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Benigno De Guzman Casayuran, a 62-year-old retiree from Candelaria, Quezon Province, dropped to his knees in tears after winning the GameZone Tablegame Champions Cup (GTCC): Summer Showdown championship title and the grand prize of P5 million. The five-day Tongits tournament, held from June 12 to 15 in Makati City, was the country’s biggest esports-style Tongits event to date.
VICTORY KISS Benigno De Guzman Casayuran kissing his GTCC: Summer Showdown championship trophy. PHOTO FROM GAMEZONE
Organized by GameZone, the Philippines’ newest digital Tongits provider, and supported by BingoPlus Foundation, the tournament gathered 93 elite players nationwide to compete for a total prize pool of P10 million. GameZone also donated P1 million to Gems Heart Outreach Dev’t. Inc. to assist the Buso-Buso community in Rizal, which was devastated by Super Typhoon Kristine.
AT THE HELM Rafael Jasper Vicencio, president of Gamemaster Integrated Inc., game provider of GameZone, delivering his message for the GTCC: Summer Showdown. PHOTO FROM GAMEZONE
GameZone President Rafael Jasper Vicencio noted in his opening remarks that the GTCC marks a major leap in elevating the traditional Filipino card game. “Just last year, we launched the Tongits Champion Cup. This was the first esports-style tournament for Tongits in the Philippines. In 2025, we expanded and rebranded it into GTCC, making it more than just a tournament — it’s a celebration of community and culture,” Vicencio said.
Players first qualified through the Tongits Free Multi-Table Tournament on the GameZone app, held from April 25 to May 16. During the live event, players were grouped into brackets, with the top scorers advancing through multiple stages, culminating in the 100-round championship match on Day 5.
Casayuran competed against Ryan Dacalos of Batangas and Cesha Myed Tupas of Rizal in the final round. Using a combination of sharp strategy and calm under pressure, Casayuran outwitted both opponents and emerged victorious.
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Casayuran's win is not just a personal triumph but a deeply emotional and life-altering milestone. A former fisherman, he lives a modest life with his wife in Candelaria. Though he started college pursuing a Commerce degree, financial hardship forced him to stop. Today, he and his wife rely on a P2,000 monthly pension and operate a small sari-sari store to make ends meet.
SWEET SUCCESS Casayuran holding his championship mock-check and trophy for GTCC: Summer Showdown. PHOTO FROM GAMEZONE
His decision to join the tournament was driven by a pressing need: his wife was recently diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. “We’re doing everything to cover the medical costs,” he shared. With the winnings, Casayuran plans to fund his wife’s treatment, support his children — one of whom is a college student — and buy a car to bring the family on trips around the country.
He began playing Tongits casually, with neighborhood bets as low as P5. Introduced to the online version, he started honing his skills seriously. Initially aiming to make it to the top 84, Casayuran beat the odds and rose to the top.
Alongside the championship, GameZone and BingoPlus Foundation fulfilled their social commitment by donating P1 million to Gems Heart Outreach Dev’t. Inc. The donation aims to help the Boso-Boso community in Rizal, whose poultry farm cooperative — a primary source of food and income — was wiped out by Super Typhoon Kristine.
GIVING BACK BingoPlus Foundation Executives awarding the P1 million donation to Gems Heart Outreach Dev’t. Inc. PHOTO FROM GAMEZONE
This initiative supports food security, livelihood revival, and overall recovery. It also highlights how gaming communities can extend their impact beyond entertainment. “True champions don’t just win games — they uplift lives,” shared a GameZone representative.
DigiPlus Interactive Corp. pioneered digital entertainment in the Philippines. It introduced leading platforms BingoPlus and ArenaPlus, widely known for their engaging experiences in interactive gaming and sports entertainment. DigiPlus also operates GameZone, with more to come. For more information, visit: www.digiplus.com.ph.
