Jomar Sapo-an, a humble tailor, emerges victorious in the “Gamezone Tablegame Champions Cup: September Arena.”

“Maraming maraming salamat sa lahat ng bumubuo ng Gamezone, kung ‘di po dahil sa kanila, wala po ako rito,” Jomar said.

Gamezone presented the two-day tournament, which ran from Sept. 20 to 21 at the FilInvest Tent in Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, bringing in the top 36 seasoned players from all over the Philippines to compete in the September Arena for the prestigious golden trophy and a prize pool of ₱10,000,000, the largest prize pool for a tongits competition in the entire Philippines.

As the Gamezone community continues to grow, it brought out its top players to showcase their competitive spirit, representing the brand that leads the gaming industry in promoting friendly competitions and positive values in the gaming community, with a goal to uphold a positive spirit while contributing to the success of the people. This GTCC is the third tongits tournament held by Gamezone. It also allocated ₱1 million for public welfare projects and community development initiatives.

This effort reflects Gamezone’s commitment to continue bringing entertainment while also promoting responsible gaming and meaningful contributions to society.

As Gamezone culminated the final day of the tournament, the top two players, Jomar and Erlinda, were both reserve players who only went to the event for their love of the game, not knowing that they would face each other in the finals. They brought out their competitive nature as Erlinda won the first round of the finals, leading the game by 10,600 points. But then things took a quick turn with Jomar’s exceptional performance and mastery of the game, as he was able to take the lead by 500 points to win the championship, enduring to the end and going all out in the final game to become the GTCC September Arena’s grand champion.

Jomar, the ultimate winner, received the grand prize of ₱5 million and the golden trophy, with Rafael Jasper Vicencio, president of Gamemaster Integrated Inc., presenting the prize and trophy to the grand champion of the GTCC: September Arena tournament.

In an exclusive interview with the grand champion, Jomar, still in shock after winning the tournament, raised his hands up to the skies: “Nagpapasalamat po ako kay God at sa pamilya ko.”

Jomar and his family reside in Rizal but are originally from Bohol. He said that it was his wife, his number one fan, who pushed him to join. He was nervous, as it was his first time ever to join a tongits tournament. Now, being the grand champion, he feels every bit of happiness.

“Inaalay ko po ang panalong ito sa pamilya ko po, lalong lalo na sa asawa ko, na number one fan ko, supportive sa akin ‘yun, siya ang nag-push sakin na pumunta rito, nag-pray lang din po ako kay God, na kung para sa akin, para sa akin.”

When asked what he will be doing with his winnings, he said: “Unang una po sa lupa’t bahay, para po sa pamilya, bibili po kami ng lupa at bahay, sa ngayon po di pa po namin napapagusapan kung sa Maynila o sa Bohol.”

The tournament brought out the players' competitive spirit, and after winning the prize, Jomar showed his character of sportsmanship by also giving credit to his fellow players, stating that all of them are masters of the game and that it was not easy, but he left it all to luck in the cards. He stated that his playing experience comes from playing household card games and playing through the Gamezone application on his phone. This gave him an unforgettable experience throughout his whole journey during the tournament, as he emerged as the champion in the GTCC: September Arena. After the tournament, he plans to go home to hug his wife and two kids.

What sets Gamezone apart is its commitment to creating memorable experiences in and out of the competition. Players were not only celebrated for their talent but also treated with hospitality deeply rooted in Filipino values. Each participant was allowed to bring up to one companion who enjoyed an all-expense-paid, five-day hotel stay complete with food and accommodation, a gesture that reflects Gamezone’s dedication to making the journey unforgettable for both players and their families.

At the heart of Gamezone as a brand is the desire to promote qualities that not only speak to the competitive nature of gaming but also to the virtues that can inspire and uplift society, with the event being labeled as the biggest tongits table game tournament in the Philippines. The tournament opened with an air of excitement, with participants and players from different backgrounds making their way to the event. The 36 players were given a life-changing opportunity and grouped randomly as they went head-to-head with each other in one of the most challenging long hours and rounds of their playing careers, making their way through the elimination round and finals, giving each player a platform to shine.

All of the participants were recognized during the two-day tournament, creating another milestone event with the brand raising a platform where everyone can join, win, and be part of Gamezone. Another highlight of the event was the donation given by Gamezone to the initiative that was voted on by the public community. It was able to donate an amount of ₱1 million to the Kalusugan Plus initiative, with BingoPlus Foundation’s executive director Angela Camins-Wineke there to accept the donation, which will go to the chosen initiative by the community for support and development.

Overall, Gamezone was able to set a milestone moment as it set records and opened new doors of opportunities, promising an exciting and entertaining platform for future players of the game. The tournament was not only a game of cards for the players but also fostered champions for change, proving that the love for Filipino entertainment is as strong as ever. This commitment to excellence, combined with a strong focus on public welfare, positions the Gamezone brand as a leader in the gaming industry, paving the way for even greater achievements in the future.