APPT Manila Kick-Off – Live Updates – Day 1A
Buy in: PHP 20,000 (~USD 365)
Starting stack: 30,000
Level intervals: 30 minutes
Reg close: 8:20pm
Bagging time: ITM of 15% of the field
Day 1A: 183 (148 unique, 35 re-entry)
Chips in play: 5,490,000
APPT Manila Kick-Off Day 1A ends with 28 players led by James Moriles and Kiril Alex Gelev
APPT Manila Kick-Off ran for 8.5 hours at Okada Manila with 28 players out of 183 entries surviving Day 1A. Filipino James Moriles and Canada’s Kiril Alex Gelev bagged the largest stacks of 470,000 and 460,000 which were equivalent to over 90 bb each.
End of Day 1A – 28 ITM / survivors
| Player | Flag | Stack |
| James Moriles | Philippines | 470,000 |
| Kiril Alex Gelev | Canada | 460,000 |
| Xu Qiang | China | 438,000 |
| Shimojo Keijiro | Japan | 267,000 |
| John Dela Cruz | Philippines | 256,000 |
| Annie Elizaga | Philippines | 241,000 |
| King Dong-Il | South Korea | 237,000 |
| Fandialan Prolan | Philippines | 230,000 |
| Kenzo Mendoza | Philippines | 230,000 |
| Bell John Perez | Philippines | 227,000 |
| Jinlong Hu | China | 220,000 |
| Minwoong Jeon | South Korea | 191,000 |
| Ashley Patterson | Ukraine | 185,000 |
| Chin Dickson | Malaysia | 172,000 |
| Kang Minku | South Korea | 162,000 |
| Johnson Tan | Philippines | 162,000 |
| Jerson Quiras | Philippines | 155,000 |
| Han Yeongwoo | South Korea | 152,000 |
| Henrieto Acain | USA | 136,000 |
| Henrik Tollefsen | Norway | 134,000 |
| Jeong Soooh | South Korea | 128,000 |
| Florencio Campomanes | Philippines | 126,000 |
| Park Sangyong | South Korea | 125,000 |
| Kim Jognsu | South Korea | 81,000 |
| Alexis Lim | Philippines | 81,000 |
| Cheng Ting Yi | Taiwan | 79,000 |
| Ishii Masato | Japan | 76,000 |
| Jung Yonghwa | South Korea | 62,000 |
Day 1A recap
The APPT Manila Kick-Off event has always been a magnet for early birds, and this year’s edition proved no different. As the cards were dealt and the chips flew, notable players graced the tables such as 2019 APPT Manila Main Event champion Florencio Campomanes, 2019 APPT Manila Kick-Off champion Jinlong Hu, WSOP bracelet winner Henrieto Acain, 2023 PSPC Main Event runner up Max Menzel, Henrik Tollefsen, Norbert Koh, John Tech, Mattias Schell, and Jenam Yu.
At the end of registration, 148 signed up with an added 35 re-entries for 183 entries in total. A further three hours later, the bubble burst with Xu Qiang outdrawing Albert Muir.
Emerging as chip leader was Filipino James Moriles who charged up the ranks during the last two levels of play. Canada’s Kiril Alex Gelev was at his heels, just 2 bb behind. One of Gelev’s biggest pots was quads Fives just before the close of day.
23:30: Albert Muir falls on the bubble to Xu Qiang
Level 16: 2000-5000 ante 5000
Albert Mui Jr shoves from utg with 
, he is called by small blind Xu Qiang with 
, the board favors the big cards 
to end Muir’s run on the bubble.
Xu Qiang – 338,000
Albert Muir – eliminated on the bubble
23:25: Big stacks bump heads, Gelev with quads
Level 16: 2000-5000 ante 5000
On a board that completed 
and 60,000 brewed, under the gun big stack Kiril Alex Gelev bets 15,000, lojack James Moriles raises to 80,000, Gelev three-bets to 180,000, Moriles flats. Gelev shows 
quads.
Kiril Alex Gelev – 460,000
James Moriles – 440,000
23:10: Florencio Campomanes gains off Gelev
Level 16: 2000-5000 ante 5000
Button Kiril Alex Gelev raises to 12,000, APPT champion Florencio Campomanes defends the big blind, the flop runs 
. Both players check to bring the turn 
. Campomanes leads out 8000, Gelev calls. The river 
, Campomanes fires 17,000, Gelev tank-calls and shows 
. Campomanes wins it with 
pair.
23:00: Kiril Alex Gelev wins the flip to rail Chua
Level 15: 2000-4000 ante 4000
From cutoff, Kiril Alex Gelev raises to 12,000, small blind Ryan Chua three-bet shoves, Gelev calls. Chua 
, Gelev 
, the board runs 
, Chua goes bust, Gelev chips up to 350,000.
Kiril Alex Gelev – 350,000
Ryan Chua – eliminated
22:55: James Moriles continues to climb
Level 15: 2000-4000 ante 4000
From cutoff, Raymundo Gomez is all in with 
, small blind James Moriles dominates with 
, the board runs 
. Moriles stays ahead and cleans out Gomez.
James Moriles – 580,000
Raymundo Gomez – eliminated
22:45: Park Sangyong doubles through Gomez
Level 15: 2000-4000 ante 4000
Raymundo Gomez three-bet shoves with 
, initial raiser Park Sangyong calls for his tournament life holding 
. The board runs 
for a full house and a double up to Park.
Park Sangyong – 110,000
Raymundo Gomez – 70,000
22:41: 38 players remain
Level 15: 2000-4000 ante 4000
The field is down to 38 players. Bubble approaches with 28 players reaching ITM.
22:40: James Moriles soars high, rails Low
Level 15: 2000-4000 ante 4000
Teck Guan Low ran strong throughout the day but one hand sent him straight out. He was all in with against James Moriles with {8}
. The board ran 
.
James Moriles – 460,000
Teck Guan Low – eliminated
22:25: Kenzo Mendoza wins the flip
Level 14: 1500-3000 ante 3000
All in preflop, lojack with , small blind Kenzo Mendoza with . The board runs .
Kenzo Mendoza – 320,000
Lojack – eliminated
22:15: Jeong Sooh dominates with Aces
Level 14: 1500-3000 ante 3000
Button Jeong Sooh raises to 6000, small blind three-bet shoves, snap-call by Jeong who opens 
. The board runs low for Jeong to boot one out.
Jeong Sooh – 130,000
22:05: Aces for Shimojo Keijiro
Level 14: 1500-3000 ante 3000
Shimojo Keijiro four-bets shoves with , button player calls for everything with , no bad beats land. Keijiro ships it and boots one out in the process.
Shimojo Keijiro – 200,000
22:00: John Tech busts to Low
Level 14: 1500-3000 ante 3000
Under the gun Teck Guan Low raises to 7,000, hijack John Tech shoves, Low calls. Tech’s 
is dominated by Low’s and stays that way on a board . Tech is eliminated.
Teck Guan Low – 110,000
John Tech – eliminated
21:55: Nakagawa Ryuhei’s jacks hold against overcards
Level 13: 1000-2000 ante 2000
Utg+1 all in with , cutoff player Xu Qiang calls with , small blind Ryuhei Nakagawa three bet shoves 
, Xu calls for a three-way. With the board running 
Nakagawa triples up.
Nakagawa Ryuhei – 150,000
Xu Qiang – 280,000
Utg+1 – eliminated
21:40: Bell John Perez hits two-outer to survive
Level 13: 1000-2000 ante 2000
From under the gun, Bell John Perez is all in holding 
, and is called by two players. At the flop , Liao Po Hsun bets 10,000 other player folds for a head to head showdown. Liao has top two pair, Perez way behind. The turn quickly switches them as Perez lands the two-outer. With the river 
it’s a double up for Perez.
Bell John Perez – 65,000
Liao Po Hsun – 80,000
21:35: John Dela Cruz claims a pot
Level 13: 1000-2000 ante 2000
On a board and 60,000 in the pot John Dela Cruz bets 35,000, Kiril Alex Gelev tank-folds.
John Dela Cruz – 170,000
Kiril Alex Gelev – 280,000
21:30: Minwoong Jeong catches lucky river to rail one
Level 13: 1000-2000 ante 2000
By the turn board 
, two players battle for a pot that has grown to 34,000. Small blind Minwoong Jeong check-calls a player’s shove. Jeong has pair and is behind 
. A lucky comes on the river to improve Jeong to trips and ship it.
Minwoong Jeong 160,000
20:55: Chang Chia Wei rails with ducks
Level 12: 1000-2000 ante 2000
Hijack Chang Chia Wei limps with , cutoff player jams with , the board run dry for the overcards for ducks to prevail.
Chang Chia Wei – 45,000
20:20: Registration closes at 183 entries
Level 10: 600-1200 ante 1200
20:05: Raymond Gomez rails on a counterfeit
Level 10: 600-1200 ante 1200
All in preflop with the board running for hijack Raymond Gomez to counterfeit a player’s .
19:55: Liu Zhiqiang outkicks to boot one
Level 10: 600-1200 ante 1200
With 10,000 in the pot, two players stare down a flop 
. Small blind Liu Zhiqiang bets 6,000, big blind goes all in, Liu calls and shows top pair that outkicks a player’s . The river 
seals with win for Liu to rail one.
17:50: No need for Tae Hoon Chang to rebuy
Level 6: 400-800 ante 800
Tae Hoon Chang open-shoved his 12,000 stack and said he wanted to rebuy. He had and was called by cutoff with . The board ran for a a full house to Chang.
Tae Hoon Chang – 26,000
17:30: Big stacks at the break
Level 5: 300-600 ante 600
Teck Guan Low – 130,000
Kenzo Mendoza – 110,000
Liao Po Hsun – 105,000
Jerson Quiras – 100,000
Lloyd Locsin – 85,000
17:28: Ishi Masato rails one
Level 5: 300-600 ante 600
Big blind Ishi Masato three-bet shoved with and initial raiser Jong Sung Park called for everything with . The board ran , Park was eliminated.
Ishi Masato – 45,000
17:22: Teck Guan Low rises to 100K
Level 5: 300-600 ante 600
27,000 was in the pot by the river . Teck Guan Low shoved with straight and cutoff risked it all with lower straight to bust out.
Teck Guan Low – 100,000
17:15: Jerson Quiras top pair holds against big slick
Level 5: 300-600 ante 600
From under the gun, Jerson Quiras raises to 1400, hijack Jong Sung Park three-bets to 4400, Quiras calls. At the flop , Quiras check-raises all in. Park calls with and is drawing against Quiras’ top pair. The turn and river completes the board.
Jerson Quiras – 90,000
Jong Sung Park – 4,000
17:10: 143 entries
Level 5: 300-600 ante 600
17:05: Jong Sung Park banks a three-way
Level 4: 200-500 ante 500
Three way all in preflop starts with hijack raising to 1000, button Jerson Quiras three-bets to 4500, big blind Jong Sung Park shoves with the largest stack, back to hijack and Quiras, both call.
Hijack
Quiras
Park
The board runs for a higher pair spiked by Park.
Jong Sung Park – 50,000
Jerson Quiras – 45,000
Hijack – eliminated
16:50: Mac Mantos stands firm with his pair
Level 4: 200-500 ante 500
From under the gun Mac Mantos raises to 1300 and find three callers to the flop . All check, the turn is . Mantos bets 2100, Kenzo Mendoza raises to 5500, two folds follow then a call from Mantos. On the river , Mendoza fires 7,200, Mantos check-calls. Mendoza has a busted draw, Mantos wins the pot with .
16:40: Good call by Cao Nguyen Thanh
Level 4: 200-500 ante 500
With a pot of 14,000 built and a board that completed , hijack player shoves with air, cutoff Cao Nguyen Thanh calls with better air to take the pot.
Cao Nguyen Thanh – 25,000
16:35: Liao Po Hsun doubles up with rockets
Level 3: 200-400 ante 400
Action packed preflop leads to Liao Po Hsun all in with [as} that doubles up through Jarod’s on a board of .
Liao Po Hsun – 46,000
Jarod – 30,000
16:15: Quentin De Rozieres check-calls and takes it
Level 3: 200-400 ante 400
Lojack raises to 1100, small blind Quentin De Rozieres and big blind call, the flop comes . Action is checked to lojack who c-bets 1800, sb calls, bb folds. The turn , lojack sends out 3500 and Rozieres check-calls again. Same action on the river with Rozieres check-calling 10,000. Lojack has , Rozieres with to win the pot.
Quentin Rozieres – 35,000
16:10: 90 players
Level 3: 200-400 ante 400
16:00: Joseph Reyes rails one
Level 2: 100-300 ante 300
With 60-0 in the pot and a flop , under the gun player bets 3500, hijack Joseph Reyes raises to 9000, utg shoves two pair, Reyes calls and opens set. With the turn and river , Reyes rails one.
Welcome to Day 1A of the APPT Manila Kick-Off! Live updates will begin shortly.
Tricia David
Tricia David has long experience as a recreational poker player and has been covering poker events since 2010 for numerous outfits in Asia. She spent one year working part time with Poker Portal Asia then became editor and lead writer for all event coverage of the Philippine Poker Tour (PPT). Under the PPT, she overlooked content for their website, and produced live updates on all their events. In addition, she served as the live and online events website content writer for the Asian Poker Tour. Currently, she does live events reporting in Asia for online news site Somuchpoker and is also one of their news contributors.
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