folded over to Rafael Da Silva Moraes. He checked what Silver had left, then announced he was reraising all-in. Silver got up from his seat, took a second to look at the other table and the tournament clock, then called off for 1.15 million total.

Moraes: [5s][5h]
Silver: [Jc][Jh]

The board came an uneventful [2h][7c][Ts][4h][Ks], and Silver doubles into the chip lead with 2.34 million. Moraes suddenly becomes one of the short stacks with 690,000. --MH

2:51pm: 10 left; Stern still smokin'
Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 5,000)

Players are back and play has resumed, with Zvi Stern still the leader. Updated stacks below. --MH

2:31pm: Break time

The remaining 10 players are now taking their first 20-minute break of the day. --MH

2:22pm: Deyra bluffs Silver, shows
Level 23 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 5,000)

Ivan Deyra opened for 70,000 from the button and got two callers in Saar Wilf (small blind) and Max Silver (big blind). The flop came [2s][Js][4h], and when checked to Deyra pushed out a bet of 111,000. Only Silver called. Those two checked the [Ac] turn, then after Silver checked the [5h] river, Deyra bet 170,000.

Silver tanked for a couple of minutes -- during which that Maksoud double-up occurred on the neighboring table (see below) -- then released his hand. Deyra showed his before collecting the pot, revealing he'd bluffed with [7h][6d].

Deyra is up to 1.27 million while Silver slips to 1.1 million with just a few minutes left before the break. --MH

2:12pm: Maksoud all-in
Level 23 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 5,000)

A vital double up for Eddy Maksoud who moved in behind an opening bet of 60,000 from Stern. Ready to call was Papazian (Stern would fold pocket fives) with a call worth 642,000. 

Maksoud [jh][9h]
Papazian [ac][kh]

The board ran out [9c][4s][4d][5s][8d]

The nine was enough. Maksoud back to 1.3 million while Papazian drops to around the 1 million mark. - SB

1:59pm: Deuce-four works for Derwiche
Level 23 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 5,000)

A short-stacked Imad Derwiche looked down at [4s][2s] on the button and when folded to decided to fire his last 213,000 in middle (about seven BBs), and he got one caller in Zvi Stern sitting in the big blind with [Kc][Th].

The flop was great for Derwiche, coming [8s][6s][9s] to give him a flush. The [Ts] turn actually presented a few chopportunities for Stern, but the river was the [2d] and Derwiche doubles back to about 460,000. Stern still leads with 2.05 million. --MH

1:50pm: Papazian calls all-in on the turn
Level 23 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 5,000)

On a flop of [ac][3c][qs] Alexandru Papazian bet 90,000 which was called by Zvi Stern, who has been playing a lot of pots this afternoon. The turn was the [7h]. Again, a bet from Papazian, 225,000 this time. Stern, thinking, announced he was all in. Papazian called.
"Okay, what do you have?" he asked. 

"Flush draw," answered Stern. 

[7c][6c] for Stern
[3s][3d] for Papazian. 

It came down to the river card, which landed [5h]. Papazian sighed with relief. He's up to around 1.6 million while Stern drops a little to 1.8 million. - SB

1:40pm: Zvi wins, thinks he missed bet
Level 23 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 5,000)

Eddy Maksoud opened for 65,000 from under the gun, Zvi Stern defended his big blind, and the pair watched a flop come [6h][Ks][9s]. Stern checked, Maksoud 75,000, and Stern called. The turn was the [6d], and Stern checked once more. Maksoud fired again -- 145,000 this time -- and Stern hung around.

The river was the [Jh]. Stern rapped the table, and when Maksoud checked behind Stern immediately spoke. 

"Ah, I missed a bet," he said, showing his [Qc][6c] for trip sixes. Maksoud mucked, and Stern speculated that his opponent had a king and might have called a river bet.

Maksoud slips to 820,000 while leader Stern is up to 2.54 million now. --MH

1:35pm: Kolonias takes on Silver
Level 22 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

Max Silver and Alexandros Kolonias just played out a hand. On a flop of [4s][ks][ac] Silver checked to Kolonias who bet 55,000. Called. Then on the [2s] turn Silver checked called Kolonias's 150,000. On the [qd] river Kolonias bet another 400,000. Silver paused for some time first, but then passed. Silver on 1.2 million while Kolonias moves up to 1.38 million. -- SB

1:30pm: The short version
Level 22 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

Saar Wilf made it 55,000 under the gun.

Rafael Da Silva Moraes raises to 207,000 in the small blind.

Wilf raised to 400,000.

Da Silva folded. -- SB

1:25pm: Moraes over Silver
Level 22 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

Max Silver raised to 60,000 from the button and Rafael Da Silva Moraes called from the big blind. The latter then check-called a bet of 45,000 from Silver on the [8s][Kc][8h] flop, and another one of 100,000 following the [Tc] turn.

Both then checked the [3h] river, and when Moraes showed [Kh][Th] for kings and tens, Silver mucked. Silver has 1.505 million now while Moraes has 1.08 million. --MH 

 1:10pm: More for Stern
Level 22 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

Another boost for Stern. He opened the pot for 50,000 which Anthony Zinno called in the small blind as did Imad Derwiche in the big. The flop came [9c][8d][4d] which was checked to Stern who bet 65,000. Zinno passed but Derwiche kept up with a call.

The [2c] turn card was checked for a [qh] river card. Derwiche bet 100,000 which prompted Stern to remove his hood and sunglasses. Derwiche took off his glasses and grinned back. 

Finally Stern called. His [as][8s] was good. Derwiche's flush draw was broken. He showed [jd][7d]. 

Derwiche has roughly 500,000 behind, while Stern moves up to just short of 2 million. - SB

12:49pm: River ace saves Wilf
Level 22 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

Saar Wilf was just all-in and at risk for his last 370,000 with [As][8d] versus Max Silver's [Ks][Jc].

The [Js][6h][6s] flop caused Wilf to stand up in disgust, and he was already getting his phone out to take a picture of the board as the [7c] turn fell. Then came the river... the [Ad]! "Oooh!" said Wilf as he retook his seat, now behind a stack of close to 800,000. Silver is at about 1.54 million. --MH

12:46pm: Thomas Miller eliminated in 11th place (€103,570)
Level 22 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

A flop of [3d][9c][tc] and both Thomas Miller and Max Silver checked for a [7h] turn. This was about the point things went big. 
Miller made it 74,000 to play which Silver called for the [as] on the river. Here Miller announced he was all in. 

Just to go back a second, when Miller announced 70,000 Silver needed to remove his headphone and check with the dealer. But there's something about the words "all-in" which cut through even the most belligerent music. He heard immediately. 

But he wasn't sure how to proceed immediately. Instead he paused and went through his options. Finally he decided Miller was bluffing, and called. It was a great call. 

Miller: [6c][4c] 

Silver looked for a second, then with relief turned over [8d][8h].

Down to ten in the high roller. Silver up to 1,850,000. "Groovy," he deadpanned. - SB

12:45pm: Stern takes from Papazian
Level 22 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

Zvi Stern raised from the button to 50,000 and Alexandru Papazian defended his big blind. The flop came [Ah][Qh][Kd] and both checked, then after the [8s] turn Papazian check-called a bet of 75,000 from Stern.

Both then checked the [Qd] river, Stern showed [Ac][9d] which beat Papazian's [Jd][Jc], and the chip leader increased his stack to 1.85 million. Papazian is now at about 1 million. --MH

12:39pm: Ramin Hajiyev eliminated in 12th place (€92,250)
Level 22 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

It folded around to Ramin Hajiyev in the small blind who open-shoved his short stack of about 300,000, and Eddy Maksoud called right away from the next seat over.

Hajiyev had [Ks][Qd] and a couple of overs versus Maksoud's [Th][Td], but the board came [3c][5c][2h][Js][6h] and Hajiyev was eliminated in 12th. Maksoud now has about 1.2 million. --MH

12:37pm: Zinno takes from Derwiche
Level 22 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

Early action saw Imad Derwiche defending his small blind versus an Anthony Zinno button raise, then continuing to stick around through a [6c][Ac][Jh][5d][Td] board. The pot was up over 250,000 by then, and Derwiche at that point took a shot with an 85,000-chip bet. Zinno called it, though, and Derwiche responded with a nod while mucking his cards face down.

Zinno moves up to 1.1 million while Derwiche now has about 540,000. --MH

12:30pm: Shuffle up and deal
Level 22 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

The final 12 players are in their seats and the first hands of the final day of the €25K High Roller are being dealt. --MH

12pm: How things stand with 12 left

As we reported late last night, Zvi Stern had something of a perfect poker day yesterday. He took hold of the chip lead early on and stayed there. He will lead at the restart, unbagging 1,638,000 chips when play resumes at 12:30pm. The two players closest to him are Max Silver (1,342,000) and Alexandros Kolonias (1,338,000).

Here's are the chip counts for the third and final day:

Take a look at the official website of the EPT, with tournament schedule, news and results.

Also all the schedule information is on the EPT App, which is available on both Android or IOS.

PokerStars Blog reporting team on the EPT12 Grand Final main event: Stephen Bartley, Martin Harris. Photography by Rene Velli. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter: @PokerStarsBlog